When comparing Sennheiser HD 650 vs AKG K550, the Slant community recommends AKG K550 for most people. In the question“What are the best over/on ear headphones around $300?” AKG K550 is ranked 1st while Sennheiser HD 650 is ranked 2nd. The most important reason people chose AKG K550 is:
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Tight and punchy bass, clear with natural mids and highs
The sound signature is near neutral but with a little emphasis on the lower frequencies. The bass is slightly forward with good punch and tightness. Explosions will have good rumble, without overpowering the other frequencies.
The mids are warm and clear, adding extra body to the sound. Game dialogue will be easy to hear.
Highs have good clarity, but are not forward in any way, so harshness is minimized.
Pro Lightweight and comfortable with a near neutral sound signature
The H650 is popular for its near neutral sound, which makes it quite versatile. The headphones can give a great casual listening, gaming, and movie watching experience yet are accurate enough for pro audio mixing. They are also lightweight and comfortable so you won't have any issues wearing them for hours.
Pro Comfortable even when used for hours straight
Clamping force is not too tight. The ear pads and headband feature memory foam which are covered by velour material. The pads feel really soft on the head and allow airflow for minimized heat build-up/sweat.
The headband also features similar cushioning materials and minimizes pressure spots on the head.
Pro Decent soundstage
The open ear cup design allows the sound to blend with your surroundings, giving it a natural width. It will also be easier to identify the direction of sounds, which can really help immersion.
Pro Lightweight for full-sized headphones
The HD-650s do not feel heavy at all. They are usable for long music listening, movie or gaming sessions without feeling pain or strain on their head and neck.
Pro Headphone cable can easily be replaced
While the cable connectors are proprietary, they can easily be removed from the ear cups with a firm pull. The popularity of these headphones means that there are a lot of aftermarket cables that can be bought.
Pro Neutral sound signature
These headphones have a really flat sound to them. The bass is not overbearing yet does make its presence felt in the music. The mids and highs also share the same character of accuracy and neutrality, with some users reporting that the highs are boosted by just a very tiny bit. This makes the headphones a great option if you want to mix music using a closed back pair of headphones.
Pro Great build quality
These headphones are built really well. When holding them, you can tell that you have a premium product in your hands. The build features a mix of high quality plastics and metal. These headphones also have a hefty feel to them which certainly reinforces the impression that this is a premium product.
Pro Comfortable
These headphones are very comfortable to wear. The comfort is achieve through the use of high quality synthetic leather on the ear pads and headband which make the headphones' contact points with your body feel nice and smooth. The ear pads also feature memory foam material which provides a lot of cushioning.
Pro They compete with headphones that cost twice or thrice as much
Many people prefer these headphones to giants in the market like the Sehneiser HD 600, HD 650, HD800, Beyerdynamic P70, or even the T1.
Pro Good sound isolation
Being closed back headphones, the AKG K550 are able to effectively keep the sound from leaking out. This makes the headphone great for use in quiet environments.
Pro Spatial representation
They have a spatial representation unheard of before in closed back headphones.
Pro Bass extension
These headphones extend the sound reproduction to frequencies lower than most.
Cons
Con Sound leak can be a distraction for others
The open design means that a lot of sound can leak out the ear cups. Other people in your immediate vicinity will be able to hear your music, movie or game, which can be annoying for them.
Con Requires a headphone amp for optimal sound
Plugging these directly to your computer or phone will most likely result in audio that is lacking in volume or may sound too thin. To get the best listening experience, you will need to run these with a capable headphone amp.
Con Has some ear pad-sealing issues
Some users report that these headphones do not seal well on their ears, which makes the sound come off as lean and lacking in power. This issue can be attributed to the softness or size of the ear pads. It would be best then for you to try these headphones first before buying for you to ascertain if these seal well on your ears.
Con Large and heavy
While the weight can give these headphones a premium quality feel, this also can put a lot of strain to a user's head. If you prefer really light headphones then these may not be the ones for you.
Con Hard wired cable
You cannot detach the cord.