[inzite]

Classic looks, very nice!

super happy with how great it sounds while eliminating 1 box on the shelf. I'm running nos tungsram on the sq32u and its really nice.

 

[Dust by Monday]

One of the things that manufacturers have done to improve imaging and soundstage is angled drivers or pads, hopefully making the drivers “more like” speaker positioning. In my stable, that would include Stax Lambda, HD 800S, HD 560S, AKG 701, and LCD-3. It would not include any of the HD6** series. Don’t know why a 660S would image better (driver design?), but I’m not doubting it.

How do you get past the imaging problem with the 6XX?

 

[haasaaroni]

I tried out of my M2 Mac mini (with high impedance support), my iPhone (I know) and my FiiO Q3 with high gain on.

Question: What makes a headphone better or worse at imaging?

I’ve been surprised how good the 6XX can sound straight out of my Mac, but an OTL (Bottlehead Crack, Valhalla 2, Echo mkII, even a DarkVoice) really takes these to another level. More so than the 660S due to the higher impedance.

As for the imaging, no idea. Probably a combination of frequency response, resolution, driver housing, materials used, etc.

 

[gefski]

How do you get past the imaging problem with the 6XX?

I don’t think the 6XX/650 has an imaging “problem”. They aren’t soundstaging champs, but any recording with a true center image will present just that way on them, for example.

 

[Dust by Monday]

I don’t think the 6XX/650 has an imaging “problem”. They aren’t soundstaging champs, but any recording with a true center image will present just that way on them, for example.

I'm actually really enjoying these headphones now. It was a bit jarring at first, but I'm getting so used to it. The timbre is just insanely natural sounding! Plus, I was comparing back and forth the 660s and the 6XX and the imaging isn't THAT much different. Memory is a weird thing.

 

[Angel III]

I'm actually really enjoying these headphones now. It was a bit jarring at first, but I'm getting so used to it. The timbre is just insanely natural sounding! Plus, I was comparing back and forth the 660s and the 6XX and the imaging isn't THAT much different. Memory is a weird thing.

If you're comparing the HD650/6XX and HD660, you'll notice that musical instruments on the HD650 sound farther from your ear. This makes it easier to analyze the music track.

 

[Maxpain]

I am currently using 650 with ifi zen dac signature and zen can signature...with balanced connection all the way...I mean the 4.4 interconnect and the 4.4 balanced sennheiser cable that came with the 660s...

I am thinking to buy Valhalla 2 cause I have been reading for years that 650 really shine with tubes....but never tried a tube amp...would I be getting something really different? I mean balanced cable really did open up 650 in the point that I now prefer them more than 660s...660s are more capable but less musical.

Valhalla costs a good 450 euros though...and I can't use the balanced cable with the Valhalla since there is no balanced output...the end goal is to use 660s with the zen can and the Valhalla 2 as a more musical tube sound signature with the 650.

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers

 

[Dust by Monday]

I am currently using 650 with ifi zen dac signature and zen can signature...with balanced connection all the way...I mean the 4.4 interconnect and the 4.4 balanced sennheiser cable that came with the 660s...

I am thinking to buy Valhalla 2 cause I have been reading for years that 650 really shine with tubes....but never tried a tube amp...would I be getting something really different? I mean balanced cable really did open up 650 in the point that I now prefer them more than 660s...660s are more capable but less musical.

Valhalla costs a good 450 euros though...and I can't use the balanced cable with the Valhalla since there is no balanced output...the end goal is to use 660s with the zen can and the Valhalla 2 as a more musical tube sound signature with the 650.

Any help would be appreciated

Cheers

Why does everyone say the 660s is more capable? I've switched back and forth between the 660s and the 6XX and I can't tell a difference in imaging, or soundstage or detail retrieval. Maybe my ears are just broken? I know the 6XX are mildly harder to drive than the 660s though, for that, I prefer my 660s when I wanna listen to tunes in the living room.

 

[xeizo]

Why does everyone say the 660s is more capable? I've switched back and forth between the 660s and the 6XX and I can't tell a difference in imaging, or soundstage or detail retrieval. Maybe my ears are just broken? I know the 6XX are mildly harder to drive than the 660s though, for that, I prefer my 660s when I wanna listen to tunes in the living room.

All those 6-series cans scales a lot with gear, they sounds almost like a different pair of cans when properly driven. So, what are you driving them with?

 

[Maxpain]

Why does everyone say the 660s is more capable? I've switched back and forth between the 660s and the 6XX and I can't tell a difference in imaging, or soundstage or detail retrieval. Maybe my ears are just broken? I know the 6XX are mildly harder to drive than the 660s though, for that, I prefer my 660s when I wanna listen to tunes in the living room.

To my ears 660s are more neutral, more clear and has more resolution. But they are not so musical and not create that feeling like the 650 does.

Also 650 are kinda picky when it come to genres for music....I mean they are great with accoutisc, jazz, funk stuff...660s are a clear winner when it comes to faster music like rock, metal and electro or stuff like that...

 

[Dust by Monday]

All those 6-series cans scales a lot with gear, they sounds almost like a different pair of cans when properly driven. So, what are you driving them with?

Driving them off my high impedance supported Mac (3V RMS). I don’t listen very loud though.

 

[HWB3]

Try a Schiit Vali 2 ++. It really makes my 6XX's shine.

 

[Maxpain]

Try a Schiit Vali 2 ++. It really makes my 6XX's shine.

The vali 2 is cheaper than the Valhalla...even better ! what I would like to know if there is someone that had compared the 650/6xx with both schiit stuff and the zen stack (balanced) and can comment if it's worth it...

 

[Odin412]

Valhalla costs a good 450 euros though...and I can't use the balanced cable with the Valhalla since there is no balanced output...the end goal is to use 660s with the zen can and the Valhalla 2 as a more musical tube sound signature with the 650.

I haven't heard the Valhalla 2 but I have the original Valhalla and I can confirm that it's an excellent match with the HD 650 or 6XX.

 

[Luckyleo]

Try a Schiit Vali 2 ++. It really makes my 6XX's shine.

Especially with a great tube!!!

Leo