[spruce]

They do good work, except I wish their sleeve was a bit more sturdy.

Seems sturdy to me. Have you had issues over time or are you comparing to another manufacturer for example? Did you get Cardas?

 

[chesebert]

Seems sturdy to me. Have you had issues over time?

Yes. The surface will fray a bit with some use.

 

[Plieb]

After a few weeks spend with the HD660S2 and the NDH 30, I might sell the HD660S2 as well. It's a pretty tough choice and depending on your preferences you might prefer one over the other.

To me the 660S2 has that nice warm, fuzzy mid-range with a little edge to sharpen things up for the higher frequencies. But ultimately it sounds a bit flat compared to the NDH 30, I guess this is where the technical capabilities kick it up a notch. I had a single headphone that performed quite similar to the NDH 30 technically and that was the Hifiman Arya, the soundstage was something special on that headphone, it always depended on source just like the NDH 30, and with the proper recordings you could hear and literally visualize everything in the room of the recording. The resolving capabilities of both headphones help out tremendously in that regard as well.

Only the NDH 30 tuning is miles better than the Arya ever was, it might be bit controversial but the Arya had one of the most wonky FR I've ever heard, even EQ'ing could not get it to sound decent or relatively natural. Though this was the V2 and not the V3 with Stealth drivers so it might fare better now.

It takes a while to get used to the sound of the NDH 30 but when you do and it starts to click and you find the right recordings there's just an insight in recordings I've always dreamed of when I was younger, only to be disappointed that higher end headphones usually posses better detail retrieval and have a better balance (unless were taking it to TOTL headphones where they start to have certain sound signatures again but with crazy technicalities) but overall still sound a bit like a wall of sound. Whereas the NDH 30 can get so holographic that you can almost get lost in the sound. I used to be mostly interested in the width and height of sound in headphones, but depth is certainly is absolutely an essential aspect of the music that the NDH 30 captivates so very well as one of the very few dynamic drivers capable of such a feat.

Again I find the 660S2 an excellent headphone and for a decent discount it's almost a no-brainer, but the NDH 30 just fits in so well with the very best that manufacturers can offer it is almost scary. I think Neumann really struck gold with this one.

Yes on the right recordings they are unreal.
Was playing some Rachel Portman yesterday and i was blown away by the holographic sound. The detail the spaciousness wow! I saw a review that said you weren't engaged enough. I also initially thought the same.
I can safely say i was never more engaged listening yesterday and now convinced that they are everything that people say they are.
I'm a big believer now

 

[Rob80b]

Ahh, didn’t realise it had those.

Yep..volume, microphone, track select, bass boost and IOS and Android compatible... totally decked out...take that Neumann ...ha!

 

[Mike F]

Yep..volume, microphone, track select, bass boost and IOS and Android compatible... totally decked out...take that Neumann ...ha!

Well, then I’m glad that Neumann took what was essentially a toy and turned it into serious headphone (or two!)
With regard to the cable, the Neumanns have the best standard cable that I’ve seen.

 

[Rob80b]

what was essentially a toy

But a serious toy.

 

[Mike F]

But a serious toy.

I'm sure I'd like it myself! I'm also pretty sure that sonically it has little in common with the NDH 20 and absolutely nothing in common with the NDH 30!
But seriously, I'd be very interested in how you think the NDH 20 compare with it, and also your HD 820! Just make sure it's the Black Edition 20! They do sound different to the original.

 

[pietcux]

 

[Rob80b]

I'd be very interested in how you think the NDH 20 compare with it

Different. IMHO the 630 is basically geared to be a fun portable phone for "the audiofool" (still sounds pretty good though) and not a serious studio tool. : )

Hi Folks just dropping in here as I've recently had the opportunity to audition the NDH20 and 30s together (actually also auditioned the HDH 30 previousy but on their own)..but alongside some new Sennheiser HD630VB ...........
...............The stock HD630 obviously has had it's sound signature IMHO geared toward portable use in order to compete with outside environmental noises by having an over abundance of upper mid range and treble and base can be boosted above neutral and therefore by some has been outright dismissed which is really too bad sad.

and also your HD 820!

Fun phone vs serious closed back. Would be interesting to hear the NDH30 with the HD820, though.

 

[Mike F]

Fun phone vs serious closed back. Would be interesting to hear the NDH30 with the HD820, though.

I meant the Black Edition NDH 20 compared to the HD 820. I'm sure the 820 will be 'better' (it should be) but a comparison would be interesting nonetheless. The NDH 30 is open (or at least semi-open) so it has an 'unfair advantage'. I wouldn't expect any closed back to come close.

 

[Vitaliy Belz]

https://en-de.neumann.com/newsroom/neumann-and-sennheiser-recognized-at-38th-annual-namm-tec-awards

 

[chesebert]

https://en-de.neumann.com/newsroom/neumann-and-sennheiser-recognized-at-38th-annual-namm-tec-awards

I suspect that’s a “paid award”, if you know what I mean. Not that I disagree with the award, we just have to be realistic about how these things are handed out.

 

[jagwap]

I suspect that’s a “paid award”, if you know what I mean. Not that I disagree with the award, we just have to be realistic about how these things are handed out.

It is a voted for award by the public/industry members. But of course the larger the company, the more votes they can command from their own members.

 

[headstef]

It is a voted for award by the public/industry members. But of course the larger the company, the more votes they can command from their own members.

Anyway, the NDH 30 has won the greatest awards of all: The heart, mind and ears of almost everyone that devoted some time to listen to it, with or without prejudice. How many headphones have achieved that? One maybe?

 

[jagwap]

Anyway, the NDH 30 has won the greatest awards of all: The heart, mind and ears of almost everyone that devoted some time to listen to it, with or without prejudice. How many headphones have achieved that? One maybe?

You make a good point.

Very few have had such a unanimous approval.

Now where can I get to hear them?