Music is a very personal thing, even more than movies, and games for that matter. People can be really particular about their kind of music and more importantly, how natural it sounds to them.

The Sennheiser HD 650s are a solid pair of headphones for at-home use.

INTRODUCTION I have had a hankering to see if I can find a better pair of headphones. Primarily, to use as a reference to evaluate source components and pre-amps, and also for personal use. I had purchased a Sennheiser HD497 several years ago, for about $50 USD and it has served me well so far.

We've strayed to the top end of Audiophile land and encountered something quite special. The HD650 headphones from Sennheiser managed to reveal new elements of tracks we'd listened too hundreds of times and that quite some feat!

Pure, natural sound. Reviewers describe music on the Sennheiser HD 650 headphones as smooth, natural and open. Bass is a particular strength, though some experts say that definition isn't the best, meaning that some sonic details occasionally get lost.

Excellent sound quality; Comfortable; Good bass

Bulky; Expensive; Sound leakage

Was very happy with these headphones and the service from DWI. Firstly, headphones supplied are totally genuine Sennheisers which was a relief and were delivered quickly. Extremely happy with the HD650s particularly their bass response.

Very few headphones deserve to be called a true "reference" but the HD650s are in very selected company of chosen masterpieces.

The Sennheiser HD-650 is an old flagship of the company now replaced by the HD-800s. Though said new flagship is almost triple the price. The HD-650s retail at 499 US Dollars. Like most things, these do go on sale but rarely.

The Sennheiser HD650 headphone has seen an enduring popularity among audiophiles for it's high price-to-performance ratio. But for $499, how much sound is this open-back headphone packing? And is it the...