Sennheiser HD 660S Review - The New, New Reference

[@metal571]

Purpose 0:10 Build/Accessories 0:30 Comfort 2:17 Bass 4:32 Midrange 6:02 Treble 7:26 Soundstage 8:21 Isolation 8:54 Genre Pairing 9:32 Amp Needs 10:39 Important Takeaways 11:36 HD 600 is SOLD (12/18/2017) Sennheiser has confirmed the pads are slightly different and they will only be selling this new type of pad from now on.

[@TheWorldTeacher]

A perfect replacement for my 600's since the foam in the headband has imploded and the speaker grille cloth has disintegrated.

[@monkaudio6077]

Can you recommend an e.q correction curve for these headphones? Thanks

[@vibes1952]

Hi metal, have you or can you post your EQ settings for HD660S you use? Thx in adv

[@HanYou2]

I had my eyes on the 600 series for a long time, after i bought the 555 about 10 years ago. Now I could finally afford new bins and even though the 555 are still kicking and I like them a lot, there is a world of improvement between the two. The 660s totally squish my head but the pain is totally worth it :))

[@metal571]

Eventually the metal headband will loosen up with time so it gets better

[@brianliu522]

I am using iFi Zen DAC v1. balanced connection with HD660s. Very happy with the results. They are very detailed, smooth, natural and realistic sound with a touch of warmth. With 150 ohm impedance I never need to turn the volume above 11 o’clock. As it is not heavy, I can listen for a few hours without feeling fatigue. I mainly listen to classical music which I think HD660s is ideal for this genre. No matter it’s Chopin’s nocturne (solo piano) or Schubert’s string quartets or symphonies by Beethoven and Mahler involving 100 + pieces of instruments of varied tones and textures, the HD660s reproduces them with ease and accuracy. The HD660S makes me feel I am sitting right in the best seat of the concert hall.

[@haysamd8643]

Agreed 660S is a legend

[@Tripokaridos22]

Senhheiser HD 660S for me the best headphone , value for money is amazing also.

[@JohnSmith-oe4bw]

A little late commenting here, but I totally agree with your assessment and comparison to the rest in the line. With the EQ flat, I thought that the extra dip in the upper mids of the 660s were detrimental to detail (like attack of guitar strings and crunch in metal), but when EQ'd to taste (slight smiley: +3db shelf at 90hz and 4.8k/1.00q, and -3db at 750hz/0.61q), the upper mids of the 600/650 get shouty and stand out. When flat, I like the neutrality of the 600/650 better, but when EQ'd to taste, I like the 660s the best. It's just more musical, faster, and punchier than the others, and the frequency response remains smooth throughout with EQ. The slightly more recessed upper mids actually favor the 660s in regards to a broader appeal to different music genres, and how they respond to EQ. I think if they were $300, they are a no-brainer. - [EDIT: but I do flip flop between preferring either 660s or 600/650. Not only are the recessed upper mids of the 660s it's more interesting difference that can be seen as positive, it's also it's most detrimental trait]

[@Blueprint-Sensei]

You have the exact same lamp as me dude. That's awesome. Lol also thanks for being the best headphone reviewer on KZbin. Highly under rated!

[@dwormon4591]

Love the no beat around or vague review. Got what I wanted to hear. Thaxs

[@Vishmaw]

Great review, I am planning on making a review on this as well. Glad to hear you like them so much, there is a lot of hate for them which is sad because they really impressed me. I didnt like the HD 650 due to it sounding too laid back and coming across as slow, in contrast the 660 s is the fastest dynamic headphone I have heard thus far. This is to date the best headphone I have heard for rock/metal and its sub-genres. Iron Maidens Strange World and Phantom of the Opera are absolutely incredible on the 660 s. So far I have tried it with the Magni 3 Modi multibit combo as well with the Vivid version of the Burson Play. I can only speak for having tried on two different amps but it seems to have the 600 series trait of being greatly influenced by the amp. Compared to the rest of my headphones its sound seemed to change more. Will be interesting to hear how it scales once more people try it on other higher end gear. I have a theory that a lot of the negativity comes from people plugging into the same amps intended to make the 650 sound brighter/ more detailed which would probably not match well with the HD 660s as its already that out of the box. I would guess that things that sound good with the 600 would sound good with the 660s though as it seems closer to the 600 than the 650 to me.

[@miguelrmusic]

Good on Stranger in a Strange land? :)

[@brianliu522]

For many people, the Sentimental appeal and emotional attachment to their older 600 series can be hard to change and difficult to see a successor has come.

[@nohype-fi6468]

That's one of your best reviews yet

[@imabeliever85]

This was a great review. After 18 months, I would say that the 660S is a good headphone, but for me, it has not superseded the 600, for me the 600 is still Sennheiser’s finest headphone other than the Orpheus and He-1.

[@propender7311]

I would have bought them without hesitation if they improved marginally the bass/subbass extension, the only major thing that can annoy me on my beloved HD600

[@anonymosphilos8912]

You might want to look into the hd58x Jubilee :)

[@ZuluOnly]

You said you only check youtube comments and don't reply to twitter so here I am. I'm a livestreamer/content creator as well as a musician and play games close to 100h/week. I'm looking at the Beyerdynamic DT1990 vs this pair of HD 660s and wondering which would be better for overall comfort. Budget isn't the biggest issue so i'm potentially looking into a DAC/Amp as well for them to make a better sound. I'm wondering if the BD DT1990s are worth the price jump from the DT990s, which of the headsets would be best for overall comfort throughout long sessions and a possible recommendation on a good DAC/Amp that will last me several years? Any help would be appreciated as you are much more experienced than I, thank you.

[@mikecoshan3752]

Best to listen to the 660s yourself & then make your own decision. I’m currently listening to the 660s & the 600 at home so I’m making my mind up this morning as to which pair to purchase

[@arteysole3409]

and so... which one did you pick?

[@h.hristov]

yeah, which one did you pick?

[@arteysole3409]

I ended up buying the 660s, and I am very happy with them

[@o.f.ftrack3444]

I have both the 660s and the 599...I got the 599 first because i wanted to upgrade my old 558's. I've never been willing to pay more than a certain amount for headphones even if could afford them so the 599's were gonna be it for me(almost bought the k712). I happened to find a pair of brand new 660s on ebay for $380 about 3 months later and didn't want to pass up the deal so i bought them. Initially i was disappointed because they seemed to sound no better than the 599. But after about 2 weeks I did an A/B comparison with both headphones on the same amp and it was clear that the 660s was "better". The sound seperation was the first thing i noticed, and the imaging was the next. Every song i played seemed to have more room for the individual instruments as well as a specific location for each. The 599's weren't bad but going back and forth, it became more obvious which headphone was better. Listening to one on Tuesday and then the other on Friday won't tell you much. So now, the 599's are what i use when I'm out and about while the 660s is what i use when im in my office for the majority of the day.

[@metal571]

Yeah that's a lot of upgrading, you have to use the new headphone for a week then switch back and you will hear the difference in transparency

[@antoinep9733]

Don't sell the HD-600 metal571, it's the air-cooled Porsche 911 of the range! As the paint starts to fade on the newer "improved" models, you'll pine for that classic you once owned ;^)

[@tgpips1128]

I bought the HD 660s for a bargain £333 on Amazon. (Offer still on as of now!) I was also deciding between the HD 660s and the DT 1990 Pro's, but for £333 the HD 660s was a no brainer. I have a set of X2HR for great sound stage and more of a fun headphone. The HD 660s is more of a gaming headphone for me with the great imaging. Both are powered off a Fiio K5 Pro AMP/DAC. (Great headphones/AMP/DAC combo!!)

[@supanjibobu372]

I was leaning heavily towards the dt1990 since im a beyer bias but i got the 660s brand new for the same price as the recent 6xx price ($279) its really hard to pass on this offer. Oh well the 1990 can wait a lil longer

[@tgpips1128]

The 660S are still my daily drivers, though I've enhanced them with some leather cups, which has enhanced the bass slightly, plus a nice short cable. Also have some DT770 Pro 80ohms, but I prefer 660s, unless the environment becomes too noisy.

[@Niran333]

3 years later… Still Glad I followed this choice vs the others that r doing this KZbin headphone review thing for a living. 👍

[@dennisvdmeer6780]

I bought the HD 660s last week, I absolutely love them🎶🎶🎶

[@slyfox720]

what headphone amp/dac/and source do you use with them. I just bought mine about 2 weeks ago an right now I am just burning them in...through a emotive power amp and Marantz CD player.

[@dennisvdmeer6780]

I use the iFi Audio Micro iDSD Signature great combo.

[@kentxx12]

This is the new headphone reviewer king ;)

[@metal571]

Good joke. See my final video if you haven't already lol

[@LindsanX]

660S or DT 1990?

[@keeferdog5617]

LindsanX The Beyerdynamic DT1990 Pros are the best mid fi priced ($599) headphones on the market!

[@user-9sidfgsxgj]

1990

[@metal571]

Depends. 1990 has more bass extension and a better soundstage, but is brighter than these and is grainier overall.

[@keeferdog5617]

The 1990 is a truly balanced headphone from top to bottom with a great low end. The bass is simply stunning with the “balanced” pads. Need less punch? Pop-on the “analytical” pads for studio/mixing applications. Mids are neither forward or recessed. The top end is clear and resolving. Crash and ride cymbals are easily distinguishable. In no way is the top-end “grainy”. Simply, the best headphones on the market for 6 bills. Terrific build quality and tough to find used because people love them. The occasional used pair will show up and “sell” for $450-$500 on Fleabay. You’ll read reviews of Beyerdynamic fans saying, they outperform the T1 at 1/2 the cost. The 1990 will make new believers out of non Beyer fans. People that think Beyers are “bright” cans, need to hear this offering. The 1990 changed my thinking of Beyerdynamic headphones and what’s possible in a mid-fi priced pair of cans!

[@metal571]

Sounds like an advertisement. The T1 1st gen I had clearly had higher resolution in my experience.

[@nak6608]

Really quality review. You're great on the mic

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Senn needs to make a version of this with more bass extension. It will of course be a contender for Elex, but I don't think that would be a problem for Sennheiser.

[@ducksbewildin1443]

your wish has been answered, it seems

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

@@ducksbewildin1443 Nah, that model has a treble peak. No 560S for me until they make a revision.

[@ixoye56]

I use a 4db low-shelf at 80hz on mine, works very well.

[@yannick930]

After getting them I was first disappointed. Too bright, clamp and pads different. But after a weak everything soften, even the trebble but very weak bass and no excitement at all. As they say "too analytic". I was ready to send them back when I tryed them balanced. Oh my God everything melted and finally they were alive. The emotion, the beat, the heart ! Something similar happend with my 598 and my 6xx. Sennheiser headphones should be run only balanced if you use a solid state amp. The difference is monumental !

[@yannick930]

Update: using them with my Lg G7 thinq is a bliss with Tidal on Usb Audio Player Pro. Bit perfect is a must. My god it's too good !

[@vm6038]

Great review as always! I have an HD6XX now. I compared it directly to an HD600 and preferred the 6XX, although I should note that the pads on the 6XX were slightly more worn, whereas the 600 pads were close to like new... I didn't like the brightness and lack of bass of the HD600 with new pads. lol The 6XX had weightier low end and more body and evenness to the mids... I didn't try swapping the pads unfortunately. I did read that the HD6XX is slightly brighter than the HD650 though. lol Again, may be down to difference in pads... I wouldn't swap my 6XX for a 660S, but I do also have HE-400i, K553, Elear and CA Andromeda IEMs as well, so no need for more mid-fi headphones or any headphones for that matter. lol I think I might acquire a pair of Beyer DT250 250Ohm though as I really loved the sound of that headphone. You should get your hands on that one some time. It has this really natural timbre to it, especially in the mids and also lots of fine micro detail/nuance and really fast transients for a dynamic driver. I was really surprised how fast the DT250/250 is, especially considering how old this dynamic driver design is.

[@metal571]

+V M yeah a lot of people have been telling me to try the 150 and 250. Will probably get my hands on one eventually.

[@vm6038]

DT250/250 is actually significantly better sounding than the DT150 to my ears - much clearer. I will be curious if you'll share this opinion as well if you try both.

[@vm6038]

You should also try CA Andromeda if you get a chance. Amazing IEMs. They challenge the best headphones I've heard for SQ easily, such as HD800 and Elear. I haven't heard ultra high end stuff like LCD-4 or Utopia yet though. I am sure there are other great high end IEMs out there as well... But I haven;t seen any great measurements for other high end IEMs apart from Campfire Audio stuff... I would never buy any audio gear without seen good looking measurements for the equipment first. I got the Andromeda specifically because it measures great and is getting rave reviews at SBAF. I really trust opinions on that site, especially those of experiences members such as ultrabike, marvey and hands... Those guys' descriptions are not only convincing, but are backed up with measurements. Which is the opposite of most reviews on Head-fi lol I like reddit as well, but not many measurements there unfortunately. Tyll is great of course, but I wish he reviewed more gear. He doesn't review that much.

[@codynova]

Hmm a fairly glowing review from you there. I've been looking for a second set of headphones to pair with my AKG K712...

[@TheSolidlad]

Same here.

[@aja8590]

Bro, will you be getting the Massdrop HD58x’s when they’re available? Can you please hassle Massdrop to send you a preproduction pair?

[@nuuuko7]

How much smaller is the soundstage on the 660s compared to the HD 598? I was looking to pick up some new cans for gaming/music primarily, but I'm not sure if 660s has a good enough soundstage for gaming.

[@bigyeetus2866]

Glad you hit hard on the importance of pads on this series, I just changed my 650 pads after 9 months thinking me having bent the headband to relieve clamp would decrease wear. NOPE, had my mind blown from how dark they sounded and how good they sound now with new pads. It's kinda ridiculous actually.

[@metal571]

I firmly belive that most people who think the 650 is way too "veiled" are listening to it with worn pads

[@bigyeetus2866]

@@metal571 Yea with new pads the treble is nicely represented imo

[@metal571]

@@bigyeetus2866 exactly why I use the 650 as my reference headphone. No matter the cost of what I'm reviewing if it doesn't come near that frequency response it's probably going to bug me

[@Jarnesque]

Ahhhh! . . . just realised my main pastime is actually watching reviews of the products which are themselves just supposed to be for doing what is supposed to be the main pastime!

[@metal571]

+Jarnesque I warn people about this all the time. At a certain point you have to stop listening to the gear and start listening to the music again

[@ernestotravieso882]

I could run them really well of my lgv30 amp by the way, obviously not the highest quality sound but the volume was decent. Mind you the 650's worked pretty well with that phone as well :)

[@arteysole3409]

I have a LG V30 as well, what were your impressions between the two regarding sound quality? Did you find the 660s easier to drive (with the LG)?

[@Lmao-ke9lq]

Ernesto Travieso sound quality changes with amp? I throught only volume does

[@TheMarkRich]

I bought mine in Berlin in early December at the Sennheiser store. I knew nothing about the 600 series and therefore went in blind. I tried a variety of different songs and genres on the 599, 650 and 660s. This was on their set up and amp and with my own lossless and 24bit music via the Fiio x5 3rd gen. The 660s was very drivable from the Fiio without an amp. However the headphones were for home use and the amp and that was the place for them. I found the 660s beautiful and bright. The 650 was darker. I appreciate I'm not the expert but the bright sound for the 660s was so welcoming I bought there and then for €450.

[@ktxtrain]

thanks for the view. how was about hd599? is it for the worth of 150$ ~ 200$ ?

[@metal571]

+ktxtrain reviewed it already

[@ktxtrain]

oh metal571 hi. i already watched your 599 review. its really helpful. i wanna know mark's view. anyway, can u give me some advice? i hesitate to buy hd 599 cuz i got hd 569. i like my 569 but i need a open back headphone... i listened hd599 imo, 599 is more clearer, a little darker but i feel 599 got level-up sound than 569... do i buy hd599? or got hd 58x or 6xx? its hard to decide... how do you think?

[@grubaskarpeta]

If I may add, as an owner of 660, one thing needs to be mentioned - they absolutely require good and powerfull amp/dac. I've had them for a year, tried listening them with no amp, with dragonfly, with Aune s6 and anything in-between (mojo and so on). And they sounded like shit. Total disappointment. Only when I went to listen to lcd 2c I considered as a replacement and luckily I took 660 for comparison, and the shop had the LCDs paired with moon amp dac and obviously I tried 660 with the same amp. And it was such a huge change. Night and day. As a result I skipped LCDs and bought the amp. So my owner's take is - if you can't afford something like burson conductor or similar (or moon 230 had that I got and totally recommend) I would look for other headphones as you can get better result with something much cheeper.

[@ottoinct]

Yes, let's all splurge on a $1500 amp for our $300ish headphones ;o) BLINQ via Amazon is, as of 8/2019, selling 660s in like new condition used for under $300.

[@georget10i]

I've been reading about these for couple of days now that I've read quite a few times of owners mentioning that compared to 600 and even 650, the treble on 660S rolls off sharply after 12k, whereas the other two keep going all the way up to 15-16k. And that it's grainy on 660S. Metal, have you noticed anything like that? What are your thoughts on it?

[@ashwrightyy]

It's funny your review of the HD599 was what made me decide on them around a year ago. For the price they've been fantastic. Curious to know if you would recommend the 660s for gaming, I'm more concerned with imaging rather than super expansive sound stage. Have also been considering the 1990's, any recommendation either way?

[@metal571]

I'd get the LCD-1 for that. Not a large stage, but excellent imaging

[@ashwrightyy]

@@metal571 Thanks, I actually ordered the 660s yesterday as I'd found an excellent price. Will keep an eye out for the LCD-1's in the future.

[@neil9658]

@@ashwrightyy How do you like the 660's overall?

[@loen6478]

You dont mention anything about imaging, in that aspect they are huge improvement over 600s imo. Also about being easy to drive or sensitivity, i think the specs are just correct but you dont notice it as much in perceived loudness because it leaks substantially more than 600s.

[@vampula12]

Oh man I was hoping you would come back in the future. Its been 5 years...

[@metal571]

I'm still around but there are no plans at all to return

[@nvandermark3517]

Hd 600 and 650 are still legendary. This one doesn't make the cut for legendary status.

[@bertfripont1545]

Nice clear review ! One thing I do not understand: Why hasn't Sennheiser improved the soundstage? They are capable to do that, is it not? ..... So you're right, they are overpriced.

[@tormaid42]

Bert Fripont Soundstage is a meme. If you want real soundstage get a cheap pair of speakers.

[@metal571]

Soundstage is not a meme, that's a ridiculous thing to say. Comparing the HD 800 to the 660S is clear as day of a difference. But with this enclosure and the pads that are both common to this Sennheiser line it seems they've boxed themselves into a similar sound and soundstage ability

[@adeelzero1445]

Great review! It seems like I won't be upgrading to 660S since I adore the sound signature of my 6XX. Btw, I just got my HD800 last week and my overall impressions are pretty good. They sounded fairly bright on my magni modi combo but after plugging them into my Darkvoice tube amp, The treble felt slightly relaxed. I also tried your EQ settings and surprisingly, they sounded very dark to my ears so I slightly adjusted the treble(-5db) and bass(+3db) which seriously made them very neutral to my ears. Now I have the perfect settings for my HD800. No need to risk doing the SDR mod now. And finally, their overall detail and soundstage is retarded lol.

[@metal571]

+AdeelZero they're a whole different ballgame compared to the 6X0 series that's for sure. Great, finding the EQ you like is essential. My settings are way too specific to work for everyone, especially when different amps are involved. Enjoy

[@tichyzishh3379]

metal571 Where do I find your settings for the HD800? Although I have the HD800s 🤔

[@metal571]

+Tichyz Tech should be on my latest HD 800 video

[@hardhead5674]

I found your settings for DT1990 and K712 useful as well. Its a good starting point for tweaking for my set-up. Its nice that you post real practical stuff like that. It's appreciated.

[@bobcobb158]

curious if you've had a chance to test out the 660S2? I'm looking to upgrade from my hd599's as I've had them for a few years now, heard mixed reviews on the 660 S2's.

[@metal571]

I have not unfortunately, but I hear the 660S2 is not really worth the upcharge over the 650/600 which are always a safe bet as an upgrade

[@bobcobb158]

@@metal571 Gotcha. Hey thanks for the reply man, all the best.

[@cybervaldez]

4:10 Zeos voice cameo

[@isrhazan7896]

choosing headphone iss tooooo damnnnn hard all i i want is to listen to the beatles/pinkfloyd/tame impala/deep purple while i relax. and listen to electronic when i game. why it's so hard to choose? and don't get me started on the amp/dac choices great review, you seem to be overall pretty honest person

[@metal571]

+israel hazan that's what I tell people who want to get into this hobby: don't do it if you just want to listen to the music. Because at some point you have to stop wondering if headphone X will improve your experience on song Y by 5 percent, and then justifying $3000 on a DAC in order to do that. Then you are only listening to the equipment and have stopped enjoying the music altogether

[@Fiend404]

@@metal571 wow... I totally agree with this from experience

[@Castamere1]

Do you use EQ with these? Could you please share it? I've just ordered these on amazon for 499$ and i'd really like everything to be perfect for the price. Is Objective2 ODAC Rev B good enough as a dac/amp for them? No Schiit dac ships to Rrrussia...

[@fitnessatfifty]

What was the tube amp you used with Attticus and HD600? Did I space out and miss it or did you just not mention it?

[@metal571]

+Keith Wilkins talked about it in Eikon and Atticus review. Feliks Audio Euforia

[@BraveBond]

Hello. Many reviewers have highlighted that this headphone lacks the warm sound produced by 650S and is not even nearby 650S. I am looking for a headphone with detailed sound buts and warm sound. I mostly listen to songs that include Rhythm guitar and 80's rock and ballads. Is this model really worth buying?

[@iliketoreadiliketothink1763]

Great review. You liked this headphone much more than Tyll did. It is what it is, We all like different things. I enjoy hearing the different opinions. We have a hi-fi store within 45 minutes from where I live, and they carry these headphones, so I will check them out. But I really have my eyes on the LCD-2 classic for just a hundred bucks more

[@mikecoshan3752]

If the Sennheisr HD660 was the same price as the hd600 which one would you buy? I listen mostly to female vocal, Dido, Katie Melua, Celine Dion, Kate bush, Christina Perri. Though listen to queen, Eagles & evanescence as well.

[@metal571]

Neither of them. 650

[@yellahbe]

Got these today at Sennheiser’s outlet store for €199, minus my 10% discount code. Paid €180. I feel like a thief. The only problem is that I don’t have an amp (yet) 😀

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

I just bought a hd660s a couple weeks ago and been seeing allot of praise for the dt1990. Especialy the bass is supposed to be very good. But is it much better quality wise than the 660s? I like to listen to rock music with female vocals like avril lavigne for example. Which one would be better for that task? Also i have sonarworks to have them both be completely flat. Which one do you think would be superior given they both have the same frequentie curve? Love your channel btw.

[@metal571]

I just don't like the way Beyer does treble, 1990 included. People keep hyping it up and while it is the best of the new Tesla driver stuff, I prefer the way the 660S sounds, although it probably will not ever match the bass quality of the 1990 because it drops off so much without EQ. But at the same time I couldn't listen to the 1990 even after EQ as it retained a metallic edge where the 660 is more natural, much less sibilant, and faster and smoother in the highs.

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

i use eq apo to boost the bass by 5db at 30hz which makes it sound pretty flat. it just misses some slam in the lowest frequenties though its plenty fast in the midbass. sonarworks will boost the bass even more/deeper and also raises the mids between 2 and 4khz. I wish i could have the faster bass of the 1990s without trading the other qualities. i still have the possibility of trading but maybe im better off keeping this one.

[@brf1009]

You made me wanting to buy this headphones.

[@metal571]

+brf 100 just wait for that price to come down

[@brf1009]

I will because I don't have the money right now lol

[@brf1009]

Although I'm keep discovering hd600s when I use different sound systems.

[@AboveEmAllProduction]

hello i like your reveiws. i have a pair of sennheiser hd540 from 1985. where would you put those compared to any of the current models? are they worth upgrading or should i just get new pads for them? they are glorious sounding so im not sure exactly which model would be a sidegrade or an upgrade.

[@onaretrotip]

Great review as always!

[@steven2640]

Hey Metal could you post your EQ settings in the description if you still have them? Thanks for the videos!

[@c4monkey]

ive been doing some a to b comparrisson with the 600 that i recently got and (2nd attempt) 660. I have stax l700 and srm 353x as my daily driver but im looking for something cheaper and portable. when i first put on the 600 i definitely had a few wow moments. for less than $300 these are easily better than $1,000 headphones. to an extent i may even like them over the 800s. i tried on the 660 and didnt really have any wow moments. yes the bass is just better but maybe its in the mids but i dont hear the same clarity i do with the 600. acoustic guitar, vocals they dont come through as clear for me. normally i like some good bass and soundstage but the bass is good enough on the 600 and the soundstage although not wide, surrounds my head very closely as if im sitting in the middle of the band and theyre spread around me in close vicinity. Short story long, not considering the cost, i think i prefer the 600 more

[@NaturalLemon]

How are these compared to the HD599's I seen that you reviewed those in another video. Having tried both is it worth upgrading?

[@metal571]

IMO definitely although best value would be the 6XX in the US at least

[@Jakepf]

Best soundstage or sound imaging headphones? I want to listen to music but also ASMR haha

[@tareqhaider6327]

How is the vocals and mids on this compared to DT 1990 Pro?

[@hardhead5674]

I would like to get some head-to-head information on this as well. I like the DT1990 (A pads) very much and the K712 as well, but the HD600 is always close at hand. I wonder if the higher level of treble in the HD660S that I see in some graphs would make it more like DT1990A. How is the DT1990A bass extension and clarity relative to the HD660S?

[@mehrdadgog850]

i have m50x + dragonfly black and just listen to electronic music . i want to know buy hd 600 , 650 or 660s is good for me ? hd 600 , 650 or 660s + apogee groove is a good combination ? thx

[@Patafisique]

That was a nice second opinion to the somewhat depressing Tyll's one. Do you know if it's true that 650s are being discontinued? Keep up the good work!

[@metal571]

+Satchel Blavatsky not sure about 650s being discontinued yet

[@billyc3161]

I read that they will be discontinued. Sennheiser will have the partnership with Massdrop for the 6xx. But as for Sennheiser making the HD 650. Yeah, they're discontinuing it.

[@njdoughboy]

Damn sir, you do a good review. Thank you.

[@jalsarrelevantchaos8817]

How much more detailed are the HD800s? I am slowly saving up for a pair. After seeing these come out; I started to wonder if the Hd800s are worth 3.5 times the cost. I guessing they are a league of their own.

[@metal571]

+Paul Koby a different world entirely in terms of resolution. I would buy them used. Don't even bother with the S model if you can use EQ at all.

[@jalsarrelevantchaos8817]

metal571 I mainly use my headphones to listen to vinyl. So its harder for me to EQ.

[@johnyang799]

hd800s is fine without eq. Hd800 is not possible for me without eq. Also you are paring with vinyls, it's unlikely to be bad. But they are still bright, brighter than neutral.

[@johnyang799]

btw try aeon open they are superb.

[@jalsarrelevantchaos8817]

John Yang actually ended up with the new LCD2Cs. They seem to be an improvement to my HD650s. Still use my HD650s for certain albums that they just seem to work better for. For all day use I still use the HD650s since they are so light compared to the LCD2Cs. Will eventually get a more revealing headphone for my digital files. I have to be careful cause I’m pretty sensitive to bright headphones. My He4XXs can be too bright for me on certain tracks.

[@joemojou6653]

Thank you sir! You surely know about Cans. I owned an HD600 headphone for 16 years and now they are totally worn out, I also think they don´t sound like before. What would you recommend as an upgrade for getting a pleasing sound while being accurate for mixing? I know this sounds general, but an opinion from a guru like you would be great. Cheers I´m glad I discovered your channel

[@metal571]

Honestly if you haven't in a while, just get new earpads. It will drastically change the sound and bring the treble back into focus

[@joemojou6653]

thank you! You just convinced me to do that. Have a nice day

[@k-lawn]

I love your eq for the 650. Do you still have your 660s eq saved for reference?

[@cluepk6407]

Hey, metal! I have a question. I own a Yamaha MG10XU Mixer. If I plug the 660s or 700s into the headphone jack, will it deliver the crisp audio these headphones are able to provide? Appreciate any advice, thank you.

[@Jinxid77]

I know this is old, but I hope maybe you still have an answer. I have a pair of AKG K550 MKII and the earpads are woefully disintegrating. I love them to bits, maybe wish for a teeeny tiny bit more punch down low, but other than that, I'm happy as can be, wearing comfort included. - Can you give some sort of comparison idea what might be suitible for a replacement once the earpads are completely dead. - I tried some replacements (not original as they can't be bought, lame!) from brainwavez, but they change the sound, and they become utter shite.. Any suggestions? - Thanks for supplying reviews that seem utterly honest, its refreshing :)

[@metal571]

K371

[@Jinxid77]

@@metal571 thanks! I will give them a listen when I get the chance. :)

[@OverMan]

I'm glad you got these, I was wondering how they sound. I was hoping that since these might be using the hd700 driver they would have a wider soundstage and better imaging, but alas, they do not :( it's ok plenty of others to get.

[@metal571]

+OverMan yeah it appears that putting this driver in the enclosure took on most of the classic 6x0 sound signature, both the good and not so good parts

[@hankolasmith4487]

Would have been nice to see upgraded construction materials without altering enclosure size/shape. I love my 650's, but the build quality is meh for the price.

[@metal571]

+Hankola Smith very much agreed, I've always been critical of the build quality of these in past videos

[@hankolasmith4487]

metal571 Have you listened to the a550z or a990z? Not much info on them.

[@metal571]

Not yet. But supposedly the A990Z is just a slightly warmer tilted A900X

[@hankolasmith4487]

metal571 Probably for the best. The moment someone gives them a good review they'll be out of stock for a month.

[@metal571]

+Hankola Smith the Zeos effect

[@DubsPk]

This is gonna be a dumb question, but should I upgrade my open 598s to these? How much better are they?

[@junchengzhan8797]

Will get a pair when they drop to ~350...

[@dnd6379]

Might wait for a bit... alot of bit... hah

[@KalleHullu]

Already 399€ in Finland :)

[@arthurcrosby5755]

Thank you for a good review. A Sennheiser with a good soundstage would be nice. Why are Sennheisers so popular when they have little or no soundstage? Isn’t there competition from other makes with good sound reproduction plus a soundstage which adds to the feeling of “being there” ? Any suggestions ?

[@metal571]

Because they have a very well tuned frequency response in the mids and highs that few headphones can match at any price. Soundstage and bass rolloff of the 6x0 series has always been a problem, and I've acknowledged it

[@arthurcrosby5755]

metal571 Yes you did acknowledge the bass roll off and poor soundstage. That’s why I asked the question. The finely tuned mid and high range must really make up for the aforementioned negatives. I notice that you choose the original Sennheisers rather than the more affordable MassDrop/Sennheiser. Is this because the MassDrop offerings lack the finish and quality of the originals? Some say that you get 90-95% of the Senns if better affordability directs you that way. Perhaps that is a compromise too far for some. I would welcome your opinion on this. Where do the 599’s sit in comparison with the 600, 650, 58xx and 6xx products? When I started on this journey I had in mind to get some Sennheisers or their more affordable cousins. It has been the comments regarding sound stage and base roll off which have pointed me to planar magnetic drivers. Though the higher end models of these are prohibitively expensive for me. Thanks for your reviews and feedback.

[@metal571]

@@arthurcrosby5755 considering how many headphones I equalize immediately on listen, it is very notable for being a lot closer to "correct" sounding, yes. 660S is pretty expensive for what it is but 6XX is incredible for what it costs now

[@glumfish6862]

For a first good headphone for listening to vinly and digital which do you recommend (600,650,660S)?

[@alexchng]

Hey metal. Hope you're doing well ever since you've retired from reviewing audiophile gear. Miss your reviews man. Take care!

[@metal571]

Very much so. I refocused my energy on my full time job as a senior C++ software engineer and everything is better now. I even listen to music for enjoyment again and not just continuous gear analyzation. Imagine that

[@loonation2185]

Im confused coz I saw tyll reviews on these and he didnt liked it....maybe because of the pads issue you mentioned?

[@RC-qc2nz]

Interesting how different you guys review. For tyll it was a disappointment. For you and Josh for example it's a better hd 600. Found your channel and I will support you 🤘🏻

[@metal571]

Yeah by the time he reviewed the 660, Tyll's hearing was going out to a good degree, he admitted later, so I don't really blame him much for that now

[@RC-qc2nz]

@@metal571 oh I didn't know that. Where did he say that?

[@metal571]

@@RC-qc2nz I think in his retirement video on yt

[@TheSteve57]

I am conflicted between the 660s and dt1990pros. I have ifi Zen Dac/ Zen Can, so if I use the bass boost will it rectify my only concern about these, the BASS ???

[@757foks]

If you are still conflicted then get DT1990. I have both and technically they are far superior headphone, which can be easily modded to your taste if you prefer less treble.

[@trellusg]

Sennheiser actually says the pads are slightly different - this is per an official Sennheiser post on Head-Fi in response to a question. The pads are interchangeable but they are not identical to the ones that come with the HD 650 and HD 600.

[@metal571]

+trellusg well, I can only say what my rep tells me. Will correct this in a pinned comment later as soon as it is widely confirmed

[@trellusg]

See above comment with link to the actual post on Head-Fi from Sennheiser official account.

[@bratosin1]

Hello my friend ! I know u ever experience with k712pro hd660 and dt1990 pro, do u think it is worth to upgrade from k712pro to any of them ? Can u describe the difference between my k712 and hd660 or dt1990? Thank u

[@Harolddespui]

@Metal, do worn-in pads change the "shouty" midrange of the 600's in comparison with new pads? Thanks.

[@metal571]

I mostly notice a change in the highs mellowing with time rather than the mids

[@jorgeluisfernandez2560]

Man i have several heahphones in a middle range and i have high ends like focal elear and beyerdinamic amiron home, im looking for another can, so i want to know which i would pick? Dt 1990 pro or these senn 660s? Please answer me, it will be a great help!

[@geraldken2607]

Which one do you prefer for your everyday listening, hd660s or the hd800? Without taking the price into consideration

[@metal571]

+Gerald Ken without an equalizer, definitely the 660

[@alipg2]

will you make revisited video for HD- 650 plz after so many planar headphones, did your opinion changed over neutral sounding headphones.

[@metal571]

It didn't

[@Little_Bitz]

Hey what mic do you use? Im looking for a decent desktop mic for gaming but I'm afraid it'' pick up every press of my keyboard. Any suggestion?

[@Little_Bitz]

Oh and another question. What program can I use to eq sound on my PC? I am super new to this as you might tell.

[@audiogal6977]

would these sound good with a high impedance amp? and will not get distorted? (since they are 150 ohm..) thanks.

[@BooGiMayn71]

Hi. I want to get the beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 Ohm and i want to use it with a audio interface. I currently have the behringer uphoria um2 but i want to get a much better one. So my question is; How well will the headphone with a audio interface do? and do you recomend it? If so, what interface would be the best? I would be really happy for a good answer because im searching allot but didnt find any good answers so far. thx :)

[@donunus]

Just starting up the video but right off the bat, do you like these more than the k553?

[@metal571]

I mean yeah they're open back so there's a lot more capability in this case

[@serban2139]

I've got AKG K702 and I'm looking for another pair that are comfortable and sound better, but I can't seem to find anything better under 250£ and my pair was 120£. Any ideas? I think 599 would be more comfortable, but either the same or worse sound than k702. Hmm...

[@leopethakc11]

How do these compare to the ATH R70x's?. Been doing a lot of research and I'm not sure about buying these or the ATH. I'll buy an Aune X1s so I don't really care about Impedance. And how do these stand against K712 pro's? Ty :).

[@stefanviskovic4578]

Hey man! Love your reviews since you are listening to the same genre of music as I do. One question though, which mic are you using? I am on the lookout for one, and yours sounds pretty damn good.

[@metal571]

Rode NT1

[@octagest]

Has your opinion on the timbre of these headphones changed? If so I think I'll get the 6XX for now.

[@metal571]

Nope not really. 6xx is fine, these are still much too pricey for what they are

[@joshmiller804]

How do you feel the HD660S compares to the Sundara in terms of being a reference, and do you still think it's still the best of the Sennheiser HD6** lineup?

[@metal571]

These days I'd rather grab a Sundara

[@joshmiller804]

@@metal571 for sure. Btw, it's great to see DMS finally review your DT770, been waiting for it since you mentioned it on his livestream.

[@metal571]

@@joshmiller804 yeah the shipping back and forth took a little while longer than expected but eventually got to it, knew he would like that

[@joshmiller804]

@@metal571 yeah, it was great to see that he liked it, as the 80ohm DT 770 is a awesome closed back for $160 in my opinion. Deep down though, I knew it wouldn't replace his beloved K361 lol.

[@darthdurkelthewise320]

Metal - Do you feel the same about this headphone 1 year later vs hd600? Are you still enjoying it?

[@metal571]

I still like it, although I'd buy an LCD1 over it now if efficiency is what matters

[@kiwibiwi]

I really hope you see this. I have the HD598SE cans. Are these 660s hugely better? Thanks.

[@metal571]

The 6XX is the much better value of an upgrade, it's the same as an HD 650. See my 558 vs 598 Cs vs HD 600 video

[@jevule130bpm7]

would my komplete audio 6 be able to drive these? if not , what is a good decent not too expensive amp?

[@Dulence96]

Would you describe them as "warm" and "laid back" or sound is clearer?

[@evil_twit]

That subliminal, smirkey smile you got going on man ... makes ME smile EVERY time. :) It's almost like: "Yea, I laugh at most of these headphones, but in a good way, and I'll describe them for you here today. I smile like this because I have a custom Stax tuned to my ear shape, with perfect eq designed by a doctor of audio measurement hearing test master extraordinaire, with basement sized horn subwoofer system set up in my perfectly tuned asymmetric audio room you can't see, with Focal Grande Utopia EM EVO as a reference setup backed by a ...." well, you get the picture.

[@metal571]

Funny since I really don't. Most of the time I'm using a 770, Porta Pro, or WF1000XM3 now that I'm retired from doing these dumb reviews, and my home theater is a really modest ELAC/Micca/Pioneer/BIC/Denon/Vizio combo

[@evil_twit]

@@metal571 well thanks for all the dumb reviews, they were always honest and thus pretty nice for that clear picture compared to many other "reviewers". And no dumb unboxing either. I'm mostly rocking a MMX 300 - 600 ohm with a bit of eq APO -4dB@8KHz. Perfect at work. At home I got a 1977 catalog page setup vintage Technics. Gotta love a reel to reel. It also plays metal :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/fXKWomicps58qMU

[@Enigma1990ad]

I've got the M50X which is very bass forward. I bought these with the expectation of hearing more details and much less bass to contrast the M50X.

[@OccasionalHaHa]

....so how did thay go? What is your conclusion

[@FernandoCastillo-og7ze]

Did you notice the 4 Khz peak on your M50X?

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

Okay mate, for a fun listening different scenario, Setting aside the HD 800 S, I decided to buy the EKG K712 pro for an incredibly good deal here in the UK, in the process having to give up my 650,. Now the712 pro is such a different listening experience to the above mentioned 800 S, for those times when you just want something different,, I must admit I do miss my 650 for metal genre it sounded incredible on there. How much difference is there between the 712 pro and this 660 S? Which is the better his phone in your experience

[@metal571]

+Koji G there is no better headphone. Those two are way different.

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

metal571 I should of put it better, which is the more capable technically? Soundstage transparency resolution and imaging

[@respondent5226]

Audio Technica Ath MSR7b/SENNHEISER hd 660 s/hd 650 s/hd598/Hifiman sundara/billie jean Which of these is best for listening to the music?

[@respondent5226]

Sir .What are the best wireless earbuds now?

[@FroL_Onn]

Hmm... all the reviews for 660 are so nice. I wonder, why did I preferred 600 when was choosing between them in shop?! I’ve been comparing them like for hour or two!

[@metal571]

It doesn't matter what the reviewers say, always go with what your ears enjoy

[@FroL_Onn]

@@metal571 I guess now, as I’ve got some nice gear, it is a good time to refill my music library wi nicely mastered albums. This will give me 9000% listening experience upgrade. Comparing to torturing myself with thoughts that God, those other headphones were 2.3% better in treble and 1.2% clearer in the mid, I should have chosen them instead! Thanks)

[@rauldon273]

@@metal571 do u still own your HD650? Still use it daily or from time to time? 🙂

[@metal571]

@@rauldon273 I do but I only use it occasionally. Most of the time it's either my trusty equalized Audeze LCD-2F or Dunu SA6