I’ve been using the Sennheiser hd650/6xx for a while now and adore the way they sound with vocals and can’t see an upgrade to them (tonality wise). I am currently running my 650s off a liquid spark and topping d10s where I’ve seen people rave about the requirement of using a tube amp with the Sennheiser 6x0 line, while some claiming to have no difference or minimal difference between solid-state and tube.
I am currently considering a little dot mk2 as my first tube amp (yes, I do intend to upgrade the tubes) but I had noticed someone selling the Hifiman Ananda used (or I would buy a he400se/Sundara new), where I think the Ananda would complement the 650 well with better bass response and detail (being cooler in tonality) as sometimes the 650s can seem a little dark.
I’m just unsure if it’s worth justifying getting a tube amp to improve my experience with the 650s, where I intend for the tube amp to add slightly more bass impact, treble extension and smoothness to the 650s, or to go for a different sound signature to keep my 650s refreshing.
If anyone has been in this dilemma what did you choose?
(Most headphones I’ve tried all seem to sound unnatural and less engaging vs the 650s so I’m kind of hesitant of getting a different sound signature)
I would love to have a Bottlehead Crack or a Darkvoice but those are way too big and can’t fit them on my desk which is the main reason I am considering the little dot mk2 instead, but thanks for the suggestion I wish tube amps weren’t so damn big. Would you mind explaining your experience with a tube amp?
Tubes lifts the sennheiser veil. You need tubes. It’s better than solid state in every way. The soundstage. The dynamic range increase, even more lush mid range, treble extension
Ok thanks for the reply, I think I will get the little dot instead of a the Hifimans I will try the stock tubes on the little dot before buying a new set to see if I like them. At least I won’t know what I’m missing out on with the Ananda/Sundara (although the 650s are pretty much perfect), Ignorance is key to enjoyment…
It is definitely. You’ll enjoy them so much. I remember my first time hearing them on tubes and bursting out “these aren’t even the same headphone anymore”
They’re that good on a tube. Honestly the sundara while having more bass and being very organic tonally. It sometimes just feels like a planar HD650. I prefer the 650 over all.
On a tube they pull away from the sundara anyway. The Sundara to catch up need some serious top end amps to get every bit out of it. Whereas a tube amp seems to put the 650 right to end game. Sounds a lot like the Aeolus. A lot.
Of course not! So the reason I recommend BHC or sth at its level is because I’ve tried a couple cheaper ones (not the LD MK2 tho) and I didn’t find them very satisfactory. To my ears some of the more entry tube amps, tend to do what many call it a “tubey sound” (typically reviewers” which you can definitely hear a difference, but I’m not sure if it’s a good one. My problem was that it kinda muddied the sound but adding some bloat in the bass and makes the mid super grainy. Imo decent tube amps shouldn’t be like this, they should be able to provide “tube sound” without sacrificing much of the performance seen on SS amps (but of course they are expensive). I don’t have any more expensive ones so I won’t know how good they can go, but at least something like the BHC is probably the first and only one that I’ve found satisfactory, that is, in terms of both sound and technicalities, and BHC is probably known for best bang for buck budget tube amps.
Thanks for the different perspective, from reading around most people say the little dot mk2 isn’t super “tubey” when compared to a Darkvoice, with DMS claiming it to be easier to digest, so I think going to the little dot should be fine as an entry to tubes. I agree the bottle head crack is the better amp and looks better, so if the little dot doesn’t work out I know the next amp I should get, just need to figure out how to fit it onto my desk and learn how to solder…
if you get to that point, let us know! lots of us have soldered plenty
one benefit of the little dot mk II over the bottlehead crack is headphone compatibility. little dot mk II plays well with lower impedance headphones that the bottlehead does not.
