Considering people outside of very major worldwide cities can’t just demo an expensive amp… how do you take the plunge? For example, I have some (basic, I know) HD6XX’s . To be honest, they don’t sound all that amazing powered by an iPhone, PC or Schitt Amp. Is it just sunken cost that gets people to buy more and more expensive amps and headphones until it either sounds better or you’re so deep that you can’t back out?
Never tried 6xx but wasn’t a fan of HD650 compared to DT880.
No doubt they’re competent, but the snowball effect of being a common first foray into hifi, the praise/purchases driven by internet popularity have probably placed them on a bit of a pedalstool.
Not liking what is most popular doesn’t mean you lack an ear for hi-fi. Personally if I consider the harman curve or FR tunings/eq profiles created by popular community authorities what is popular often sound dull, stodgy and bloated to my ears.