Hi, I'll be getting some hd 650 headphones for mixing 70% of my music on but occasionally checking on my monitors, the reason for this is because I have an untreated room which is only 65 square foot, so until I get some proper treatment most of my mixing will be done in the hd 650's, while occasionaly checking on my monitors. I just wondered if anyone here has any experience mixing with, or partly with the hd 650's and how well the final mix translates to other systems.

Also consider Beyerdynamic DT series. GREAT cans there.

You want a very FLAT "honest" headphone. Something that does not color the sound in any way. I use a GOOD set of Audio-Technicas. Made a world of difference.

Read this:
Mixing with Headphones | Samplecraze - The Science of Sound | Tutorials | Books | Videos

Then read this:
Studio Headphones

Try before you buy if you can. Make sure they are comfortable.

Make sure they are FLAT.

Thanks, i'll take a look at them now

I've used the HD650s for mixing a lot and I've had good results. I chose them because they sounded clearly more balanced and detailed than any of the other headphones I auditioned, which I think was the Beyerdynaimcs DT-880 Pro and AKG K-702 models. As I recall they sounded a lot more like what I was hearing from monitors (Dynaudio BM6 and some high end Genelec). Just more natural.

The main thing though, for me, is that they sound splendid and are quite detailed which make them a pleasure to work with. So far, anything I've made on them that sounded good has sounded good on other systems, so I can't complain about their performance for actually mixing either.

I don't have a lot of experience in mixing though, and have only been producing my own demos with them, so for higher level skills/tasks maybe something more honest could be easier to work with. They do have a potentially disruptive peak in the higher registers but their bass response and mid range definition is great.

The only other phones I've actually worked with myself are K-702s, and I much prefer my HD650s, for both comfort and sound.

I will add that HD650s benefit from good amplification. I've a decent amp in my interface and they sound very nice through it, but I've read more than one recommendation to invest in a good stand alone headphone amp. Also, they sound like shit through my phone

Also, my advice to you is, listen to what you can and buy the ones you like. They're all good, as long as you like them. If you can't listen before you buy, just get the HD650s

Do some research on here. Most find the HD600 to be flatter but both are excellent.

Audeze LCD-2 are much better than Sennheiser, check em out.

I have the HD650s and on occasion with low volume, have taken off my cans and transitioned to the monitor mix (Adam A7X) and noticed virtually zero difference...

It of course depends on the music you're making, but if you really need to gauge the bass, then you defo have to beat it out in a treated room loud to understand it.

I use my cans 70% of the time, and low level match with my monitors to get 80% of the way there, but when I'm mixing for real, I have to use a treated room.

You will need an amp if you go with the 650's

and also $1,000 more expensive than the 650s

Get an amp. My HD600's sound like ass coming out of my interface headphone out.

Is this due to an impedance issue, or purely a lack of gain? I was never satisfied mixing with my HD600s, I'm wondering if this was the problem.

They are a lot better than HD650. However you can find them used for $600~. That is $200 more than new HD650.

True Dat, mine sound like sony headphones from the 1980's unless you amp that mother...lol

You may or may not need a headphone amp.

I have a pair of HD800's, and they sound just as good plugged into my RME Fireface UFX as when I use a very expensive headphone amp I was persuaded to buy.

Thanks for the replies, I think i'll be going for the hd 650's then as people seem to have a positive experience with them. Unfortunately I can't afford an amp as well, so i'll be running the through my focusrite saffire 6, hopefully it will sound ok until I get a amp!

Well if you want to compare used headphones which is gross, you can buy used hd650s for less than $275

Absolutely nothing gross about it if you swap ear pads..

That's subjective. I prefer to keep heapdhones to myself, don't want your nasty ear and head / hair junk on my cans.

Or common sense. You're not going to catch ebola from a headphone.

Well this escalated quickly

HD650's sound fine through my interface. Regardless ... after 30+ yrs doing this, I'd prefer not to be mixing in headphones ... maybe tweaks and panning checks.

As always ... YMMV

That's exactly what a west african used headphone salesman would say

And anyway the grossness doesn't matter, my point about comparing used goods still stands

I've got HD650's, Amperion's (HD25's) and a pair of Neuman KH120s.
The 650s sound quite close to the KH120s. I would sometimes find myself adding a bit too much bass when mixing onthe 650s as try are pretty flat, neutral and you could say a little 'boring' which isn't a bad thing.
But now with the 25s I can listen to a pair of phones with more of a club vibe when that's the mood I'm in. And I use tem for playing live too. I find the 25s give me a better guide to getting the bass right while actually enjoying it.

FWIW I demo'd a lot of mid-priced headphones and the Audio Technica ATH M50X were night and day better than all the others I listened to at around the £150 mark

I use typically only a pair of HD650's for mixing. I have also Yamaha HS7's, but not possible to fully use them in my apartment due to stupid neighbours. I have modified my HD650's by taking off the foam at the back of the coil. After that, they sound much closer to nice monitors, totally different, HUGE. Great for mixing, best that I have ever used. Google for the sennheiser modification in the internet.

^will do. Thanks for the tip

Whatever you're ending up buying...consider buying the Superlux HD 668B as well :-)....they're only $35 (I paid 26 euro shipping included). I bought this as second pair to have another point of reference but ending up using this all the time.
I was going to buy a Senheisser HD650 or HD700 or even a HD800 due to moving my studio and not having space for acoustic treatment.
I went out and listened to the HD700 but somehow could not be bothered with buying it. Sure, it sounded good and all, but so does the Superlux...really a no brainer...

I have the HD650 now, had them for years. Had the HD600 for several years before that. Both are great, but my advice would be to go for the HD600's as they are flatter and have a more natural response than the HD650's. So for mixing I think that the HD600 are better, and they are cheaper too!