Yoyo.
Immediate things I'm noticing:
HD650's - Holy shit, they require a lot of power! I have to max out the volume on my E7 and MacBook Pro, but it does get loud enough. These definitely grip the head. Gonna need to try them on a better amp. unfortunately, I sent my E9 to the wrong address, so it'll be awhile before I can try them out in the comfort of my own home with adequate amps. I might stroll over to the local Sam Ashe and run them out of their stuff. Oh, and now I know what it means to have an "open can". LOL @ isolation...and I definitely won't be jamming to Kanye when visiting family. :lol I'm finding the bass to be of acceptable quantity stock. Highs are smooth enough for me. Not shrill, which I always worry about. In fact, the highs are just spectacular. Listening to Lisa Gerrard in 'Gortoz A Ran' made me realize it. They're just amazing in that way. Best highs and clarity I've ever heard. They are NOT, however, the cans I'd want to go to for hip-hop or any kind of pop where I need/want to feel the rhythm. If they were my only cans, they'd be fine, but they're not so I wouldn't go to them. They're okay for that, but it's clearly not their strong suit. At least, not based on my current setup.
Concerns - Well the reason I've been so interested in the 650's is because I've been really interested in the increased sound stage that is supposed to accompany open cans and figured I mine as well get one of the best open cans if I'm going to do it. I'm not really sensing a significant improvement in sound stage broadness. Without that, I feel like a lot of the point is lost. Their clarity is the difference-maker right now. and they have just enough bass to keep me from wanting to put something else on my head.
D7000's - Require much less power to drive than the 650's. Like, 40% less to reach the same volume levels. I assume they are of the same impedance as the D5000/2000. Much better cable than the D5000/2000. Not stiff. From what I can tell driving them off my E7...I can't tell that much difference between them and the D5K/2K. They have less and slightly faster bass. But with that said, there is still considerably more bass than the HD650's. So pop, hip-hop, r&b and the like sound much more filling...and subsequently, fulfilling.
Concerns - Beyond that, I'm not hearing a lot to differentiate them from the others in the Denon lineup. I don't consider that a good start for the D7000s.
But again, I don't have my upgraded amp, so my judgement will be delayed until about this time next week...or unless I can post up at Sam Ashe for a few hours and do some work there while I experiment. I'm really surprised that the 650's need so much power. Not a problem, just didn't expect that they'd need more than the D7K's.
*all of these comments are while listening to them without any EQ or bass boosting from the E7. I'm sure the HD650's can satisfy my bass urges if I'm willing to EQ them. I'm not sure if the D7000s can reach the HD650's clarity. that may be a function of them being closed. I'm not sure.
