Sennheiser HD660S... Finally a successor for the HD650?

[dcguy73]

The HD 660 S is definitely more HD 600ish to my ears. Definitely a personal preference thing on the HD 650 vs HD 660 S. The HD 660 S falls more in line with more warmish neutral headphones such as the HD 600 and the DT 1990. The slight hardness is akin to that found in the HD 600 but it's less bothersome than what is found on the HD 600, it's more like the DT 1990(balanced pads) where it's there but not a cause of fatigue. I have found the slight hardness is only on certain systems though, I personally found the HD 660 S to sound less hard and more musically flowing when using optical over USB.

The Amiron Home fills in more laid-back sounding headphone like the HD 650 for me and is why I don't have any desire for the HD 650 currently. It's more trebly than the HD 650 but it has a similar relaxed character to it's sound.

That is an excellent elaboration on what I was trying to say. You nailed it.

 

[Odium]

I upgraded from Sennheiser HD-595 to HD-660S, having owned the 595s for a good 10 years or so, I have to say the upgrade in sound was very significant across the entire spectrum. It's been like going from 2D games straight into the realm of Virtual Reality. Suddenly you're able to accurately place instruments and tiny details in three-dimensional space thanks to the bigger, deeper and much more detailed sound stage. Each song is a brand new experience and I'm hearing new details I've never even heard before. The treble is incredibly clean and the bass is also significantly better, with a much deeper, tighter and faster delivery. Across the board everything just sounds a lot more natural and realistic and now I can't go back to the 595's because they sound like an old radio compared to these headphones. Definitely very happy with this upgrade. (I run both headphones on my Xonar STX)

It is true that the headphones clamp quite tight when they are new, but after a week or so they become super-comfortable and are a true joy to feel on your head.

 

[torifile]

These cans are so clear. But they are too polite. I want some thump when I’m listening to Kendrick. Would an external amp help? I’m running in pure direct off either my iPhone (AirPlay) or vinyl.

I don’t want to lose the crispness or responsiveness of the headphones but a little more oomph would be nice.

 

[DavidA]

@Odium, welcome to head-fi. You might want to fill out your profile if you decide to stick around which might be bad for your wallet.

@torifile, while an amp may make a difference you might want to try some EQ (very little) to see if the changes are to your liking. During the time I spent with the HD660S it was fairly easy to drive and it didn't seem to benefit as much with an amp like the HD650 or HD600 but there are some amps like the Teac HA-501, Ember, and Liquid Carbon that did seem to bring out the bass a touch.

 

[RiseFall123]

Hi,

I am giving a chance to the HD 660 S pairing it with the Mojo.

The headphone will reach me on friday.

First, I hope it will be confortable while lying at bed, on pillow, because my actual Nighthawk is absolutely not confortable when listening at bed/pillow.

Second, I hope the 660 with Mojo pairing won't be too lean and thin, that is my worst nightmare also I don't like a brightest sound.

Hoping I won't meet these two issues so I ask two questons:

1) it is a good thing to leave it break-in when they arrive?

2) It is a good thing, also, to immediately use the loose trick, I mean, pressing the metal parts x times to have them less tight or it's better don't do it and leave it enlarge naturally? I had the HD 650 and after many years it Always been tight until I pressed those metal parts.

 

[Tuneslover]

Heh heh...Ali G, huh? He's a funny guy.

When I listened to music with the HD660s, I made sure to try a variety of genres -- jazz, classical, classic rock, alternative, electronic. The sound/voicing of the headphones was consistent regardless of what type of music I chose. It didn't really sound more "fun" with any particular genre.

This is just my opinion. A friend of mine who listened to the HD660s on my system really liked them more than the HD650. (He likes more neutral-sounding headphones without emphasized bass.)

Have you heard the latest Massdrop HD6XX version? They sound like the HD650 but a bit more sparkly in the high frequencies.

 

[Anarion]

I upgraded from Sennheiser HD-595 to HD-660S, having owned the 595s for a good 10 years or so, I have to say the upgrade in sound was very significant across the entire spectrum. It's been like going from 2D games straight into the realm of Virtual Reality. Suddenly you're able to accurately place instruments and tiny details in three-dimensional space thanks to the bigger, deeper and much more detailed sound stage. Each song is a brand new experience and I'm hearing new details I've never even heard before. The treble is incredibly clean and the bass is also significantly better, with a much deeper, tighter and faster delivery. Across the board everything just sounds a lot more natural and realistic and now I can't go back to the 595's because they sound like an old radio compared to these headphones. Definitely very happy with this upgrade. (I run both headphones on my Xonar STX)

It is true that the headphones clamp quite tight when they are new, but after a week or so they become super-comfortable and are a true joy to feel on your head.

Interesting. When I tested HD 660 S I thought that HD 595 had airier and nicer soundstage. It's a bit hard to judge though because the source and amp is not the same. I had to hook my Honor 8 to external amp when testing the HD 660 S. It's the quality gap between it and AE-5 is massive so...

HD 595 needs really low output impedance source to sounds as it's supposed to sound so HD 660 S is definitely better match for that card.

 

[Krypto98]

I went back to bay and bloor radio. The guy there was really nice and let me try out the HD800s and the HD660s as well I tried the 650s
I also tried it out of a different amp cause the guy said it was better than the peachtree one they had, he also said it would sound better out of a different source but i only had my phone for music so it was the best i could do.
Linage: Samsung S6(spotify)>Aux>Audeze Deckard>Headphones
Comfort: HD800s >>> HD650=HD660
Songs:
Breakfast in America- Supertramp
HD800s

• HOLY CRAP THAT DETAIL. The bass notes and everything else is well balance with lots of detail. You can definitely pin point little details. Soundstage is extremely accurate. It blew me away. Supertramp tends to be bright and it shows here but i noticed that these are slightly less bright than the 598 that i own but way more detailed.

HD650

• Still quite detailed but doesnt have the resolution that the HD800s have. Its like comparing a 4k tv to a 8k tv. Soundstage is smaller. Bass is more present but not as detailed.

HD660s

• Slightly more detailed(is resolving the right word) than HD650. However I found it to be a bit bright for my taste. I'll be honest here i wasnt much of a fan of the HD660s

In the Air Tonight - Phil Colins
HD800s

• The hurt really does show. The drum attack section is very accurate sounding with soundstage being incredible and you can really feel like Phil is drumming in the room with you.

HD650

• Wamer than both the HD800s and HD660s. This makes the experience more "musical" rather than analytical? Drums have more impact with the 650 but are less detailed.

HD660s

• Colin's Voice shines here. However, the drums have less impact than the 650 and this headphone is less detailed than the 800s but slightly more detailed than the 650. The 660 sounds more like the 650 than the 800s

Remember the Time - Micheal Jackson
HD800s

• Bass is very detailed here, Micheal Jackson songs are very well mastered and with the HD800s you can here this very well.

HD650

• Bass isnt as fast, tight or textured as it is on HD800s but it is still very good. More musical. I'll be honest, I started to like the HD650 more even though they arent as detailed they are more musical which make the music more enjoyable.

HD660s: Bass is more detailed than the HD650(slightly) but the treble is more fatiging. At this point I stoped listening to the HD660s as I ruled out that they weren't for me.

Killer Queen - Queen
HD800s

• The Microdetail is very good here. However i was dispointed... why? I listened to the HD650 first with this song and the HD650 made the harmonies sound like gold while with the HD800S they sounded kinda meh.

HD650

• I think is where i relized that the HD650 were my favorite. The lower harmonies are beautiul. The Guitars shine. nothing is overly bright. and very easy to listen too.

Tonight Tonight Tonight - Genesis
HD800s

• The micro-detail in the instrumental section is just amazing. Tony Banks work is just shown off here. the bass notes are very detailed and not a detail is missed here.

HD650

• More musical, and the song has more...feeling(emotion). You can feel a sense of desperation during the instrumental section when the drums start at around 4:16 of the 8 minute version of the song (the song is about addiction) While the HD800s were more detailed the HD650 were my favorite. Drums also have more impact than the HD800s and the 660

HD660s

• More bright than the HD650.. I didnt like it as much. The drums were not as impact as in the HD650

5th Symphony - Beethoven
HD800s

• For classical the HD800s blow everything out of the water. Soundstage and Micro detail is enough to describe this...Enough said...

HD650

• Soundstage is smaller here. More musical, less analytical. A little congested at parts.

I may go back and update with more HD660s but i really dont like them that much.
Overall the HD650s were my favorite and i will definatly get them in the future. As for the HD800s i think its an experience that everyone should try at least once.
As for HD650 vs HD660s i think its down to preference really. If you want a more laid back sound go 650. More detail go HD660s.
Sorry if my terminology is bad im kinda new to all of this .

 

[amartignano]

I went back to bay and bloor radio. The guy there was really nice and let me try out the HD800s and the HD660s as well I tried the 650s
I also tried it out of a different amp cause the guy said it was better than the peachtree one they had, he also said it would sound better out of a different source but i only had my phone for music so it was the best i could do.
Linage: Samsung S6(spotify)>Aux>Audeze Deckard>Headphones
Songs:
Breakfast in America- Supertramp

And?

 

[Krypto98]

And?

I accidentally submitted

 

[amartignano]

I accidentally submitted

I like the 660S more than you, but your sounds impressions are very good, and giving the music examples you also gave the readers the possibility to filter the subjectivity and understand if they can like one headphone or the others. Good stuff, really!

 

[FastAndClean]

please help, test this track and tell me how the hd660 plays this

 

[RiseFall123]

bit bright for my taste

the treble is more fatiging

These add this:


I am starting to think that I made a bad buy. The headphone will arrive me friday and the they will be paired with the Mojo.

I absolutely hate fatiguing stuff, extended highs, "sss", piercing snares...

 

[ubs28]

I heard these headphones the other day. These headphones are more like a HD 600 than a HD 650 imo. Not sure why Sennheiser has plans to replace the HD 650 with this headphone.

Also for $500, I'm not so sure if it is that good considering that the Hfiiman HE-560 is also $500 at the moment.

 

[RiseFall123]

are more like a HD 600

Hope the warm sound of Mojo will balance.