[torpid]

Is the 660 classified as a dark or bright headphone? Descriptions of it's sound seem to be conflicting.

I would classify it as a warm-neutral.

 

[gooeyrich]

Slightly dark and a bit warm sounding. So warm-neutral I would say.

It's curious, I've read some people say it's even darker than the 650.

 

[gooeyrich]

On that topic, does Sennheiser make a bright headphone? Or would one stick with the Beyers for a bright headphone?

 

[kman1211]

On that topic, does Sennheiser make a bright headphone? Or would one stick with the Beyers for a bright headphone?

The HD 560 S and the HD 800 S are on the bright side. Beyer makes some very warm headphones and not all Beyers are bright, the T1.3 is probably warmer than anything Sennheiser makes for instance and I found the T5.3 darker than most Senns. And I gather the DT 700/900 Pro X aren’t really considered bright but have yet to hear them.

 

[torpid]

On that topic, does Sennheiser make a bright headphone? Or would one stick with the Beyers for a bright headphone?

I would give the HD560S a shot if you want something a bit more bright.

 

[gooeyrich]

I would give the HD560S a shot if you want something a bit more bright.

I have the HD 650 and the DT990(600 ohm black edition) as my first audiophile cans, I figured I'd cover both ends of the spectrum to start my journey.

 

[jonathan c]

I have the HD 650 and the DT990(600 ohm black edition) as my first audiophile cans, I figured I'd cover both ends of the spectrum to start my journey.

What is the spectrum that you have in mind?

 

[gooeyrich]

What is the spectrum that you have in mind?

Sound signatures?

 

[SHAMuuu]

On that topic, does Sennheiser make a bright headphone? Or would one stick with the Beyers for a bright headphone?

Some of the earlier 300/600 ohm German models of 250, 540, 560 are quite sizzly. They have some foams on front of driver when removed can really jolt your chakras.

As one who likes Beyer in general and the older beyer sizzliness , I was not surprised to really appreciate those models mentioned above in the past and early 580 (blk paper)

In fact my favorite 6 series is a 660 shell w/ 580 black paper w/ copper custom cans mod.



Keeping on topic on 660 (stock), i was able to go through few Violent Femmes albums, and my brain went "Jiminey Chrishmas, these do the albums quite splendid"

 

[Mike F]

Slightly dark and a bit warm sounding. So warm-neutral I would say.

Great description. But @gooeyrich raised a good question which seems to me never to have been resolved - that descriptions of its sound seem to be conflicting. Many of the early reports of the 660S described it as bright. ‘At last Sennheiser has shaken off the veil’, etc. Such reports, along with the review and measurements from Sonarworks were enough to put me off for a very long time. I absolutely did not want anything brighter than my later production 650 and Sonarworks measurements sealed the fate of the 660S for me. When I finally tried one for myself I was initially quite confused. More clarity for sure, but less bass presence and less treble presence - the opposite of very many peoples reviews. My impressions have been confirmed by several reputable measurements since. I have to wonder therefore if there was a change in its tuning fairly early on.

I would love it if Sonarworks would measure a recent 660S and publish their findings.....

 

[torpid]

Great description. But @gooeyrich raised a good question which seems to me never to have been resolved - that descriptions of its sound seem to be conflicting. Many of the early reports of the 660S described it as bright. ‘At last Sennheiser has shaken off the veil’, etc. Such reports, along with the review and measurements from Sonarworks were enough to put me off for a very long time. I absolutely did not want anything brighter than my later production 650 and Sonarworks measurements sealed the fate of the 660S for me. When I finally tried one for myself I was initially quite confused. More clarity for sure, but less bass presence and less treble presence - the opposite of very many peoples reviews. My impressions have been confirmed by several reputable measurements since. I have to wonder therefore if there was a change in its tuning fairly early on.

I would love it if Sonarworks would measure a recent 660S and publish their findings.....

Interesting take.. I personally feel like the 660S has much greater Bass and Treble quantity compared to the 650/6XX.. Maybe I have a Unicorn 660S

 

[indigogo]

It doesn't matter if it's dark, light, bright, or whatever.
Right now Imany - Voodoo Cello - 2021 - 660s doesn't even half reveal the full potential of this incredibly professional and modern recorded and mixed album. This is where the NDH 30 shows that it plays in a completely different dimension, out of reach for 660s and other headphones in the higher price range.
This album is very indicative for testing headphones and understanding what they really are.
It has it all, very powerfully recorded vocals and instruments, arrangement and presentation around the stage, powerful stereo separation where needed. Spatial, three-dimensional, detailed and transparent sound. Dynamics with transients and complex sound combinations.
Here, the 660s sound very compressed like a closed-back headphone compared to the NDH 30 - if very briefly.
If you listen to the 660s alone or other higher-end headphones, you can agree with this sound, although I personally hear an incorrect and limited sound presentation.
But when you compare them directly, instantly with NDH 30 - 660 s they kneel and ask for mercy for their ignorance!

 

[Mike F]

It’s impossible to know with Sennheiser whether rumours of changes to the 650 (at the point when the screen changed from black to silver) are correct or not as they have never confirmed any change, but I have carefully listened to two 650 (both post 2017) and four 660S headphones and the sound characteristics have remained consistent. They also remain consistent on high end amplifiers, a portable amp DAC and straight out of the computer. The 650 has more bass and treble presence than the 660S. The later however has considerably more clarity.

 

[indigogo]

here's more for the test:
Imany - Live at The Casino de Paris (2019)
Imany - The Wrong Kind Of War (Deluxe Edition) - 2016
Imany - The Shape of a Broken Heart (2013)
She probably has a very good sound engineer editor and others

660s just don't pull it out even by half, however, like many other well-hyped headphones

 

[Mike F]

It doesn't matter if it's dark, light, bright, or whatever.
Right now Imany - Voodoo Cello - 2021 - 660s doesn't even half reveal the full potential of this incredibly professional and modern recorded and mixed album. This is where the NDH 30 shows that it plays in a completely different dimension, out of reach for 660s and other headphones in the higher price range.
This album is very indicative for testing headphones and understanding what they really are.
It has it all, very powerfully recorded vocals and instruments, arrangement and presentation around the stage, powerful stereo separation where needed. Spatial, three-dimensional, detailed and transparent sound. Dynamics with transients and complex sound combinations.
Here, the 660s sound very compressed like a closed-back headphone compared to the NDH 30 - if very briefly.
If you listen to the 660s alone or other higher-end headphones, you can agree with this sound, although I personally hear an incorrect and limited sound presentation.
But when you compare them directly, instantly with NDH 30 - 660 s they kneel and ask for mercy for their ignorance!

I went over to Gearspace to get a more balanced professional view of the new NDH 30 and discovered that you had signed up there just to sing the praises of the Neumann. Curious.

I’m sure it’s a very good new studio headphone. I’m going to wait until the dust has settled and it’s no longer flavour of the month. Rave reviews of new products rarely live up to their promise a little further down the line......