Sennheiser HD 600 - Audiophile Open-Back Dynamic Wired Headphones Over Ear with Natural Soundstage and Premium Comfort for

It would seem that my review has turned out to be a sort of comparison of the Sennheiser HD 598s to the HD 600s. While it wasn't where I intended to go, I think the comparison is valid when deciding if the $200 premium is worth the payout (it is). I have owned/auditioned a ton of headphones over the years, and I currently have a pretty decent assortment in my stable. But these HD 600s are probably going to have all those other pairs collecting dust. About a month ago I had purchased a pair of HD 598s and they were the pair of cans that finally sold me on open phones. I really like the 598s, and they are excellent for classical, jazz, classic rock, and many other genres music. However, when it came to listening to contemporary popular music they just seemed to come up short. The HD 600s are a much better "all around" headphone, and well worth the additional $200 (in my opinion). Their superiority was evident from the moment I put them on and plugged them in. I played Chris Isaac's "Wicked Game" and I literally had a chill run up my spine. More bass than the 598s? Yes; but it's not unnatural in any way whatsoever. It just adds to the richness/quality of the overall sound. These make everything just sound more real, and they seem to do it almost effortlessly. After listening to the 600s for an extended period and then going back to the 598's, the differences become more noticeable. Again, where the 598s start to struggle, the 600s just power through. I completely understand why so many people consider these to be some of the best phones ever produced. I have also been tricked into looking around the room for that noise I just heard only to realize it was part of the recording. If you need to stick to a budget, the 598s are an excellent choice and a fantastic bargain (just watch and wait for the price to dip). However, if you can afford the premium price, the HD 600s are worth every penny. My listening setup consists of a variety of digital files played from my computer, an Onkyo C-7030 CD player, and a Nuforce Icon DAC/Headphone Amp. I should also add that I don't use any equalization with my phones. I messed around running the phones directly off the computer's headphone jack, and I have to say that I highly recommend a good DAC/Amp to get the most out of these cans, as the added power really brings them to life. And remember that to truly "Listen" to these phones you need to be in a quiet environment. A few other observations: The 600's clamp quite a bit tighter than the 598s, though they do seem to be loosening up a bit with use. I think the 598s actually sound a bit wider and a touch brighter, but my 600's only have about 15 hours on them at this writing and like the 598s, I expect them to open up after more time. I may invest in a better cable in the future, but the included cable gets the job done, and it's more flexible than the one for the 598's (which I also replaced). I had thought about comparing these to some of my other closed phones for my review, but really, I don't feel that any of them even comes close to these 600s. I've also noticed that with the 598's it is important to find that sweet spot in the volume where the sound really starts to shine, while the 600's play much better and more balanced over a wider range of volume (high and low). I am looking forward to enjoying these headphones for many years to come. If you have any comments or questions I welcome them and will try my best to answer. I did extensive research prior to this purchase, so if I can't answer a specific question I may be able to point you in the right direction. Update 1: After probably 20 more hours of listening I can clarify my comment about the 598s being a little bit brighter. On certain pieces when I hear a high-hat cymbal on the 598's, I hear it as one sound, and mostly the sound of the cymbal. On the 600's you clearly hear the stick hitting the cymbal, and the sound of the cymbal itself. So, I would say the high end of the 600s may not be perceived as being as bright as the 598's, but it is much more defined, clear, and controlled. Read more

These are a part of “knights of the round table” headphones. Let me get something straight — there is no one perfect pair of headphones. It’s a curse to the wallet but yet it’s a blessing in the sense that headphones are a magical journey of taking two of your senses (hearing and touch) to whole new levels you may never experience by simply just by being in it. With so many headphones out there, there’s that many ways to explore audio and more! Exciting, right? I am an audiophile and have a room dedicated to my headphones as well as listening. Audio is an incredible passion of mine and I want to share my take on these 650s! 1: So, Sennheiser is among the crem-de-la-crem (pardon the spelling) of headphone producers. 2: Sennheiser is a great brand to get into headphones when you’re new to it. It’s also got great value for performance. You honestly can’t go wrong with them. 3: If you’re on a budget and can really only afford to just have that one or two pairs of headphones. The Sennheiser 650’s are a jack of all trades with its sound profile. They are a definite buy for sure! Paired with a Khadas Tone Board and JDS Labs Atom, you can have a pretty top tier, affordable setup. For real sides! 4: These work well with so many different types of DACS and amps. I personally pair them with THX789’s from Mass/Drop, Khadas Tone Board, or my Okto Research 8’s. The THX 788 made by Monoprice is a nice combo DAC/AMP. 5. In terms of the Sennheiser line, there’s the boss tier (not necessary at all to own) like 800 and 820s. There’s the studio recording line denoted by PRO. There’s the lower end with the 598 and below. The 600 range (where these headphones sit at) is the sweet spot of excellence. If you want a bass-y emphasized performance, go with the 58X from Drop.com. They’re the resurrected Jubilees which are an updated, updated version of the HD580s. These are super solid, great for listening for long periods. You can’t go wrong. You can plug these into a device without an amp and get great volume. If you want super duper separated sound with ridiculous detail with more revealing performance in the highs and mid/highs, the 600s are your go to headphones! They’re very objective (an audiophile term generally meaning “as-is” or “unemphasized” as possible). With the wrong setup, they can sometimes even be a little sibilant. The 650s are truly the Goldilocks of the HD600 line. These emphasize the mids much more than the others. It’s often considered a sin by some audiophiles to use EQ functionality to adjust the sound. I can say that the 650s are at that point where they can be lightly EQ-ed to offer more bass and treble response. Now, onto the last thing that I think is important to mention — these have been replaced and succeeded by the Sennheiser 660s. They’re a worthy successor to replace the 650s. They are pretty close in frequency response. However, the upgrade comes with the comfort (clamp force) and the consistency of the drivers to produce frequencies. What does that translate to? - The HD660s really do a good job of sounding good with vocals, slightly less warm, and sound good without a lot of readjustment on your ears. They’re on the brighter side than the HD650. The brightness is a personal preference kind of thing. For some, they might like this for classical music. For some, they may find themselves hitting user fatigue sooner than the 650. My opinion: The HD650 are still my go despite the update with the 660s. I think that the 660s is wonderful but I prefer to stick the HD650s because of their versatility. I can listen to them for hours! It’s a great starting spot for audiophile tier headphones that will always, always be my daily headphones for all kinds of music. They’re also a great starting spot as well as a great spot to end on. Additionally, I would check out the Sundara by Hifiman if you’re wanting to explore planars. They’re very much like the 650s of planar headphones. Enjoy and happy listening! :) Read more

Been a long time owner of hifi products home theater, car speakers, headphones. Was previously a die-hard owner of 1000xms but noticed these were similarly priced to the newest release. Wrote this in my review of the DAC/AMP (K7) but had previously believed I reached the pinnacle of headphone sound and wasn't expecting much. Even though these are old they far outperform even the newest models of the big names. Pros: Sound amazing No battery to charge (powered by dac/amp, but jack is technically functional) Packaged cord is plenty long enough. No tiny 3 ft cable which is HUGE with my PC behind desk Very comfortable Cons: "Requires" DAC/AMP. You can listen without, but you'll be dissapointed. Thats an additional couple hundred on this price tag to fully utilize these As someone who loves bass these could use some more. They aren't lacking for headphones but I have subwoofers in several rooms and vehicles. Read more