HD660S2 - The side-grade we've been waiting for?

it's finally time to review the new Sennheiser HD-660S2! How does it hold up against the rest of this legendary headphone line?
You can also check out resolve's review here on the headphone show: • Is Sennheiser's new he...
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[@sennheiser]

Bass extension in the HD 6xx/650, same 3 kHz, extension in the upper treble AND an aluminum chassis..... Looks like we have our work cut out for us.

[@DMS3TV]

You guys are the best ❤️

[@rene837]

And please, pretty please make a closed-back version of it as well! ;D We need more good tuned closed-backs on the market.

[@ripetika1600]

@@rene837 iems exist

[@rene837]

@@ripetika1600 IEMs and headphones can't really be compared eye to eye. Over ear headphones are much easier on the ears in my opinion and also sound more spacious, especially on songs that are not perfectly mastered.

[@madarcturian]

Keep 300+ ohms, kthx.

[@anmu9038]

The love this guy has for HD6xx/650 is just amazing after all those years and bunch of great and ten twenty times more expensive headphones he still keeps them and speak great about them, tells you how good HD650 really are. Thank you for your recommendation back in 2016 when you started this channel speaking about your HD650 in basically every second video haha, I love my HD650 often even without an amp and I can't believe it has been almost 7 years since I got them based on advice of some "random small youtuber" with few hundreds of subs who is now almost at 100k. Wish you good luck and keep up the good work, hope you get that silver play button soon :)

[@DMS3TV]

Thanks for coming along on my journey! It's only the beginning and I think the HD650 will be glued to my head forever. 😄

[@anmu9038]

@@DMS3TV I remember I was deciding between old regular HE-400 and HD650 looking for some good comparison and your video comparing them with HD700 popped out on me :) I promised myself I would never buy headphones without your recommendation haha, that’s why I am still waiting for your review and comparison of Airpods Pro 2 against OG Airpods Pro if it’s worth the upgrade. Really excited about future of your channel, take care :)

[@larrym5606]

new to the hobby deciding on the hd600, hd650 or the Hifiman edition xs, I already own the hd560s, the Harmonic dyne Athena and the HE400se, pc38x, Epos h6pro, Game one. I am looking to turn it up a notch and get to the next level. What is your opinion that will compliment what I already have. I am looking for something rich and full, warm and cozy with good soundstage, imaging, clarity. I am trying to keep it under 500/ What would your suggestion be. You have become my go to for headphone reviews@@DMS3TV

[@ARC87]

DMS prefers the 650; Chrono, Metal571 & Zeos prefer the 660S; Andrew & Josh prefer the 600. A unique opportunity to discover which reviewer is better aligned to your personal listening preference.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

its everyones fave lol

[@mrmickey122]

Can you tell me why is this happening?

[@artureff3046]

Beyerdynamic Amiron home

[@fofopho]

I absolutely love the HD660S2, definitely an upgrade to the HD600

[@brugj03]

Speak for yourself.

[@duffdabsduffdies]

Thank you for this, DMS. Now I know that the 6XX is, in fact, the Sennheiser I'm pulling the trigger on. Cheers from the land of Dekoni!

[@Tripokaridos22]

Expected... HD6xx is for US drop market and Drop ,DMS,Headphone show are blending nice together...

[@SzymonSaysStuff]

Hey, thanks for including the raw measurements as well after the feedback from the previous video. I really appreciate it and I'm sure the others do, too. As for me, I love my HD600 but wanted another, warmer pair with the same design. I was looking at the 660s2, but I looked up the price after this review and... In my country, a HD650 costs $300, and the HD660s2 costs $780. Fucking hell Sennheiser, I'm gonna have to go with the older, equally as good model lmao.

[@stevenf9298]

Can get a Focal Clear for the price of one of these

[@SzymonSaysStuff]

@@stevenf9298 can't get a Clear for this price lol

[@Terra101]

Try EQ, it's free.

[@SzymonSaysStuff]

@@Terra101 I did try EQ. It's cool. I get more enjoyment out of just listening to every headphone on the stock tuning though.

[@minidee2194]

It's straight up resolve's measurement lol, even he shows the uncompensated graph on the big channel I don't know why DMS would go with compensated.

[@-Sparagmos-]

I wanna see new product in the HD800 line next.

[@MUSICBOT-le9ty]

For me HD600 is still king. Imaging not great, bass not great but there is magic in this headphone. The smooth, sweet highs are so beautiful. I hear 16kHz -19kHz on the HD600 and it is a natural sheen and air whereas the 660s sounds cold and grainy. To my ears the slight upper midrange shout on the 600 is balanced by the low mid boost and combined with highs make it, still to this day the most musical headphone I have ever tried.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

true even soundstage comparable to smth like sharona

[@JYMBO]

I've been using the 660s as my daily driver & main gaming headset since 2019 (nearly 5 years now) & whilst the bass is decent, more bass could be a good thing, however i wouldn't want to lose the top end for it so i think i'll stick with the original

[@nashwalker7]

Ya It’s been my daily and gaming headset as well. Every time I try to go back to a simple gaming headset, I go right back to my 660s

[@Pagaugezero]

I agree. My daily driver is my 660s. I don't want to lose any upper midrange or treble. I will hold on to my 660s

[@LAAM619]

Same here, purchased dec 17 2019, used daily since then including gaming. Its a perfect daily driver although i agree with the bass comments.

[@sonicthehedgehog989]

As a fan of the HD660s ethereal qualities due to it's airy presentation. I actually bought 2 hd660ses just in case, it gives me similar vibes to the stax but it's more relaxed, a bit less detailed, but has more correct timbre than stax lambda headphones. I'll pass on the the s2 cause i just like the s1, if they kept the sound signature the same and just improved on technicalities I would have jumped on this headphone instantly. I think the bass in the S1 is perfect for me, for a daily driver, and I like it over the 600 and 650, I do own both and I like them. But I daily the 660s it's just effortless . I don't know if that would make sense but to my ears the hd660s is the only Sennheiser headphone that sounds close to the HE-1 "Orpheus", tonality wise I am speaking. The HE-1 has better technicalities obviously, it's faster more detailed, more effortless, more liquid, and it's an electrostatic headphone. The 660s is pretty darn impressive for a dynamic driver headphone especially if you like electrostatics headphones. And it's bass fits it's presentation, perfectly.

[@Pagaugezero]

I agree 100%. The bass on the HD 660s are perfect for me. And I think they are the best out of the 6 line.

[@Anthony-cc8bx]

I find the 660S2 lifeless. It was laid back and maybe too laid back. The highs didn't shimmer. The vocals didn't have life. It is sooo German. Lacks passion. However I bought the HD800s. Much better but much more money.

[@dwihuff1]

Just received my 660S2'S today wow what a difference from the 6XX, you need to run them on HDV820 amp factory matching makes these come to life. To put a number on it 40% improvement. Worth the addition $$.

[@qwertyrewtywyterty]

thanks for this, I was looking to upgrade my HD 6xx

[@bassplayer2011ify]

The one thing I tell everyone who is looking into the 6X0s is if you can go to a store and try them. Despite the charts and reviews and all that stuff. Sonically they are all incredibly close to each other. The only way you can really find out which one you prefer is to A B them.

[@fiddlix]

I think I’m sticking with my HD600s set. I’m happy. If I want more bass I just hit the XBass on my ifi gryphon. 😎

[@martyn_g]

Bought the S2. I heard it with a Bryston DAC and a WA23 Luna, and also listened to a 650. Preferred the S2 hands down. Thought it imaged better and had better clarity- also the 650 could get shouty in the mids. This next comment will rile the 650 fans- I’m sorry, I don’t think it scales as much as you guys thinks it does, at least to me.

[@6643bear]

Hi , another great informative video , I have 660s, which I use on my ifi zen2 dac with the true bass button and does come alive, I have 6xx custom cans bass mod, and does help at the lower end , also been changing over with thicker pads on both, it’s interesting because as you are aware the standard pads thickness is 3/4”, but my old hd575 has 1.20” pads they quite bassy so I thought I give thicker pads a go, I just bought 660s2 open box and vip discount from Uk big outlet for only £269 , so at that price it’s worth it, the price in Uk is now £355, and the 650 is £229 at the moment. Regards mark

[@o.f.ftrack3444]

I think there's always going to be a subtle and unconscious bias with 600, 650/6xx owners. I've seen people legitimately criticize the 660s in favor of the former without ever actually hearing the 660s. I imagine the same will be said about the 660s2. I've been using headphones since 2001 and after listening to the lineup, I decided on the 660s. I've had it for 5 years now and I still consider it the best of the 600 series.

[@ccdani2]

Same here I had all hd 6x0 headphones hd 580, 58x , 600 , 650 and 660s is my favourite I still don't know if it's worth upgrading 😅 What gear do you use with your 660s?

[@justspaztik]

Same here. I love my 660s. I don't think they're lacking in bass or treble. They're smooth and detailed. They're just great with any song.

[@kentbergstrom3020]

Same here, and If you use EQ they get that extra sub bass S2 have for free.

[@o.f.ftrack3444]

@@ccdani2 I started with a little schiit stack and now I have the topping L30 and E30 stack. I've been planning on getting something better and preferably balanced but I haven't been able to justify spending more lately. The irony in all that is I plan on skipping everything inbetween and getting a Chord TT2/M-Scaler. The worst thing I could have done was listen to my 660s on that stack. However good you think those headphones sound, they're actually better than that.

[@ccdani2]

@@o.f.ftrack3444 that's awesome , I was using chord mojo for a long time until I upgraded to smsl su9+sh9 and now I think it's my end game setup for now at last 😅 I was missing a lot by powering my headphones with mojo the difference is night and day

[@PaddyBoyDE]

I’m happy with my pair of 600 … I always come back to these. For casual listening and mixing.

[@ozymandias7940]

Great review, but it's also worth mentioning that the sound is largely dependent on the audio itself. Music that was recorded 30yrs ago, was originally recorded onto tape where it remained for years until the introduction of CD's. Even then, it was transferred from tape to CD. Sure, some may have been remastered before being transferred to CD, but the audio equipment of 30+yrs ago would be antique compared to today's standards. All these variants can have a huge impact on the most expensive, most technologically advanced headphones. At the end of the day, no matter what amplification you use, even the most advanced amplifiers are limited by the quality of the original audio.

[@jehred_mc]

Thanks for your review. I enjoy your work. After watching this, I'll stick to my 58x.

[@JTB--]

Was surprised how much I like the HD560s. Got it for $150 BF deal. Right there with the 600/6XX/650. No need to spend more money. Try the 560s

[@nathanberger618]

I’ll check the HD660S2 at CanJam NYC this coming weekend.

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

What did u think?

[@nathanberger618]

@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx they were okay, but I did get a chance to hear the Mod House Tungstens at CanJam NYC 2023 and in June purchased a pair, more impressive then the HD600S2

[@ylannjacobin3803]

The HD660s is my main headphone for years now i thinking more of an upgrade from that to a 800s than a V2

[@DolemiteSammich]

The 660s v1 are on sale right now for under $300.... just sayin. They are actually my favorite of the 6x0 headphones.

[@fredericktennant9151]

Great review I think that Sennheiser has gone nuts with their marketing this time.

[@BaldyBaeby]

Ie600 ie900 660s2 all overpriced

[@joecaner]

I love the mid and high frequency presentation of the HD600 so I'm good, although, I want to hear the HD800S.

[@eddsson]

I feel like the dude watching the two Spider.. Spidermen? Man? Yups, you both sent us here and there.

[@Thomas_A_H]

As I just bought the HD600, I'm happy that this is not better (for me) 😃

[@BaldyBaeby]

The only one i did not test from the 6x0 line up is the 660s2. I much prefer the 600 over the 2 others 650 660. The new one was already out of my choices

[@Thomas_A_H]

@@BaldyBaeby I did not have a chance to listen to the 660S(1), but from what I've read/watched about it it would be a strong contender for (what I think is) my taste, so the 660S2 might have been interesting for me if it would sit somewhere between the 600 and the 660S(1). In some aspects it is, but in others it seems like an extension in a different direction. So I'm still curious how it sounds, but not curious enough to purchase one (even with the option to return it)

[@daginn896]

Sound is of course subjective, but the style of music you listen to (mainly) should play a large factor in what headphones you buy. I listen to metal mostly, and I enjoy the more laidback sound of the 660s2's.

[@mrmickey122]

Plss can you tell me, what is your experience with genre song that have lots of danceable tempo? Should I buy HD660s for that or something?😁

[@daginn896]

@@mrmickey122 I would still prefer the s2 for that.

[@sonickiller360]

Hearing that the bass extension isn’t as good as the anemic 6xx is disappointing to say the least.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

Watch out, you're going to get senn fans saying the bass is "just fine" when they listen to their violin tracks.

[@sonickiller360]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Yeah the amount of cope that comes from open back bass response (or lack thereof) is unreal.

[@samulhardif8331]

@@sonickiller360 the more expensive planars have it to 20hz, but our brains still perceive it a recessed. Only the susvara and audeze headphones have the THD low enough to bump the subbass to where its subjectively natural without distortion. Even the ayra cracks on heavy tracks. If you really want base response into subsonics, the drivers need to be closed. Many iems can drop below 20hz no problem. You have to have incredibly well designed drivers and housings to do the same for open backs.

[@sonickiller360]

@@samulhardif8331 That’s why I find the DCA expanse so fascinating, the AMTS kind of lets it do it all so to speak. Normal open backs can get pretty close when it comes to bass extension, however, when it comes to sub bass rumble they are almost always deficient. My PC38X is like this. As a heavy EDM listener the PC38x are almost like a less detailed, smaller soundstage version of my Adam T8V setup but when it comes to sub bass heavy songs like ocean drive by gentlemens club or tralfamadore by ternion sound, they just die.

[@samulhardif8331]

@@sonickiller360 I forgot about the expanse. Maybe because its so dynamically compromised. Its also extends to far into the lower mids for my tastes. I use a genelec system for stereo listening. The sub will extend ruler flat to 16hz at 118db. Its that pressurisation you miss in a headphone even if it could extend as deep.

[@_Balanced_]

I hope we get an improved body version of the 560s.

[@mikafoxx2717]

Looks like that came true. 490 pro

[@disco4535]

Seeing the pads on his 6xx and these new 660s2's makes me realize how much I really nee to change my pads lol. Im just afraid of changing the sound. And I have to agree that nothing will knock my 6xx out of my collection. I have much better headphones, but after 7 years I still can't get rid of and still use my 6xx sometimes.

[@ohngo181]

You can buy the replacement pads directly from Sennheiser for around $42 before tax/shipping. It's the same pad that came with the headphone, just not flat :)

[@PinePizza]

ZMF pads are very good and OG pads can be bought too

[@LoverOfTech]

New set is looking awesome

[@DMS3TV]

Thanks my guy 😄

[@thedrowning_shark]

I love these headphones been using Sennheiser headphones for years my first pair of sennheisers were the 560s and got the 660s2. Though I use it for gaming and streaming I can’t say how much I love sennheiser’s

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

I have the hd560s, looking at the S2 version of the 660S, what do u think? s1 or S2?

[@thedrowning_shark]

@@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx i would recommend the s2 they feel great “after you break them in” they’re a little on the tight side. I would avoid if you have a big ass head lol I have a slightly big head but they still feel good sounds amazing

[@XxXHardcoreshredderxXXxxxxxxxx]

@@thedrowning_shark I'm so down. I can get hefty discount on Sennheiser gear so I might do it

[@dispinella92]

Play warzone?

[@Housestationlive]

love your backgroud, just looks like you couldn't sleep and wake-up at night to record this review 😂

[@therealwhite]

I like my Sennheiser's with worn pads more than I do with new ones... 660s with worn pads is like a clearer 6XX to me. Is this a symptom of a deeper issue?

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

So its a less extended 6xx for almost double the price? This is the difference between the current headphone competition vs iem competition with the ie200 from the same company. The headphone market is kinda sad.

[@1337wafflezz]

iems are waaaaaaaaaaaaay more competitive than over ears that’s why. I bought a 16$(currently 20$) pair of in ears that basically just sounds superior to my hd6XX. and it just gets better from there. headphone manufacturers can get away with mediocrity. there have been no real innovations in headphones since the late 2000s

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@1337wafflezz id say 2016. Thats when we got the first round of flagships with THD magnitudes lower than we had ever seen previously. We also got the HEDD phone in 2020, and the ribbon headphones in 2021 and recently with ca1a. Also warwick acoustics finally making a e-stat that fixed the limitations of e-stats. There is some amount, but not in the $1000 and below range. Thats utterly dominated by headphones over 5 years old, and two which are over 20.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@1337wafflezz so many headphones in the under $500 range have come out only Andrew to still recommend the sundara. Its hilarious.

[@Tripokaridos22]

Its not .. its a bad review. Just read forums from people that have them.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@Tripokaridos22 no, its pretty decisive there too that it performs worse than the hd600. Two said it was better out of 11 that I found.

[@haneko6422]

I bought both the 58x and the 6xx from drop. I kept and 58x and sent the 6xx back. The 58x sounds pretty much exactly the same as the 6xx except the bass extends further and the driver is faster and I would say the sound stage is ever so slightly wider. So it was a no brainer (cheaper and better) I even bought a second 58x to keep as a spare. Was the 6xx a bad headphone no its just the 58x was better for me. If you dont want the extended bass then get the 6xx. The 58x is not for bass heads it doesn't have more bass it just extends lower which is really noticeable for gaming and movie enjoyment. I was debating on buying the 660s2 but after this video ithink ill just stick with the 58x.

[@Jamie-666]

21:9 - respect.

[@AndrewWoodford]

Finally! It’s been like 4 days! The Bronze Upgrade is probably worth the few hundred dollars.

[@nunyabizness6546]

Just got the S2 and first thing I listened to was Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon." All I can say is..WTF are you talking about? These are fantastic headphones. they are replacing my Audeze LCD-2 as my daily driver (which replaced my HD 600). Yes, they are better than those sweet, thumping, planer magnet wonders. Not that the bass is better, or that anything I can put my finger on is absolutely better, they just SOUND better. I put them through the range of music I listen to (lots of blues, rock, prog, and and the occasional oddball like Carlos Montoya or Pavarotti) and they just simply sounded better. Maybe if I listened to rap or some other genre where thumping bass was the most important part of the music, I wouldn't care for these as much (although any decent equalizer can bring out enough bass in these to crack your skull), I dunno, but hard disagree with the rest of your review. I suppose that's what makes musical taste subjective, eh?

[@pododododoehoh3550]

'they just sound better' very well concieved deconstruction of his points. He didn't say anywhere that they aren't great headphones, He says they're darker which might be exactly why you prefer them for your music tastes such as blues where a gooey darker sound can be lovely in my opinion. As you said taste is subjective, and he never said they have any objective faults.

[@nunyabizness6546]

@@pododododoehoh3550 Lol. I know. I didn't go full frontal offended audiophile or anything, I was just surprised at his general negative opinion of these cans. I guess that's why so many companies make so many different models. Everyone can find something they love.

[@musicplayah]

I bought the HD6XX in April 2019, had to change the cable June 2021 because the audio in one ear would cut in/out and in April 2023 the same cable issue again. After 4 years the earpads are a little bit flattened but still comfortable to wear however the inside cloth covering the driver has worn down and a hole in both ears now exposes the driver so the pads should be replaced as well. Unfortunately the headset cable connectors are unique and can't just be replaced with a regular 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable.

[@fattysco2960]

gonna stick with my 660s!

[@samulhardif8331]

Thanks again for hearing the concerns over the compensation graphs. I want to learn how to read it, but like learning a language, you unfortunately first must translate it into your own.

[@hellothere272]

Closed back HD650 that’s easy to drive. Would be awesome if Sennheiser could do that.

[@larrystrutmann]

The design is timeless really

[@thetndixie]

Great video and here's hoping your sore throat is feeling better❤️

[@KytexEdits]

HD580 is still the best for me, with grills off especially. It's like it doesn't have the downsides of the 650 (also own this one) but not the harshness of the 600, it's the perfect middle. Also tried 660s, not as big of a fan, tbh. I've tried many, many headphones including really cool ones like the Aurorus Borealis which I used to own, but if I could only pick one for the rest of my life, it'd be the 580, and this says a lot considering I listen to a lot of metal, too, which isn't the best on them, but their mids are just too perfect to pass.

[@jinzoboy]

I upgraded from the HD6xx to the 660s and never looked back. I feel the 660s driver is much faster, bass hits deeper and treble extends higher. The hd6xx just sounds too dark and slow even with proper amp for modern music. I am wondering if 660s2 with the increase bass and treble would be a good upgrade for me.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

Please pull up your big boy pants and learn how to eq. They are the exact same driver. The only difference between them is the bass and upper mid recession. Both can sound identical with eq, $600 is not an excuse of not learning how to do something.

[@lawpenner]

​@@enjoshi-godrez8775you can't eq differences in timbre. 650 has more rich timbre

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@lawpenner no they don't, the driver is identical. Their sound power, harmonic distortion, group delay, spectral density are all identicle. The only thimg different is the amplitude of the single. If you eq them to the same value, they will sound identical.

[@TADP0LE9806]

I know 660S wasn't massively to your tastes but how does the S2 compare to the original 660S? Does it address some of those flaws?

[@SeanLiu4]

Iirc DMS actually thinks the 660s sounds good. DMS had a headphone ranking list that put the 660s in the A rank

[@danieljohnson6370]

@@SeanLiu4 agreed - I think it was Crinacle who *hated* hd660s

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

final8000 is more realistic, headphone shape/build further enhance the realism

[@gdemirjian]

I found the 6XX not desirable for regular music listening. I believe it is more focused for work applications. That makes it one of your favorite daily drivers. I enjoy the 660S for music. Did you know the 660S implements the driver from the 700? I think the S2 takes the same driver but with more modification. I hope to try the S2 at Can Jam NYC this weekend. Love your videos. Thanks.

[@Housestationlive]

i'm used to $50 headphones and it's still hard for me to accept to pay $500 for a such device, because it usualy don't lasts, but this model in particular looks very durable, so the "overprice" might be excused.

[@ccdani2]

Thanks ! I have been waiting for this one 660s is my daily driver now ( I have had all the 6x0 series from hd 580 hd58x to 660s ) and 660s is my favourite of them all I still wonder if it's worth "upgrading"

[@TADP0LE9806]

I feel the excessive comparison to 6XX/650 is a bit redundant, as a fellow 660S user I'm personally much more interested in hearing how it compares to the headphone it's obviously a direct successor to. 660S is my favourite in the line as well, an underappreciated headphone imo

[@ccdani2]

@@TADP0LE9806 it's true that he should have compared them to the original 660s although I understand why he has chosen hd650 as it's the most popular model of the series , I will wait for some more reviews before making my mind . I don't really know how they can make 660s sound better I have mine hooked to smsl su9 + smsl sh9 and it's just glorious, I can't imagine the S2 being that much better 🤔

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@TADP0LE9806 the 660 was never competitive at its price point, so no it should be compared to exclusively to a mediocre headphone. It needs to compete on the field like all other headphones.

[@kentbergstrom3020]

If you EQ your 660s you get an S2 for free.

[@o.f.ftrack3444]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 it didn't appear competitive because too many people blindly accepted the opinions of people who either didn't hear it or people too stuck in nostalgia to accept anything else. People seem to forget that the 650 was $500 when it debuted just the same as the 660s but with less extras. I'm not trying to make a case to try and change anyone's mind but the majority of people who own both the 600 or 650 and 660s have said that the 660s is "better". I myself was about to buy the 650 until I actually heard the 660s and then changed my mind.

[@Nuevo_El_Nagual]

Less treble than HD650 sounds perfect to me 👍 With some sources HD650 could be too sharp.

[@rene837]

The holy grail of headphone would be a closed back HD600 with linear bass extension and a bigger stage.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

Isn't that the verite closed to an extent?

[@rene837]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Not really, the Verite Closed is much more inconsistent in the upper mids and treble with a lot of peaks and dips in the response, whereas the HD600/650 are fairly smooth and linear. They also are a lot more expensive. But the bass is a lot better than on the HD600 or 650.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@rene837 yea, you're right. The graph has a big dip at 3k. I dont know what pads it had when i tried it but its wasnt the universals or the orginals. Shame because it sounded very much like the 6xx with those. The Shure SRH1540 has the smoothest treble from an closed back ive heard, but its not true neutral. I guess for now iems are the answer until someone makes a truly competent midfi closed headphone, which is unlikely because they are not remotely as commercially viable as they used to be, because of the progress iems have made.

[@rene837]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 I have tried the SRH1540 as well, but the midbass boost was way too much and bled into the mids a lot, it also didn't isolate well, almost felt like a semi-open design and it was a bit too small for me head as well. However, midrange and treble sounded very nice.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@@rene837 it absolutely does. Unfortunately thats what you got for closed back headphone back in the day. They all had too much mid bass energy exept the planars like the ether C, which actually had too little energy. The shure would be neutral if it wasnt for that bump, but it doesnt have the resolution of the hd600.

[@tylerstravis]

I just want a 800S2.

[@Anthony-cc8bx]

I've been watching your channel as well as others. Trying to get back into finding one good headphone. Went to local store to hear many of them. Ok my opinion is based on my experience with home stereos and live shows. I look for accuracy, realism. I look for tonal accuracy in vocals the way its supposed to be. I tried the Senns HD660S2. They are good. They're German and well they sound like the lack passion. Kinda lifeless actually. I audition their top model the 75k one. HE160 complaints there with the sound. The tone was great as well the imagining, spacial arrangement. However there was buzzing in both songs i listened to. Very weird. I ended up buying the HD800s for a big sale price.

[@synxss]

a new dac/amp video would be great! Seems like there is no comparison video which is up to date currently! Need a dac/amp combo for my He1000v2s (max 600€ though)

[@fwabble]

Love this review - the fact is SH just tuned them a bit different and charged a fortune. AL that matter is the quality of the drivers - so we can tune them OURSELVES.

[@networkn]

I was hoping these might be a decent upgrade over the original HD650's but it doesn't seem like it. I am not really sure what I want out of an upgrade, but perhaps just better across the board. I do have a pair of Beyer T1's and HD800S too.

[@lawpenner]

I like my Aeon Closed X planar headphones even better than my 650s when played on the iFi signature V2 amp. Though some songs on the 650 do respond better

[@isadorealire5722]

Fancy packaging with that 660S2 as well. Might as well wrap it in newspaper and put it in a brown paper bag. 😂

[@socalexpat]

ESG.

[@danieljohnson6370]

And it would be recyclable! 🤓

[@Sebbe1993]

Every time I see your channel logo I just think discovery channel

[@ivanivkovicmusic]

Edition XS triggered my tinnitus that I never knew I had... I had to return them. Over like 20-30 headphones behind me... XS was the worst. ALthough it sounded beautifully.

[@liammadridista2395]

As someone who is sensitive to the 3k range this might be one for me.

[@youdogsgit]

Nothing will replace my 6xx's, even though I use other headphones, like my Arya stealth more often.

[@scottlowell493]

Definitely NOT a "side grade." It depends what characteristics you are looking for. My go-to were HD600 or drop 6xx. The 660s2 scale up and beat both of them on many fronts, especially frequency response. I liked the 660s2 so much, I sold my 600, 6xx and HD800S's. I could not justify the 800S, as I liked the 660s2 as well for most music, and better in some areas. YMMV.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

Very embarrassing statment you made there my friend.

[@provisionalhypothesis]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 lol

[@daginn896]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Nah. We are many that prefer the 660s2. Sound is subjective

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@daginn896 food is subjective. Some people like dog food. Tell the chef you didn't like his food because it doesn't taste like dog food..

[@daginn896]

@@enjoshi-godrez8775 Bad analogy, and a circle argument as well. What you call gourmet food, others would call dog food. That includes chefs as well.

[@fabiyeah]

it's funny but i've been listening to Lost from Linkin Park for the last days with my 660S and it sounds amazing, i'm using a iFi Zen Can Signature amp with the eq button that increases the bass and sub-bass region and it's a joy

[@DMS3TV]

Great track! I was using that when testing these. Ordered the deluxe CD and can't wait for it to get here.

[@FKSSR]

I hated the 6XX due to it sounding too warm and dark compared to even the cheaper 560s (which I really like as a compliment to my 800s and 1990's). I am amazed to hear the 660s is even darker than the 6XX. 😬

[@yuribillones5094]

Just to be clear, 660S isn't as "dark" vs. the 650/6XX. I think you might be confusing it with the S2.

[@FKSSR]

@@yuribillones5094 gotcha. Thanks for clarifying!

[@yuribillones5094]

@@FKSSR glad to be of service - 650 was a little too dark for my taste (and I normally appreciate darker signatures)

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

it was alright

[@herrkrake8106]

Hd660s2 is almost hd58x without inner foam. Is it worth 400$? One should decide.

[@DMS3TV]

The inner foam doesn't change the FR and is there to protect the driver from dust and hair. 58X is great, but its no 6X0.

[@brendanhoffmann8402]

I still don't own a 600 series headphone... I'd be most interested in a 6xx... Mostly because it's the most affordable. But I just ordered a pair of HD 520 from 1985 for $60 USD... I hear they can compete with the 600 series so was stoked to get a pair so cheap. I had to order some new ear pads though. I found some genuine Sennheiser ones from the UK.

[@RikuLeppanen]

Watching this with my trusted HD 6xx headset 😀

[@user-ug2iz3ir5u]

how do you compare this with the best positive review you ever made for a senneheiser headphone which is a hd 560S ?

[@cowboyflipflopped]

I think you missed on this one, DMS. Coming from the 6XX, the 660S2 is a significant upgrade-- especially in the bass, treble, and imaging. Listen to a fast, detailed bass line. The S2 plays each note individually, while the 6XX (with or without EQ) blurs them together.

[@ThisIsNotJP]

I just bought the 660S2 and currently have the 6XX which I'm planning on selling when they arrive

[@vm6038]

HD600 and 650 are already flat to 19+ kHz, according to measurements, so when you say you want more treble extension, you probably just mean that you need the upper range to be louder/boosted. That's a problem with your ears though, not the headphones. You can just use EQ to boost the upper range. To be fair, hearing loss above 14-16 kHz affects the majority of adults, so it's normal.

[@DMS3TV]

Flat by what standard? Looking at a DF-HRTF if a human ear the 600/650 are dark... By about -10db actually.

[@xenogear88]

The issue is the release pricing. They should cost no more than 450 euros.

[@BadBeardDude]

I recently picked up the Beyerdynamic DT900 Pro X and never owned Sennheiser. I'm very happy with the Beyerdynamic's but I've been reading so many comments and references to the HD 600 series headphones that I'm wondering if they're worth picking up when I have a really nice headset I'm pleased with? I mean what am I missing? I would love a comparison but it's not reasonable for reviewers to compare every headset with every headset. Still I'd love to know before deciding whether or not to drop another few hundred Euro on another headset if the difference is going to be minimal.

[@GIChow]

Graph at 6:41 on Andrew's (The HEADPHONE Show) video plotting 600 v 660s2 (which he describes as a definite upgrade over 660s) told me everything I needed to know. And Sennheiser designers 10:33 on this DMS video tells you everything you need to know.

[@terryss95]

I think the engineers at Sennheiser already KNOW what they need to know, but do appreciate the feedback of what enthusiasts and online reviewers THINK.

[@GIChow]

@@terryss95 Not heard the 660s2 myself but from these reviews sounds like they may not achieve what the Sennheiser marketing team are saying about them. I'd personally like a hd600 with more extended bass response (hd25 level would be fine) but maybe their response might be Scotty's "I can't change the laws of physics"

[@intoitreviews]

Have you tried the 6XX with the matching IFI amp... Sounds like what you want 😉

[@HeyNavi]

Coming from a Hd58x, are these worth an upgrade? I’m no audiophile but can I expect the same performance in like same sound as the Hd58x? I really like them but do find clarity to be a bit grainy? Everything else is good in the 58x. I also saw on a Reddit post that the 660s2 is tuned almost like a 58x. Selling my 58x already and have the 6xx in the mean time but damn are those too shouty and fatiguing imo.

[@jmcc2736]

What’s the chance of a HD800S2 coming out in the next year. Making me hesitant to take the plunge. That said it is a fairly pricey headphone already to plunge into.

[@BaldyBaeby]

This is probably the next big move

[@arthurhaywood2184]

There’s a gaping hole in their price range where the 700 series use to be. Bring I back improved!

[@jamesbittle9789]

An HD600 with better bass extension is my dream. Pair it with an OTL tube amp and done.

[@BlueScreen64]

Wouldn’t that just be the 6XX/650?

[@jamesbittle9789]

@@BlueScreen64 Nope. The midrange on the 600 is better (to my ears), and it has a better synergy with tube amps. I prefer the 6XX/650 on solid-state.

[@timekeep3r]

I love the subtle design changes. So good. But is it me or is Sennheiser dropping the ball lately

[@DMS3TV]

I feel like it's the opposite, their recent releases have been great. HD560s, IE600, and IE200, are all excellent.

[@timekeep3r]

@@DMS3TV I wasn't into the nozzle design on the IE200, it just seems like more of a gimmick.

[@adamgarlow5347]

I would love to see the official version of your closed back experiment. I loved the 6XX I had, but I needed closed back for noise isolation so I sold them. If they can pack the sound signature you described at the end into a well made closed back, I'd buy it.

[@BaldyBaeby]

Aeon x closed

[@hy7968]

@@BaldyBaebyno dynamics and worse timbre tho

[@rocondon]

I think it's important to note that this is a very special release, this is the first headphone Sennheiser have released since Axel Grell has departed, i think this is a stepping stone for sonova before they release something more highend.

[@markignatovich3379]

did you forget about the 560s

[@provisionalhypothesis]

they forgot how to make headphones, they just re-release repackages and the same drivers.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

hm thought it mass retail

[@matthewrezuke8130]

I love my hd 700

[@argo117007]

Honestly dont know how DMS thinks the details are the same. The 660s2 is clearly more detailed and resolving than the rest.

[@DMS3TV]

Price doesn't equal performance. The majority of the hobby seems to agree that the S2 kinda flopped.

[@SomeLittleShoe]

your voice sounds different. can you do a review on the ModHouse T-60, is it better than the T-50?

[@DMS3TV]

I've been semi sick the last week. Trying not to lose my voice 😅 T60 is better for modding that's for sure.

[@daniellikahong]

It cost 600 Euro in Europe... Price is indeed very steep to get these... But it is a bit cheaper than the USA.

[@jw112mail]

the review i've been waiting for

[@daviddicara991]

Why not just cut some 3k w eq and keep your 6xx? I dont understand why people talk about freq response all the time when we have eq control? Do they not like to use eq? They do know we use a ton of eq when recording and mixing music, right?

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

Because audiophiles are the least knowledgeable people to understand how audio works.

[@4givenoxygenbarez]

4:38 that moment when before i was able to get to thi portion, i already open up resolve's segment/video beforehand on the next tab so in that sense no one sent me xD

[@terryss95]

I think there could be a mistake in the video: was there supposed to be a change or additional headphone FR to the graph at 8:15, for the 6xx maybe?

[@IriaChannel]

I've never seen a blurrier and more 480p looking 4k video in my life

[@estebandavilajr7632]

From what I’m hearing it sounds like you are reviewing the 58x

[@martinesquivel5434]

Hello, What DAC/AMP will be the best for the HD 660S? Best Value option not looking for the most expensive

[@nunonobrega5090]

For music this seems quite cool, and for gaming how is this compared with Ediition XS from hifiman?

[@ightimmaheadout290]

Hey DMS, do you personally EQ headphones? For example with your HD6XX/650s

[@BSD2000]

I just wanted to share my experience with my HD 650's. I own an original 2004 pair which started me down the path of audiophile headphones nearly 20 years ago, about the same time I was rediscovering vinyl. I've always loved my HD 650's, but over time, I began to wonder if there is something better out there, so I bought a used pair of HD 800's. Initially, I was blown away by the clarity and spaciousness, but it lacked the bass I was looking for and I ended up selling them. Meanwhile, my HD 650's started to sound unappealing to me; dull and lifeless. The 'magic' seemed like it was gone. So I continued buying and searching for the 'perfect' headphone. I went through a few Focal headphones, Fostex, Stax, MB Quart, Beyerdynamic, HiFiman, Neumann and others - but I held onto my HD 650's. This may sound insane, but I was still using the original 19 year old pads on my HD 650's. I made the mistake of trying non-Sennheiser brand pads, but I didn't like how they sounded and I started to think my 650's were just 'worn out' - until I bought a genuine set of new Sennheiser pads. HOLY CRAP - I was blown away! All this time, I never realized how much the pads - specifically genuine pads - made a difference in sound quality for Sennheiser headphones. It makes me regret selling my HD 800's since I bought those used and the pads were well worn when I got them. I bet a new set of pads would have made a huge difference. Long story short, new pads brought my HD 650's back to life and I'm totally in love with them again. Now, yesterday, I ended up buying a pair of HD 660S2's off Amazon for $379. Maybe I should have watched this review first, but for $379, I thought I'd give them a try. I don't think they will replace my HD 650's, but I'm going to have fun comparing them to my beloved HD 650's and drawing my own conclusions. I can't wait!

[@joshswanedits]

What do you think of the 660s2 now?

[@JimHere93]

Aye aye on the aluminum HD650 🤞

[@JohnCiaccio]

Whoever listened to the 6 series and said its good but could be more veiled...