I know that's right. I like Zeos, but he tends to ramble for 30 mins before getting to the actual meat and potatoes of what you clicked for. Though I guess to some they like that type of review quality.
They’ve been a great start to my audioholicism, well worth the five month wait. After reading and watching EVERY 6XX and 650 review I was surprised how good, and how loud they sound straight from my iPhone and iPad. They improve maybe 10% through my Amp/Dac, especially the lower frequencies, but it’s not night and day like I had been led to believe.
Would you use a mayflower ARC for the HD6XX because I really only game and listen to some music, but since I’m gaming I’m thinking of getting a Modmic 5.0 and the ARC has the mic input. So just wondering if the ARC is a good choice. Thank you
Are you sure ? Because the HD 6XX and 650 does not sound good because at higher volume it sounds too flat in certain frequencies and also there is this thing call harmonic distortion. Of course when plug in to my smartphone and laptop. Also, every dac sound different in various phone and computer
I got mine a couple of days ago, absolutely brilliant for casual listening and gaming (at least for shooters like R6 Siege, CSGO and BF1 as the imaging leads to quite stunningly accurate representation of footsteps). This is better than the HD600 for the stuff I listed above but not for professional use.
I am just now beginning my audio journey. I really didn't know what I was missing out on until I had my cousins headphones on and the music actually blew my mind. I was hearing songs in ways I had never heard them the 1000 times before. It almost brought a tear to my eye as corny as that sounds. I just can't go back to my cheap 50 dollar gaming headphones. lol Got a little extra Christmas money and so I thought I would upgrade while I have the spare money to do so. After reading many articles and finishing by watching your video I just finished ordering me a pair of these online. The next 3-4 days are going to feel like anticipating Christmass all over again, maybe even more. lol So I appreciate this video. Great explanation, and gets straight to the point. Now I am all worried about what amp I am going to purchase down the line, but I'll leave that for another day. lol Appreciate the great video. I hope you and anyone who happens to read this is having an amazing/positive day/night!
Just wanted to say thank you for doing all these reviews. They've been very helpful in picking out a new set of cans. As I wait for my HD6XX to arrive, this video made me feel good about the purchase. If nothing else, at least I'll have heard it for comparison purposes. Keep up the good work.
My favourite thing about these headphones is how I can listen to music/audio for hours and not fee any fatigue. The sounds fee natural. I’m not an audiophile and so I can’t describe them as reviewers. But I think people can relate who are also not audiophiles like me.
Instead of buying the HD 650s, a few years ago I just ordered the individual parts to the headphones from Sennheiser. Then I found some broken HD 580s on ebay, I used that for the headband since its the same. Spray painted, personalized them, saved over $100. My favorite pair of headphones. :D
I have tested the 6xx next to my 650s. I can confirm the sound is very similar (if not exactly the same). The headband is different; the 6xx feels cheaper.
I got these a few weeks ago and they sound pretty much as I suspected. The 6xxs are not as comfortable as I thought they would be (top of the head). These are what I was looking for for sound, warm, soft, extremely pleasing. I would definitely say they ARE veiled and not overly detailed but I'm a middle aged guitar player and my hearing is not the best. I have only run them off a little bear b4 tube amp so an amp upgrade is in order. the 6xxs are definitely the best headphone I have owned for vocals and slam. I don't think most people would be disappointed in bass quantity or quality. I definitely notice the narrower soundstage but it sounds so good overall I don't miss it. I will need to break them in more and get an upgrade amp but I'm perfectly happy. funnily, I was listening to the ksc75s today and despite the sometimes grainy highs I like them equally to the 6xxs. upgraditis is a bitch.
Just got my HD6XX today and I'm in love with it! I recently got the Kanas Pro IEM and thought...I would love to have a headphone with the same sound signature, a laid back smooth yet detailed sound...the HD6XX by reviews sounded like it and now that I've heard it, I would say that it is exactly what I was looking for and then some. They took my now favorite sound signature refined it even more than I thought possible. Probably the last headphone I'm going to buy for a few years and I have zero regrets!
I ordered a pair of Sennheiser 650's and really like them. Great detailed sound and yes the headphones make vocals sound very crisp and good depth to them. Wish i had known about these but i might buy a pair of HD6XX's for every day use.
I've had these for close to two years now and I have tried both styles of Amps and my perfered one is the tube I just love the warmer tone it gives and it has become my staple for every headphone I buy.
Picked up a "as new" pair of these today for under USD 130. Initial impression great. Prefer these to the HD560s have been using the last year or so. Nicely paired with an iFi stack.
This is the second video of yours that I have watched. I am now a subscriber. I have the HD650 and the Grado SR125 and enjoy them both even though they seem to be on opposite sides of the sound field, variety is the spice of life.... They are paired with (and I would live your opinion) Little dot Dac2 and the little dot MKIII tube amp.....
I like your review. I think a narrow soundstage is good if it's suppose to be a intimate headphone, that's what intimate is suppose to sound like. I sold mine a few months back but I want to buy again.
I have HD58X and now I have HD6XX after all these months , First of all I have to say Build Quality is WAAAAY better on HD6XX I know its strange but its true , I got HD58X first and I got bad quality plastic that I got squeak noises and some harsh plastic endings also the pads was very stiff and bad shaped , When I first open my HD6XX I was expecting the same build quality like HD58X , but I was surprised plastic are very good refined and there are no squeak noises , the pads are good shaped and softer and bigger . About Sound , keeping it short HD6XX are cleaner to me more warm , and HD58X are brighter with deeper bass.
Just got mine and the Schiit Fulla 2 is on the way. From what I can tell right now, an amp is absolutely needed because the volume they can reach from just my pc is not nearly high enough if you like to listen to music at high volume.
Bought this last year and paired it with schitt magni 3. Probably gonna be the headphone that I'll be using for the rest of my life. I am not an audiophile but I appreciate neutral and high end audio. Get it cuz they are super worth it. After a year, the metal band and the earpads kinda loosens a bit, and they are basically gloves to my head now. Oh and yeah, the sound stage and bass expand quite a bit after using it daily SO yeah, give it some time.
HE4XX, HD58X and HD6XX in one single week. Wife was questioning my sanity after HD800 last year, now I am certified. Have to expedite my headphone switch box ASAP...
@a b In my opinion, No. HD58X is too bassy and a bit muddy for my liking, I find HD6XX much more neutral and cleaner. Side note: My HE4XX already failed less than an year, some loose connection inside, poor quality for price paid.
2 months after getting my 6xx im loving it everyday best purchase for me. Eq'd it using peace with innerfidelity auto eq settings and the bass came out 😁
660s has does not have the foam in the center around the driver, a very common mod for hd 600 and 650. people do that in order to remove some of that "sennheiser veil"
I have owned the HD650 for 10 years. They are an amazing good headphone as is the HD6XX. However due to their high impedance design, a dedicated headphone amp (minimum) and if possible a separate dedicated DAC is a must. Most headphone amps that have a build in DAC, come with usually a crap quality one. For example, my Musical Fidelity M1 Headphone amp, which retailed for $1000 in Australia (with USB digital input), sounded very mediocre, until I added a separate high quality DAC to the headphone amp (the Musical Fidelity A3-24 DAC). I read HiFi reviews on the HD650, sometimes criticizing them as 'dark'- total bollocks when set up correctly!!
Damn 6xx costs $240 in 2022. That hurts... I remember how it was avialable for $160 3 years ago. At this point it doesn't make much sense to buy it if you are European: 650 costs around 300 Euro but when ordering 6xx you would have to pay +20% tax and custom fees anyway. And you can get 650 right away instead of waiting for 6xx for 3 weeks. I own 58X and it was a true golden deal when I bought it for $120.
Came here again to let you all know that after 8 months of owning these headphones i can comfortably say there 100% worth the money. No question about it. I've heard amazing headphones, I've compaired this to a couple headphones a while back. There are better headphones (yes really) but for the price. These are still 100% one of the best headphones to get into quality audio. Go get em! And enjoy the sennheiser sound 💯
@@EverythingisFire think about it hard first! The jubilee's are great too. Both great headphones, both amazing value. (In case you haven't seen some video's about the jubiliee's appearently you can take out the layer between the driver and the shell to make them sound more like the 660's) I'd try that out first 💯
I tried the 650s (new drivers) with a HDVD800 and I really hated it for some reason :P I wanted them because I heard they are amazing with vocal based Metal (Iron Maiden) but when I tried them with Hallowed be thy name it only made everything more recessed.
Great review as allways! Never heard hd650s , I had hd600 and HD 700 which I sold , currently I have Hd555 ,HD565,HD580 and HD660s , would love to know how they compare to 660s and the new massdrop HD58X. Thanks
My old hd560 headphones are the same way. They do work better with a good amp and sound great with a tube amp. The only problem with my 20 plus year old Sennheisers is the cord. They could have used a better cord. Thanks for this helpful video. I am looking to purchase a new set. I don't mind the old ones but they no longer make the cords. Thanks and have a good day.
Wow. This is pretty decent production value, but after watching your current stuff, it's a bit of a shock. It sounds like you have since gotten a new mic these days that makes your voice sound more bassy and cleaner. Your transitions have gotten much cleaner too.
Great review. In fact, I ordered a pair of the 6XX's after your review, in my search for some true "audiophile headphones". I already own some Philips Fidelio X2's which I have found to be very good and a significant step-up from the previous cans, the Audio Technica M50's (which I never really liked). However, my search is still on. The 6XX's are good, give a very pleasing sound, which is very detailed and clear, but when it comes to soundstage they are very flat indeed, especially compared to the X2's. It's made me realize how just how good the X2's are and they actually cheaper. I haven't tried the 6XX's with tubes though. Not too disappointed with my purchase as a second set of cans is good to have. But where to go next?
By the way Sennheiser has NEW HD650 and NEW HD600 series with updated Plastics and some tune in the same drivers . You can see that you have the NEW 2019 HD650 and HD600 series by the headband Sennheiser LOGO and better quality plastics.
Hi Joshua, so how do these sound in comparison to the HiFiMan XS headphones? I have had great luck with Sennheiser so far, and I tend to listen to a warmer sound sig (not basehead warm). I also run a Fulla Schiit and a Topping DX3 Pro+. Thank you Joshua!
Best deal in headphones. Hands down. The 650's have been at the top of the audiophile headphone list since their release in the early 2000's. They'll last for a long time, and all parts are replaceable. The 600 & 650 are legends. - Both brighter than the new 660s, and not as meaty/beefy from the mids through the low mids. The 660s sounds a bit different than the similar 600 & 650. If you love headphones, don't hesitate. Get a pair.
Great content review Josh Massdrop brought them back the HD 6XX still debating if I want to pull the trigger and what dac/amp are recommended to powered the HD 6XX
Great review josh. Your experience is swiftly increasing and you are great technically already. Only thing that i would argue against you is that it is actually absolutely worth getting the 660s over this. Here's why It has stellar imaging and better resolution in highs which makes for an even more engaging experience of that sennheiser house sound. Plus it's stellar for gaming as well cuz of that imaging. Lets say you buy 6xx, i guarantee you no matter who you are, you will seek a better version of that sound, a lot of people bought hd800 not for what it was but they thought it was a better hd600 when hd800 came out first. So i'd argue skip this, get 660s, or if u don't wanna spend more money, 58x actually turned out to be a more neutral hp. 6xx i'd say for someone who really really is gonna just listen to jazz and soul and blues on tubes all the time. Great work man. I enjoy watching the journey you are taking as i am on my own quest. Cheers.
I see your points. Honestly they are totally fair. But, I think cost, performance, etc, is circumstantial to each person. Maybe they don't want that extra 5% enough or don't have the coin. Could be a number of reasons, and I think the reasons why NOT out way the reasons TO. Either way, both ways make sense. Just depends on the individual. Thanks man!
They are such a fantastic all around headphone. You say you should get the 660s over the 6xx/650 cuz it has stellar imaging. I have listened to both and both have stellar imaging, it is definitely not something the 660s does better..It is definitely more there in the highs but sacrifices some of that warmth and classic sennheiser sound, the opposite of what you said....Have you actually listened to these or what? Because the general consensus is the 660s is a sidegrade, much like the 650 is to the 600. People are still arguing about the 600 vs 650, and now you can add 660 to that list. Lots of people have tried to seek a "better version of that sound" and for me the 660s was not it. It lost some of that smoothness in the midrange. You making suggestions to skip this and go for something hundreds of dollars more expensive or go for the 58x instead just sounds like you are opposing just because you can. 650 is such an amazing all rounder it is almost an insult to just limit it to jazz with tubes. People have been trying to find a can that doesn't just do one thing better but everything better than the 650s, and that's not an easy feat even with very high end cans. It's easy to find a headphone that does something better like 660s with highs, or some others with bass, so on...But to find a headphone that does EVERYTHING better? Not easy, unless you like spending a couple grand. That's why they are so legendary.
Fair enough, just curious, what by your idea makes the 660s worth like over twice as much? Certainly isn't the highs, and from my comparison the two things the 660s do better is slight treble extension and a faster tighter bass response, while losing some of that midrange warmth and vocal clarity and rich midbass growl the 650s do effortlessly. They certainly don't have more sub bass, which is what a lot of people were actualy hoping/expecting from the 660s (myself included) but it isn't the case.
J i will make a video on that sometime in the future but to tell you shortly, when i heard 660s and the way the sound hit me, i would have absolutely, in a hearbeat sold the 600/650 if i still owned them. Everything was better.
I'm trying to put together a dedicated headphone setup. Just ordered the Modi. However, I'm hesitant to get the Magni 3 as @300ohms, it's only 410mw. I tend to listen at higher volumes depending on the music. I really don't want anything less than true (budget) audiophile gear. Schiit is very appealing especially in that you can slowly add their gear without selling your house. I just don't feel that 410mw of juice is going to be quite enough. Any suggestions on what would be under $200 and basically a Schiit Modi but with a little more juice that'll amply power these 6xx's? Love the show!
Hey Josh, really love your content! So informative. Im a streamer looking to upgrade to a pair of nice sounding headphones that I can wear for long periods of time. Currently use a gaming headset but looking to upgrade to something more audiophile focused as I don't need a headset mic. I have a GoXLR that has a decent headphone amp. Budget of $500 or below. Would love some suggestions!
idk much about headphones but I've heard from many people that HyperX Cloud Alphas are really good, the microphone on them is detachable if you dont want to use it
Hi, nice review about HD6XX. Recently I bought this headphone and I like the sound signature of it. Now I need more lush sound, warmer, some more wider sound stage, and more bass. Can you able to suggest some good amplifier to pair with the headphones.
will you be reviewing all massdrop headphones , the stand out ones like focal elex or fostex tr x00 as examples, ive been enjoying the massdrop headphones already got 3 in a short space of time, this audiophile game is addictive and dam expensive lol
I am starting to get into this world of hi fi audio and i wanted to know, or if you would recommend me changing from b&o play h9 to the 6xx. I know they are from different worlds, different design open vs close back, basically different everything, but could you say is worth the change?
Hi Joshua, one quick question I am thinking in upgrade my open backs from SHP9500 to HD6XX I would like to know if the Ifi Nano would be able to drive them or not, in that case what would be a good replacement that can be drive with the ifi. Also if you have a suggestion to upgrade the ATH m40x that would be welcome too. Regards
Hey Joshua, did you get a pair of the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee? I’m curious to hear your take on it, since you just reviewed these. My 6XX were my main cans, but now the 58X has replaced them. I’ll see if I can buy another pair, and send them to you for review.
Given that both drops (that I'm aware of) were fully subscribed in record time and almost 3000 people have registered their interest in another drop, the best source for a pair appears to be EBay / Used forums. Happy to hear otherwise.
i Had the 650's and found them missing treble. as in Notes in songs were missing. sold them off. then comes Metal571 who says old flatten pads alter treble response. Dammit! they were a used pair.
Being a audiophile newbie, I didn't have a pc capable of driving my HD6XX. I bought the Fulla 2, but found that the volume wasn't very good at driving the headphone. I paired the fulla 2 with a Magni and that really made a big difference.
i been looking for a planar that can be powered by a cellphone. i think these types need amps/dacs. maybe? idk. been dying/patiently waiting for the panda thx. i should include music genres. I'm more into hip hop, rap, edm, alternative. pop.
Hey Joshua, I really need your help. I have Fiio X7 MK2 with AM3D(THX) Amp Module + HD 6XX. And I do feel like my setup is not being able to drive the HD 6XX to its full potential. i was looking to buy Fiio Q5s or the Magni 3 but I didnt get any clear idea even after reading tons of reviews on the internet. I am open to go for Tube amps also if that could help sound better. I was thinking of, i. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + AM3(Stock AMP) + Q5S + AM3D(THX AMP) + HD 6XX ii. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + AM3D(THX AMP)+ Magni 3 / O2 + HD 6XX iii. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + [all other possible options ] + HD 6XX please help. Please suggest how to make the HD 6XX sound best with Fiio X7 MK2 with AM3D sound its best.
How do these compare to the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros? I found that the 990 has harsh highs and sometimes I just can't use them. I'm looking to replace them soon. Hope you're well!
I have the bose qc35 ii and listen to music on my IPhone, so I just was wondering if I should buy these or not seeing as how I don’t have great audio equipment to get the most out of the headphones.
Riant without a proper dac/amp combo (desksize or powerful portable amp atleast) I would NOT recommend going for these Sennheiser headphones. You can try something like the Sony MDR-1A/1AM2 or Audio Technica MSR7 instead - those are good headphones to begin with.
Ciao Joshua ,I'm MAssimiliano from Italy just a question what do you think about a comparison by Senheiser HD 560 S and Senn DRop HD 6XX ? what's the best they're both neutrral. I think that I choose not a good headphone for my Stereo HIFI ,pls the very truth + pros and cons. thx in advance a many greetings ,you're the best. ciao
Did you find something? You'd have to look up reviews for them but Fiio, Xduoo, SMSL, Aune & Topping make portable dac/amp combos that will stack with smartphones well.
These aren’t really neutral headphones. They dial down in the range where people perceive harshness but it also causes a bit of a veil to the sound. Their mid-centered headphones that do a lot right and until the HD58X, were perhaps the best headphones $250 or less.
The first background synth song is called “Night Stalker” by Wave Saver, for anyone looking
Ty bro
It’s actually She’s a badass according to my shazam
time footstep for me:
2:05 Build
2:56 Power
4:06 Sound
10:16 Conclusion
and... thank you for your review.
Yeah I waited 3 months. Worth the $199 price tag.
Call's it a longer Video
*Laughs in Zeos*
I know that's right. I like Zeos, but he tends to ramble for 30 mins before getting to the actual meat and potatoes of what you clicked for. Though I guess to some they like that type of review quality.
They’ve been a great start to my audioholicism, well worth the five month wait. After reading and watching EVERY 6XX and 650 review I was surprised how good, and how loud they sound straight from my iPhone and iPad. They improve maybe 10% through my Amp/Dac, especially the lower frequencies, but it’s not night and day like I had been led to believe.
What amp/dac do you use?
Would you use a mayflower ARC for the HD6XX because I really only game and listen to some music, but since I’m gaming I’m thinking of getting a Modmic 5.0 and the ARC has the mic input. So just wondering if the ARC is a good choice. Thank you
Are you sure ? Because the HD 6XX and 650 does not sound good because at higher volume it sounds too flat in certain frequencies and also there is this thing call harmonic distortion. Of course when plug in to my smartphone and laptop. Also, every dac sound different in various phone and computer
The 80s synth is so rad! Makes the review so good man
Thanks for the 6XX vs. 660S comparison. You know your audience.
I got mine a couple of days ago, absolutely brilliant for casual listening and gaming (at least for shooters like R6 Siege, CSGO and BF1 as the imaging leads to quite stunningly accurate representation of footsteps). This is better than the HD600 for the stuff I listed above but not for professional use.
@Aimee&Evan so how is it going?
I am just now beginning my audio journey. I really didn't know what I was missing out on until I had my cousins headphones on and the music actually blew my mind. I was hearing songs in ways I had never heard them the 1000 times before. It almost brought a tear to my eye as corny as that sounds. I just can't go back to my cheap 50 dollar gaming headphones. lol Got a little extra Christmas money and so I thought I would upgrade while I have the spare money to do so. After reading many articles and finishing by watching your video I just finished ordering me a pair of these online. The next 3-4 days are going to feel like anticipating Christmass all over again, maybe even more. lol So I appreciate this video. Great explanation, and gets straight to the point. Now I am all worried about what amp I am going to purchase down the line, but I'll leave that for another day. lol Appreciate the great video. I hope you and anyone who happens to read this is having an amazing/positive day/night!
Just wanted to say thank you for doing all these reviews. They've been very helpful in picking out a new set of cans. As I wait for my HD6XX to arrive, this video made me feel good about the purchase. If nothing else, at least I'll have heard it for comparison purposes. Keep up the good work.
Love the review, man...that background music is so sweet! Good job.
"The love child of massdrop and sennheiser" cx
cx
dwane blows their eardrums out Cx
My favourite thing about these headphones is how I can listen to music/audio for hours and not fee any fatigue. The sounds fee natural. I’m not an audiophile and so I can’t describe them as reviewers. But I think people can relate who are also not audiophiles like me.
Love the retrowave tune you got commin and goin there!! My sort of ecstasy.. AND review!!
Instead of buying the HD 650s, a few years ago I just ordered the individual parts to the headphones from Sennheiser. Then I found some broken HD 580s on ebay, I used that for the headband since its the same. Spray painted, personalized them, saved over $100. My favorite pair of headphones. :D
Only paid a bit over $250 at the time.
and I tend to use them more than Audeze. Its so lightweight and more comfortable.
I have tested the 6xx next to my 650s. I can confirm the sound is very similar (if not exactly the same). The headband is different; the 6xx feels cheaper.
ga yeah I was afraid of that. I had the hd650s sold them like a idiot. Miss them. Debating whether to get the 6xx or the 650s due to the build.
I got these a few weeks ago and they sound pretty much as I suspected. The 6xxs are not as comfortable as I thought they would be (top of the head). These are what I was looking for for sound, warm, soft, extremely pleasing. I would definitely say they ARE veiled and not overly detailed but I'm a middle aged guitar player and my hearing is not the best. I have only run them off a little bear b4 tube amp so an amp upgrade is in order. the 6xxs are definitely the best headphone I have owned for vocals and slam. I don't think most people would be disappointed in bass quantity or quality. I definitely notice the narrower soundstage but it sounds so good overall I don't miss it. I will need to break them in more and get an upgrade amp but I'm perfectly happy. funnily, I was listening to the ksc75s today and despite the sometimes grainy highs I like them equally to the 6xxs. upgraditis is a bitch.
Just got my HD6XX today and I'm in love with it! I recently got the Kanas Pro IEM and thought...I would love to have a headphone with the same sound signature, a laid back smooth yet detailed sound...the HD6XX by reviews sounded like it and now that I've heard it, I would say that it is exactly what I was looking for and then some. They took my now favorite sound signature refined it even more than I thought possible. Probably the last headphone I'm going to buy for a few years and I have zero regrets!
I ordered a pair of Sennheiser 650's and really like them. Great detailed sound and yes the headphones make vocals sound very crisp and good depth to them. Wish i had known about these but i might buy a pair of HD6XX's for every day use.
I can’t wait for mine! 2nd video I’ve seen from you but I subbed after the 1st one. Great quality man and great review.
I've game with these for like 3 years and honestly I turn the music off in games and we're golden
I've had these for close to two years now and I have tried both styles of Amps and my perfered one is the tube I just love the warmer tone it gives and it has become my staple for every headphone I buy.
RED VELVET!!!
@@jinvid Lmao fellow reveluv! Helllooooo 👋
Awesome as always, Josh!
Picked up a "as new" pair of these today for under USD 130. Initial impression great. Prefer these to the HD560s have been using the last year or so. Nicely paired with an iFi stack.
This is the second video of yours that I have watched. I am now a subscriber.
I have the HD650 and the Grado SR125 and enjoy them both even though they seem to be on opposite sides of the sound field, variety is the spice of life.... They are paired with (and I would live your opinion) Little dot Dac2 and the little dot MKIII tube amp.....
I like your review. I think a narrow soundstage is good if it's suppose to be a intimate headphone, that's what intimate is suppose to sound like. I sold mine a few months back but I want to buy again.
Just bought a used 2yr old 6XX online for 200AUD. I replaced the pads, buts its amazing
I have HD58X and now I have HD6XX after all these months , First of all I have to say Build Quality is WAAAAY better on HD6XX I know its strange but its true , I got HD58X first and I got bad quality plastic that I got squeak noises and some harsh plastic endings also the pads was very stiff and bad shaped , When I first open my HD6XX I was expecting the same build quality like HD58X , but I was surprised plastic are very good refined and there are no squeak noises , the pads are good shaped and softer and bigger .
About Sound , keeping it short HD6XX are cleaner to me more warm , and HD58X are brighter with deeper bass.
Just got mine and the Schiit Fulla 2 is on the way. From what I can tell right now, an amp is absolutely needed because the volume they can reach from just my pc is not nearly high enough if you like to listen to music at high volume.
Bought this last year and paired it with schitt magni 3. Probably gonna be the headphone that I'll be using for the rest of my life. I am not an audiophile but I appreciate neutral and high end audio. Get it cuz they are super worth it. After a year, the metal band and the earpads kinda loosens a bit, and they are basically gloves to my head now. Oh and yeah, the sound stage and bass expand quite a bit after using it daily SO yeah, give it some time.
It's not that they expand more like you start appreciating clean bass, was same with me, now everything else sounds like bloaty bass.
HE4XX, HD58X and HD6XX in one single week. Wife was questioning my sanity after HD800 last year, now I am certified. Have to expedite my headphone switch box ASAP...
@a b In my opinion, No. HD58X is too bassy and a bit muddy for my liking, I find HD6XX much more neutral and cleaner. Side note: My HE4XX already failed less than an year, some loose connection inside, poor quality for price paid.
@a b Glad it was helpful. How do you compare HD6XX and BD DT1990?
@a b Thank you for the feedback, will keep this in mind! Have a great day.
2 months after getting my 6xx im loving it everyday best purchase for me. Eq'd it using peace with innerfidelity auto eq settings and the bass came out 😁
Hello, do you mind if i ask where you got these auto eq settings you are talking about? I want to try eqing my 650s as well.
660s has does not have the foam in the center around the driver, a very common mod for hd 600 and 650. people do that in order to remove some of that "sennheiser veil"
I have owned the HD650 for 10 years. They are an amazing good headphone
as is the HD6XX. However due to their high impedance design, a dedicated
headphone amp (minimum) and if possible a separate dedicated DAC is a
must. Most headphone amps that have a build in DAC, come with usually a
crap quality one. For example, my Musical Fidelity M1 Headphone amp,
which retailed for $1000 in Australia (with USB digital input), sounded
very mediocre, until I added a separate high quality DAC to the
headphone amp (the Musical Fidelity A3-24 DAC). I read HiFi reviews on
the HD650, sometimes criticizing them as 'dark'- total bollocks when set
up correctly!!
Sonarworks has different EQ curves for 650 vs 6XX. Are you sure they're identical?
Damn 6xx costs $240 in 2022. That hurts... I remember how it was avialable for $160 3 years ago. At this point it doesn't make much sense to buy it if you are European: 650 costs around 300 Euro but when ordering 6xx you would have to pay +20% tax and custom fees anyway.
And you can get 650 right away instead of waiting for 6xx for 3 weeks. I own 58X and it was a true golden deal when I bought it for $120.
Wow, that's a steal. I got my 58x second hand for that.
It sucks hard how expensive the custom fees can be for headphones. I ordered mine when these were 200$, which is an okay deal even with customs.
Came here again to let you all know that after 8 months of owning these headphones i can comfortably say there 100% worth the money. No question about it. I've heard amazing headphones, I've compaired this to a couple headphones a while back. There are better headphones (yes really) but for the price. These are still 100% one of the best headphones to get into quality audio. Go get em! And enjoy the sennheiser sound 💯
Sigh..I'll probably sell my Jubilee's for these.
@@EverythingisFire think about it hard first! The jubilee's are great too. Both great headphones, both amazing value. (In case you haven't seen some video's about the jubiliee's appearently you can take out the layer between the driver and the shell to make them sound more like the 660's) I'd try that out first 💯
The 660s comment at the end convinced me to go with the 6xx. Save a little money and getting a similar experience.
Appreciate your video Josh... I just ordered a pair on Massdrop... Thanks!
I tried the 650s (new drivers) with a HDVD800 and I really hated it for some reason :P I wanted them because I heard they are amazing with vocal based Metal (Iron Maiden) but when I tried them with Hallowed be thy name it only made everything more recessed.
The 650 is worth the money too for 400 dollar,. the 6xx is a bargain👍👍
Great review as allways!
Never heard hd650s , I had hd600 and HD 700 which I sold , currently I have Hd555 ,HD565,HD580 and HD660s , would love to know how they compare to 660s and the new massdrop HD58X.
Thanks
My old hd560 headphones are the same way. They do work better with a good amp and sound great with a tube amp. The only problem with my 20 plus year old Sennheisers is the cord. They could have used a better cord. Thanks for this helpful video. I am looking to purchase a new set. I don't mind the old ones but they no longer make the cords. Thanks and have a good day.
Wow.
This is pretty decent production value, but after watching your current stuff, it's a bit of a shock. It sounds like you have since gotten a new mic these days that makes your voice sound more bassy and cleaner. Your transitions have gotten much cleaner too.
Great review. In fact, I ordered a pair of the 6XX's after your review, in my search for some true "audiophile headphones". I already own some Philips Fidelio X2's which I have found to be very good and a significant step-up from the previous cans, the Audio Technica M50's (which I never really liked). However, my search is still on. The 6XX's are good, give a very pleasing sound, which is very detailed and clear, but when it comes to soundstage they are very flat indeed, especially compared to the X2's. It's made me realize how just how good the X2's are and they actually cheaper. I haven't tried the 6XX's with tubes though. Not too disappointed with my purchase as a second set of cans is good to have. But where to go next?
By the way Sennheiser has NEW HD650 and NEW HD600 series with updated Plastics and some tune in the same drivers . You can see that you have the NEW 2019 HD650 and HD600 series by the headband Sennheiser LOGO and better quality plastics.
If they are identical to the HD650 but sold for $200, why do Senheiser still sell the HD650 for almost triple the price?
was using AKG K702, broke em permanently, got the HD6XX, right choice or a wrong one?
Just receieved mine today from massdrop. very very please such a clean sound. next comes a jotenheim and xlr cables
Hi Joshua, so how do these sound in comparison to the HiFiMan XS headphones? I have had great luck with Sennheiser so far, and I tend to listen to a warmer sound sig (not basehead warm). I also run a Fulla Schiit and a Topping DX3 Pro+. Thank you Joshua!
I wanted to buy these but unfortunately this drop does not ships to my country. feelsbadman
Thank you for the review! If I will buy the fx-audio dac-x6 it's will be ok for this headphones?
Best deal in headphones. Hands down. The 650's have been at the top of the audiophile headphone list since their release in the early 2000's. They'll last for a long time, and all parts are replaceable. The 600 & 650 are legends. - Both brighter than the new 660s, and not as meaty/beefy from the mids through the low mids. The 660s sounds a bit different than the similar 600 & 650. If you love headphones, don't hesitate. Get a pair.
im looking for a good pair under $500? any suggestions? im a newb
@@pinhead2098 JVC Gumy or Hifiman Edition XS. Depends on if you're trolling or not. :-)
@@JohnSmith-oe4bw i am srs. but now im suspicious if ur reverse psychology trolling me now o_O lol i will check them out thanks
Great content review Josh Massdrop brought them back the HD 6XX still debating if I want to pull the trigger and what dac/amp are recommended to powered the HD 6XX
My first new set of real Headphones. Because of this review. Thanks.
Great review josh. Your experience is swiftly increasing and you are great technically already.
Only thing that i would argue against you is that it is actually absolutely worth getting the 660s over this.
Here's why
It has stellar imaging and better resolution in highs which makes for an even more engaging experience of that sennheiser house sound. Plus it's stellar for gaming as well cuz of that imaging.
Lets say you buy 6xx, i guarantee you no matter who you are, you will seek a better version of that sound, a lot of people bought hd800 not for what it was but they thought it was a better hd600 when hd800 came out first.
So i'd argue skip this, get 660s, or if u don't wanna spend more money, 58x actually turned out to be a more neutral hp.
6xx i'd say for someone who really really is gonna just listen to jazz and soul and blues on tubes all the time.
Great work man. I enjoy watching the journey you are taking as i am on my own quest. Cheers.
I see your points. Honestly they are totally fair. But, I think cost, performance, etc, is circumstantial to each person. Maybe they don't want that extra 5% enough or don't have the coin. Could be a number of reasons, and I think the reasons why NOT out way the reasons TO.
Either way, both ways make sense. Just depends on the individual.
Thanks man!
They are such a fantastic all around headphone. You say you should get the 660s over the 6xx/650 cuz it has stellar imaging. I have listened to both and both have stellar imaging, it is definitely not something the 660s does better..It is definitely more there in the highs but sacrifices some of that warmth and classic sennheiser sound, the opposite of what you said....Have you actually listened to these or what? Because the general consensus is the 660s is a sidegrade, much like the 650 is to the 600. People are still arguing about the 600 vs 650, and now you can add 660 to that list.
Lots of people have tried to seek a "better version of that sound" and for me the 660s was not it. It lost some of that smoothness in the midrange. You making suggestions to skip this and go for something hundreds of dollars more expensive or go for the 58x instead just sounds like you are opposing just because you can. 650 is such an amazing all rounder it is almost an insult to just limit it to jazz with tubes. People have been trying to find a can that doesn't just do one thing better but everything better than the 650s, and that's not an easy feat even with very high end cans. It's easy to find a headphone that does something better like 660s with highs, or some others with bass, so on...But to find a headphone that does EVERYTHING better? Not easy, unless you like spending a couple grand. That's why they are so legendary.
J you countered well. I still stand by my views.
Fair enough, just curious, what by your idea makes the 660s worth like over twice as much? Certainly isn't the highs, and from my comparison the two things the 660s do better is slight treble extension and a faster tighter bass response, while losing some of that midrange warmth and vocal clarity and rich midbass growl the 650s do effortlessly. They certainly don't have more sub bass, which is what a lot of people were actualy hoping/expecting from the 660s (myself included) but it isn't the case.
J i will make a video on that sometime in the future but to tell you shortly, when i heard 660s and the way the sound hit me, i would have absolutely, in a hearbeat sold the 600/650 if i still owned them. Everything was better.
Great review and great music. Title?
Paid $300 CDN including shipping and in my opinion, they are well worth it! Excellent headphones!
I'm trying to put together a dedicated headphone setup. Just ordered the Modi. However, I'm hesitant to get the Magni 3 as @300ohms, it's only 410mw. I tend to listen at higher volumes depending on the music.
I really don't want anything less than true (budget) audiophile gear. Schiit is very appealing especially in that you can slowly add their gear without selling your house. I just don't feel that 410mw of juice is going to be quite enough. Any suggestions on what would be under $200 and basically a Schiit Modi but with a little more juice that'll amply power these 6xx's?
Love the show!
The only thing I do not like about these is the proprietary separate left and right jack connections.
Hey Josh, really love your content! So informative.
Im a streamer looking to upgrade to a pair of nice sounding headphones that I can wear for long periods of time. Currently use a gaming headset but looking to upgrade to something more audiophile focused as I don't need a headset mic. I have a GoXLR that has a decent headphone amp.
Budget of $500 or below. Would love some suggestions!
idk much about headphones but I've heard from many people that HyperX Cloud Alphas are really good, the microphone on them is detachable if you dont want to use it
Hi, nice review about HD6XX. Recently I bought this headphone and I like the sound signature of it. Now I need more lush sound, warmer, some more wider sound stage, and more bass. Can you able to suggest some good amplifier to pair with the headphones.
Perhaps the 660s is what you'd like?
will you be reviewing all massdrop headphones , the stand out ones like focal elex or fostex tr x00 as examples, ive been enjoying the massdrop headphones already got 3 in a short space of time, this audiophile game is addictive and dam expensive lol
Great review
Good review, Josh
Thanks J!
6xx is the best headphone to listen to Enya with on tubes.
Still one of my favourite videos from Josh ♥️
I went to buy a pair and pre-ordered, they're shipping in 8 days so I'm lucky
@@feels5460 oh that's great news thanks
@@feels5460 hey, just curious, where did you get that info? I haven't received any emails yet
Thank you very much, this review is crystal clear, especially when English is not your mother tongue !
Would the Schiit Stack (Modi/Magni/Heresy 3) drive these well?
I am starting to get into this world of hi fi audio and i wanted to know, or if you would recommend me changing from b&o play h9 to the 6xx.
I know they are from different worlds, different design open vs close back, basically different everything, but could you say is worth the change?
Yeah, it's worth it. Also get a proper stack.
Hi Joshua, one quick question I am thinking in upgrade my open backs from SHP9500 to HD6XX I would like to know if the Ifi Nano would be able to drive them or not, in that case what would be a good replacement that can be drive with the ifi. Also if you have a suggestion to upgrade the ATH m40x that would be welcome too. Regards
Get HD58X - They sound amazing. A definite upgrade for sound, easier to drive than the 6 and cheaper.
Hey Joshua, did you get a pair of the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee? I’m curious to hear your take on it, since you just reviewed these. My 6XX were my main cans, but now the 58X has replaced them. I’ll see if I can buy another pair, and send them to you for review.
Can I drive these with xDuoo Link 2? Or will that not be enough?
Hd6xx vs sundaras as my first music only decent headphone?
Given that both drops (that I'm aware of) were fully subscribed in record time and almost 3000 people have registered their interest in another drop, the best source for a pair appears to be EBay / Used forums. Happy to hear otherwise.
These are great videos, well made!
Super review!
i Had the 650's and found them missing treble. as in Notes in songs were missing. sold them off. then comes Metal571 who says old flatten pads alter treble response. Dammit! they were a used pair.
CThienV Notes missing...? You need to get your hearing checked! 😁
Please always keep your neutrality, Josh. Loving your reviews!
Excellent review actually what you talk about is the same as i find when i tried them
These or the HD 600, assuming both are run on good amps like the cavalli hybrid or magni/modi stack
How well can this be used with a phone. Coz i wanna use it when im in a car too
Would i not be dong these Headphones enough justice if i was running them thru a Fiio E10k?
is it an electroestatic headphone?
6XX works better on MTK hardware, smartphone and tablet, than Snapdragon hardware due to better impedance tolerance.
Hows the soundstage compared to the Philips SHP9500?
If it's mid-range focused than wouldn't that mean they're not neutral?
Are these headphones a big jump up from the hd598's? Are they much better in every way??
Pretty large. Bass response I think is a tiny bit better on 598. But, I have not heard them in a while. But 58X and 6xx are amazing.
Being a audiophile newbie, I didn't have a pc capable of driving my HD6XX. I bought the Fulla 2, but found that the volume wasn't very good at driving the headphone. I paired the fulla 2 with a Magni and that really made a big difference.
i been looking for a planar that can be powered by a cellphone. i think these types need amps/dacs. maybe? idk.
been dying/patiently waiting for the panda thx.
i should include music genres. I'm more into hip hop, rap, edm, alternative. pop.
Would you recommend M1060s or 6XX?
Hey Joshua, I really need your help.
I have Fiio X7 MK2 with AM3D(THX) Amp Module + HD 6XX.
And I do feel like my setup is not being able to drive the HD 6XX to its full potential.
i was looking to buy Fiio Q5s or the Magni 3 but I didnt get any clear idea even after reading tons of reviews on the internet.
I am open to go for Tube amps also if that could help sound better.
I was thinking of,
i. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + AM3(Stock AMP) + Q5S + AM3D(THX AMP) + HD 6XX
ii. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + AM3D(THX AMP)+ Magni 3 / O2 + HD 6XX
iii. Fiio X7 MK II as DAC + [all other possible options ] + HD 6XX
please help.
Please suggest how to make the HD 6XX sound best with Fiio X7 MK2 with AM3D sound its best.
Great video, I subbed 👍
Ditto!
How do these compare to the Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pros? I found that the 990 has harsh highs and sometimes I just can't use them. I'm looking to replace them soon. Hope you're well!
I have the bose qc35 ii and listen to music on my IPhone, so I just was wondering if I should buy these or not seeing as how I don’t have great audio equipment to get the most out of the headphones.
Riant without a proper dac/amp combo (desksize or powerful portable amp atleast) I would NOT recommend going for these Sennheiser headphones.
You can try something like the Sony MDR-1A/1AM2 or Audio Technica MSR7 instead - those are good headphones to begin with.
Ciao Joshua ,I'm MAssimiliano from Italy just a question what do you think about a comparison by Senheiser HD 560 S and Senn DRop HD 6XX ? what's the best they're both neutrral. I think that I choose not a good headphone for my Stereo HIFI ,pls the very truth + pros and cons. thx in advance a many greetings ,you're the best. ciao
They're the same.
What is the best portable Dac /amp for these that would be easy to use with a phone? Would a dragonfly red or cobalt work well?
Did you find something? You'd have to look up reviews for them but Fiio, Xduoo, SMSL, Aune & Topping make portable dac/amp combos that will stack with smartphones well.
These aren’t really neutral headphones. They dial down in the range where people perceive harshness but it also causes a bit of a veil to the sound. Their mid-centered headphones that do a lot right and until the HD58X, were perhaps the best headphones $250 or less.
Are these headphones going on the recommended list?
Youngwoo Lee Yes, a new list is coming soon actually. New items.