Sennheiser HD 660S2 thread

[chesebert]

PSA: cans with almost identical FR curves can sound very different in real life, and sound characteristic is much more than FR. mind blown, right

 

[BobG55]

I can see ithat f you only have Sennheiser headphones using EQ quite a bit. Not sure what your rocking these days, but if it is still the HD600 and HD650, I could easily see using lots of EQ.

.

 

[BobG55]

Duplicate posting.

 

[Mink]

I only EQ when there is something in the frequency range that causes fatigue. My NightHawks have a big treble peak (around 7Khz-8Khz) in relation with some dips (1.5Khz and 3Khz) that my ears can't handle anymore. They used to be the least fatiguing headphones I own, not any longer for some reason I don't understand. Luckily they take EQ very well and with some imprecise alterations (just by ear) in the frequency range they sound great again. I only get rid of the cause for fatigue, not want to alter their unique (and objectively wrong) tonal character.

 

[Flisker]

HD650 could be boring

 

[Rob80b]

Cable wars, now EQ wars...lol
Anyway guys...nothing wrong with EQ....but remember if you are using digital EQ you are changing the original sound file, rearranging, manipulating the 1s and 0s...post production. Raising and lowering certain frequencies also affects the neighbouring delicate harmonics, fundamentals from frequencies above and below the tonic which gives the final audio it's realism, richness.
IMHO this can impart an artificial, digital, less analogue sounding waveforum, myself I'm extremely sensitive to this manipulation having had my ears educated for most of my life with analogue waveforms and have learned to live with all the warts and all, I'm the Rice Crispy generation with, snap crackle pop! : )
And finally, be aware you are not EQing the headphones just the final electrical signal output from the DAC sent to amp before the headphones, the headphones them selves are in intact, the gravel road has been paved, the shocks not upgraded.
But I believe the general consensuses is that with the HD660S2, the sound file needs little to no EQ.

 

[pietcux]

This is a very enjoyable listen on the HD660S2. Without any EQ applied over here.

 

[Plieb]

Cable wars, now EQ wars...lol
Anyway guys...nothing wrong with EQ....but remember if you are using digital EQ you are changing the original sound file, rearranging, manipulating the 1s and 0s...post production. Raising and lowering certain frequencies also affects the neighbouring delicate harmonics, fundamentals from frequencies above and below the tonic which gives the final audio it's realism, richness.
IMHO this can impart an artificial, digital, less analogue sounding waveforum, myself I'm extremely sensitive to this manipulation having had my ears educated for most of my life with analogue waveforms and have learned to live with all the warts and all, I'm the Rice Crispy generation with, snap crackle pop! : )
And finally, be aware you are not EQing the headphones just the final electrical signal output from the DAC sent to amp before the headphones, the headphones them selves are in intact, the gravel road has been paved.
But I believe the general consensuses is that with the HD660S2, the sound file needs little to no EQ.

I have always found "Bit Perfect" to be the way to go using UAPP. Any time i fool around with EQ i hear degradation in one form or another.

 

[457139]

I can see ithat f you only have Sennheiser headphones using EQ quite a bit. Not sure what your rocking these days, but if it is still the HD600 and HD650, I could easily see using lots of EQ.

.

That's the thing about the 650/600/660S2 - you can EQ them if you like, but you don't need to EQ them. I'll take that every time over a set that has me in an alley with a knife to my ears haha

 

[KaiFi]

Hot take, but any headphone that needs EQ is a bad headphone.

To me the 660S has the most pleasing all-rounder sound signature there is, which means they could be tweaked in various ways to sound more particular to a certain genre. I think they could respond well to EQ, but they certainly don't need it.

 

[BobG55]

That's the thing about the 650/600/660S2 - you can EQ them if you like, but you don't need to EQ them. I'll take that every time over a set that has me in an alley with a knife to my ears haha

I EQ mine & they sound even better. To each his own.

 

[Rob80b]

I have always found "Bit Perfect" to be they way to go

That would be preferable, believe a few are are using non digital EQ, like the Loki, so they're just adjusting the frequency without digitally rewriting it, so basically still "Bit Perfect".
Really comes down to listening habits, preferences etc....if one is just sitting at a computer and multitasking, listening to music while working, that is one thing...one may be more sensitive to non "Bit Perfect" if doing serious music listening without distractions. In the end it really is all compromises, the recording is off, headphones are off, ones hearing is off...just a slight change in sinus pressure can profoundly affect treble and bass. While listening just squeeze your nostrils and force air through your nose and to cause a bit of pressure and treble goes way up, bend over and bass increases. If one is tired or stressed high frequencies overall are irritating.......just too many variables.
So EQ may help troublesome or bothersome frequencies and I agree if the headphone just sounds off, move on as EQ will not change the resident physical character of the phone itself.

 

[Rob80b]

To me the 660S has the most pleasing all-rounder sound signature there is

Have you tried the S2?

 

[kman1211]

Have you tried the S2?

I agree the S2 is a more all around pleasing sound signature than the S, honestly really bummed I had a fatigue issue with the S2. I also feel the R70x has a better all around sound singature than the original S as well.

 

[Rob80b]

I agree the S2 is a more all around pleasing sound signature than the S

...and fulfilling. (IMHO)