Sennheiser HD 600 Review - The Classic Reference

[@MitchLambert]

I never comment on KZbin videos, but I've never felt so compelled to do so on one, other than this one. I bought the HD600 - 6 months after it was released in the 90's, for what back then, for me, was about a weeks wages. My god it hurt me. Best weeks wages I've ever spent! Today, my HD600, with it's rock solid engineering, still sees it now, in the same condition I bought it. Despite the flimsy wires that I've stood up on and ripped out of the headphones a million times... but they've always slotted straight back in without any anxiety... business as usual. I've never had to buy a replacement part for the HD600, after nearly 20 years of owning it! Totally bullet proof! You simply can't break the HD600! Within a month of owning the HD600, it felt like it was made to fit my head. It's so incredibly comfortable and didn't clamp hard at all. My wife has woken me regularly, in the early hours of the morning, with it still clamped to my head, after I drifted off. But, but, but, the sound, that's all we're really bothered about, and oh my god, the sound, it's astonishing! I mean legendary quality. Like the host, you can nitpick about them, you can say "I've heard better in this" and ”the bass could be a little tighter" the trebles "waft" a bit,", "it could be a bit tighter" "the soundstage is a bit narrow", but, bear in mind your buying a pair of headphones that were state of the art when I was a late teenager, and I'm now in my forties! When I put these on in my 20's I fell in love....and I'm still in love...not many marriages last that long these days! They're not perfect, but for the money these days, they're the biggest bargain I'm aware of! In summary, I've heard many more, and found better, but, I remain as blown away at the overall neutrality and sublime honesty that these headphones produce now, as I did when I bought mine in my 20's. They're my all day driver and probably always will be. If you love music and don't own HD600's, then you don't love music enough. Really. You have to own them, and Sennheiser should never, EVER, change the design or try to improve it. It's as important to audio history as Concorde is to aviation. As the host said, they're as close to reference as you'll ever find. They're the benchmark.

[@metal571]

This is awesome to read. I wasn't even remotely aware of these at the point they came out but it's still crazy to imagine that they've held this must-have status for so long. And they've held it amazingly well.

[@MitchLambert]

metal571 Mate, for what they cost now, just but them. They're amazing. They're not the best in world, but for a long time they were untouchable and there's a reason Senn are still selling them, unchanged from 20 years ago. They're just wonderful. They really are.

[@metal571]

Mitch Lambert that's exactly why I still have my pair. They are the standard to which I hold basically any open back at the 300-400 dollar price point. So far overall they're still my favorite in that range. Pretty amazing

[@MitchLambert]

metal571 They're awesome aren't they mate, I lent mine to my brother and I'm already pestering him for them back. I have a set of Sennheiser 380 pro's that I bought for flying in business and they're bloody shocking. I can't live without my 600's.

[@cstrongman]

That was beautiful haha

[@JioFreedOfOphan]

My HD 600's were the first headphones I ever invested hard money in. I remember researching shy of two months and making the push to purchase them. Of all reviews for them, a phrase crept up in a few that sums them up as the perfect stereo headphone. It's sound is natural yet captivating without fatigue, much like a pair of speakers placed correctly creating a balanced, slightly forward, stereophonic image. The ear cups have molded to my head and the clamp has long since been an issue. This is a headphone that can put in a lot of mileage as well. Replacement pads, cables, headband pads, whole drivers, this headphone is covered for parts. A part of me would freak out if Sennheiser ever released a closed back version.

[@metal571]

+JioFreedOfOphan yeah I hope they do make a good closed back version. Sennheiser seems to be behind on their closed offerings.

[@ImMr.A]

I really miss this guy, i wish he'd continued

[@null140]

Great review! I love this thing so much. One other thing that stands out for me is the sense of 'depth' to the soundstage that these provide; where, say, the AKG K550 has a very wide soundstage, but a lack of real imaging 'depth' in my opinion, moving to the HD 600 is like going from a 2D to a 3D experience.

[@metal571]

Agreed

[@hansolzy]

Thanks for the review. Just ordered it! Used the Sennhesier HD 558 for years.

[@metal571]

Hopefully they have been enjoyable. It is crazy surprising to me still that someone with that many subs has run across my tiny channel

[@jamesallen5591]

Great review, and one of the reasons I bought the HD600s recently; I love the sound of these headphones.

[@irun2sanaxox]

Made 20 years ago & it’s still dominating in sound & comfort for that price point, that’s insane cause beats & Bose are still lacking but are some of the most popular headphones

[@jimmyhansen5842]

Beats and Bose are not reference headphones. They are meant to sound good when you listen to music. These are meant for studio use. To mix music.

[@Terra101]

@@jimmyhansen5842 No, these were Sennheisers flagship headphones back in the days. Not made for studio use, even tho many people do. Beats are made for the big masses that thinks alot of bass = good sound quality.

[@MickShredLord]

Hi there, metal571. I just wanted to say a big thanks for your headphone reviews. I've been doing a lot of research into replacing my current old Sennheisers which have served me well. I'm getting a lot more work these days doing anything from film and TV composing, to band production and general sound design / audio editing etc so I wanted something decent. I was looking at some AKGs and Beyerdynamics but my research and your reviews convinced me to go all out and purchase the Sennheiser 600s. What can I say. Possibly the best money I've ever spent. If anyone reading this is serious about their sound then I would very highly recommend forking out the extra dollars for these. Just do it. You won't be disappointed. I'm in audio heaven now.

[@johnbarnes1122]

Thank you for this video! I am brand new to this hobby and still searching for my first pair. This video literally answered so many questions I had about his pair.

[@LukeMaximoBell1]

Made the order for mine. So excited to get it! Was going to get something cheaper, but realised I'll probably just end up buying this in the future.

[@raysrcsandtech]

Agreed I have most senns apart from the HD700 or HD800 and I always come back to the HD600 and leave the HD650 on the shelf. I also compare everything to the HD600 just found your channel and your reviews so far are spot on.

[@metal571]

+Rays RCs Thanks much appreciated. The HD 800 is a better headphone, but needs some combination of the Anaxilus mod, a warm source, and EQ to remove the 6k peak, which is essentially a design flaw.

[@brandonlabelle6026]

My HD 600's are arriving tomorrow night and I can't wait! Going to be a huge upgrade from my 280 pros.

[@MrTabs64]

I totally understand that headphone listening is subjective. I own Sennheiser 580, 600, 650, 700 and (previously owned) Baby Orpheus. The 600's are the best sounding for me.

[@metal571]

Without EQ, yes, 600s are still my pick. But I would be willing to bet I'd like the 800s more if EQ and/or modding was brought into the picture to remove their spike

[@ZeBubba]

HD600 is the reference for me too.

[@CarlosPerdomo]

Based on your review I conclude that this model would be better for mixing than the 650. The 650 was recommended to me but hearing reviews between these two, the 600 seems to always come on top. Thank you for the review.

[@scottlowell493]

I just purchased a pair, and I have a Schiit audio magni 3 on the way. My Outlaw 975 pre-amp is on tippy-toes trying to drive them (as most pre-amps aren't intended for much over 64 ohms)

[@dehoedergia]

i think the cable is actually kevlar reinforced so it shouldn't be too weak.

[@playedescapade]

Thanks for the review. I've been listening to more jazz lately and closed back headphones don't do the music justice. Wanted a natural soundstage.

[@proFscarfmaNhaT]

2023 comment. Coming from Audio Technica M50’s using a 2i2 3rd gen interface, any advice in terms of needing a headphone amp or dac to ensure the 600’s are as true as possible when mixing? Thank you!

[@ionescugeorge2003]

Have you tried them with the foam pads removed from inside the earcups? I mean the foam that sits in front of the driver, between it and your ear. The low end gets tighter, a little bit faster,cleaner. Also the treble get a little more lively, and the midrangr gets a little sparkle too. The point is they still benefit from eq-ing, but what you get is a cleaner, clearer sound and maybe a littls a wider, deeper soundstange. They sound a little bit more like HD800 with the pads removed. Also, some remove the foam behind the driver, that gives a gain in the low end output, from 500hz down, without downsides to the sound, it adds most gain to the area under 200hz. I found some interesting article about HD650 modding and comparison with HD600, HD800 with a lot of measurements, graphs and details. I was hoping to get HD800 in the future, but with a these mods i may as well keep my HD600 and be as happy.

[@amirgrant844]

metal571 I just bought these. I felt like I absolutely had to. They are THE MOST important headphone to have for my purposes. I went way over my budget but I figured a sennheiser hd600 is like a life investment especially for the price I got them for. $230 ain't so bad to have the best mixing headphone known to mankind lol

[@metal571]

I paid 270 and they'fe the most expensive headphones I ever bought. Zero regrets. I can see why Tyll and many others called them an excellent value for the money even at 399, which is what they used to cost. You're paying for the sound quality, and you get it in spades.

[@amirgrant844]

metal571 That's true. I actually saw the Sennheiser HD650 on ebay and I probably could have grabbed it for $160 or so but I refused to settle for less than the best simply because of a $70 price difference. I can't wait until my HD600 get here! I'm so excited! =D ...but I'm also broke. =/ lol

[@metal571]

Amir Grant welcome to this hobby. LOL. The 650 is much worse at pointing out details. Glad you didn't go for it. I hated it.

[@amirgrant844]

metal571 That's a shame. I love the design of them. I'll have to try those out for myself before I buy them. By the way, have you ever listened to a Beyerdynamic DT770 250 ohm? I heard a lot of good things about it sound wise. From what I read, the only differences between the 250 ohm and 80 ohm version is the 80 ohm is smoother sounding and has more bass while the 250 ohm has more of an aggressive approach but is more balanced and the treble is not as laid back sounding.

[@metal571]

Amir Grant I've heard the 32 ohm which is supposed to be similar to the 250. You're correct, the 250 is quite V shaped to the point of being aggressive but probably not quite as much as a 990. The 80 ohm has probably the most relaxed treble I've heard from a Beyer and huge bass.

[@MF-og1ct]

Just ordered a Schiit magni heresy, modi 3+ and a set of hd600s. I want to see how they do with high end flight sims. To make the aircraft sounds in those sims they record the actual aircraft.

[@Fafner888]

What do you feel would be a worthwhile upgrade for HD600/HD650/HD6XX, without losing the unique tonal qualities of the series? Is there anything out there that matches the quality of the mids and heights of the series, but with better performance in other aspects?

[@brianm2850]

I don't know about upgrades, but Elex and Borealis are frequently mentioned in Discord as sidegrades with their own trade-offs to the HD 600.

[@amirgrant844]

This is definitely the next headphone I need. And you know what? It doesn't look all that bad like I thought and even though it clamps a little hard, at least it has big enough ear cups unlike the focal spirit professional. It is ashame that focal ruined their headphones in the comfort area so bad. I hear that sub bass is tough to hear in these headphones. Is that true or false? I really feel like I have to get both the hd600 and the hd650 at the same time though. Hd600 is a must while the hd650 is more of a curiousity thing for me. I'm curious to hear what a warm dark sound signature sounds like in an open back.

[@buonassi]

excellent review. I found your impressions to be right on. I've been on the search for the right can for me. Own the X2, L2, HE400i, T50RPmk3, HP50, Spirit Classic and heard so many others including the very expensive ZMF eikon and atticus, focal elear, hd800 and 650. Here's the short of it - I found something wrong with all of them, which continued to fuel my neutrality quest. I was loathe to get the 600 because it's just so old already, how good could it be? Well...it bests everything I've heard to date. Don't get me wrong - I still need to use some EQ because everyone's ear canal has unique resonances that must be tamed. But I use the least EQ of any can and the FR is buttery smooth from the lows to the highs during sine wave sweeps. I kept asking myself, where is this "senn veil" that people talk about? It's plenty airy and sweet crisp treble is abundant.

[@metal571]

+Vince Buonassi the veil is more attributed to the 650 nowadays but even that headphone is wonderfully syrupy smooth.

[@musicmann1967]

Such a great. comprehensive review, thanks! I'm pretty much sold on getting a pair for checking things in my home studio, or for some mixing late at night. Is it true that at 600 ohms, you need an hefty supply of power to drive them to their max capability? I'll probably be driving them with either the headphone output of my UAD Aplollo Twin, or the headphone output of my SM Pro Audio M Patch.

[@metal571]

+Larry Lachmann they're 300 ohms so you still need some power. Generally if you're turning the amps up beyond halfway or so then you probably should look for something with more headroom.

[@musicmann1967]

+metal571 Yes, 300 ohms, oops! : / I think, given your recommendation, the Apollo won't have enough gas, because they're turned up about 2/3 with my mdr 7506's, which are only 63 ohms!! So hopefully the M Patch has enough gas in the tank! Thanks so much for the advice. Much appreciated!!

[@metal571]

Larry Lachmann the 7506s are extremely sensitive so you'll want something with a ton more oomph for these for sure. I happen to despise those things for anything other than monitoring as they hugely over-represent the upper midrange...

[@metal571]

Larry Lachmann the 7506s are extremely sensitive so you'll want something with a ton more oomph for these for sure. I happen to despise those things for anything other than monitoring as they hugely over-represent the upper midrange... I still wonder how they got so popular except by becoming essentially the NS10 of headphones - everyone knows their sound profile, even if it isn't really that accurate sounding

[@musicmann1967]

+metal571 Believe me, I get it!! hehe I use them for tracking mostly. I'm very used to them, and I while I know their shortcomings, they're an easy fit for me, just from using them for so many years. The hd 600s will be for more critical listening when I'm setting up sounds or mixing at night.

[@bitterbuffalo8997]

Hi Metal571, always like your reviews. A HD600 has come my way recently, are the EQ profile in your video comments, still updated and what you'd reccomended to run, based on us having similar sound preferences? Thnx.

[@metal571]

Probably not. You might want to start with my HD 650 profile on my github with the same name as this channel and tweak the midrange filters to taste from there

[@JoaoMartins-or6pq]

almost 4 years later, is this still the first headphone to buy?

[@metal571]

I would indeed say yes, although the 6XX might be a better deal nowadays. As long as you already have an amp or are going to buy one then yes

[@JoaoMartins-or6pq]

@@metal571 thanks for your reviews, it's good to see you doing this videos while working full time. Here in Europe, the hd6xx are around 240€ because of taxes although I can get a used pair often around 180€ and the hd600 is 280€ new and it's difficult to find a used pair. I really want the hd600 because of you but I haven't bought yet since there are so many options and some at a lower price. Regarding the amp, I will buy one with the headphones (probably the topping dx3 pro) and since you bought a new setup it would be great to see a video from you comparing your PC, old and new setup since you don't talk a lot about this. Sorry for the long answer, can't wait for your upcoming reviews!

[@Sanjarih]

Bought a used pair of these for 50 quids, just had to change the pads and cable for another 15 pounds, and I was set.

[@ChillToMusic87]

A very good and honest review, thank you Mr Metal

[@eemeli224]

Recently upgraded to these from the hd 558. Definitely better sounding but the headband cushion isnt as thick so these actually arent as comfortable. With long listening sessions I start really feeling it on top of my head. Otherwise great headphones though.

[@styxwickorfrost811]

I've heard that its the HD600 (or was it the 650... I don't know, feel free to correct me) is like one of the defacto headphones for tuning electric guitars. I guess thats how neutral the sound is that its pinpoint accurate it is.

[@metal571]

It was designed for mixing and mastering classical music, so it better be dead on accurate.

[@brf1009]

Listening to rock music I hear slightly lack of air on the treble, I don't know if it is the amp, headphone or just the music is mastered that way.

[@PartySpock]

thank younice video.Do you know which year the HD 660S came out?

[@Threemicsrecords]

I've been using HD600 for 11 years, and I think the originally included cable was much more comfortable than cable that HD650 HD6XX come with nowadays.

[@xianninghuang8470]

So I took your advice and decided to maybe order a sony mdr 1a.... it is good for piano music? (cause thats what I mainly make haha or if you can recommend an even better headphone for "emotional" music that would be great too? aha (the stores here are so limited..the ones I want are never available

[@xianninghuang8470]

I can't seem to decide between Mdr1a, or Mdr 1r.... or V6 (which everyone seems to be using in studios, I dunno why cause I never tried it? is it that good?)

[@metal571]

+Xianning Huang 1A. The 1R sounds crappy for its price and the V6 is super aggressive and harsh, for studio use only.

[@xianninghuang8470]

+metal571 the 1r sounds crappy? ah...good thing I asked you first haha I was wondering if it was even worth to get a refurb unit...but I guess I won't get the 1r then....(i heard the mdr1a cable easily falls out, do you think that is true? so the v6 is insanely harsh ?

[@metal571]

+Xianning Huang yeah the V6 is a studio monitor and it has the definition of a monitor tonality, bright and aggressive so that people like camera operators who use them in live sound situations can hear the actors farting across the stage as heard by the mics so that doesn't end up in the final movie. But you wouldn't want to listen to music with them as they are very fatiguing.

[@TheGriff7628]

Hey man. Great review thank you. So even though the treble is relaxed, is there still a lot of detail? Would the 800 have more detail or would it just seem that way because there's more high end there? Cheers.

[@metal571]

The HD 800 actually does have even faster treble but the larger dual 6 and 10k peaks get in the way, which is why I have my pair equalized to sound like the tonality of the HD 600's treble. The 600 doesn't require any changes in the highs for my taste generally - it's basically my true "reference" for treble, tonally.

[@TheGriff7628]

Sweet as. So what are the eq settings in the description for?

[@metal571]

Sorry, updated. My profiles change over time. No more treble adjustements. The profile in the description though has a bass boost because that region is quite recessed, and there's just a bit too much upper midrange also. Remember I said it is my reference for treble, but that's about it

[@WOTUFAKA]

Awesome review. I am definitely looking for some flat neutral sounding headphones for mixing, are the HD 600's still the best in your opinion? You review is exactly one year old so I figure I might as well ask before pulling the trigger ;)

[@metal571]

+WOTUFAKA! I use EQ on them now to fix the recessed sub bass and hyped upper mids but the fact that I still own and use these everyday should speak to how much I really like them. So the short answer is yes

[@filipiino96793]

Debating with myself on whether I should wait to get these on black Friday or picking up the 6xx right now

[@foxsux6000]

Sennheiser wanted you to buy a $50 fancier cable at the time, the cables also broke a lot.

[@robertgosselin14]

Whent Tyll Hertsens retired in 2018, the HD600 was still part of his Inner Fidelity Wall of Fame.

[@metal571]

Indeed and it continues to live on

[@Cyborg2792]

Hi. which would better for music production, mixing, mastering etc: HD 600, DT 770/880 250ohm, AKG K701s or? Music style; Dark orchestral, Dark ambient, neo-classical, some heavier styles with elements of electonica. Thanks in advance

[@rd264]

fyi the hd600 has high impedence, 300ohm and requires >20mW. also, hd600 sensitivity is low, 97 dB/mW. so to keep bass distortion and frequency response changes inaudible, your amps h'phone jack output impedance has to low at least 1/8 of the hd600 impedence of 96 -112 ohm.

[@metal571]

You're correct but 1/8th of the impedance would be 37.5 ohms or lower I'd calculate

[@davecares47]

I really want to try these but I can't find them anywhere in stores to try them before I make the investment

[@metal571]

Amazon has easy returns though. Just know they definitely need an amp

[@AromaFrank]

What is ur opinion between the HD 600 and Philips X2 in sound quality?

[@Neutralears]

hi what do you think about the hd201 and the hd555 and hd558? are they worth it?

[@spenca97]

Your reviews are great. I do have a question though (not about these cans), but what type of on ear, not too bulky headphones would you recommend? I just want some to use outside of the house. Thanks for any information.

[@metal571]

spenca97 that's a good question. I haven't really experimented with on-ear stuff except for Grados. Some (like Lachlan) say the beyerdynamic DT1350 is the best there is.

[@jazzpianoman01]

Phenomenal cans; ,movies are like you are in a giant movie theatre/ classical music simply heavenly and jazz/ pop well it's just a pleasure to listen to! Some people say the soundstage is narrow; no, the soundstage is very good with a 3D like effect and imaging is just right! Probably a little bass light without the right amp but with the right amp the bass is right where it should be; the mids are incredible! For the price these sound like cans costing three times as much and everything is replaceable including the cable! Just about to replace the head cushion on mine after five years of use; still around after 20 yrs well that says something about them! World class

[@rhythmcaster2018]

Are they picky? Can I pairing them with E10k - tight budget reasons.

[@yannik246]

Still sounds good because the E10K has a good dac but a more powerful amp is definitely recommended. Schiit Magni 3 has plenty of power.

[@sultanabran1]

my first pair of audiophile headphones. haven't bought anymore since.

[@metal571]

This headphone and a decent amp setup is all you need. Now stay far away from other audiophiles and headphones and save your money!

[@0111pokemon]

metal571 should I have gotten the K712 pro over these? I love my HD600s!

[@metal571]

Not imo

[@Lirou321]

hey man, great video, very helpful. i'm a musician and i'm about to pull the trigger on the hd600 for some home mixing and mastering work. however, i'm wondering if i need an amp since i own an m-audio m-track interface. the m-track's specs sheet doesn't say how much impedance its headphone output offers. if i do need an amp, is it possible to use it with my audio interface? i imagine i could hook up a headphone amp through the m-track's 1/4 inch headphone output, and then simply connect the hd600 to the amp. would that work? sorry for the bad english, and cheers from brazil.

[@metal571]

+Lirou321 I wouldn't do that. If it doesn't have a line level output then I would get a DAC.

[@grady7443]

Ok, I got the hd 600 because of YOU.haha. Now I need help. I have been using my sony v 600 (discontinued). cd's on a 8 yr old Pioneer blue ray player connected to an 8 yr old Pioneer receiver. Both were the top of the line back then (Elite) model they called it.Real good volume & sounds pretty good.To me that is. The hd 600's I just got sound like (Somewhat) of an improvement but I was expecting MUCH more.I am not using an amp! Is this what I need??? If so how much of an improvement am I going to see??? Also what amp??? The 02/0dac, Shiit, tube like dark voice, ect,ect??? Thanks in advance.

[@athuldas4959]

What genres of music do you typically use these to listen to? Is this ok for rock/metal?

[@Kingzquestofficial]

It looks like you're wearing the KRK-8400's during this review. Can you plz do a youtube review of the KRK's?

[@metal571]

dukesup1978 I am, as a live monitor for the mic from my XLR interface. It's on my todo list, don't worry.

[@metal571]

dukesup1978 that's what I use. Modi 1 Magni 2.

[@Kingzquestofficial]

metal571 I'm deciding between buying a pair of HD600's on Craigslist ($250, they claim they are in excellent condition) versus brand new from Amazon ($315), are these headphones so well constructed that buying used is an ok bet?

[@metal571]

dukesup1978 The cable is the most likely part to break. Buying used should be fine, but just be aware that you may need a new cable down the line.

[@metal571]

dukesup1978 Your wish has been granted. Just posted the KNS8400 review.

[@NotOrdinaryInGames]

Is the headband washable? It looks like it will absorb hair grease.

[@metal571]

+NotOrdinaryInGames pretty sure it's removable but not sure about washable. Thus headphone is made to be easy to tear down and repair since it is used in professional environments pretty often

[@bensternd4593]

You can buy replacement headband foam on ebay very cheaply.

[@halim5184]

hey metal, great review and im subscribing coz i think u respond to a tonnes of question that ur subscriber posted here. not like some other reviewer. Nice

[@mikhailipatov8095]

Great review . Thanks. Is it really necessary to use special headphone amplifiers or I can enjoy them just using my regular integrated amplifier (not very sophisticated high end but simple cheap Denon PMA 520 AE)?

[@wongtak354]

Sir, is HD600 the best budget/Quality option for mixing purpose? I also checked out the review of K240 and DT880,990 Pro ~ But i still have no idea which i should get one, i just known the K550 MKII can be used for closed back reference but i would like to find a semi/open headphone~ thank you !

[@MaximusLegend]

Hmmm, I find it very interesting that you mentioned the different measurements cause I also noticed that they came out differently. The only thing I can pin it to would be manufacturing changes over time which changed the frequency response. My guess is that Tyll measured one of the early versions which came out sounding darker in comparison to the pair Goldenears tested. I could be 100% wrong though, but that's just my guess. Very good review man. Actually the first time i've heard someone say that about the 600's soundstage. I've always read and heard it's either just narrow or a 3 blob. Very interesting hearing a completely different verdict. Magni/modi 2 huh? What about o2/odac?

[@metal571]

M Forrette Haven't heard the O2, but IMO amps don't sound that different from each other, especially comparing other solid state amps to each other. And thanks for the kind words. Yes this is a brand new 600 so maybe they did improve the bass extension over time.

[@MaximusLegend]

metal571 I was actually refering to the treble region for the graphs. That was the largest difference I could see. The treble is a lot lower in level compared to the goldenears fr graph. Yeah I know most ss amps sound the same, as long as they measure well, I was just curious to hear from you if there was a specific reason why you have the schiit stack over the Objective or if you had even heard the O2 before. Thanks for the quick reply.

[@metal571]

M Forrette oh, nah. Just bought the stack cause it wasn't expensive and had a good rep. Can't live without it now. Yeah the different compensation curves can make reading the mids and treble confusing on different sites' measurements.

[@gullibleskeptic3237]

Is was wondering why you dont eq the slight midbass hump. ive been playing around with apo and peace a lot looking for the best settings and to me it sounds more neutral when i bring it down by 1.5 db around 200hz.

[@metal571]

+UselessHanzo doesn't bother me much even if it doesn't really fit with the diffuse field straight line standard for bass, so I bring up the missing sub bass instead and leave the hump

[@Harolddespui]

metal571 Where can i find your HD600 eq settings for APO? I've heard you talking about it in a review somewhere but can't remember where it was.

[@paulcampbell37]

Hey metal me again :); been looking at your vids still about 70 percent commited to the AKG 553 pro you recommended. But RE the same situation about referencing for BASS heavy music..... How do the AKG 553 pro's compare to this the HD 600?

[@metal571]

Far better. As I should have said in this review, the bass drops off a lot due to the aging Sennheiser open back design which naturally causes a lot of low end rolloff

[@mazhermo1287]

Hi there, need some help in regards to the Sennheiser HD600 I wear glasses, have large ears and looking to get headphones. I read online that these are some of the most comfortable. I'll be using them at home/work (office work environment.. not too loud). Do I need an amp to use these headphones? (I didn't even know there were headphone amps until i researched some) I would like something comfortable and something that sounds great, however I don't want to waste the money if I can't hear the best quality from the headphones. Please help. Thank you

[@davemcmac144]

I love my HD 600's, but have been tempted to perform the the 2 foam mods. removing the inner form over the driver and below the grill removing the foam over the dust cap. has anybody had experimented with this you can convince yourself of anything, just looking for opinions

[@francoisgervais1]

Have you heard of the new hd600, the non marble looking? Do you know if it’s only a cosmetic difference?

[@metal571]

Haven't heard it but from what I'm told it is the same sound wise

[@samplerjazz6314]

I've been watching your reviews on headphones for a few months now. I really like how in depth you go with your reviews. I was wondering if you heard of the German Maestro 8.35 D or 8.000? It's a really unique headphone made for professional use. There is no detailed review on youtube for them and very little info. available on them except places like head fi. There is no reviews that compare the two models either. If you would be interested in getting your hands on them I'd really like to know your impressions and see a detailed review.

[@metal571]

Sampler Jazz Send 'em down and I'll review a pair. I've heard of that brand but never actually tried 'em.

[@PakoPnF]

Hello, I have buy the Aune X1S DAC/AMP. I have see in the impedance graph on the HD600 can go up to 550ohms. My DAC/AMP Aune X1S goes until 300ohms. Do you think that I can loose any kind off feature (sound quality) using only the Aune X1S with the HD600? Thanks

[@metal571]

Those impedances that amps say they support don't mean anything. That's not a measure of actual output power. But chances are the HD 600 will work fine.

[@abdullahgamer8560]

would you recommend the akg k712 over these?

[@metal571]

+Abdullah Gamer that's more of a matter of taste

[@abdullahgamer8560]

thank you :)

[@amazingjoe555]

How would you compare these to the HiFiMAN HE‑400S (the new S model)?

[@metal571]

Haven't heard them yet but that review is coming

[@douglasb9926]

What DAC/AMP Combo would you recommend for these? I am looking for the JDS Labs The Element and the Schiit stack uber.

[@jeremyweaver5639]

KIKI RI between those, get the stack. The element is good, but you're paying more for the form factor than you are actual quality internals. For the same price as the element, you could get an Audio GD NFB-11 that would be significantly better.

[@BarbaBeatzProductions]

Which amplifier to go with for music production with these badboys? I subbed btw great review!

[@douglasnethercote9442]

Rupert Neve RNHP is what I use in the studio...

[@jimmyhansen5842]

Should I buy K702 or HD600 for mixing in my home studio. I already have K240, Custom One Pro and DT770?

[@metal571]

Sundara

[@AtheistMartyr_]

Hi there, My current cans are the K240DF and I love them. They sound great and especially if I hook them to my Denon avr-1602 receiver which has a very powerful amp. But I'm in a slight dilemma. I have this feeling that I cannot imagine how can anything sound better than what I have simply because I didn't try anything else. So I'm thinking of bying a HD 600 because I heard people talking about its neutral sound (the way I like headphones to sound). Someone even said that the midrange in my K240DF is very similar to the midrange of the HD 600. So here is my question: Is the HD 600 a worthy upgrade from the K240DF? Is the soundstage/sound detail significantly better in the HD 600 than in the K240DF?

[@metal571]

+MaxGamer379 the 240DF kind of sounds closer to an HD 800 that is lacking a lot of bass... at least on my headphone amp, not sure about that receiver. The 600 has more upper mids and fills in the bass region very nicely unlike the DF. It is also less sibilant in the treble. However you will actually have worse imaging with the 600 than the DF, such as telling direction a sound is coming from. Interesting comparison, no one ever asked me about these two before but knowing their sounds well, that's how I'd compare them

[@AtheistMartyr_]

Wow, thanks for the quick response :) When I listened to my K240DF for the first time, the first thing I've noticed is of course the weak bass and I didn't even try them with an amp back then so I had to turn up the volume to about 90% to get at least a medium volume. But everything other than the bass sounds just perfect to my taste. Actually I didn't listen to them with my receiver that much so Now I've just listened to some well recorded music for about an hour with my receiver and I can tell you that the bass can actually sound pretty nice deep and elegant with my receiver. I believe it may still be not as powerful as in the HD 600, but significantly better than when I use them with my other sources. I also felt that the general soundstage is slightly better with the receiver too. That's probably the result of a proper amplification. Plus I only need to turn my volume to about a third to get a medium-high volume with these cans. I've also read that even low impedance headphones that don't even need amplification like the HD 598 will get a slightly deeper bass when amplified. So basically I would just keep them for a while and I'm also kinda honored to own them. I think I'll just invest in a better amp since I can't use them only with my receiver. But anyway, thanks for the comparison with the HD 600 because now I know how are my cans compared to them :)

[@metal571]

+MaxGamer379 what would be an upgrade however would be the HD 800. That's a lot more of a direct upgrade path for you so I'd save up for those.

[@kkfarmedkk]

What amplifier are you using? I couldent help but watch ur HD800 review and think about the amp you use. HD800 is very picky on amps. I own Audeze LCD-3F myself tho, cause the HD800 doesnt have #datbass

[@metal571]

HD 800 has plenty of bass it just doesn't extend quite as far as the planars. Schiit Modi 1 and Magni 2 to answer your question. HD 800 isn't really picky, that's not the word I'd use. It just changes a lot with certain amps and people don't like the way it sounds on solid state or otherwise neutral sources. Since I don't like the natural sound of the headphone without mods and without a tube amp, it just wasn't worth it to me.

[@The_Butcher_of_Blaviken]

for a hip hop head is the 600 what i am looking for?

[@metal571]

+The Executioner probably not, not a lot of sub bass here

[@The_Butcher_of_Blaviken]

metal571 alright. Thnak you :D

[@andyrichards587]

Picked up a pair of these new for $220 today. Can't wait to start my journey into open-back headphones.

[@thoyo]

Andy Richards where did you get them? if I may ask

[@andyrichards587]

I live in Australia so I got them from a Melbourne store. headphonesmelbourne.com.au/products/sennheiser-hd600-headphones There's a 10% discount code also headphonesmelbourne.com.au/blogs/news So with the discount they're $295AUD = $225 USD Free delivery on orders over $150.

[@thoyo]

Andy Richards thx a lot!!

[@thoyo]

Andy Richards got them. they should arrive early next week :)

[@raysrcsandtech]

What do you use in terms of playback sources, players amps etc. If you have a video I have not found it yet :)

[@metal571]

+Rays RCs Modi 1, Magni 2, Spotify Premium. At work currently I have an E10K to use with my A900X

[@Saki630]

Do you recommend the HD650 over the HD600 considering they are newer? I need HD595 replacements because the plastic is cracked and broken on both earcups at the slider. I would pair with a mayflower dac/amp which i havent bought yet.

[@metal571]

+Saki630 the 650 seemed overly dark to me, it's not necessarily better

[@Saki630]

k thx, i'll pick off price then. I'll scout ebay and if my 595's dont explode b4 blackfriday I'll wait to see what I can get on the cheap. I've been looking at the Mayflower but not sure if I need the Amp only, or the Amp+DAC combo.

[@joel312465]

I have one of these myself and I am thinking of buying a DAC to them. Currently I am thinking on buying the ODAC but what are your thoughts on a DAC to the HD600?

[@metal571]

DACs don't do much unless you have noise from your current source. You also can't use a DAC without an amp. You didn't say whether you have an amp already or not

[@joel312465]

I have an objective 2 amp for them.

[@metal571]

What are you amping, motherboard? If it's an ALC1150 or similar modern mobo audio and you don't intend to use the cans with any other computer, there's really no point.

[@joel312465]

my motherboard yes, I only have them for my computer because I see no point in taking them outside. Thanks for quick answer :) Not gonna spend money on a DAC then.

[@metal571]

Joel Ljunggren If you notice hiss or EMI, that's when it would be worth it. My onboard ALC1150 and Modi sound identical. I got the Modi so that I could use my Schiit stack on any PC I want. That's the real use

[@dsdssdsd283]

hi thanks for the review. I've got a grasp rs1i but am contemplating whether to get the hd600 for classics. Would you say it's still worth the purchase considering that I've got the rs1i already? I was told that my maple tree amp would pair well with hd600 as well

[@metal571]

+Dan S supposedly these two cans are way different so I'd give them a shot.

[@SilentClouds]

How do they compare to the HD598 in terms of sound balance and detail ?

[@metal571]

+Silentsky more detail, less grain, better treble extension. Almost identical sound signature. Not as wide a soundstage however

[@SilentClouds]

+metal571 would it be a significant improvement to upgrade to the hd600?

[@metal571]

Silentsky noticeable, but at the same time it's not worth it from a price to performance ratio unless you are as picky as I am

[@R1Zig]

I came here to watch a review on the Hifiman HE400s, as I had pretty much decided that it would be my first purchase as I start this hobby. Thanks for confusing me all over again, after watching so many reviews where reviewers actually started using the HE400's instead of the HD600 😆 I'm just going to buy the HD600 before I change my mind. For some reason I believe you more, and also because I prefer a neutral sound, or at least to hear exactly what was recorded. 🖒

[@metal571]

+Sigurd Endemann you will still miss a bunch of the sub bass on either headphone but the HD 600 is a more detailed and more natural sounding set. A little bit of corrective EQ makes them even better

[@etin97]

In what ways would you "correct" the EQ? Also, what headphones have better sub bass?

[@metal571]

Ethan Gaines It's in the description. My go-to for awesome sub bass (but sometimes overbearing) is the DT770 80 ohm which I've also reviewed

[@chiropracticstudent9546]

Dude. Im really interested in buying hd600 but i have no idea what to get for my dac and amp. I am a total beginner. Would you recommend me any amps or dacs? I like listening to classical and jazz

[@adampnewsome]

JDS Atom

[@BillGrady]

I have a pair of HD 580's that I bought new in 1995. Do you have any experience with switching the 580 grills with 600 grills? If so, is it a worthwhile mod?

[@metal571]

Apparently the grille is a large part of what makes the 600 different from the 580 so I'd say so

[@BillGrady]

metal571 Thank you for the reply. I've replaced the ear pads, but still have the original cable. I bought these new from J&R Music World in 1995 for $200. I'm amazed that 23 years later they still sound great.

[@treborterb]

What equalizer do you use to help correct the base?

[@metal571]

EqualizerAPO with Peace GUI

[@GD-bf5pn]

Thank you so much for this. You have introduced me to the world of EQ which has been revelatory. I wonder if you could share your EQ settings for this headphone. Thanks again, love the reviews.

[@metal571]

I use the 650 mainly now and have a github of EQ profiles the same as my username now

[@GD-bf5pn]

@@metal571 thank you so much!

[@godinhumanform1594]

@@metal571 This is interesting... you stated in earlier replies that you preferred the HD 600 over the HD 650. What happened? i mean what has changed? Have you retired the HD 600 now? I'm curious. 😁

[@metal571]

@@godinhumanform1594 This channel is extremely old and now also completely retried so some of my older replies aren't really applicable. At the end, I still have the same 660S you see reviewed on the channel, bought my own 650, and sold the 600. I mostly just use either the LCD-2F with 2021 pads and a carbon headband or a Dunu SA6 now.

[@godinhumanform1594]

@@metal571 I see. But if may ask; Why though? What made you prefer the coloured sound of the HD650 over the HD600? Is the HD650 actually better than the HD600? I'm just curious over why the change. Hoping you can explain why. 🙂

[@Riseun]

Nice video. I've been looking at your videos a decent bit and enjoyed your content. Anyone know if gaming would do any well on these? I heard not so much.

[@Yolligraphone]

You probably have the ATH-R70x by now, so, and I know Zeos would laugh at me, but what do you think? This or that?

[@metal571]

This, if you have an EQ. That, if you don't mind a less refined sound but have no way to EQ and want a ruler flat headphone out of the box

[@Yolligraphone]

Might as well be absolutely frivolous and get both.

[@metal571]

If you can, I'd just get both and keep whichever one you like more

[@kevinprice8186]

Outstanding honest review! Thank you.

[@kawhileonardmichaeljackson8501]

i bought the hd518 and want to know your reccomended eq settings(equalizerapo) to make them sound like the hd600. people say the bass is too much and the treble isnt as detailed

[@metal571]

+KawhiLeonard & Michael Jackson fan I haven't heard them personally so I don't have a profile but your description is correct

[@kawhileonardmichaeljackson8501]

+metal571 im looking at the fr graph and looks like i may need to reduce the bass by a few dB and maybe add quite a few db in the 10k area

[@metal571]

+KawhiLeonard & Michael Jackson fan sounds about right

[@kawhileonardmichaeljackson8501]

+metal571 im experimenting with eq and i found that using Low Shelf at 100hz with 3db gain with Q 1.0 works pretty well. is there any way you can test that setting out and tell me your impressions.

[@metal571]

KawhiLeonard & Michael Jackson fan for the 518? I couldn't know since I don't have a pair of those unfortunately

[@24Alien]

I get a feeling that, hd600 is just for those sound engineers, for mixing purpose, kind of too analytical nature. How would a music consumer feel about this type of headphones? Just wondering if this is too much for a casual listener who has sharp attention to detail, clarity at the same time not losing the juice of music, kind of organic.

[@metal571]

Ah well the brightness of this headphone is much less than the DT880 or K702 for example though, so audiophiles love it. Nowadays the 6XX is a standard recommendation

[@24Alien]

@@metal571 thank you for the response. I got HD 599, and find it good enough for now. But certainly would try 600 one day and see if I have to go for it. I know the impedance factor and hence not fair to compare perhaps.

[@konanpanagiotopoulos2733]

Do you play these headphones with an amp or an audio interface? i have an motu ultralite and the output impd is 30 ohms and thos are 300ohms...do you think i can use these headphones with good results? i worry because i saw that they have a huge impendance peak round 100 hz like 600-700 ohms and i worry about the bass and the dumping factor? what do you think?

[@metal571]

+Konan Panagiotopoulos it'll probably make the bass more bloaty than it needs to be but I'm sure it'll still work. I always recommend the lowest output impedance possible regardless of headphone in most cases.

[@arthurwatts1680]

Sennheiser did a good job on the build of the HD25-1 and the HD800, and even the latter are more plastic than metal. Everything else seems like a case of the beancounters sharpening their pencils a little too often - my PX200-II literally fell apart and my CX5.00g has issues with the cheap cable : Beyerdynamic and Audio-Technica have much better build quality overall IMO.

[@gordonwu7481]

Hey Metal571, first of all I love your content. I'm currently powering my DT770 80ohm headphones using the E10K, do you reckon the E10K will be sufficient for running the HD600 (considering buying an open can for genres responding better to a neutral sound signature)? Thanks!

[@metal571]

+Gordon Wu it'll work but it won't leave you much volume headroom or headroom for applying EQ

[@gordonwu7481]

just got into audiophile listening about 2 weeks ago, so no need to play around with EQ at the moment. i'll try them out on the e10k and let you know how they go! thanks again man

[@PakoPnF]

Hello metal571. I have read in another review that you use the: 1- EqualizerAPO and 2 - Peace GUI for EqualizerAPO to equalize your HD600. The question is, since I use the Aune X1S DAC/AMP does it means that I have to try a different EQ Profile or do you think I can use the same profile as you? Because from what I Know you use the the Shiit AMP/DAC. What can I do? Thanks

[@metal571]

I'm of the personal opinion that amps change so little of the sound of headphones in general that you will get about the same results using my EQ as I hear

[@PakoPnF]

When you say "amps change so little of the sound of headphones in general". OK I get it what you say about the AMP, but the DAC on the other side change a little in terms off sound right? OR your wanted to say DAC'S and AMP'S change so little the general sound?

[@metal571]

Christophe Soares DACs change even less. At least compared to other audiophile DACs. Amps change maybe 1 to 5 percent of the sound, DACs, less than 1, and the headphones are the other 95 percent

[@PakoPnF]

The things you teach me!!! Well thanks once again for your help and guidance. You really deserve the greatest success possible. Thank you, friend.

[@metal571]

Christophe Soares this is somewhat my opinion. Zeos will probably disagree. Just something to keep in mind

[@cbro2]

I just got the Sennheiser HD 600 used on Amazon $275. I have an old Symetrix SX204 Headphone Amp. Powers 4 Head phones. Is that Good enough? Also they seems loud enough through My Pro Tools Didi 002. Or does a Better amp, make these headphones, sound better?

[@metal571]

+Jim Cunningham if they seem loud enough to you then you're probably fine

[@cbro2]

metal571 thx, for ur reviews..spot on..

[@metal571]

Jim Cunningham hopefully now your mixes will sound fairly accurate. just be aware of the slightly emphatic upper mids and rolled off sub bass region.

[@ninjatoad3]

+Jim Cunningham Maybe a new DAC would make it sound better

[@cbro2]

any reasonably priced recommendations?

[@deReisgenoot]

At the risk of sounding stupid (but I'm pretty new to this so I'll take my chances ;-) ) , do I need an amp with this headphone? I'd like to plug it directly into my audio interface (Roland UA-25 EX) and I figured there is some sort of headphone amplification in there already? Or do you always need an amp with all open back headphones regardless of the audio interface? Thanks in advance for your reply!

[@metal571]

+De Reisgenoot these need an amp because they are 300 ohm impedance and aren't very sensitive as a result. I couldn't tell you how much power you currently have. A lot of people ask the same question but the only way to be sure is to get an amp for this

[@deReisgenoot]

Thanks a lot for your quick reply. I'll try an contact the manufacturer of the interface to get a answer. If I don't want to buy an amp, what kind of impedance should I aim for?

[@metal571]

+De Reisgenoot sensitivity and impedance both affect ability to drive but generally 32 ohms is pretty safe as those are usually designed for ease of driving. Higher impedance headphones tend to have better sound quality with less time domain issues however

[@deReisgenoot]

thanks a lot!

[@kirynkokos5751]

like 599, who's 600?

[@theodoro89]

I totally agree with you. The sub bass is not great, but it is enough.Also i want +2dB at the treble just for more sparkle, but not more. When i bought them i was worried it would be no bass, but their treble and midgrange just made me fall in love with them. Vocals, guitars, bass guitars, violins,drums etc are incredible. Actually any real instrument sounds soooo good. (i'm using the O2 and ODac with DIY salas PSU)

[@metal571]

Yeah very realistic sounding headphone.

[@eduardooliveirapompeu9745]

Hi friend, how are you? I am Eduardo, from brazil and i watched many of your videos. So, in your honest opinion, whats the best sound, akg k702, q701, fidelio x2, Sennheiser HD600? Thanks and sorry for my bad english

[@metal571]

HD 600 for sure. Still have mine.

[@eduardooliveirapompeu9745]

I like classic musics and opera, a friend said that akg is better, but your opinion is the most important for me. So, the HD 600 is better to listen this type of music? And the difference between HD600 and 650 is too big? PS' thanks a lot for your attention and dedication, take onde more like and one more subscribe. From Brazil, Eduardo Oliveira. PS' You play guitar veeery wel!!!!!

[@metal571]

+Eduardo Oliveira Pompeu I suppose it depends on what kind of sound you are looking for. If you want accuracy then the Sennheiser for sure. If you want unrealistic but great clarity in the treble, I'd go with a DT880 250 ohm.

[@brf1009]

I have the fiio e10k and this sound somewhat thin, will this improve with the magni 2?

[@metal571]

No the bass is just light on this headphone

[@brf1009]

metal571 Oh... does it respond well to eq?

[@metal571]

Yes very, try using EqualizerAPO with the Peace GUI plugin and the profile in the description of this video which helps cut the slightly bright mids and fills in the missing sub bass

[@brf1009]

I will thanks