Customer Reviews

Sennheiser HD 650 Headphones

5 star:		(87)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

So headphone.com calls them "simply the world's best headphone." I can't speak for the Grado or AKG contenders. I can say that they're better than my Sennheiser 590's, and that is shocking.

Which leads me to my first (and probably most important) point about this headphone. They cost a lot. A whole lot. Sennheiser has many units, including the 580, 590, 595, 600, and 650 (among many others), which could be construed as 'reference' quality. You'll spend about half as much on one of the 5xx models as you will on the 650. So if you were to ask me whether the 650 is *twice as good* (that is to say, it costs more in proportion to its increased capability), I'll tell you no, probably not. I might just not buy them, given the decision again. Perhaps if the price came down a bit.

At any rate, they are really a superb headphone. The sound is really incredible. You never really realize what you're missing in a recording until you've heard it through a set like this. You can hear the saliva in the back of a vocalist's throat. I'm not kidding. Everything is reproduced clearly, accurately, crisply, and I've yet to find any recording (Vocal, Classical, Electronic, etc) that can tax them. I suppose I'll stop trying to some day, but it's just wonderful to hear the headphones doing their job.

The construction is far more solid than the 590's are. Where there is plastic on the 590, you see metal and (no kidding) Kevlar. They are more attractive. They are also quite a bit heavier. They have a 1/4" connector instead of the more customary 1/8" mini connector -- this doesn't particularly bother me, I'll get to it in a minute.

Like the 590, they are an open headphone. That is, they are not "sealed" or "isolated". Sound from around you will seep in, and it is possible for others to hear what you are listening to (somewhat).

They are less comfortable. My guess is because of the metal band, the "spring" mechanism that keeps them round is tighter than the 590's, and it pinches. It really feels as though somebody is compressing your head. The ear cups are fine. They are almost identical to the 590's, but a little larger.

So, you probably wouldn't be here if you didn't know you needed an amplifier for these headphones (this is where the 1/4" plug comes in). However, it bears mentioning that you should not even consider buying these cans without first buying a capable amplifier. The PPA/PIMETA amps are cheapish, and Headphone.com has some that will work fine. To demonstrate this, you'll need another headphone and the 650. Connect the other headphone to your amplifier. Listen at a comfortable level. Then, relax a second, and attach the 650. The first thing you should notice is that the white noise is gone. The second thing -- other than the sound quality, of course -- is that it is much quieter. These cans need a lot of power to drive them effectively. Look at their specifications and you will understand (300 ohms of impedance!).

Buy em if you want the best and aren't afraid to spend the $$. Buy the 590's or 595's if what you need is a stellar headphone and you don't want to spend too much. Use the extra money to buy yourself an amp. You'll need it.

As a lover of classical music I am a confirmed headphone listener. No set of speakers will offer the same amount of detail, most living rooms will add acoustic distortions, and many of us are not lucky enough to be able to play Mahler or Shostakovich at full power on a daily basis without getting into trouble with the neighbours.

For years I have been very happy with the Sony CD1700, an excellent headphone which is my point of reference for evaluating the HD650. The rest of my hifi set-up consists of a Marantz cd7300 CD player, PM7200 amplifier, and Musical Fidelity X-Can v3 headphone amplifier (a mandatory commodity if you intend to spend serious money on a headphone like this one). Also, I invested in the Cardas replacement cable for the HD650.

It is often said phones like this one need a 'break in' period. I used to regard this merely as snobbish audiophile technobabble - but found it to be actually true. Initially, I was less than pleased with the sound of the HD650, to put it mildly. Mid-range, mezzoforte strings (which make up a VERY large part of orchestral music!) sounded grey and weirdly disembodied. Stereo separation was exaggerated while the middle part of the soundstage seemed empty. Compared to the breezy, open sound of the Sony, the Sennheiser seemed compressed and less immediately involving.
Things were not helped by the fact that the wearing comfort of these cans is markedly inferior to that of the Sony. The HD650 has fairly small shells that are not ideal if your ears aren't quite that small. Also, they are clamped against the head rather tightly, which is not entirely pleasant. The Sony, by contrast, simply lets you forget you are wearing it.

But then, after about 50 hours of listening, things had changed rather much. Not with regard to the wearing comfort, obviously, though you do get used to the way the HD650 feels; - but soundwise. The sound had opened up completely; not only is it now as fresh and involving as that of the Sony, it is clearly superior. Everything is incredibly focused, tightly in place, resulting in a very clean sound picture. The bass is far superior to the Sony, and is noticeably warmer. Bass drum strokes or double bass pizzicati sound nothing short of sensational. Instrumental colours are marvellously defined throughout the orchestral ranges. The level of detail is quite simply stunning. I am not exagerrating when I say that I've heard new things in nearly every disc I played until now (in an old-time favourite, Bernstein's DG recording of Stravinsky's Les Noces, I was bowled over by the precision with which the four piano's, which had always sounded as a single instrument to me, were individually separated). Interestingly, a sense of underlying energy is retained even in the softest passages; I notice that with this headphone large scale symphonic works may sound completely satisfying even when played at fairly low volume.

All in all, I am now extremely pleased with this acquisition. It is hard to imagine that headphone sound can be much better. Listening to a well-recorded disc (and beware! these cans will mercilessly reveal which discs aren't so well recorded) you can easily imagine yourself to be sitting in the concert hall.

As a postscript: I am less sure about the cable issue. Many HD650 owners advise the replacement of Sennheiser's stock cable with a Cardas cable. Now, I always have the feeling that in these more esoteric regions of audiophilia, there is somewhere a point where actual sound improvements become extremely minimal, and myth or even madness set in. Yet, as I was splurging anyway, for once I went the whole hog and bought myself the Cardas cable, too. Frankly; you don't really need it. I will not go so far as to say it doesn't make a difference; it does. There is, at times, an extra sparkle to the sound. But it certainly is not a prerequisite to fully enjoy the wonders of the HD650 (quite apart from the fact that the Cardas cable is a hideously ugly thing to behold, makes the phones far more cumbersome to wear, and unlike the thinner, more supple stock cable causes contact noise).

COMFORT: (Grade, B). The earcups are relatively deep, but not deep enough for ultimate comfort. Even after years of use, they don't let me forget that I have headphones on. On the other hand, the 650 feels much better than headphones with shallow cups that squash your ears (and make them sweat). The velour earpads can be replaced, which is good because they do wear down and attract dust. The ultra-soft, velvetlike velour is much better than pleather.

BUILD QUALITY: (Grade A-). The interior of the padded bridge is made of a hard, flexible metal that won't be cracking or breaking any time soon. The plastic bridge will break if you stretch it too much, so if you want to make the 650 less tight adjust the flexible metal NOT the plastic. The phones are sturdy without being heavy. After dropping them hard three or four times, they finally did require repairing, though. (One of the drivers got dislodged.) Still, these are very sturdy phones and don't feel cheap.

SOUND: (Grade, A-) Does the 650 have a "dark veil," as is often claimed? The 650 user's guide says: "In spite of all purism and the highest demands on precise sound reproduction . . . [t]oday many music-lovers want to feel the sound more instead of plainly analyzing it. The HD now captivates your senses where you used to be a mere observer. It allows total submersion into an ocean of music." I take this to mean that the main difference between the 650 and its HD predecessor is that it favors balance over precision. Some music tends to sound too bright (i.e., bass-impoverished) on headphones, so maybe Sennheiser tried to balance things by reinforcing the low end. Some people claim there is no dark veil, but then why does Sennheiser say "in spite of all purism"? It seems to me that Sennheiser is admitting that the 650 isn't neutral. The sound signature is warm, slightly dark, silky-smooth, and very easy on the ears. (I can listen to them for hours with no hearing fatigue.) However, when I upgraded my headphone amplifier to the Lehmannaudio Black Cube Linear, the 650 did become less dark. On the best recordings I own Lookin' for Love and Live in Tokyo there is a clarity that verges on the miraculous. Maybe the "there is no dark veil" crowd is right after all? And yet it sounds like the treble is rolled off, which is one of the reasons why the 650 is not ideal for classical in my opinion. It is almost always with classical music that I perceive the dark veil. In extreme cases, the dark warm sound turns into congested sound. As for the low frequencies: I find the bass satisfying, but it's not the deepest bass I've heard on headphones.

TO AMP OR NOT TO AMP: As long as you have a high-end home system with a good headphone jack (and a good recording), these phones sound pretty good. According to popular observation, however, the 650 should be "juiced up." So I got a headphone amp. Did it make a difference? Sure did. Amping enlivens, brightens, and tightens the sound. Originally, I used a Headroom Micro Amp, which was pretty good. However, eventually I upgraded to the Lehmann and it made a noticeable difference.

WHAT SOUNDS GOOD ON THESE PHONES AND WHAT DOESN'T: These headphones can be finicky, but they are not altogether unforgiving. In general, however, the 650 sounds good OR bad depending on the quality of the recording, They are best judged on the basis of state-of-the-art recordings. You might listen to a favorite piece of music and be disappointed with it on the 650 (I know I was). You will be tempted to blame the headphones, but the fault will likely be in the recording. Pop and rock that has been well recorded sounds mindbogglingly good on the 650. Classical music lovers might want to take a look at the Sennheiser HD800. The latter's angled drivers create a better orchestral soundstage. Speaking of soundstage . . .

SOUNDSTAGE: For symphonic music, the 650's soundstage is just too narrow in my opinion. It sounds like the orchestra is being pushed in from the sides. Upgrading my amp added a greater sense of depth (given the right recording you WILL get a 3-D soundstage), but not much was added in terms of horizontal space. Classical music doesn't envelope you on the 650 as it does with other headphones. A nice thing about the soundstage, though, is that somtimes instruments and voices sound like they are behind me, a nice effect when it happens. There is also no lack of vertical space.

Another criticism of these phones is that they put you at a distance from the music, "a few rows back," but I find that it largely depends on the recording. For example, listening to Lookin' for Love, Marlena Shaw's voice could hardly be closer. Very often, these headphones puts things right in the center of my head. But they are also good at placing instruments some distance away. It all depends on how the music was recorded.

BREAK-IN TIME: What is this stuff about "burning the phones in"? Is there any truth to it? I asked somebody at the HeadRoom company, which deals specifically with headphones and headphone gear. He said yes, the diaphragm has to loosen up a little to sound its best. Lesson: don't judge the 650s overnight. Give them a little time.

LEAKY: Thanks to the wide open grills, these are the leaky phones. They are not to be worn if you need to keep noise in or out.

CARDAS CABLE: You can replace the factory cable that comes with the 650 (just pull out the old and plug in the new). I chose to upgrade to the Cardas. Is the difference between the stock and Cardas cables that huge? The Cardas brightens the sound and adds clarity, but it is more unwieldy than the factory cable, which is lighter and more supple, so if you move around a lot while listening to your headphones save yourself some money and stick with the stock cable. The Cardas always seems to be in my way when I move around. I keep stepping on it, and it has caused the phones to drop to the floor several times. I find contact noise not to be a problem, although another reviewer complained abou that. The Cardas is thick and gray. Its color-coded (black/red) wires make it lootk like something from workshop: unpretentious and functional. But if you don't mind the unwieldiness or barebonesness of the Cardas and don't expect to move around a lot, I do suggest ugrading because it brightens up the sound. (I have been told that it's just the placebo effect, but I find that hard to believe.)

BOTTOM LINE: (Final Grade, A-). The 650 doesn't make me hate my speakers, but it's still an excellent choice for people who are serious about their music. To really hear what the 650 is capable of, be prepared to spend more on the amp than on the actual headphones. Depending on what I'm listening to, I find that sometimes these phones can be somewhat uninvolving and analytical. This is especially true when they are unamped (or improperly amped). Properly amped, however, they take on a speed and energy that makes them quite involving. Particularly considering their excellent price (compared to other high quality headphones), these are a great buy.

WARNING: After mailing my headphones to Sennheiser for repair, I was called and told there was a problem because they were not purchased from an authorized dealer. I purchased them brand new here at Amazon from ELECTRONICA DIRECT, a seller often featured right on the product page. Sennheiser told me that I probably purchased stolen phones. Shoppers who want the warranty honored SHOULD NOT BUY FROM ELECTRONICA DIRECT or any unauthorized dealer. Verify that the seller you are buying from is recognized by Sennheiser. Sennheiser was finally kind enough to repair (actually they replaced) the phones after I complained up the chain, but it was a hassle.

Rumor has it that Sennheiser will be introducing a new top of the line headphone early next year, so if you're not in a huge hurry, you might wait to see if the HD 650s will be dropped from the product line. If they are, you'll probably be able to pick up a pair at a reduced price.

The HD650s are great headphones, but they are not perfect. However, neither is anything else. I've (at one time or another) owned the top offerings from the "Big 3" makers of dynamic headphones: Sennheiser, AKG, and Grado. I've also tried Ultrasones. Each brand has a distinctive "house sound." Translation: some recordings will sound better on one brand than the others and vice-versa.

The 650s have a warm, laid-back sound...with a bit of hump in the bass frequencies. This is a mixed blessing. It helps out some recordings, but leaves others sounding a bit too bassy. If you are using them on a portable amp (which will have less prodigious bass than a home unit due to power supply limitations), the slight bass hump may really help the sound. On the upside, the midrange and high frequencies on the HD 650s are totally smooth, the phones have a great soundstage, and they are fairly comfortable. To get the most from them though, you will need a separate headphone amplifier.

I use my pair with an aftermarket Cardas cable. To my ears, the difference (and improvement) in reproduction was there from the start. The Cardas cable opened up the mid and high ranges over what I got with the stock cable. However, I can't say you won't be happy with the HD 650s without a replacement cable. We all hear things a bit differently due to the shapes of our outer ears. To some people, the Sennheiser line has a slightly veiled sound. A Grado will sound like you are on the front row or on the stage itself. A Sennheiser will place you a few rows back in the hall.

A bit further down, someone recommends the HD 600s over the HD 650s. I say try them both out. I find the high ranges on the 650s to sound a bit smoother and they are perhaps a bit more extended. On the other hand, the HD 600s do not have a bass hump. The differences in sound are apparent, so try both out if you can before buying.

Even though this review may strike the reader as being a bit negative, it's really not. My hope is that it's a realistic assessment from a listener who is not a fanboy or a pimp for any brand. Is the HD 650 the best dynamic headphone out there? Maybe... maybe not. Let your own ears be the judge. I love my HD 650s and can't see myself selling them anytime soon. However, I also own two other pairs of headphones from other manufacturers and find myself rotating between them all periodically.

Here's a quote from the Sennheiser HD650 owner's manual: "With the HD650, Sennheiser has followed the changes in the listening habits of music-lovers and the way in which they experience sound. In spite of all purism and the highest demands on precise sound reproduction, a slight change in listening behaviour is detectable. Today many music-lovers want to feel the sound more instead of plainly analysing it."

What they're admitting is that they have artificially flavored the HD650 with extra bass, beyond what is in any original recording.

Please note that this doesn't make the HD650s a bad headphone. They're not, they're great headphones, since they're related to the far less-colored HD600s and HD580's.

But unless you're a bass-freak, you may want to steer clear of the HD650's. The extra bass muddies up the midrange and treble. I've owned the Stax Classic electrostats and have owned the 580s, the 580 Jubilees, and the 650s, and vastly prefer the value-laden 580s or else the 600s.

This is one area where spending more money moves you backwards, not forwards.

My review should end there. But for those who need to know more, here's my take. My head-amp is a Musical Fidelity XCan-V3 and I use the Cardas replacement cable. I also own Sennheiser HD600s, AKG K701s and Beyerdynamic DT880s. Each has its special qualities, and all are superb. I listen mainly to classical music, so let's talk concert halls. The Sennheisers are like a "warm" 19th century hall: think Symphony Hall in Boston or the "old" (before the 90s refurbishment) Carnegie Hall. (The AKGs and Beyerdynamic phones are like a 20th century hall and are "airy" and exciting. In fact, the Beyerdynamic phones, to my ears, emphasize sibilants but are otherwise superb. The AKGs "throw the best soundstage" and their presentation almost seems as if it is coming from somewhere outside of my head, which is very unusual for a headphone and quite beguiling. If forced to choose, I'd probably narrow it down to the HD650s and the K701s.) As for any differences between the two Sennheisers, I prefer the HD650s. My HD600s are about 5 years old (I don't think I've put in more than 500 hours with them, though) and they sound slightly "grainy" compared to the HD650s. The HD650s respond to transients faster and are thereofore somewhat clearer and more involving, to my ears. Again, all of this is very subjective, but I was just listening (through the HD650s) to the new Abbado recording of Mozart's "Zauberflote" and I have never heard a celesta sound so beautiful and ethereal. But be forewarned: No matter what anyone says (and several professional reviewers claim that they are quite comfortable), the HD650s are a far tighter fit than the HD600s. They grasp the sides of my head with some force, but this becomes less acute after a few moments. I can also somewhat alleviate the pressure by pushing outward on the earcups from time to time and by adjusting the rake angle of the earcups so they they are angled more to the back of my head than to the front. I strongly recommend that you try them on for comfort before buying. (In contrast, the Beyerdynamic phones are extremely comfortable on my head, even more comfortable than the HD600s, and are just about the most comfortable "high-end" phones out there that I have tried, but the sibilant emphasis issue is important to me.) Remember these are headphones. First, if you're uncomfortable wearing them, they're likely to stay unused; and second, they may likely sound different to you than they do to me because our ears are shaped differently. It is very important to listen to headphones before you buy.

Just received my HD650's. Picked them up manufacturer refurbished for some decent $$$ savings from an authorized re-seller. My headphone amp (headroom portable micro) is due in next week so my rating is without a headphone amp. I am a Senn fan and own a couple pairs on top of the 650's (HD590 and PCX250 noise reduction). Compared to my 590's these have a much bigger sound stage and as previous posters have said you hear things in high quality recordings I never heard before with the HD590. As far as coloration goes or veiled response, I think that has to be a source material issue or equipment issue. Plugging these into my Marantz 8500 receiver and listening to an SACD or DVD-A is true bliss, just a little taste of heaven. MP3s sound great too, either plugged into the receiver or piped thru my logitec PC system (their top o line with separate headphone amp). Bought the portable amp for my ipod, figured it should increase my satisfaction with both the 650 and 590 while on the go. First time I tried the 650 was on a 256k MP3. The sound difference between the 590s and the 650s literally gave me chills and this is before the recommended "burn in".
I am by no means an expert, but love all kinds of music. Unfortunately (or fortunately) due to small kids and wife can't play my music at levels on my old AR9s like I used to. These HD650s are an awesome substitute. Pull the trigger on these and you will not regret it. They live up to the hype. Just make sure you buy them from an authorized reseller (like Amazon, not a third party seller) or the warranty is no good.

I have owned the HD650, HD600, AKG K701 for almost a year now. I have heard them being plugged into a soundblaster to a $3000 headphone amp... sources like the Benchmark DAC1. I have heard them with the OEM single ended cable to Equinox XLR balanced. I've even had the opportunity to build my own components: Opus dual mono DAC, AMB mini^3, Tangent PPAv2, AMB Beta22 during this adventure. The HD650 and 600 are my favorite. I preferred one over the other depending on the upstream equipment. They say the 650 are the most "scalable" cans out there - i strongly agree that they're sensitive to component changes.

From an [audiophile] perspective, price is irrelevant. They are Cheap being a flagship model: check price of Edition9s, GS1000, AD2000. Construction wise, they are solid. If you want something that can survive being run over by a truck, get Beyers. The cables are interchangeable & upgradeable. The headband will snap if you try to bend it (bend metal to adjust clamp...duh) Otherwise they are comfortable enough to keep on my head for hours.

The HD650 has awesome bass for an open can (could be a little tighter), it is not bloated and extends very deep when given balanced amplification. The 600 has better bass by a small margin. The HD650 has very extended highs, but is polite in this area (cymbals in some recordings exhibit this). It's difficult to make 650 sibilant (harsh S), but possible - tolerable even when it does. The 650 has above average headstage wider>deeper (a compromise to make it work with a larger range of music). It's very good at portraying details like ambiance and the recording area. Overall, the HD650 have an inherent flavor or coloring whatever you want to call it - they are very WARM sounding cans and a little laid back. Relative to other cans i have heard, 650 are actually close to neutral in terms of tonality. It's impossible for a headphone to do everything right. I think this is a very good shot at it.

The easiest way i can put this is that you should have the minimum decent equipment (generally not suited for portable use) otherwise the HD650 may sound bloated, veiled, non-energetic like the critics say. They still sound better than mid-fi headphones unless you try to run them straight out of a non-SQ oriented PMP (or anything non-SQ oriented for that matter). When the HD650 are fully balanced $$$, they shine. If you don't want to invest in those things, get the HD600 (much more forgiving) or other headphones because these aren't for you. For most people, i would recommend the HD600. Your ears may vary.

No, I don't have gifted "golden" ears, but am young enough (19 as I'm writing this) to have a proper hearing ability.
I have gone through so many headphones, from Skullcandy's G.I. (which IMO, sounds like a total crap), JVC (okay, but hurts if wore too long), to Sennheiser PXC 450 and finally Sennheiser HD650.

I'm not going to go deeply into its sound signature, and there are plenty of other reviews out there with fancy graphs and numbers (head-fi is a good source).

When I first bought the Sennheiser PXC450, I thought it was the best headphones I have ever heard, but after reading that HD650 is the king of Sennheiser under $1000, I decided to cough up some cash.
I bought this beast along with Fiio E7 and E9 combo amp, and couldn't be happier ever since.

FYI, this headphone IS open, so I can't listen to them when I'm studying in the library (because the sound leak will bother others around me)
This means that I have to go back to PXC 450 when I'm listening in public, which, btw is still fantastic. But after being so used to hearing the superior sound quality of HD650, even the PXC 450 sounds lackluster.

Also, if you are considering between HD650 and Dr. Dre Beats headphones, HD650 completely blows both Studio and Pro _combined_ out of water. Beats sure looks good, but pricing them in the same range as HD650 is a ridiculous rip-off. I'm not saying Beats sound terrible. They are actually quite decent, but for $300 to $400 you are paying, there are so many better choices out there, like Denon AH-D5000, AKG K701/K702, Beyerdynamic DT 880 (600 Ohms version), and Sennheiser HD650. These headphones MUST HAVE amps to be properly driven.

The build quality is excellent. Unlike Bose, Beats, and other headphones out there, almost entire headphone is made of metal and high quality plastic. The pictures does not really show its texture and color. When I saw the pictures on the Internet, I thought it looked kind of chunky, old, and dull, but when I held it in my own hands, it screamed quality and it was beautiful. It's definitely different "beautiful" from Beats Studio. While Beats is like modern, minimalistic beautiful, the HD650 is like your father's vintage Mercedes - classic beauty, full of authority.

The cables are removable, and after some research, I found out that there are third party cable makers that make replacement cables (that are supposedly superior than the stock cables) for HD650, but those cables cost more than a hundred dollars, and I doubt replacing the cables will improve the sound noticeably. Stock cables are fine for me.
The included case is a nice touch, but don't expect it to be useable for carrying your headphone around. The probability is, you will NOT be able fit the case inside most backpacks. The included 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch adapter is extremely useful when using the headphone with a portable amp (i.e. Fiio E7).

HD650 is also the most comfortable headphones that I ever had. The cushions have velvet-like texture. I like it even better than the PXC 450, which has plushier, faux-leather ear cups, but hurt my ears a little after 8+ hours of listening (if you actually think about it, eight hours is a VERY long time). I have small/narrow head, and thus, don't have any clamping complaints like some reviewers have.

I consider myself an under-budget music lover (audiophile), but I take my musics seriously enough to get the best out there (that I can afford). While HD650 is out of reach for many college students like myself, if you can get them, they are worth EVERY SINGLE PENNY! I liked mine without the burn-in time, but after the burn-in, I LOVE it! (and, no, I'm not a musics major/minor or sound engineering major/minor; I just love listening music)

I have listened to my music for the last few years using Paradigm Studios including the Signature sub woofer. I have come to appreciate the effortless sound produced by this system, not only its accuracy, but an exceptional soundstage as well. Headphones weren't generally necessary, but if they were, I did have an older pair of Denons. Well, my friend said she wanted my old Denons for her iPod, so I had a chance to look for something newer. I purchased the 650s. Simply said, get ready to hear what you've never heard previously. Good and bad. You hear the entire recording. Clearly. Incredible subtle nuances. You don't miss anything. Play your favorite SACD and it's like you purchased another recording.

As far as coloration, well to me that's subjective. If I were the engineer mixing the recording, I might believe they warmed up the sound just a small, small bit, but if I were listening just for the enjoyment, I'd say Sennheiser nailed it. Open. Transparent. Natural.

The only weakness, and I hesitate to call it that, is the sound stage. Although very accurate in their placement, the 650's don't match the depth and overall spatial presence of the Studios. But then again, with the 650s, I can turn my head or shift my seat and the soundstage doesn't float.

Folks, I'd say the Sennheiser 650s are a great investment !