equalspeace
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2016
- Posts
- 1,592
- Likes
- 2,761
I thought the review on DIY-Audio-Heaven was excellent, as all his reviews are IMO. I thought that the following two statements were the most telling for me;-
'The main complaints for the HD660S were lack of bass extension and lacking in clarity and being a bit ‘conservative’ on the treble level.
The HD660S seemed to address the main ‘complaints’ about the HD600 and HD650 (upper midrange emphasis) yet is often disliked for that change.
The HD660S2 is touted as an improved HD660S doubling the SPL at 20Hz and increasing the clarity above 5kHz.
The HD600 is found to be lacking in bass extension and too ‘clear’. The HD650 was fuller sounding (more midbass presence) and some found it too ‘midrange’ oriented.The HD660S (to me) was a nice compromise. A bit fuller sounding than HD600 and a bit ‘tighter’ in the lows than HD650. The HD660S did not have the ‘brightness’ of the HD600 but was a bit more ‘laid-back’. As if one is listening to the music a bit further away.'
'There is no need to replace your HD660S with the HD660S2 though. They are more similar than different with just slightly more treble in the HD660S2. The extra few dB bass extension isn’t as audible as the advertising claims.'
So, he states that, as I also thought, that the 660S was a slight improvement on the 650 (he says so more explicitly in the original 660S review - The sound quality, to me, is a small notch above that of the HD650). He also states that, as they are so close, it's not necessary to replace the S1 with the S2. He does not say however that the S2 is not better than the S1. I thought it was a very well balanced review.
I really disagree with the point about not needing to replace the S1 with S2. For my money the S2 stomped all over the S1. But then S1 never really beat 650/600 either. S2 is comfortably on par with 650/600 or maybe slightly better overall when you consider all of the improvements they made with that headphone. But that S1 versus S2 comment is just way off to me. Main reason is S2 digs out micro detail like 650/600, with S2 technical performance. What this did for me was lead to a greater perceived resolution over 650/600, because the improved technical aspects combined with that very good 650/600 level detail retrieval, which S1 lacked.
I still think about S2. It's a damned good performer. I am wondering if the strengths I like about 650/600 are worth still prioritizing them over S2 because of the improvements made with S2 given above.
Last edited: