The cable ends that connect to each headphone are cheap molded plastic and can't be repaired if damaged

As for the build quality: they have no premium look, the plastic may be sturdy but looks cheap

Doing the same thing to the HD598 (which utilizes conventional ABS plastic) reveals a hollow plastic sound.

I figured I would upgrade to the 650s due to their reputation and also the fact that they don't have that cheap plastic on the side

The Grado cups were made of some horrible, scratchy plastic that instantly irritated the ears.

The 595s sounded great but had cheap plastic on the sides which eventually broke on 2 different pairs I had (as I would find out later googling this was a common issue with them

I have owned a lot of headphones that use cheap plastic that cracks, pleather that flakes and peels, and rubber coatings that wear and get sticky

There are plenty of horror stories of the headband's hard plastic simply snapping in half

The external headphone ear cups are made of highly durable plastic material and the outside headband is also made of this material

Though all plastic, they feel very sturdy and look quite sexy

The headphones were nice enough to put the Braille letter L on the left side but the cable has no such thing.

If you like a laid-back, really mellow phone with no personality, you might like these

I am etiher getting accustomed to the sound or they are improving as I use them more

In excellent condition as well--almost as if they were never opened :D Thank you!

So I looked at Sennheiser other phones as well as

and I absolutely love them months after purchasing just as much as I did the first day.

The HD650's may not have the fancy technologies of orthodynamic or electrostatic units, nor the pricey parts and accessories, but they definitely sound nearly as good and even better in some ways

I have found they sound marvelous with vintage Marantz receivers that can be obtained inexpensively, as well as from modern dedicated headphone amps

It's difficult to make 650 sibilant (harsh S), but possible - tolerable even when it does.