silkymaverick
New Head-Fier
Hi all, long time lurker, first time poster. Got started on Senns young. HD202, HD205, then the first pair I bought myself were the HD598 in ivory running a FiiO Alpen 2 E17K. Today, I’m running the 660s on a BTR5 with a balanced cable.
So always loved my Senns but I’d say I really fell in love with my 598s, that wide sound stage and warmth…so comfortable, all day listening. I always had my eye on the 650s but never pulled the trigger as then I’d be spending on a full stack to drive them. When the 660s came out with the lower impedance, it was a no brainer with a 30% off student discount through Sennheiser.
I have some gripes with the 660S…don’t get me wrong, they are phenomenally good headphones but there’s just something off about them to me at least. I would say they’re more technical and neutral sounding than the 598s, but I just don’t have as much fun with them. Unfortunately, I can’t go back to the 598s as the replacement earcups suck compared to the originals and the detail of the 660S blow them out of the water. I find the 660S are not very consistent, they excel well with very specific genres. Mids and highs are definitely more forward, the bass is great for jazz and rock, really anything instrumental however they seem to fail me with more modern music. It’s influenced my musical tastes as I now avoid songs I used to enjoy. Definitely a bit smaller sound stage as well.
The highs are absolutely incredible, but frankly, it can get pretty fatiguing and shrill. Especially with cymbals and high hats, which technically I think are on point and crisp but like I said, fatiguing. Also the sound stage and separation of instruments is so different on certain songs. For example, Life Worth Living by Laurel, sounds great on my 2.1 Polk stereo setup and my premium BMW speakers but on the 660S, the prominence of certain musical elements is totally different to the point it doesn’t even sound like the same song. A lot of the music I listen to is very atmospheric and creates a…well a vibe or an energy I suppose. Difficult to quantify. Hm…I suppose to me it’s the difference between the warmth of the 598s and the more neutral sounding 660S. Like how if you listen to Depeche Mode, you can really feel that heroin haze and get into that headspace. It’s just missing for me.
Hoping for a recommendation to resolve this. Perhaps I’m just getting bored of Senns or maybe I need a better DAC and Amp. I’ve considered the Darkvoice before but have never pulled the trigger. Perhaps that would add that warmth. But then again - maybe it’s the lack of bass that’s the issue. And to clarify, I’m not a bass head or anything like that - I would just like something that fills in the gaps where the 660S doesn’t seem to excel.
Edit: lost my train of thought. But yeah I’d said the 660s are a little fast for my liking as well. I’m thinking I want something with a little more warmth and more balance bass. I’m considering Beyerdynamics though the new HIFIMAN Edition XS caught my eye. I’ve always wanted to try planar magnetic headphones and reviews have been great so far it seems. I’d be open to trying something new and interested.
Edit Again: Listened to Thank You by Dido on my 660s and gives me the goosebumps. Exactly why I can’t get rid of these either. Don’t want to understate how great these are.
So always loved my Senns but I’d say I really fell in love with my 598s, that wide sound stage and warmth…so comfortable, all day listening. I always had my eye on the 650s but never pulled the trigger as then I’d be spending on a full stack to drive them. When the 660s came out with the lower impedance, it was a no brainer with a 30% off student discount through Sennheiser.
I have some gripes with the 660S…don’t get me wrong, they are phenomenally good headphones but there’s just something off about them to me at least. I would say they’re more technical and neutral sounding than the 598s, but I just don’t have as much fun with them. Unfortunately, I can’t go back to the 598s as the replacement earcups suck compared to the originals and the detail of the 660S blow them out of the water. I find the 660S are not very consistent, they excel well with very specific genres. Mids and highs are definitely more forward, the bass is great for jazz and rock, really anything instrumental however they seem to fail me with more modern music. It’s influenced my musical tastes as I now avoid songs I used to enjoy. Definitely a bit smaller sound stage as well.
The highs are absolutely incredible, but frankly, it can get pretty fatiguing and shrill. Especially with cymbals and high hats, which technically I think are on point and crisp but like I said, fatiguing. Also the sound stage and separation of instruments is so different on certain songs. For example, Life Worth Living by Laurel, sounds great on my 2.1 Polk stereo setup and my premium BMW speakers but on the 660S, the prominence of certain musical elements is totally different to the point it doesn’t even sound like the same song. A lot of the music I listen to is very atmospheric and creates a…well a vibe or an energy I suppose. Difficult to quantify. Hm…I suppose to me it’s the difference between the warmth of the 598s and the more neutral sounding 660S. Like how if you listen to Depeche Mode, you can really feel that heroin haze and get into that headspace. It’s just missing for me.
Hoping for a recommendation to resolve this. Perhaps I’m just getting bored of Senns or maybe I need a better DAC and Amp. I’ve considered the Darkvoice before but have never pulled the trigger. Perhaps that would add that warmth. But then again - maybe it’s the lack of bass that’s the issue. And to clarify, I’m not a bass head or anything like that - I would just like something that fills in the gaps where the 660S doesn’t seem to excel.
Edit: lost my train of thought. But yeah I’d said the 660s are a little fast for my liking as well. I’m thinking I want something with a little more warmth and more balance bass. I’m considering Beyerdynamics though the new HIFIMAN Edition XS caught my eye. I’ve always wanted to try planar magnetic headphones and reviews have been great so far it seems. I’d be open to trying something new and interested.
Edit Again: Listened to Thank You by Dido on my 660s and gives me the goosebumps. Exactly why I can’t get rid of these either. Don’t want to understate how great these are.
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