Sennheiser HD 660S2 thread

Apr 3, 2023 at 1:36 PM Post #3,016 of 7,880
The new hd650 has a glossy finish I think, I prefer the mate one of the new HD600 and 660s and 660s2 but this is a personal choice.

My drop products have inferior plastic yes by a big margin. I am not sure if they still use the old molds but if they use the old molds for the drop products I cannot see how the new molds can be inferior.

Yeah, the new ones are glossy, but I meant more the flattened edges all around, and slightly darker look. They're just more modern vs the bubble-ish original design. I prefer the matte as well, but it's probably got something to do with the slight sparkle finish.

And I agree on the Drop stuff. I've still got a 6XX and have owned the 58X as well and they do feel cheaper/less substantial in the hand vs the "proper" Sennheiser 6X0 stuff. To be expected for the price point, I suppose, and at least they sound great.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 1:36 PM Post #3,017 of 7,880
after 2 day non stop listening , i can make some first impressions;

After owning almost all TOTL hp and almost all mid fi HP . IMHO this HD660S2 sound is the most close to lifelike sound presentation. It is a totally natural sound for my ears, no need to EQ. I sometimes go to Jazz Clubs and Opera life concerts and imho the HD660S2 is the most close presentation to them. Also I am a guitar player and I know how the guitar sounds in my hand when I am playing, the HD660S2 gives the same tonality and naturalness without coloring the sound. The HD660S2 has the Sennheiser house sound signature with the best tonality from their headphones.

It is a much more speedy driver than the older HD6 series. I think the transient speed almost reaches HD800 levels which gives a nice flow to the sound. The whole freq spectrum is super clear but it does not have spikes for my ear . Honestly this is the first pair of HP which I used 6+hour sitting in a row without getting ear fatigue. So tonality is spot on.

The low freq and dynamics are MUCH better than the old Hd600 and HD650 . it is almost focal clear lvl or dynamics and bass but with much better tonality.

Technical vise I hear all details but not as spread out like the hd800 and not as micro details but for listening music and NOT analyzing the HD660S2 gives much better listening experience .



Vs Focal Clear MG : the Mg got the lead on technicalities (but not much) and trades some tonality to dynamics, therefore the MG got more bite but more artificial sound it got this aggressive metallic sound in the upper freqs . The HD660S2 found the sweet spot in technical vise and tonality the HD660S2 gives much more lifelike sound , ( i mean what you hear in live concerts with your own ear ) honestly it is more lifelike which is i think the most important for me.



Meze 109 Pro: Honestly the meze is a super colored sound with aggressive treble and lacking technicalities and booming bass. For my ears the Hd660S2 got better speed, more flowing sound, more transparent AND super natural sound vs the ultra colored sound of the meze. The meze got a bigger soundstage, however the HD660S2 gives better depth z axis. The Meze got boosted bass and a really spicy treble (which is good for half -1 hour listening but after that I realized that mezes aren't for me due massive coloration).



hd600: Imho the HD660S2 improves everything for me TONALITY TOO. The hd660S2 has better speed, more details, more slam, more transparency , better soundstage, better depth...

HD650: same for sound.

(maybe the revieves are deaf or not listen lifelike music i do not know, if they say that the HD660S2 is not a step up from the existing hd6 lineup...))



Hifiman Arya Stealth: Well you can kill me for this. But for me the Hifimans got this plastic timbre which kills the naturalness of the sound. The HD660S2 has a better listening experience, better dynamics , and much lifelike sound. The Arya got a much bigger soundstage, (almost Hd800) the Arya got better micro details, more extended in both ways but it sounds like a plastic bag vs the Sennheiser house sound. Also the dynamics is non-existent on the Hifimans. ( the transient speed is better on the Arya obviously but this not gives dynamics to the sound)



I used Sennheiser OWN amp (HDV820) for most of the listening with my HD660S2. So maybe that's why I got these good impressions. I believe the Sennheiser guys tested the hp in this amp ( I know it has high output impedance which can alter the sound but they engineered it for the HD800S to give some slam and 3 d effects to the hd800 series ) . I also listened to my OTL dual mono tube amp which was really good paired with via chord dac (mojo2) (the OTL tube amps got extreme high output impedance which can alter sound). I am not an ASR guy. I just know as a musician how the live music sounds.



The negatives: cheap paper box, it has the same build q as a NEW hd600. My older hd650 which was made in Ireland got a premium feel and plastic in it, this new plastic in the Hd6.. line up gives this cheap feeling . (it not alters the sound but feels cheap in the hand )

Also when i Opened the box the cable which was installed to the hp ,6,3mm, was badly bent near the connectors . Obviously the hp can be damaged without a proper box in transportation. it is a negative. Also when I opened the box it was not a good experience . I remember when I opened my first old HD650 a long time ago and it gave me that satisfying unbox therapy feeling. Now opening the HD660S2 box for the first time gives a disappointment after I owned a lot headphones.
Thank you!
These comments and comparisons are so juicy and meaningful that one cannot avoid to think that only a comparison with the NDH 30 is missing. Do you have any relative impressions?
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 1:49 PM Post #3,018 of 7,880
Yeah, the new ones are glossy, but I meant more the flattened edges all around, and slightly darker look. They're just more modern vs the bubble-ish original design. I prefer the matte as well, but it's probably got something to do with the slight sparkle finish.

And I agree on the Drop stuff. I've still got a 6XX and have owned the 58X as well and they do feel cheaper/less substantial in the hand vs the "proper" Sennheiser 6X0 stuff. To be expected for the price point, I suppose, and at least they sound great.
I agree 👍 I love the flattened edges as well.

With the new molds they can do better plastics probably or to appear as better quality at least.

The new pads are better IMHO as well so definitely they have done many things right.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 1:56 PM Post #3,019 of 7,880
Super! I envy your hp collection 😭 So for now you use the Clear MG for hiphop/pop, the 650 for vocal and the 800 for classical ? May I ask if the 660s2 becomes a redundant hp? Or will you still compact your collection because of the 660s2’s sounding flexibility ? I have heard the MG. Its mids is simpler, stuffed and lacks the nuance of the Senn and Audeze hps
thank you :D as i mentioned i sold almost all my HP. My top can was always the OG hd800. I like it the most. Also Hd650 was for otl warm chillin funn. but the HD660S2 better in every aspect. I wait Sennheiser to drop his new TOTL can. maybe it is happening :D
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 2:12 PM Post #3,020 of 7,880
Thank you!
These comments and comparisons are so juicy and meaningful that one cannot avoid to think that only a comparison with the NDH 30 is missing. Do you have any relative impressions?
thank you :) sorry i never heard the NDH 30 . But according to this forum it is a good headphone and got a professional tuning for studios. Which means more analytical sound with elevated treble and not so warm tuning.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 2:19 PM Post #3,021 of 7,880
Thank you!
These comments and comparisons are so juicy and meaningful that one cannot avoid to think that only a comparison with the NDH 30 is missing. Do you have any relative impressions?

How can I downvote a post? :) Just when we had seen the back of that thing...
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 2:59 PM Post #3,022 of 7,880
How can I downvote a post? :) Just when we had seen the back of that thing...

I don't think that there is a real reason to avoid any comparisons with any headphone or referring to one specific headphone only, (especially to a very competitive state-of-the-art one with a very similar price and audience to the excellent HD-660S2). No one has even implied or thought to "exclude" the HD-660S2 headphone in the NDH 30 thread or elsewhere. You have to accept that comments about many competitive headphones are the essence of a free forum like this and must circulate freely. This crazy fear about the NDH 30 is much more annoying and inappropriate. It has to stop.
I surely downvote a phobic post.
 
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Apr 3, 2023 at 3:21 PM Post #3,023 of 7,880
thank you :D as i mentioned i sold almost all my HP. My top can was always the OG hd800. I like it the most. Also Hd650 was for otl warm chillin funn. but the HD660S2 better in every aspect. I wait Sennheiser to drop his new TOTL can. maybe it is happening :D
I'm not completely sure what you mean. I think you're saying that your favourite headphone always was, and still is, the HD800, but that the S2 is better than the 650 in every respect. Am I correct?
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:24 PM Post #3,024 of 7,880
I don't think that there is a real reason to avoid any comparisons with any headphone or referring to one specific headphone only, (especially to a very competitive state-of-the-art one with a very similar price and audience to the excellent HD-660S2). No one has even implied or thought to "exclude" the HD-660S2 headphone in the NDH 30 thread or elsewhere. You have to accept that comments about many competitive headphones are the essence of a free forum like this and must circulate freely. This crazy fear about the NDH 30 is much more annoying and inappropriate. It has to stop.
I surely downvote a phobic post.
It is not fear, people in this thread (HD660S2) are Sick of hearing about the NDH 30. The comments from a small minority are derailing the thread. I am really surprised that a mod has not stepped in here yet.
I can't remember another thread that has been this spammed by one other model.
Anyone really curious about the other model can just use the search button.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:25 PM Post #3,025 of 7,880
I'm not completely sure what you mean. I think you're saying that your favourite headphone always was, and still is, the HD800, but that the S2 is better than the 650 in every respect. Am I correct?
I mean yes i always prefered the OG Hd800 vs all my other "ToTl" cans. I also mean the HD660S2 is better than HD650.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:35 PM Post #3,027 of 7,880
I mean yes i always prefered the OG Hd800 vs all my other "ToTl" cans. I also mean the HD660S2 is better than HD650.
Today I did some direct comparisons HD800 vs HD660S2. While the HD800 remains the better headphone by technology, the gap between the HD660S2 and the HD800 is very small and the HD660S2 is a lot more engaging vs analytical on the HD800 side. Especially bass guitars, double bass and drums are more let me say supported yet still very precise.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:41 PM Post #3,028 of 7,880
It is not fear, people in this thread (HD660S2) are Sick of hearing about the NDH 30. The comments from a small minority are derailing the thread. I am really surprised that a mod has not stepped in here yet.
I can't remember another thread that has been this spammed by one other model.
Anyone really curious about the other model can just use the search button.
I get that same uncomfortable feeling I had as a kid as I watched my parents squirm when a neighbor constantly hectored them to join her Amway MLM scam, hahaha.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:41 PM Post #3,029 of 7,880
Just wanted to be sure that you were not saying that you preferred the S2 to the HD800! :wink: :thumbsup:
" Technical vise I hear all details but not as spread out like the hd800 and not as micro details but for listening music and NOT analyzing the HD660S2 gives much better listening experience ." This is what I wrote before, Yes i think the hd800 has a technical advantage. But the HD660S2 gives a better listening experience if I do not want to analyze the music.
 
Apr 3, 2023 at 3:46 PM Post #3,030 of 7,880
It is not fear, people in this thread (HD660S2) are Sick of hearing about the NDH 30. The comments from a small minority are derailing the thread. I am really surprised that a mod has not stepped in here yet.
I can't remember another thread that has been this spammed by one other model.
Anyone really curious about the other model can just use the search button.
There have been other headphones mentioned frequently in this thread, the 109 for instance. The NDH 30 (sorry to make you wince) just happens to be made by Sennheiser pro, is tuned by the same person responsible for almost all Sennheiser's most legendary headphones, and is exactly (within a few bucks) the same price. How is comparison not completely inevitable? Moreover, those of us who are dyed-in-wool Sennheiser fans who just happened to buy the 'you know what' before the S2 feel enthusiastic about sharing the news. If you're not interested, just skip over the post. That's what I do whenever the conversation turns to cables or tube amps.... ;)
 

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