[Bengkia369]

Decrease impedance lost of sound quality?! Wah what kind of logic is this?
Going by this logic, then Sennheiser should launched a flagship with a 600 ohms Sennheiser HD900. Lol...

I personally think that the hd660s lost a lot of the hd650's sound quality due to its decreased impedance.

 

[SilverEars]

The changes to the HD 660S driver is a lot more complicated than an impedance change. Having a headphone that allows me to adjust the magnet distance from the voice coil has told me a lot about the behavior of transducers. You can massively alter the sound simply by slightly adjusting the magnet position for example. Every little change to the driver assembly will alter the sound.

I wonder what the output impedance of your headphone jack is. You'd want to compare headphones on the lowest relative output impedance. Otherwise, one headphone maybe colored more so than the other due to the impedance. This is probably the reason why Jude uses a Ruper Neve for his mrasurements due to it's output impedance level of being near zero other than it's pot's reputation of good channel balance.

 

[pietcux]

I personally think that the hd660s lost a lot of the hd650's sound quality due to its decreased impedance.

Do you own both?

 

[FullBright1]

I like the first vid, pass on the second and I have the LP of YES, on of my favorite songs back in college.

After visiting a friend a few times to listen to his HD660S on various gear I found them to be just a bit metallic/digital sounding at times with some tracks on some amps. The HD650 while not as good technically is a bit smoother but can get overly warm with some gear where the bass is muddy and treble too rolled off. To me the HD660S is between the HD600 and HD650 but closer to the HD600 due to the slightly brighter presentation. My take of the HD660S is its great for those that don't want to deal with a amp/tubes but for those that have some nice OTL amps the HD650 might still be a better sounding headphone and even before Tyll posted his impression I has similar thoughts of the HD660S and I'm one that doesn't agree with him a lot of times, ie: I love my RS2e and Ypsilon R1.

When I say "overpriced" its in comparison to the HD6XX & HD58X for less than half the price, my custom Ypsilon R1 which can be built for about $350, and even the HE560 which can be found for $350 these days.

And I agree that buying headphones in a roll of the dice for most, but I've been lucky to have some friends who have a lot of spare change to get audio gear that I only dream of so I've gotten to hear some nice stuff over the past few years.

-

If you liked those Vids, then check out my Channel on U-TBE, If you have the time.
Just open one of the vids here into the Youtube page, and follow "Fastguitars".

Also, im comparing the Senn 660s to these listed below, and, and also to the Beyer Amiron Home and a few others that have not made it to my page yet.
And, these Senn 660s are very very good headphones.
A few uses keep mentioning treble brightness, but, im not hearing it.
Especially compared to anything made by Beyer or say something like the K701-2s.

-
Audeze EL-8o

Audio Technica A-1000Z

Audio Technica ATH-R70x

Audio Technica MSR7gm

AKG 702-65th

AKG K712-Pro

AKG K551SLV

AKG K267 Tiesto
Blue Mofi

BANG & OLUFSEN BeoPlay H6

B&W P7

BeyerDynamic DT770

Bose Quiet Comfort 25

Focal Spirit Pro

Fostex TH-500RP

Fostex T50RP-Mk3

KEF M500

German Maestro GMP 435 S,

Grado PS-500E

HifiMan HE-400

Hifiman HE-400i

Hifiman HE-400s

Hifiman HE-560

Hifiman Edition S

NAD Electronics VISO

Philips X2

PSB M4U 1

Sennheiser HD 598

Sennheiser HD600

Sennheiser HD650

Sennheiser HD-630VB

Shure SRH1840

Sony MDR-MA900

Sony MDR-7520 *(Best closed) *

Ultrasone Pro 550S

Yamaha Pro 500

Yamaha HPH-MT220

 

[FullBright1]

I personally think that the hd660s lost a lot of the hd650's sound quality due to its decreased impedance.

The 660s are not designed to sound like the HD650s.
They are designed to sound like the HD700s combined with the HD600s.
So, this is a uniquely, nearly perfect combo, as the Hd700s have such clarity and the HD600s have the warmth and the Senn - House sound.
Fun.

 

[donlin]

-

If you liked those Vids, then check out my Channel on U-TBE, If you have the time.
Just open one of the vids here into the Youtube page, and follow "Fastguitars".

Also, im comparing the Senn 660s to these listed below, and, and also to the Beyer Amiron Home and a few others that have not made it to my page yet.
And, these Senn 660s are very very good headphones.
A few uses keep mentioning treble brightness, but, im not hearing it.
Especially compared to anything made by Beyer or say something like the K701-2s.

-
Audeze EL-8o

Audio Technica A-1000Z

Audio Technica ATH-R70x

Audio Technica MSR7gm

AKG 702-65th

AKG K712-Pro

AKG K551SLV

AKG K267 Tiesto
Blue Mofi

BANG & OLUFSEN BeoPlay H6

B&W P7

BeyerDynamic DT770

Bose Quiet Comfort 25

Focal Spirit Pro

Fostex TH-500RP

Fostex T50RP-Mk3

KEF M500

German Maestro GMP 435 S,

Grado PS-500E

HifiMan HE-400

Hifiman HE-400i

Hifiman HE-400s

Hifiman HE-560

Hifiman Edition S

NAD Electronics VISO

Philips X2

PSB M4U 1

Sennheiser HD 598

Sennheiser HD600

Sennheiser HD650

Sennheiser HD-630VB

Shure SRH1840

Sony MDR-MA900

Sony MDR-7520 *(Best closed) *

Ultrasone Pro 550S

Yamaha Pro 500

Yamaha HPH-MT220

Agree, the charge of treble brightness is a mystery to me.

 

[DavidA]

On the other hand, for me the 660S is better than the Focal Clear at $1500.00 and the MrSpeakers Aeon Flow Open at $800.00 so it’s a steal at $500.00.

That's a valid point of view since you consider the HD660S better than the Clear and AFO, for me the Ypsilon R1 ($350) and HD6XX ($200) are better than the HD660S so it just depends on ones point of reference.

@FullBright1, I think the reason you and I don't see eye to eye is I think you are considering the HD660S as something that checks off the most boxes with the fewest negatives while I'm just looking for different headphones with their own unique presentations. Going by the title of the thread I'm saying that the HD660S is not a successor to the HD650 since its a different sound and one that I like but not at the current $500 price due to my preferences. FWIW I like my the sound of my EL8-open over the both the HD650 and HD660S since its bass goes lower while still being detailed and full, mids are slightly more forward and smoother, and the treble is more extended but also slightly recessed compared to the HD660S. The only issue with the EL8 is that there is quite a difference between the original release (what i have) and the current revision which I've heard a couple of times that sound different since they have more bass slam but the mids are not the same (more edgy like the HD660S) and the treble is a bit to forward. If you look in my profile I have a range of different sounding headphones and to me they all bring something unique to the table for what I'm looking for.

 

[kman1211]

I wonder what the output impedance of your headphone jack is. You'd want to compare headphones on the lowest relative output impedance. Otherwise, one headphone maybe colored more so than the other due to the impedance. This is probably the reason why Jude uses a Ruper Neve for his mrasurements due to it's output impedance level of being near zero other than it's pot's reputation of good channel balance.

On the Sony UDA-1 I assume around 32 Ohms based on how it sounds and the fact it favors higher impedance headphones. On the Project Sunrise 3 it can be 1 Ohm, 32 Ohms, or 69 Ohms. depending on the setting.

 

[Majestiic]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the 660S seem to have better synergy paired with a ss amp as opposed to a tube amp?

 

[DavidA]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the 660S seem to have better synergy paired with a ss amp as opposed to a tube amp?

Agree

 

[Bengkia369]

HD660S sure sounds great on my following tube amps as well
1) Cypher Labs Trio hybrid portable
2) Phatlab Phantasy full class A portable tube Amp
3) Pathos Aurium full class A desktop

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the 660S seem to have better synergy paired with a ss amp as opposed to a tube amp?

 

[donlin]

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that the 660S seem to have better synergy paired with a ss amp as opposed to a tube amp?

I have a solid state amp and right at this moment would say the HD660S is the best headphone I’ve heard. However, I initially liked the amp because it sounded great with the HD650 and 800S that I had when I first tried it.

 

[RedVelvetLuna]

I went and tried them and I personally loved the 660S.

 

[zazex]

Well said! Too bad, many so called "Audiophile" don't feel this way.
To them, those more expensive stuffs should sounds better than HD660S. They rated equipment by the price of it.

True; though that tends to be the case for many if not most consumer goods.

 

[franz12]

Not many options left at this price range, so went ahead and placed an order. I am looking for a decent performing openback headphone, which does not make me reach out ether c flow unless I need isolation. Two headphones, Clear and AFO so far did that job at least sonically. AFO was gifted to my father, but Clear caused too much discomfort so that I can't wear more than one and half hour.

I like the ergonomics and lightweight of hd series. But hd600 was a disappointment in that I mostly reach out my closed-back even when I don't need any isolation. I hope I enjoy hd660s much in the near future.