Been listening to both the TH600 and Sig DJ for some time now. There a definite differences despite sharing a U shaped response.
The TH600
- Has a larger soundstage and more open sound overall - as expected because they have small ports to let sound out and air in. The openness and soundstage size are instantly recognizable as being better/larger than the DJ
- Both have fantastic separation but the TH600 has instruments and sounds with larger gaps between them overall. This is mostly just a soundstage size/space affecting the imaging.
- The TH600 has more prominent treble, which can be quite splashy and harsh at the worst of times. I like to describe some of these harsh tones as being almost glass like as if someone smashed a bottle next to your ears. I'm not noting sibilant but a very hard and hot edge. However this harshness manifests only on about 1/15 of my tracks and on some that it appears its not as bad as it can get. I've seen graphs showing up a hardness in the 5-6 KHZ range which agrees with my ears.
- The TH600 has a thin sounding midrange, vocals were noticeably back and with a larger soundstage can sound a bit further back in the sound. On the flipside, listening to certain classical and also electronic ambient/psy albums you get a fair bit of depth that the Sig DJ doesn't match. The DJ by comparison seems more upfront and a bit more aggressive in the mids, guitars and vocals.
- The TH600 has some fairly strong sub bass rumble and you can feel the bass tickle your skin at higher volume, but it does not impact very hard. More than most other 1k headphones but not nearly as impacting as the Signature DJ
- The TH600 is much more comfortable and feels fairly loose on the head.
- The TH600 doesn't isolate well and leaks sound quite a bit. High volume bleeds like an open headphone.
- Forget using the TH600 outside, its also a fair bit bigger than the Sig DJ.
Signature DJ
- Drill like bass impact. The bass on these hits very hard when listening to trance, dubstep and other EDM genres with those continuous low bass beats that we all love on our subwoofers. The impact is much more powerful than the TH600.
- On the other hand the very very lowest bass does not give the same pulsating vibration as the TH600, the Sig DJ must have a curve upward around 50hz - 80hz or something similar. Not saying you won't feel it but as the TH600 has less impact you can focus more in on the low 20-40hz sound in artists like Synthetic Epiphany - Check wind in the trees or similar.
- For me personally the Signature DJ has far more aggression to its sound and is more weighty, forward and powerful. The TH600 seems thinner and more laid back despite its bass and treble elevations. Both are fun and forward compared to other "analytic headphones" of course, but non of us are interested in that are we
- The Sig DJ leaks very little to no sound and can isolate train noise, cars, talking and such when music is playing in a sinch.
- The Signature DJ can be used portable to get result, but you will get a few looks from people because they are still rather large compared to some other portables and they stand out being mostly white.
- I find the DJ comfortable, but I have small ears. But you will remember you are wearing them as they clamp solidly.
- The DJ with its more forward sound kicks the TH600 arse for rock, metal and genres as such. The TH600 might get away with being "ok" for soundtracks and classical - but its mids lack the presence to give this absolutely the best treatment.
- I never found the Sig DJ to have any treble problems, even though it is *slightly* elevated. Much more smooth and agreeable than the TH600.
- Bass guitar and drums are way heftier sounding than on the TH600 which for whatever reason seems to lack bottom end to guitars, voices and Bass guitars/drums. I've seen this on another sites measurements which show a scooped out lower mid/midbass range.
I'm keeping both, but overall I prefer the DJ. The TH600 will get its use for expansive stuff like Shpongle, Solar Fields, Global Communications, Future Sound of London etc.
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