Sennheiser HD600 - Amp NOT a must!

[Keiso]

Today, I went to the Sennheiser distributor in Norway. I don't know if it's fate or something, but they are like located on the same street as where I live.

After a bit of talking, I was allowed to borrow the HD600 for a week to do a comparision with the HD590, which I own and love.

The main reason why I didn't buy the HD600 in the first place, was because everyone on the net kept saying that they require an amp to drive properly, and that the HD590 are much easier to run and all.....

While I believe that with a dedicated headphone amp the HD600 will reach its full potential, an amp is NOT a must at all! I'm actually very frustrated right now, because now I want to buy a HD600 instead.

Soundwise, there's no night and day difference between the HD600 and the HD590. I put on my most treble-heavy track and compared both cans, the HD590s didn't seem brighter sounding than the HD600.... (unlike what I've heard thousands of times from others.... )

The biggest audible difference, is that the HD600 offer more definition/clarity. Actually, by good margin on some tracks. Bass is kick-@ss on both cans.

I even tried to run the HD600 on my Panasonic SL-SX510, and they were not any harder to run than the HD590. Both had about the same volume on the same setting (slightly, slightly lower on the HD600).

Build quality-wise, the HD600 is a much better deal than the HD590. I mean, carbonfiber against plastic!? But on the other hand, the pressure on the head is also much higher..... something which I would gladly trade for the better sound of the HD600!!!!

Oh yeah, my source is a Sony SACD player, model SCD-XB940. An excellent player, I reckon. It runs the HD600 directly from the headphone output without sweat! I can't turn the volume knob more than halfway around before it got damaging loud on my ears! If a dedicated amp can do better, I'm really curious on how the HD600 would sound, cuz right now, I reckon the HD600 sounds bloody fantastic already.....

 

[chych]

It should be noted that having a jack that can make the headphones go up to a listenable volume does not mean anything, from what people say, a dedicated amp is a must... have you tried any? The Sony does not count.

If you do believe the HD600s do not need an amp, well, try plugging it out of the line out and see what happens, because that pcdp and sony cdp sure have headphone amps in them...

 

[Keiso]

"If you do believe the HD600s do not need an amp, well, try plugging it out of the line out and see what happens, because that pcdp and sony cdp sure have headphone amps in them"

Not sure what you mean there....

I'm not just talking about volume. Sound quality is of course the number 1 factor! If all I wanted was volume, you think I would go for the top Sennheiser models?

I think I've got a pretty good picture on how good cans sound like. Yesterday, I just spent another hour at the local audio shop to listen to Stax electrostats! Anything below that kind of sound quality, I don't even bother.......

I mentioned the HD600 + my PCDP just to point out that volume is not an issue. The sound coming out of my SACD player can't even be compared to my PCDP. Seriously, the HD600 are really good sounding right out from the SACD player, very comparable to the Stax quality soundlevel.

As I mentioned above, I do not doubt that a dedicated amp will make it sound better. What I said, was that I'm "curious" to see what kind of improvement it will lead to. My point was, that people that want to buy the HD600, but don't want to spend a lot on a dedicated amp right away, should not turn away from the HD600 at once, but rather see if their current equipment is capable enough first. This was the mistake I made, and I went for the HD590 instead, because it's supposedly much more "amp-less" friendly.

 

[Braver]

well, I know there are more people with a HD580/600 than people with a headphone amp. it's just not very audiophile to not have an amp.

 

[Keiso]

Or not very rich

I'm saving up now for a Sugden Headmaster, which seems to be a great amp.

That alone is going to cost me twice the price of the HD 600s, and of course, I'll have to buy the appropriate interconnects too!

Guess it really hurts to be an audiophile

 

[JMT]

Quote:

Guess it really hurts to be an audiophile

Someone's signature said it best, "It only hurts until you get used to it."

 

[Neruda]

keiso, the HD600's can sound good without a dedicated headphone amp, but trust everyone here when we say they sound GREAT with a dedicated amp. No matter how good they sound now, with an amp they'll only get better. You never know how much you're missing until you hear it for the first time...

 

[Keiso]

Oh please, everyone, don't get me wrong. Like I said, I do NOT doubt that an amp will make the HD 600 kick more @ss!, but I'm just saying that they are great without an amp too, with a good SACD/CD player.

In fact, I'm looking very much forward to purchase a really bad-@ss amp to match them!

One more note about HD590 vs HD600:
The 590s are many times more comfortable to wear!!!!!!
The 600s sound better, but now after 3 hours of listening, my jaws are hurting

I guess this will improve upon use.....

 

[pedxing]

I experienced this with most of my expensive heapdhones I own - I can drive them with a pcdp to loud volumes, but they sound a little harsh and dry. With a dedicated headphone amp, the extra voltage or current that a heapdhone amp can supply really enhances the fidelity of headphones.

 

[shivohum]

Quote:

Originally posted by Keiso The 600s sound better, but now after 3 hours of listening, my jaws are hurting I guess this will improve upon use.....

Put a big book between the earpads such that it stretches the band of the headphones. Leave it there overnight and keep doing that till the problem is gone completely. Helps a lot...

 

[Gluegun]

Hey, headphone amps that are good dont HAVE to be expensive.. just ask JMT over there....

 

[Neruda]

keiso, if you do get the sugden, be sure to tell us about it! I for one am very interested in that amp and would be very happy to hear what you think.

 

[mkyy]

A little OT.

Is it a general consensus that a headphone needs a certain volumn before they can "show-off" their qualities?? What I mean by that is, is it necessary to have a high volumn to listen to the details??

I have a pair of SR60, and they do leak as everyone knows. I tend to keep them at a relatively low volumn in the lab. Did I missed a lot from my SR60?

 

[Gluegun]

Well, a headphone amp isn't just for having volume. It's for having a clearer signal, and for having the headroom to drive a headphone well at all frequencies at any given volume level, to give a more full and detailed sound, to make the sound more 'natural' and less strained, and more effortless, to make the bass easier for the headphone to reproduce, etc. etc.

 

[shivohum]

Quote:

is it necessary to have a high volumn to listen to the details??

No, just the opposite. Good headphones let you enjoy music even at lower levels. The better the headphones are able to bring out detail, the less you need to turn up the volume to enjoy them.

Electrostatic headphones and Etys are particularly good for low-level listening.