Comparison / Review : A tale of two Sennheisers – HD600 vs HD700

[greenkiwi]

The other pair I really really want to try are the Oppo PM-1s

 

[Brooko]

  Excellent comparison, makes me appreciate my HD600 a lot more.
 
I'm quite curious though: have you made a comparison between it and the Shure flagships (1840 and 1540)? I'm actually interested in finding a closed-back equivalent to the HD600 and the 1540 seems to fit the bill. I've had the 840 for a long time and love its neutral/warm sound signature so I'm no stranger to Shure's products. Just wondering how the higher-end cans compare to the HD600.

 
Unfortunately haven't heard the 1540 - but I did own the 840 twice (it was one of my gateways to where I am now - fantastic headphone IMO), and I also owned (and really liked) the SRH 1840.
 
For a really quick comparison between the SRH1840 and HD600 - try this post:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/583950/shure-srh1840-and-srh1440-unveiled/1995#post_10545100

 

[earfonia]

Excellent review and comparison!
Tried both HD600 and HD700 before, from memory, very similar as your impressions.
I have HD800 and T1 (Also DT880), and prefer the T1 so far.  But I also been to a local meet, and tried a few HD800, some modded, all sound differently 

So sometime we can also focus on the amp and source to find better matching.
Last December I bought Philips Fidelio X1, it's now become one of my favorite now. A good alternative of HD600 and HD650 kind of signature, with more natural mids (not as thick as HD600) and extended treble (but less bright than T1). Kind of in between HD600 and T1, in a very simplistic analogy. But the cable need to be replaced with a better one, as the stock cable is not so good. I use Oyaide HPC35 cable for X1. You may want to try the X1 after you sell your HD700 

 

[jbarrentine]

  So which one is winner for electronic music ? My english is not good , actually bad  please somebody tell me it
 
I always listen electronic music  by the way ...

 
Get the T90 on sale if you can. Save the cash, it does electronic music exceptionally well. 

 

[Sennheiser]

Excellent comparison and review. Thanks Brooko! 

 

[62ohm]

Nice write-up mate! So in the end do you prefer the HD600 over the HD700?

 

[Brooko]

  Nice write-up mate! So in the end do you prefer the HD600 over the HD700?

 
Yep - for me personally it's the HD600.  But I know the HD800 is still calling 

.  Not sure how that will go with Tania.  Unfortunately I'll have to buy it blind if I do - and that probably means selling the DT880, HD700 and HD600.  Either that or I keep the HD600 and T1, and call it a day.
 
Then there's always the LCD2 r2 ..........
 
Gotta love this hobby.

 

[Brooko]

  Excellent comparison and review. Thanks Brooko! 

 
Thanks Rosmadi - both are great headphones.

 

[rovopio]

ohhh... i hv another question... why do you never go hd650...? any particular reason why...?
 
i just checked your profile and noticed there's no hd650... and if i ever upgrade my headphone to something $500 im thinking of getting either 600 / 650 and since you compare 600 / 700...
 
ps: i hv an entry-level grado that just broke, and now im forced to bu a new one since i like grado house sound... but not many ppl say grado is comfortable, and majority of ppl say sennheiser is comfortable, while i myself find that grado is very very comfortable for me. at least the very light entry-level comfy pad grado series haha
 
and since you only hv 325i thats why i ask... anw back to the question yeah, why did you skip hd650 among your headphones history...?

 

[Brooko]

I actually compared the two (HD600 and HD650) side by side for around an hour a couple of years ago in New York.  The store clerks were really good - let me use my source (at the time I think it was an iPod Touch and an Arrow) - so I got to listen to my music.  While both headphones had a lot of similarities - the HD600 (IMO) was more natural, and had better balance.  I found that for me the HD650 was just a little too warm/dark - although if I hadn't heard the HD600 side-by-side I with it, I probably would have gone HD650.
 
My preference was for natural, airy - rather than warm and intimate.

 

[benthughes]

I have a pair of HD700s, Grado 325i (modded), Fidelio X1s and Denon D2000. My two favorites are the X1s and the HD700s. The HD700s are slightly more resolving, have tighter more impactful bass although less in quantity but can get peaky up top. They each do their own thing differently and I appreciate them both. I listen to a lot of rock and metal and really like the attack of the HD700 while the X1s are better for electronic music and the such. The X1s are more forgiving and relaxing while having good resolution. The HD700s have a notably wider soundstage and better imaging on good recordings. The D2000s are more similar to the X1s than different with a bit more treble bite and a bit more muddy bass. Really excited to try out the new HiFiMan he400i or a HE500. 

 

[62ohm]

   
Yep - for me personally it's the HD600.  But I know the HD800 is still calling 

.  Not sure how that will go with Tania.  Unfortunately I'll have to buy it blind if I do - and that probably means selling the DT880, HD700 and HD600.  Either that or I keep the HD600 and T1, and call it a day.
 
Then there's always the LCD2 r2 ..........
 
Gotta love this hobby.

 
There's the (hopefully annual) NZ head-fi meet

 

[Brooko]

   
There's the (hopefully annual) NZ head-fi meet

 
I know - still gutted I missed the last one.
 
Loving the T1 though.  Do you miss it?

 

[nehcrow]

   
Yep - for me personally it's the HD600.  But I know the HD800 is still calling 

.  Not sure how that will go with Tania.  Unfortunately I'll have to buy it blind if I do - and that probably means selling the DT880, HD700 and HD600.  Either that or I keep the HD600 and T1, and call it a day.
 
Then there's always the LCD2 r2 ..........
 
Gotta love this hobby.

HE-560 is calling your name...
What from I read, it's seems pretty much like the ideal headphone... not overly sterile yet still very resolving

 

[xaval]

Brooko although I don't post much anymore, just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your write up as I have quite similar findings regarding your notes and conclusions. It's easy to fall prey of so much marketing and user omgs about much everything these days. The old stuff still kicks ass despite all that