[kman1211]

Honestly after owning the HD 650 for many months now and also owning the HD 660S2, HD 660S, and HD 600; I realized this is actually my favorite headphone of the lineup as a whole. There are things I like more about the other 3, but the HD 650 won out in the long haul for me and of the lineup does resolve the most information in the midrange. The HD 600 is great to me to listen to but a bit rough in the upper mids, if it wasn't for the rough upper mids I would actually like the HD 600 more than the HD 650. The HD 660S (late production, early productions sound quite different), is slightly muffled compared to the other 3, and is boring to the point of being depressing to listen to. The HD 660S2 while technically quite impressive is too relaxed in the upper mids and something is slightly off with the treble and something about the bass is a bit overwhelming to me (and I have some bass-head tendencies).

 

[haasaaroni]

Honestly after owning thew HD 650 for many months now and also owning the HD 660S2, HD 660S, and HD 600; I realized this is actually my favorite headphone of the lineup as a whole. There are things I like more about the other 3, but the HD 650 won out in the long haul for me and of the lineup does resolve the most information in the midrange. The HD 600 is great to me to listen to but a bit rough in the upper mids, if it wasn't for the rough upper mids I would actually like the HD 600 more than the HD 650. The HD 660S (late production, early productions sound quite different), is slightly muffled compared to the other 3, and is boring to the point of being depressing to listen to. The HD 660S2 while technically quite impressive is too relaxed in the upper mids and something is slightly off with the treble and something about the bass is a bit overwhelming to me (and I have some bass-head tendencies).

Oh yeah, the 650 is peak Sennheiser! Having owned all 4 in the past, I agree with every point. If I could go back and do the audiophile thing again from scratch, knowing what I know now, I would get a 6XX and a tube amp and stop right there.

 

[kman1211]

Oh yeah, the 650 is peak Sennheiser! Having owned all 4 in the past, I agree with every point. If I could go back and do the audiophile thing again from scratch, knowing what I know now, I would get a 6XX and a tube amp and stop right there.

To be honest I was always critical of the headphone and actually didn't like it much at first, but over time I realize it does seem to be the best of the bunch and growing to love the headphone. I haven't been too impressed with Senns newer products so far, they've had too many drawbacks for me, something always put me off from them with long term ownership; I was never able to accept their faults and live with them, instead I just wanted to get rid of them.

Honestly I've always been more of a Beyer person and I still am to be honest, but Beyers newer headphones and drivers have been impressing me moreso than their past stuff whereas I feel Sennheiser seems to of lost sight of what made the HD 600/650 so great with the newer releases. Neither the HD 660S or HD 660S2 have the HD 600/650 magic to them. And the cheaper HD 560S was a huge disappointment to me. I did like the vintage Senns I've heard though and honestly the HD 600/650 are the last remaining Senns (except maybe the HD 25 but never heard those) with the vintage sound heritage.

 

[MisterMudd]

Oh yeah, the 650 is peak Sennheiser! Having owned all 4 in the past, I agree with every point. If I could go back and do the audiophile thing again from scratch, knowing what I know now, I would get a 6XX and a tube amp and stop right there.

Exactly that. I have been rockin' the Drop 6XX and Schiit Vali2++, and have called it quits. Very, very happy, and no hint of upgradeitis.

 

[pataburd]

. . . and no hint of upgrade-itis.

. . . not yet, anyway.

 

[pataburd]

To my ears, the HD650's midrange is more coherent that of the HD8XX [modded], although I find bass definition from the HD8XX to be better.
[Caveat: the HD650 I have, with less than 10 hours head time, are most likely not broken in yet.]

 

[michael2v]

Exactly that. I have been rockin' the Drop 6XX and Schiit Vali2++, and have called it quits. Very, very happy, and no hint of upgradeitis.

You’re going to want to try those on a high output impedance amp at some point (100-ohms or higher, ideally)…you can thank me later!

 

[haasaaroni]

You’re going to want to try those on a high output impedance amp at some point (100-ohms or higher, ideally)…you can thank me later!

Yeah what I should have said is "I would get a 6XX and an OTL tube amp...THEN stop right there"

 

[HWB3]

Exactly that. I have been rockin' the Drop 6XX and Schiit Vali2++, and have called it quits. Very, very happy, and no hint of upgradeitis.

It's even better with the Vali 3. Vali 2++ has 60 volts going to the tube. The Vali 3 has 100 which makes whatever tube that you use sound very good. My 6XX's paired well with my Vali 2++ and they sound even better with the Vali 3. Sorry to put that bug into your ear.

 

[MisterMudd]

It's even better with the Vali 3. Vali 2++ has 60 volts going to the tube. The Vali 3 has 100 which makes whatever tube that you use sound very good. My 6XX's paired well with my Vali 2++ and they sound even better with the Vali 3. Sorry to put that bug into your ear.

Thanks. Been eyeballing Vali 3 from day 1 and will buy in the near future. V2 showed me how much I love tubes.

 

[jonathan c]

The essence of Head-Filia :

@MisterMudd: [May 7, 2024 @ 1:40pm] "Have called it quits. Very, very happy and no hint of upgradeitis".

@MisterMudd: [May 8, 2024 @ 9:48am] "Been eyeballing ... since Day 1 and will buy in the near future".

 

[MisterMudd]

The essence of Head-Filia :

@MisterMudd: [May 7, 2024 @ 1:40pm] "Have called it quits. Very, very happy and no hint of upgradeitis".

@MisterMudd: [May 8, 2024 @ 9:48am] "Been eyeballing ... since Day 1 and will buy in the near future".

Yep. Thats me. Mr. Vacillator! Alias Mr. Mudd.

 

[MisterMoJo]

If I like the HD 800 S and love the HD 650 will I like the HD 660 S2?

 

[michael2v]

If I like the HD 800 S and love the HD 650 will I like the HD 660 S2?

What else is in your source chain?

I would describe the 660 S2 as a more v-shaped 650, but it loses a bit of that buttery mid-range (especially on high-impedance tubes). It definitely improves on everything that the 560S was meant to be, with none of the compromises. Given recent sale prices, definitely a much lower risk purchase to try them out.

 

[MisterMoJo]

What else is in your source chain?

I would describe the 660 S2 as a more v-shaped 650, but it loses a bit of that buttery mid-range (especially on high-impedance tubes). It definitely improves on everything that the 560S was meant to be, with none of the compromises. Given recent sale prices, definitely a much lower risk purchase to try them out.

My source chain is my pc (JRiver)(USB) > Topping D90 III Sabre (Balanced out) > iFi iCan Pro Signature (Balanced). Currently listening to the 650 and don't think I could give up these mids so that answers that lol. Maybe I should just sit tight. Then again.......