[Aryadeva]

Sadly, I have not been able to hear the HD 660. I do use a Blue Dragon for the HD 650 & HD6XXX and find it a better all-around cable than the stock cable.
I would definitely use the silver dragon for awhile with the hd 660. I have not heard it, everything I have read has been positive. Please give a update in this thread when you can, I am interested in the out come.

I ended up getting the 660S. I have to say, I am very impressed. I’ve been listening out of my 650s for about a decade, and the 660S takes everything I love about the 650, and improves on what I didn’t like. The timbre from the 650 is retained quite while, but especially with the silver dragon cable, the 660S resolves much better, taking away the infamous “veil” and the mudiness of sound that I’m not a fan of in the 650. I’m not very experience at describing these sorts of things (I’m new here ), so let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll do my best.

 

[donlin]

I ended up getting the 660S. I have to say, I am very impressed. I’ve been listening out of my 650s for about a decade, and the 660S takes everything I love about the 650, and improves on what I didn’t like. The timbre from the 650 is retained quite while, but especially with the silver dragon cable, the 660S resolves much better, taking away the infamous “veil” and the mudiness of sound that I’m not a fan of in the 650. I’m not very experience at describing these sorts of things (I’m new here ), so let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll do my best.

I agree. As a diehard HD650 fan since the day they first came out, it’s hard to believe.

 

[MusicalParadise]

I ended up getting the 660S. I have to say, I am very impressed. I’ve been listening out of my 650s for about a decade, and the 660S takes everything I love about the 650, and improves on what I didn’t like. The timbre from the 650 is retained quite while, but especially with the silver dragon cable, the 660S resolves much better, taking away the infamous “veil” and the mudiness of sound that I’m not a fan of in the 650. I’m not very experience at describing these sorts of things (I’m new here ), so let me know if you have any questions, and I’ll do my best.

Most things about the HD650 can be fixed with simply getting a better amp and a more resolving DAC. The HD660S still has the same faults like lack of sub bass extension, dirty bass etc. The biggest difference is the HD660 will play nicer with budget systems but once you upgrade your system the HD650 does start to pull away from the HD660S there's limitations.

 

[skem]

What amplifiers did you move up to? Any higher end solid states such as the Violectric V200 or higher? Or are you mainly talking higher end tube amps?

I moved to IHA-1 then ZDS. On both I preferred hd650

 

[Aryadeva]

Most things about the HD650 can be fixed with simply getting a better amp and a more resolving DAC. The HD660S still has the same faults like lack of sub bass extension, dirty bass etc. The biggest difference is the HD660 will play nicer with budget systems but once you upgrade your system the HD650 does start to pull away from the HD660S there's limitations.

It might just be personal preference, or maybe it’s the difference between tube and solid state like others have speculated. I have both coming out of the HDV 820, and I still prefer the 660S.

 

[skem]

I moved to IHA-1 then ZDS. On both I preferred hd650

Actually. I also preferred hd650 on Benchmark DAC3 HGC, which is solid state.

 

[guido]

so one vote for and one vote against the Mojo....anyone lese?

 

[kman1211]

It might just be personal preference, or maybe it’s the difference between tube and solid state like others have speculated. I have both coming out of the HDV 820, and I still prefer the 660S.

So the HD 660 S sounds better than the HD 650 out of Sennheisers flagship amp? I think it's a combination of both. I'm not sure if it's scaling or rather more synergy going on, the HD 650 and HD 660 S seem to shine on different systems.

Actually. I also preferred hd650 on Benchmark DAC3 HGC, which is solid state.

So both tube and SS amps. I actually found I preferred the HD 660 S over the HD 650 on the Violectric V281. But on the Eddie Current Balancing Act I preferred the HD 650. Seems like a synergy thing could be going on.

 

[Bengkia369]

I personally didn't like it. That's mostly because I don't like the compressed, lacking dynamics sound of the Mojo though! I found the 660S to sound good good from some OTC amps like the WA6 with a good rectifier.

Mojo lack of dynamic wow!

 

[MusicalParadise]

So the HD 660 S sounds better than the HD 650 out of Sennheisers flagship amp? I think it's a combination of both. I'm not sure if it's scaling or rather more synergy going on, the HD 650 and HD 660 S seem to shine on different systems.



So both tube and SS amps. I actually found I preferred the HD 660 S over the HD 650 on the Violectric V281. But on the Eddie Current Balancing Act I preferred the HD 650. Seems like a synergy thing could be going on.

There’s quite a difference in resolution between the EC BA and 281 though where the HD650 shines(with higher end gear)

 

[kman1211]

There’s quite a difference in resolution between the EC BA and 281 though where the HD650 shines(with higher end gear)

The BA is a better amp overall to my ears, but the V281 is also a summit-fi amp. Honestly with that level of gear I would prefer a different headphone anyways. I actually found my Amiron Home to sound better than either Senn on that level of gear as I found it to scale better.

 

[HungryPanda]

Sounds very good indeed

 

[Aryadeva]

So the HD 660 S sounds better than the HD 650 out of Sennheisers flagship amp? I think it's a combination of both. I'm not sure if it's scaling or rather more synergy going on, the HD 650 and HD 660 S seem to shine on different systems

That’s a good point. It’s hard to say; I don’t have another high end dac/amp for comparison.

 

[skem]

So the HD 660 S sounds better than the HD 650 out of Sennheisers flagship amp? I think it's a combination of both. I'm not sure if it's scaling or rather more synergy going on, the HD 650 and HD 660 S seem to shine on different systems.



So both tube and SS amps. I actually found I preferred the HD 660 S over the HD 650 on the Violectric V281. But on the Eddie Current Balancing Act I preferred the HD 650. Seems like a synergy thing could be going on.

Quite possibly. Do you know the output imprudence of WA3 and Violectric vs the others?

Certainly the WA3 was the limiting factor on detail and The impedance if the HD660 May have fixed that by being easier to drive. But I felt like with better Amps the HD660 became a limiting factor though I don’t recall all the details in why I felt it was limited. I didn’t take notes

 

[skem]

Quite possibly. Do you know the output imprudence of WA3 and Violectric vs the others?

Certainly the WA3 was the limiting factor on detail and The impedance if the HD660 May have fixed that by being easier to drive. But I felt like with better Amps the HD660 became a limiting factor though I don’t recall all the details in why I felt it was limited. I didn’t take notes

I should add, the like and dislike episodes were actually /different/ pairs of HD660s. Maybe the second pair was problematic in other ways?