Give a man a headphone and he will enjoy music for a life time. Teach a man to watch audiophile gear reviews, and want the best headphones- and he will be broke for a lifetime :D
I have both the HD600 and HD650 for 3 years now. Been trying to decide which one to keep. I've tried it with different amps, and changed my mind too many times that I finally gave up. I'm running it off my Chord Mojo now, and couldn't be happier. I'm keeping both of them.
@@ohnonate I’ll pick HD650 for when I want fuller bass and buttery smooth highs for Mozart. But I’ll go with HD600 for its live sounding, to listen to violin/viola centric material like Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
They're different enough that keeping both is the best decision. Truly wonderful headphones, rest assured you don't need any other pairs in your life. Maybe an amp/dac upgrade in the future, but that's it.
First let me start by saying saying that I rarely leave comments or press "like" on youtube :) This is by far the best review I have seen on youtube concerning those models, I myself conducted 2 days listening (6-8 hours each day, different styles of music, first day when I was sober and second when I was high) comparing head to head back and forth using 10-seconds-backward-skipping those 4 models: HD600, HD650, HD700, HD800 (after 50 hours of burn in)...and my conclusion was similar...in general the best choice for me was HD600. But to people who mostly listen to electronic music, I would recommend HD650. The only real difference I found from this review is sound imaging -> the higher the model the better the sound stage and imaging is - on some musical pieces the the HD800 sounded the best on some it sounded the worst. Eventually I picked the HD600, even though, in the last 2 years I mostly listen to electronic music so I guess the HD650 would have been a better choice for me :P but I guess I was thinking/feeling about the long run ;)
I found a pair of HD580's for 50eur, just had to get them. The one thing I don't like about them is the clamping force compared to HD595 which I tend to wear a lot more for general use. For music I'll pull out the HD580's because of the sheer increase in detail they have, but I wouldn't use them for movies or UA-cam videos simply because I want something that wears lighter. People shit on the HD595's but they are not bad actually, even for music like when I work and do other stuff on the PC as the way they sound is not as involving and distracting as the HD580's are.
I have the 600 and 650 and I go back-and-forth, but if I could only have one I guess it would be the 600, it sounds great it out of the box without needing any equalization, and with a tube amp it is heavenly. The 650 is a little too rich, I need to equalize that, when I do, it is spectacular. But the 600 doesn't need the equalization
I had brand new HD600 & HD650 in my studio so I could switch between them almost instantly (my Apollo 8 has two headphone outs) - for me it was HD650s and not really a difficult decision. 650s are a little 'thicker' and slightly warmer but without feeling mushy. 600s sounded leaner in the bass, but I didn't feel like they were any more accurate for it. I also used Sonarworks at 50% which just adds a bit of sub bass that both models miss, but it's very slight.
I bought a tube preamp/amp and the HD650's. I love it. I had the same experience. I was a big time audiophile in the 80's and 90's. This setup was the closet to that old experience than anything in forever.
It took me around 3-4 months to figure out which I liked better. I have both. Both are less than 6 months old (newest revision). I'm keeping both. The 650 is more balanced. The 600 has a lower treble spike at 3.5khz, which shouldn't exist. This, as well as the lack of rolloff after 1khz, helps instrument attack. However, there is a lack of timbre, pure tonality, and blackness compared to the HD650. It's just slightly too excited for it's own good. Fidelity is greater with the 650. I preferred the 600 signature at first until I realized this. That said, there are some albums that I'll listen with my 600's. **** Take my opinion with a grain of salt. Assuming if you're in the market, try both for an extended period of time before buying, if possible. I guarantee if you are used to brighter headphones (HD800, Beyers, etc), you'll buy the HD600, as it's closer to your current signature. That's exactly what I did, and I don't regret it.
Originally I thought the HD600 and HD650 sounded so similar that it wasn't worth owning both. Upon further listening I thought I preferred the HD600 because they sounded less veiled than the HD650. But if I listened to the HD650 for an extended amount of time then switched to the HD600, the HD600 sounded slightly thin and grainy. It was stressing me out trying to decide which sound signature I preferred so I decided to keep both.
I also own both and completely agree, 100%. These are my observations as well. I prefer the 650. They are so similar though, that it really just comes down to taste.
Having heard both, I don't know how anyone could possibly say the vocals sound distant on the 650... Male vocals particularly sound out so spectacularly. Can't trust this review cuz of that.
You can check which is the left phone on HD 650 through touch... rough patch under left index finger... which works very well . You can put 'em on in the dark!
You helped me make the choice to buy the 650's and I couldn't be happier. Thank you for everything, I subbed and will continue to watch for new content.
I REALLY enjoyed your review of the two headphones, probably my favorite comparison! Well done!! I own the HD600 & im IN LOVE with them. I would like to hear the HD650 still tho & will most likely purchase the HD6XX from Massdrop if they are offered again in the future. I power mine with a Bottlehead Crack & I'll tell you, that amp pairs BEAUTIFULLY with them. Thank you for a fresh comparison video on these two Classics! What did you power them with for your review?....
get sonarworks or morphit and run their calibration curves for those. i got the hd600 and after calibration i started hearing highend details which weren't audible before. and thats already using a descent quality headphone amp from the Audient ID22 interface.
Servus! I will go with the 6xx Massdrops, I want to use them for gaming as well. I’ve heard soundstaging on the 660s is better, but I can get the massdrops for around 162 eur without customs and shipping though. I’m in for the more fun experience, even though my wife would like the 600 more since she is a singer, I’m am more the instrumentalist. Great review!
I've had my HD600s for about 6 years and they are in perfect condition apart from having to replace the earpads. I have to wonder about people reporting chipping - do they literally throw the things around the room?
I don't even put them on a headphone stand - I just leave them lying flat on the top of my PC tower. You'd think mine would have scratched by now if they ever would. Anyway, you picked the right pair - the 600s are very neutral and will serve as a good comparison point for other headphones.
I have not listened to the HD650's, but the HD600's are a revelation. They are beautifully detailed, open sounding and at least to my ear, true to source. I only wish I could find a pair of closed back headphones with the same sound signature for tracking. The better one can hear what one is doing, the better the take.
I always go for neutrality, and the HD600s are exceptional in this area. With the Schiit Modi Multibit DAC and Schiit Vali 2++ tube hybrid, the sound is incredible. It’s my end-game combo that I have no desire to change.
I've had my HD600's for almost 2 years now, and I must say that the feel of the clamping-force is more or less non-existent, while still sitting very well on my head. You mentioned something about that it's hard to forget that you have them on, and I agree, if you only refer to the new out-of-the-box experience. I forgot I was using mine, just 10 minutes in, while watching your video xD These headphones are probably my best investment so far when it comes to audio, and I'm sure many owners of the HD650's can say the same thing,
You got two great headphones here. Make sure you feed them right. Don't plug them into the computer and sound card, start out with a $350 tube amplifier, and enjoy liquid smoothness and clarity and power that you never dreamed were possible with headphones- I like the Schiit Valhalla 2 with the 600, it is so choice. But you are just beginning the journey. Get one of the headphone amps that Sennheiser made just for the 600-800 series, these are the only headphones that have the driver and the diaphragms and the cones to be able to handle awesome equipment without distortion. Your Yamaha phones will fall apart at medium volume levels with equipment like this, the 600 series was designed to take advantage of hi fi equipment
I have a Little Dot MK II that has Sovtek 6H30 pi Super Power tubes (matched) some Mullard Black Hole drivers and a matched pair of the G.E. tubes matched by RiverStone Audio and the G.E.s actually beat out the expensive Mullard's. But the good thing about this is my Little Dot MK II(total cost $300) now sounds like a very expensive $600+ headphone amp. It drives my HD 650's at 300 Ohms with plenty of power to spare. I'm in love with a all tube sound. Nobsound has a mini-preamp with a tube buffer added in to it that for $45 and one good matched pairs of $20 G.E.'s from Riverstone audio will give you a perfect preamp/and headphone amp of your choice. I have a Schiit's mangi that I have hooked up to this Nobsound tube buffered preamp and it makes my HD 598's sound fantastic. The Nobsound also has tone controls and is very quiet. So for $65 you can have a great little preamp that also looks really great and has a nice front power switch with a red LED to show the power is on and both bass and treble controls with a nice smooth volume knob that is slightly larger than the tone controls. It's been great with my mangi and my Asus Zonar PCIx2 Express x2 amplified sound card. I don't need to use the cards amplification at all with my Nobsound preamp and mangi headphone amp together. Great for computer or gaming or even to set up a stand alone All tube headphone amp and Nobsound Tube Buffered Mini Preamp together with a CD player of your choice. Sound fantastic with the Premaps volume at about 3 Oclock. No extra hiss or noise at all and if you hook up a Little Dot MK II with up-graded tubes to this mini tube buffered Preamp it will sound fantastic and it's a closed system for CD and CD-R .flac/.wav playback.
@@stevenlevel9836 What would you suggest I get to power my Sennheiser HD 650s? I know very little about the headphone game and this will be my first time getting a driver here...
The Sennheiser hd600 is so comfortable and sound so good I no longer Will be using my ANG Q701 or HIFI MAN 400i. The Sennheiser hd600 is leaps and bounds better in all aspects to me over my other headphones.
This is a great review. I'm a sound engineer, and for mixing, the hd600 is absolutely great. Musical, neutral, and articulate. For the times I feel that I need to hear the sub bass a little better, I use sonarworks, and it's a perfect solution. The sub bass is definitely there on them, and have presence, but to test what they sound like on "thicker" systems, the sonarworks vst is a perfect solution. Overall, they are my favorite all round headphone at this price point.
This is a very good review - I was just about to make a similar comparison between the two, but a link to this one pretty much says it all. HD650 is too warm in the mid-bass and in the 3-4k region. I have a review of the HD600 on my page, by the way. Greetings from Finland!
Thanks for the great review and video. You are genuinely one of my favorite youtubers, and that includes all the "big box" channels that I am subscribed to as well. I am grateful for the time you put into these videos, and wish you the best.
From a music producer view the HD600 are the way more precise tool when it comes to sound seperation and bass clearity. The HD650 sound wider but way more unprecise, above all deep down. For music production I would always choose the 600 over the 650. Audiophile-wise I don´t like either, there I prefer my old HD540 which have real sound and soul to me. Seperation might be useful, but it is not always beautiful imho.
Decision is easy HD600 sound better than HD650 for me, I had HD650 and sold them and buy HD600 uff what a change on +. HD650 had for me bad treble they miss crystal clear highs, and sound overall was too sweet. HD600 sounds great perfect natural with perfect crystal clear treble that what music should sounds like. HD650 only had little better bass just a little bit.
I prefer the 600 to the 650 and 6xx as well, mostly because i don't need the extra bass the later 2 have and prefer the better separation and pace the 600 has.
Both headphones have a way to minimize the clamping. The thin metal strips can be bent outward. But, be careful that you're only bending that metal and not any plastic. Tyll with Innerfidelity demonstrates this on his 600 review.
I listen to mostly only metal and the have owned the 650 and 600. The 650 beats the 600 for metal. No mention of a few things; 650 has slightly more soundstage and higher resolution(think 720p vs 1080p for example). The 600 has a worse cable. The 600 can become fatiguing on certain genres. Problems the 650 doesn't have. The 650 is more forgiving when listening to poorly mixed music, the 600 is not. The 600 can sound grainy when heavy distortion guitars enter the mix. Just some things to note.
I tried both, did a lot A-B with Chord Mojo. I just want to add with others. I felt Music is created in between my ears with 600 or inside my head. But I felt music is created/coming from far away from me with 650. It is clearly understood. Certaily I will not tell this V shaped..
I use the hd600 for critical listening and accuracy. With the hd600 I listen to the same song but from different albums and choose which is the best recording. Hd650 is connected to my Darkvoice and it has more bass and it is tube amp greatness. Hd650 will scale with your amp.
Ive had hd600s for a while but always been tempted to try hd650s(6xx,same thing)to find out if I'm missing anything(as the bass is more present and overal sound fuller whilst traiding off details)..and finally got 650s recently,listened to side by side and on their own(trying not to remember hd600s sound) and ....I find them too buttery,yes,the bass is there(for those who say there's no bass you need to get your ears checked)Sound is fuller,rounder but I miss details hd600s gives me .HD600s with Zen Can XBass feature they sound just right,and the vocals are better on 600s incl details-all in all 6XX seem to dark to my ear taste,So don't always follow trends and what majority say,trying hard to like something only because "everyone"like this or that.
Your video's are the best because I like clarity instead of the rambling & contradictions every third sentence. So I subscribed. I'm a newbie & here are my questions. I'm thinking of getting the 600 or the Beyer Dynamics 880 pro. I will primarily be listening to rock. Ozzie (no more tears), Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull, The Doors, ect. Which headphones between the two I mentioned? What tube amp? Thank you in advance.
the HD650’s and by quite a margin. a bigger soundstage and much more detailed. music takes on a 3D dimension. much better for mixing as you hear detail that is lacking in the 600’s.
By quite a margin in your opinion. I know many people who'd say exactly the opposite. Also about soundstage, the 600 series is known for pretty much the smallest one of all open backs. I was impressed by the 2 headphones many many years ago. These days I can't really get the hype anymore. They weirdly enough feel kinda dated with a wonky tuning
I believe this question can be answered much easier. Do you listen to more bass intensive music like hip-hop or EDM? If so, you can't go wrong with HD650. If not and classical and rock music is more up your alley, HD600 is a great option; although I'd give the Sundaras a look as well if you're considering the 600. But if we're talking great comfort and relaxing long listening sessions to almost all genres of music, no headphone does what the 650s do (unless we're talking about 6xx lol)
Some time ago I wrote a comment under your review of Shure srh 1840, that I had for a week and returned due to bad artefacts in bass...and today I purchased HD 600. With srh 1840 I kept having these thoughts - "damn this is not how cymbals sound" (I'm a drummer BTW), "that's too veiled", "vocals sound like from AM radio", "yeah the stage is great but", and there were so many "buts"...with HD 600 - it's all just right, that's the sound of real instruments and voices, that's music. Sure - maybe there are better headphones, but you probably need to pay a lot more.
Haven‘t quite finished reviewing the 880 but I think the 600 might be better in terms of minds, the 880 seems slightly more balanced and long term friedly
None. Better to mix with cheap speakers than with any headphones. You will need to 100% know your headphones to get the mix right. It’s so easy to have bass set too high with headphones and find they distort on speakers or in a car audio.
Agree with you on cheap speakers 👍🏾. Let me rephrase, better to buy good old school used studio speakers. However, headphones are great for instruments placement in stereo and hearing the effects added. Very hard to get levels right on headphones
Been using HD650 for years and HD600 for a few years before then. Here's my take: - HD600 is a bit more neutral in the mids. HD650 has a bump between 100hz and 300hz which gives the mids a bit more thickness and warmth, which is a coloration. However HD650 has a bit more extension in the bass. - HD600 is a bit more immediate and in your face. Instruments sound closer and images are a little bigger. HD650 is more laid back and instruments sound smaller and more distant. - HD650 outresolves HD600 and has notably better imaging. I chalk this up to better channel matching in the HD650, which you can see in measurements across many different sites that post that sort of thing. - HD650 also has a wider soundstage. This makes the HD650 very good with gaming, whereas the HD600 is not. All this means that for all-around use, movies, games, music, etc, HD650 > HD600 for me. For purely music, it's the other way around. However, for pure music there is also a thing called Stax, and that tends to get preferential treatment around here.
Question. Obviously, a (quality) amp is needed and critical to get the most out of either, but what about using a really decent EQ? I rarely ever hear the effect of using an EQ in a review. The Philips Fidelio X2 does not even need an amp and would be my "other" headphone to compare with.
I watched 7:42 of your review. That was all I needed. Yours is one of the best reviews of anything I have ever seen! I am an ignorant newbie when it comes to over the ear, open back headphones. I just ended a bad relationship with Hifiman HE400S. I replaced the pads, because they fell apart. I replaced the cable, because it fell apart. I just sent them $60 because the plastic headset broke. Okay, that last one is on me. Wait, that means our relationship isn't over. I would rather spend $60 to make them a backup headset than to jus throw them in the garbage. Last night I ordered the Sennheiser HD 600s. I have been wondering if I had made another mistake. Your review gives me comfort that I made the right choice. I like neutral (as you said, not flat; there is a difference). Good job, my man! Oh, now is the time for me to subscribe to your channel!
They are here! I've only had a couple of minutes to spend with them, as I am at work (which is where I have my packages shipped), but I like what I heard n those couple of minutes!
After a couple days with these HD600s, I can appreciate this review even more. I am not a bass head; I want to know it is there, but I don't want it to dominate. Same goes for treble. Bass and treble, for me, spices; and either one is easy to over use. Music lives in the mids as far as I am concerned, and vocals matter a great deal because lyrics are, to me, very important. I love what these headphones do. I have listen to youtube videos and lossless files in my iMac and without an amp, and I'm still impressed. I will move my O2 over to the iMac in a few days and listen for the difference.
Damir, enjoyed your review. Since I play lots of classic rock and metal on my electric guitar and using quite powerful amp, would you recommend 600 over 650? Based on my understanding, 600 would fit better for Metal/Rock genres. Am I right/wrong? Thank you for your response in advance.
Most people solve the clamping force issue by mounting the headphones over the box it comes in overnight. I also heard the amp makes a huge difference.
1. Metal guy 2. Zeos Pantera 3.Tyll hertsens 4.dms3 5.joshua 6.aornic 7.lachanlikesathing( very professional dude) 8.damir frank( Also very informative guy) 9.hi fi insider( not a real reviewer because make more unboxing but a nice dude) 10.the gaming audiophile 11. Zebubba 12.hardwarekanucks 13.bentley4ever 14.curawong 15.hi fi heaven 16.new record's day 17.phototristan ( very professional reviews) ( the list do not have a precise order of the greatest but I love them all )
The main differences are: -The hd650 is more colored (more bass) the hd600 is more neutral -The hd650 is more laidback, The hd600 is more forward -The hd650 is generally slower, the hd600 can maintain a faster pace -The hd650 is slightly more refined and scales better, The hd600 is more easy to drive Unless you own a TOTL balanced solid state amp, or a very good tube amp, the hd650 *maybe* the better headphone. But the hd600 is very close behind. On lesser setup I prefer the hd600 in almost every case. If you listen jazz and vocals stuff the hd650 is brilliant, the hd600 is good for rock and metal because of the faster pace. Advice for the newbies: Please don't buy the hd650 and pair with a
Maybe it will, maybe not. The truth is the hd650 is hard to drive to full potential, way beyond the capability of the Dragonfly (I own the Red). The sound will be not totally bad, but you can complain about "the sound is too laidback, the hd650 seems veiled" and so on. This is why I usually suggest the hd600 on lesser setup.
In response to that last line you wrote, I recently got a pair of 650's and have it paired with my Micca Origen+ that I was using for my HD598's. The Micca Origen (A $110 dac/amp) gives my HD650's plenty of volume (in my opinion) and i'm really liking the sound of the headphones. Would you recommend hopping up to the Schiit Magni/Modi Stack or is there anything else in that price range that competes. Thanks dude. - A Newbie in need of advice
Fabio Rocks I don't have money for that kind of amp dac setup. Should I get a schiit stack uber on ebay when I have the money and upgrade to a bottleneck crack later? Or just wait till I can afford a bottle crack?
Since I don't know much about amps/headphones, but what do you mean 'hard to drive to full potential'. Do you mean at gain level or what ? Since I listen to low volume and mix on low volume, and I have Scarlett 2i4, and I dunno if it's okay for HD600 or HD650? What amps do you recommend me? Also, I have ATH-M50X, and after 4 years I feel they are a bit different, could headphones loose some quality over time? I did listened and cranked up the volume from here and there (more than I should have done). Thanks.
HD650's retain their tone better when plugging into different headphone amplifiers, whereas the HD600's are more sensitive to variances in amplifier topology. Hope this helps!
Excellent review. Thanks. I got the hd600. Do you know wich tube amp would be a good match. I am using topping dx 3 pro plus ans the audioquest cobalt on the road right now. But every reviews I see told that we need a tube amp to enjoy the hd600 at best. Any entry level suggestion since I am not rich 😂
Thanks for the nice review Damir. I have the 598 and love them (I use them mainly for playing digital pianos) and wonder how the 600 compare to them....
Thanks, I see. Supposing 599 is very similar to 598, 600 would be better in general, but it's hard to say which one would be better for piano playing as you need the flattest sound possible to fully enjoy sampled pianos. Anyway thanks again for replyiing
Digitalguy I own the HD 600 and my Brother lately sold his hd 598 for a new pair of hd 599. I can tell you there is a Noticable difference between the hd 598 and the 599, the new pair has noticably better and a little tighter bass, but also a little more midbass, and the mids and highs also have considerably better detail and the vocals are more present now with the new pair. The soundstage is just a little less and imaging got better instead. Though you will still find both headphones to have their similiaritys, the new hd 599 is an upgrade, id say it sounds like an HD 598 with a touch of an HD 600, which is good! The HD 600s are defently better for more active listening... when you like to hear or notice things in songs you never heared before, then these can be magical (like for me), but otherwhise or if you lack a good enought dac and amp as source (id take a Schiit Fulla as minimum requirement here) youre defently better of with the easyer to drive 599. Id even recomend a Schiit Stack (Magni/Modi) for the HD 600.
I don't have these nor have I tried them, but for my head, the Status OB-1 is the most comfortable headphones I know of. I have the HD 579 coming and I might still have to try (which means I have to buy) the HD 600. I just didn't want to spend $200 right now and I wanted to try Sennheiser open back because for some reason I dig open back - I think because you can almost forget you have them on and speakers were always open rather than closed off. Plus, they seem like less resonance. Anyway, I hope the 579 is a good set compared to either of these? I have the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 and think they sound good but not the most comfy.
Good review, the 600 & 650's are good headphones but i prefer the 660s...mine have plenty of bass after 300+ hrs of using a high quality burn in CD & plenty of 5 string bass Rap...used balanced with the balanced cables & pentacomm headphone output on my Ifi V DAC ll they sound fantastic....the high sensitivity & 150ohms means i can use them with my PC interface when not using a mic...i use closed backed BD DT770's, 80ohm version, when using my Rode mic...
How Pxc550 compare with these in terms of sound quality, they are closed back. I currently own HD 518 and looking for an upgrade with a similar sound signature.
Afther i have seen your reviews i have bought the sennhaiser hd 579.I am satisfied with that headphone ,and i want to say thanks for the recomandation.I have a few questions :is the sennhaiser hd 600/650 much higher quality than 579?what are the differences?will an fiio e10 k drive the sen hd 600/650? thanks.
Thanks for your videos! I play guitar on Line 6 Helix LT Guitar Multi-effects Processor with headphones. The output has 12 Ohm impedance and as manual says: "provides plenty of gain for high impedance headphones". Do you think it will run HD 600 with 300 Ohm properly?
I"m leaning towards getting the 600's. I will be using them with my 1080p Samsung TV and my Mac Pro. Do I need a amplifier? If yes, can you please recommend a few. Thank you! Love your video!!!
Thanks for going into the difference between the two in so much detail! One minor point that came to mind: you mentioned that color coding in the HD 600's cable is handy, because you can easily tell them apart from the red vs black connector. I agree, but just how often does one need to disconnect and reconnect the cables? It's still trivial to just check which letter the connector has :D Especially since you have to pay attention to it anyway, as you can accidentally have the connector the wrong way around.
It isn’t just useful when connecting the cable, it also allows you to see which side is left and right without looking at the indicators when putting them on
I've had the HD595's for yeeeeeaaars and they are my reference. However like others have mentioned buying the upgrade is tempting .....I'd go for the 600's and maybe paint them like Z did.
Couple of questions: 1. I'm aware the 600s don't have the largest soundstage, but do they have good enough imaging for gaming? I don't crave lots of bass for immersion, so in terms of sound signature these may be a good fit for games for me. 2. Have you heard the hifiman he400i? They are currently cheaper than the 600 and I have heard that they are similar in quality. If so, would you still recommend these?
phillips sph 9500s are superb for imaging in games, wide soundstage and pinpoint imaging, they are good for music too, slightly less refined of course to these as they are open back at $50-$70
Wunderbar. Danke for your fast response. As of today I only have a FiiO K3 to compare those 6i6 jacks with, and couldn't distinguish any differences. It could be due other variables though, such as the songs I listen (Google Play Music), DAC settings, non trained ears, etc... Ohh man, I feel like entering in a rabbit hole. :-)
I really liked This review, so natural And true. Do you think the 600 Will be fine for ópera, organ conciertos, guitar etc, classical music? THX, And wich amp would you recomiendo?
Hello everybody, for studio mixing and mastering, which are your opinions comparing Sennheiser HD600 and Akg 701? (I currently have the 701). Maybe any of you guys had the opportunity to check side by side these two?... Thanks a lot for your comment!
I am a producer/composer and have studio monitors in an untreated room so naturally I can't really use them as an accurate reference for my mixes. I make dance music like house and edm but also compose and produce film music of a mainly classical style. I want headphones that are as accurate as possible without exaggerating or accentuating any frequencies, but provide enough bass response to show me how the bass is in the mix (as this is something I struggle to gauge with my monitors in my room currently). Would I be right in assuming the HD600s are better for me given the apparently more neutral performance? Please let me know. Thanks
Idk but especially in the bass department I think they're lacking, you'd maybe need sonarworks to correct them but the they should be definitely very accurate.
I've got the hd599. Are either of these worth the upgrade? Which might be closer to the 599 signature? I felt I needed to EQ down the bass a touch with the 599 but didn't think they had a V signature or anything.
By now I'd personally definitely recommend the 660s or the pretty much same but much cheaper HD58X, those are absolutely great for the price and definitely an upgrade, signature should be similar enough from what I remember
The HD58X are cheaper kinda rebuilt 660s but so close it doesn't make much sense to pay extra for the 660s. You should get the 58X in UK, I ordered mine from Germany, all you have to do is pay like 20£ in taxes, that's it
@@TheNitpicker ty again. I've just joined massdrop. I can see the HD6xx and hd58x. Former are $200, latter are $150. Still stick with hd58x? ooooo just seen the hifiman he4xx. I heard they have a spectacular sound state + separation. Don't know much else about them though?
@@TheNitpicker ty again. I totally don't need another pair of headphones (as I've got the hd599 and like them). However, i took a chance and have bought a pair of the hd58x jubilee. Pure greed :)
I play electronic drums via midi on an ifi zen dac with m50x. I'm thinking of upgrading to HD600. I play them really loud. can you hear your voice when the music is too loud ? because i want to see if the drum sounds will annoy me while i play.
I don't know how loud the outside is what exactly it is what you want. Do you want to hear your voice or not, and with voice, do you mean singing or what? But I'd assume listening loud you will definitely not understand much, maybe try to test an open back somewhere to see what you're getting into
Damir Franc i play over songs at my place at a quiet enviroment. Never had experience with open type but i find it hard to hear for example the drum pads when playing at maximum volume over a song
i just find your review and i love it, great job man, im going to buy a pair of hd600 to use with my s8 and spotify extreme, so...i want to know what amp do you recommend me? i was thinking fiio q1, but i want your professional opinion. Thanks!
Damir Franc ok thanks for your answer...one more question, between hd600 and hd700 wich one you can recommend me? i want a natural sound in all ranges , its gonna be my first open model, so...please tell me. pd: you earn a new suscribe! thanks
I prefer the 650, mainly because the sound from the 600 will hurt my ears (from the sound) after 20 minutes or so. Both are incredible cans and both make an acoustic guitar so realistic.
All of the above, Abrahan. To me, the treble is just not as much in your face. I'm not good enough to tell you whether it less treble or more bass, although, it seems like most people say, it's just more bass. I think my ears, just have a problem lasting very long when the sound signature is flatter. If you can, you should probably give the 660s a listen too. I understand the detail is the best of all three.
Very good review mate. You reinforced my decision with getting the HD600 since I am a fellow metal head as well. I just hope they will pair good with the Objective2 DAC I have. From your name I would say you are from Slovenia or Bosnia?
650's slightly wider soundstage but they're same kind of ....left right centre channels are separated better on the 650's overall 600's are also quite good
I wouldn't really recommend the 600, especially for music, I'd rather go with the way more pleasant hd58x from drop, great value and sound since it's pretty much slightly modified hd660s
This is probably the most controversial question in the headphone industry. Which one to get? I had both at the same time tied into my Bottlehead Crack and I thought that the 600 was far superior.........for my liking. If you want the 650 bass then just eq the bottom end of the 600 then bingo, 600 with 650 bass. I thought on the Crack that the bass was better and more than the 650 without even equing it. Of course the Crack is a veeeeery good OTL amp and has an abundance of power. The 600 with a OTL tube amp needs zero equing. When people compared the 2 cans, if you used a solid state amp that is underpowered, then I can understand why someone could like the 650 more. But, personal taste plays a big roll also I'm sure.
Give a man a headphone and he will enjoy music for a life time.
Teach a man to watch audiophile gear reviews, and want the best headphones- and he will be broke for a lifetime :D
I have both the HD600 and HD650 for 3 years now. Been trying to decide which one to keep. I've tried it with different amps, and changed my mind too many times that I finally gave up. I'm running it off my Chord Mojo now, and couldn't be happier. I'm keeping both of them.
With your experience. I was wondering what would pair better for listening to classical music?
@@ohnonate I’ll pick HD650 for when I want fuller bass and buttery smooth highs for Mozart. But I’ll go with HD600 for its live sounding, to listen to violin/viola centric material like Pachelbel’s Canon in D.
@@razak76 great feedback! Appreciate it.
That is the correct decision.
They're different enough that keeping both is the best decision. Truly wonderful headphones, rest assured you don't need any other pairs in your life. Maybe an amp/dac upgrade in the future, but that's it.
Maybe I need to buy both... I'm going to go broke. Why did I start watching audiophiles on UA-cam?... Why?
It is awesome though!
Hey, it's a worthwhile hobby and at least unlike most others, this stuff has great resale value at least.
Wait till you open a Massdrop account
HD580 is best of them.no midbass hump
😁😂 so true...!
First let me start by saying saying that I rarely leave comments or press "like" on youtube :)
This is by far the best review I have seen on youtube concerning those models, I myself conducted 2 days listening (6-8 hours each day, different styles of music, first day when I was sober and second when I was high) comparing head to head back and forth using 10-seconds-backward-skipping those 4 models:
HD600, HD650, HD700, HD800 (after 50 hours of burn in)...and my conclusion was similar...in general the best choice for me was HD600. But to people who mostly listen to electronic music, I would recommend HD650. The only real difference I found from this review is sound imaging -> the higher the model the better the sound stage and imaging is - on some musical pieces the the HD800 sounded the best on some it sounded the worst. Eventually I picked the HD600, even though, in the last 2 years I mostly listen to electronic music so I guess the HD650 would have been a better choice for me :P but I guess I was thinking/feeling about the long run ;)
I found a pair of HD580's for 50eur, just had to get them. The one thing I don't like about them is the clamping force compared to HD595 which I tend to wear a lot more for general use. For music I'll pull out the HD580's because of the sheer increase in detail they have, but I wouldn't use them for movies or UA-cam videos simply because I want something that wears lighter. People shit on the HD595's but they are not bad actually, even for music like when I work and do other stuff on the PC as the way they sound is not as involving and distracting as the HD580's are.
I have the 600 and 650 and I go back-and-forth, but if I could only have one I guess it would be the 600, it sounds great it out of the box without needing any equalization, and with a tube amp it is heavenly.
The 650 is a little too rich, I need to equalize that, when I do, it is spectacular. But the 600 doesn't need the equalization
I have been running my 600s through a Schiit Valhalla 2, and they get along very well!
The HD600 is still my favorite. Running off of my Woo WA3 it's fantastic.
I had brand new HD600 & HD650 in my studio so I could switch between them almost instantly (my Apollo 8 has two headphone outs) - for me it was HD650s and not really a difficult decision. 650s are a little 'thicker' and slightly warmer but without feeling mushy. 600s sounded leaner in the bass, but I didn't feel like they were any more accurate for it. I also used Sonarworks at 50% which just adds a bit of sub bass that both models miss, but it's very slight.
I love the HD600s. Perfect for everything. So comfortable.
I bought a tube preamp/amp and the HD650's. I love it. I had the same experience. I was a big time audiophile in the 80's and 90's. This setup was the closet to that old experience than anything in forever.
It took me around 3-4 months to figure out which I liked better.
I have both. Both are less than 6 months old (newest revision). I'm keeping both.
The 650 is more balanced.
The 600 has a lower treble spike at 3.5khz, which shouldn't exist. This, as well as the lack of rolloff after 1khz, helps instrument attack. However, there is a lack of timbre, pure tonality, and blackness compared to the HD650. It's just slightly too excited for it's own good. Fidelity is greater with the 650.
I preferred the 600 signature at first until I realized this. That said, there are some albums that I'll listen with my 600's.
****
Take my opinion with a grain of salt. Assuming if you're in the market, try both for an extended period of time before buying, if possible. I guarantee if you are used to brighter headphones (HD800, Beyers, etc), you'll buy the HD600, as it's closer to your current signature. That's exactly what I did, and I don't regret it.
Originally I thought the HD600 and HD650 sounded so similar that it wasn't worth owning both. Upon further listening I thought I preferred the HD600 because they sounded less veiled than the HD650. But if I listened to the HD650 for an extended amount of time then switched to the HD600, the HD600 sounded slightly thin and grainy. It was stressing me out trying to decide which sound signature I preferred so I decided to keep both.
Totally agree with this, 650 is just more musical as well.
dmarcus, make sure you are properly amping them...
I also own both and completely agree, 100%. These are my observations as well. I prefer the 650. They are so similar though, that it really just comes down to taste.
Having heard both, I don't know how anyone could possibly say the vocals sound distant on the 650... Male vocals particularly sound out so spectacularly. Can't trust this review cuz of that.
I find myself switching between the 600 and the 58x these days. Love them both.
If anyone can, try & buy a pair of HD 565's. They are incredibly natural sounding, with warmth and nice bass. Would highly recommend.
You can check which is the left phone on HD 650 through touch... rough patch under left index finger... which works very well . You can put 'em on in the dark!
You helped me make the choice to buy the 650's and I couldn't be happier. Thank you for everything, I subbed and will continue to watch for new content.
I REALLY enjoyed your review of the two headphones, probably my favorite comparison! Well done!! I own the HD600 & im IN LOVE with them. I would like to hear the HD650 still tho & will most likely purchase the HD6XX from Massdrop if they are offered again in the future. I power mine with a Bottlehead Crack & I'll tell you, that amp pairs BEAUTIFULLY with them. Thank you for a fresh comparison video on these two Classics!
What did you power them with for your review?....
get sonarworks or morphit and run their calibration curves for those. i got the hd600 and after calibration i started hearing highend details which weren't audible before. and thats already using a descent quality headphone amp from the Audient ID22 interface.
Servus! I will go with the 6xx Massdrops, I want to use them for gaming as well. I’ve heard soundstaging on the 660s is better, but I can get the massdrops for around 162 eur without customs and shipping though. I’m in for the more fun experience, even though my wife would like the 600 more since she is a singer, I’m am more the instrumentalist.
Great review!
Wow great review and really a tough choice. I like how you made a conclusive choice at the end on the 600 and mention the amp used to power them.
I've had my HD600s for about 6 years and they are in perfect condition apart from having to replace the earpads. I have to wonder about people reporting chipping - do they literally throw the things around the room?
I don't even put them on a headphone stand - I just leave them lying flat on the top of my PC tower. You'd think mine would have scratched by now if they ever would. Anyway, you picked the right pair - the 600s are very neutral and will serve as a good comparison point for other headphones.
I have not listened to the HD650's, but the HD600's are a revelation. They are beautifully detailed, open sounding and at least to my ear, true to source. I only wish I could find a pair of closed back headphones with the same sound signature for tracking. The better one can hear what one is doing, the better the take.
I always go for neutrality, and the HD600s are exceptional in this area. With the Schiit Modi Multibit DAC and Schiit Vali 2++ tube hybrid, the sound is incredible. It’s my end-game combo that I have no desire to change.
I've had my HD600's for almost 2 years now, and I must say that the feel of the clamping-force is more or less non-existent, while still sitting very well on my head. You mentioned something about that it's hard to forget that you have them on, and I agree, if you only refer to the new out-of-the-box experience. I forgot I was using mine, just 10 minutes in, while watching your video xD
These headphones are probably my best investment so far when it comes to audio, and I'm sure many owners of the HD650's can say the same thing,
they are amazing with good amp 🔥
The lucious smoothness of the 650 plays more to my tastes, but both are terrific
You got two great headphones here. Make sure you feed them right. Don't plug them into the computer and sound card, start out with a $350 tube amplifier, and enjoy liquid smoothness and clarity and power that you never dreamed were possible with headphones- I like the Schiit Valhalla 2 with the 600, it is so choice.
But you are just beginning the journey. Get one of the headphone amps that Sennheiser made just for the 600-800 series, these are the only headphones that have the driver and the diaphragms and the cones to be able to handle awesome equipment without distortion. Your Yamaha phones will fall apart at medium volume levels with equipment like this, the 600 series was designed to take advantage of hi fi equipment
I have a Little Dot MK II that has Sovtek 6H30 pi Super Power tubes (matched) some Mullard Black Hole drivers and a matched pair of the G.E. tubes matched by RiverStone Audio and the G.E.s actually beat out the expensive Mullard's. But the good thing about this is my Little Dot MK II(total cost $300) now sounds like a very expensive $600+ headphone amp. It drives my HD 650's at 300 Ohms with plenty of power to spare.
I'm in love with a all tube sound. Nobsound has a mini-preamp with a tube buffer added in to it that for $45 and one good matched pairs of $20 G.E.'s from Riverstone audio will give you a perfect preamp/and headphone amp of your choice. I have a Schiit's mangi that I have hooked up to this Nobsound tube buffered preamp and it makes my HD 598's sound fantastic. The Nobsound also has tone controls and is very quiet. So for $65 you can have a great little preamp that also looks really great and has a nice front power switch with a red LED to show the power is on and both bass and treble controls with a nice smooth volume knob that is slightly larger than the tone controls.
It's been great with my mangi and my Asus Zonar PCIx2 Express x2 amplified sound card. I don't need to use the cards amplification at all with my Nobsound preamp and mangi headphone amp together. Great for computer or gaming or even to set up a stand alone All tube headphone amp and Nobsound Tube Buffered Mini Preamp together with a CD player of your choice. Sound fantastic with the Premaps volume at about 3 Oclock.
No extra hiss or noise at all and if you hook up a Little Dot MK II with up-graded tubes to this mini tube buffered Preamp it will sound fantastic and it's a closed system for CD and CD-R .flac/.wav playback.
@@stevenlevel9836 What would you suggest I get to power my Sennheiser HD 650s? I know very little about the headphone game and this will be my first time getting a driver here...
The Sennheiser hd600 is so comfortable and sound so good I no longer Will be using my ANG Q701 or HIFI MAN 400i. The Sennheiser hd600 is leaps and bounds better in all aspects to me over my other headphones.
This is a great review. I'm a sound engineer, and for mixing, the hd600 is absolutely great. Musical, neutral, and articulate. For the times I feel that I need to hear the sub bass a little better, I use sonarworks, and it's a perfect solution. The sub bass is definitely there on them, and have presence, but to test what they sound like on "thicker" systems, the sonarworks vst is a perfect solution. Overall, they are my favorite all round headphone at this price point.
Mega +1 for Sonarworks. Kind of takes the stress out of monitoring thanks to the profiles available which really balance the sound.
This is a very good review - I was just about to make a similar comparison between the two, but a link to this one pretty much says it all. HD650 is too warm in the mid-bass and in the 3-4k region. I have a review of the HD600 on my page, by the way. Greetings from Finland!
I am so looking forward to the arrival of my HD600s. I will check out your page, and subscribe. Any input on the Objective 2?
Thanks for the great review and video. You are genuinely one of my favorite youtubers, and that includes all the "big box" channels that I am subscribed to as well. I am grateful for the time you put into these videos, and wish you the best.
From a music producer view the HD600 are the way more precise tool when it comes to sound seperation and bass clearity. The HD650 sound wider but way more unprecise, above all deep down. For music production I would always choose the 600 over the 650. Audiophile-wise I don´t like either, there I prefer my old HD540 which have real sound and soul to me. Seperation might be useful, but it is not always beautiful imho.
Go to Massdrop and get the HD6xx. No need to purchase both, at all. But you will need to invest some good money into a great DAC/AMP.
I just purchsed the 6xx cant wait till i receive them, i will be buying a new amp soon
Decision is easy HD600 sound better than HD650 for me, I had HD650 and sold them and buy HD600 uff what a change on +.
HD650 had for me bad treble they miss crystal clear highs, and sound overall was too sweet. HD600 sounds great perfect natural with perfect crystal clear treble that what music should sounds like. HD650 only had little better bass just a little bit.
Yeah I sold my 650s recently. I just find more clarity with the 600s. But both are superb.
I prefer the 600 to the 650 and 6xx as well, mostly because i don't need the extra bass the later 2 have and prefer the better separation and pace the 600 has.
I’ve always found that their best aren’t highest priced, so listen to various models have for decades preferred 580s to these.
Both headphones have a way to minimize the clamping. The thin metal strips can be bent outward. But, be careful that you're only bending that metal and not any plastic. Tyll with Innerfidelity demonstrates this on his 600 review.
I enjoyed your review. Positive and honest. Subscribed!
Very nice headphones, I just wish the soundstage was bigger and sub-bass extension was better.
better sub bass extension is he400i but as you know they don't have soundstage.
Yep, mid-fi has compromises.
i just stepped into mid-fi and literally haven't tried any but the headphones i've have now, i'm still clean, and unaddicted. well sorta.
Don't stay in a Hi-Fi shop for too long, it will corrupt you forever. Curious, what are you enjoying right now?
i'm enjoying the he400i i got on sale for 250$
all my other headphones are worthless now.
I listen to mostly only metal and the have owned the 650 and 600. The 650 beats the 600 for metal. No mention of a few things;
650 has slightly more soundstage and higher resolution(think 720p vs 1080p for example). The 600 has a worse cable. The 600 can become fatiguing on certain genres. Problems the 650 doesn't have. The 650 is more forgiving when listening to poorly mixed music, the 600 is not. The 600 can sound grainy when heavy distortion guitars enter the mix.
Just some things to note.
I tried both, did a lot A-B with Chord Mojo. I just want to add with others. I felt Music is created in between my ears with 600 or inside my head. But I felt music is created/coming from far away from me with 650. It is clearly understood. Certaily I will not tell this V shaped..
I use the hd600 for critical listening and accuracy. With the hd600 I listen to the same song but from different albums and choose which is the best recording. Hd650 is connected to my Darkvoice and it has more bass and it is tube amp greatness. Hd650 will scale with your amp.
Ive had hd600s for a while but always been tempted to try hd650s(6xx,same thing)to find out if I'm missing anything(as the bass is more present and overal sound fuller whilst traiding off details)..and finally got 650s recently,listened to side by side and on their own(trying not to remember hd600s sound) and ....I find them too buttery,yes,the bass is there(for those who say there's no bass you need to get your ears checked)Sound is fuller,rounder but I miss details hd600s gives me .HD600s with Zen Can XBass feature they sound just right,and the vocals are better on 600s incl details-all in all 6XX seem to dark to my ear taste,So don't always follow trends and what majority say,trying hard to like something only because "everyone"like this or that.
Your video's are the best because I like clarity instead of the rambling & contradictions every third sentence. So I subscribed. I'm a newbie & here are my questions. I'm thinking of getting the 600 or the Beyer Dynamics 880 pro. I will primarily be listening to rock. Ozzie (no more tears), Led Zepplin, Jethro Tull, The Doors, ect. Which headphones between the two I mentioned? What tube amp? Thank you in advance.
Ok, thanks for your response. I'm getting the 600 & I'll decide on an amp later. Thanks very much.
the HD650’s and by quite a margin. a bigger soundstage and much more detailed. music takes on a 3D dimension. much better for mixing as you hear detail that is lacking in the 600’s.
By quite a margin in your opinion. I know many people who'd say exactly the opposite. Also about soundstage, the 600 series is known for pretty much the smallest one of all open backs. I was impressed by the 2 headphones many many years ago. These days I can't really get the hype anymore. They weirdly enough feel kinda dated with a wonky tuning
I believe this question can be answered much easier. Do you listen to more bass intensive music like hip-hop or EDM? If so, you can't go wrong with HD650. If not and classical and rock music is more up your alley, HD600 is a great option; although I'd give the Sundaras a look as well if you're considering the 600. But if we're talking great comfort and relaxing long listening sessions to almost all genres of music, no headphone does what the 650s do (unless we're talking about 6xx lol)
Some time ago I wrote a comment under your review of Shure srh 1840, that I had for a week and returned due to bad artefacts in bass...and today I purchased HD 600. With srh 1840 I kept having these thoughts - "damn this is not how cymbals sound" (I'm a drummer BTW), "that's too veiled", "vocals sound like from AM radio", "yeah the stage is great but", and there were so many "buts"...with HD 600 - it's all just right, that's the sound of real instruments and voices, that's music. Sure - maybe there are better headphones, but you probably need to pay a lot more.
Thank you for this review. You convinced my to buy the 600.
Hlo sir.
Which is better for mixing - mastering
Dt 880 250 ohm ( or 600 ohm) or hd 600 ? Plz reply me. Any viewer also suggest me.
Haven‘t quite finished reviewing the 880 but I think the 600 might be better in terms of minds, the 880 seems slightly more balanced and long term friedly
The 600 ohm are supposed to be the best here, I'll have to wait a bit to get a pair to review though
None. Better to mix with cheap speakers than with any headphones. You will need to 100% know your headphones to get the mix right. It’s so easy to have bass set too high with headphones and find they distort on speakers or in a car audio.
Same thing could happen with speakers, especially cheap ones
Agree with you on cheap speakers 👍🏾. Let me rephrase, better to buy good old school used studio speakers. However, headphones are great for instruments placement in stereo and hearing the effects added. Very hard to get levels right on headphones
Been using HD650 for years and HD600 for a few years before then. Here's my take:
- HD600 is a bit more neutral in the mids. HD650 has a bump between 100hz and 300hz which gives the mids a bit more thickness and warmth, which is a coloration. However HD650 has a bit more extension in the bass.
- HD600 is a bit more immediate and in your face. Instruments sound closer and images are a little bigger. HD650 is more laid back and instruments sound smaller and more distant.
- HD650 outresolves HD600 and has notably better imaging. I chalk this up to better channel matching in the HD650, which you can see in measurements across many different sites that post that sort of thing.
- HD650 also has a wider soundstage. This makes the HD650 very good with gaming, whereas the HD600 is not.
All this means that for all-around use, movies, games, music, etc, HD650 > HD600 for me. For purely music, it's the other way around. However, for pure music there is also a thing called Stax, and that tends to get preferential treatment around here.
hehehe
Nice review. I don't use headphones much, since I'm really an earbud person. If I did, you'd be the reviewer that I'd trust.
Question. Obviously, a (quality) amp is needed and critical to get the most out of either, but what about using a really decent EQ? I rarely ever hear the effect of using an EQ in a review. The Philips Fidelio X2 does not even need an amp and would be my "other" headphone to compare with.
I bought the Schitt Stack (Modi 2, Magni 2) That with 192/24 kbit files on my HD 650 Sound amazing
I watched 7:42 of your review. That was all I needed. Yours is one of the best reviews of anything I have ever seen! I am an ignorant newbie when it comes to over the ear, open back headphones. I just ended a bad relationship with Hifiman HE400S. I replaced the pads, because they fell apart. I replaced the cable, because it fell apart. I just sent them $60 because the plastic headset broke. Okay, that last one is on me. Wait, that means our relationship isn't over. I would rather spend $60 to make them a backup headset than to jus throw them in the garbage. Last night I ordered the Sennheiser HD 600s. I have been wondering if I had made another mistake. Your review gives me comfort that I made the right choice. I like neutral (as you said, not flat; there is a difference). Good job, my man! Oh, now is the time for me to subscribe to your channel!
Good point! I can't wait for them to get here!
They are here! I've only had a couple of minutes to spend with them, as I am at work (which is where I have my packages shipped), but I like what I heard n those couple of minutes!
+Damir Franc, I am very happy with them! A couple of hours spent getting to know them, and now I know how good they are!
After a couple days with these HD600s, I can appreciate this review even more. I am not a bass head; I want to know it is there, but I don't want it to dominate. Same goes for treble. Bass and treble, for me, spices; and either one is easy to over use. Music lives in the mids as far as I am concerned, and vocals matter a great deal because lyrics are, to me, very important. I love what these headphones do. I have listen to youtube videos and lossless files in my iMac and without an amp, and I'm still impressed. I will move my O2 over to the iMac in a few days and listen for the difference.
Damir, enjoyed your review. Since I play lots of classic rock and metal on my electric guitar and using quite powerful amp, would you recommend 600 over 650? Based on my understanding, 600 would fit better for Metal/Rock genres. Am I right/wrong?
Thank you for your response in advance.
Most people solve the clamping force issue by mounting the headphones over the box it comes in overnight. I also heard the amp makes a huge difference.
1. Metal guy
2. Zeos Pantera
3.Tyll hertsens
4.dms3
5.joshua
6.aornic
7.lachanlikesathing( very professional dude)
8.damir frank( Also very informative guy)
9.hi fi insider( not a real reviewer because make more unboxing but a nice dude)
10.the gaming audiophile
11. Zebubba
12.hardwarekanucks
13.bentley4ever
14.curawong
15.hi fi heaven
16.new record's day
17.phototristan ( very professional reviews)
( the list do not have a precise order of the greatest but I love them all )
The main differences are:
-The hd650 is more colored (more bass) the hd600 is more neutral
-The hd650 is more laidback, The hd600 is more forward
-The hd650 is generally slower, the hd600 can maintain a faster pace
-The hd650 is slightly more refined and scales better, The hd600 is more easy to drive
Unless you own a TOTL balanced solid state amp, or a very good tube amp, the hd650 *maybe* the better headphone. But the hd600 is very close behind. On lesser setup I prefer the hd600 in almost every case.
If you listen jazz and vocals stuff the hd650 is brilliant, the hd600 is good for rock and metal because of the faster pace.
Advice for the newbies: Please don't buy the hd650 and pair with a
Maybe it will, maybe not. The truth is the hd650 is hard to drive to full potential, way beyond the capability of the Dragonfly (I own the Red). The sound will be not totally bad, but you can complain about "the sound is too laidback, the hd650 seems veiled" and so on. This is why I usually suggest the hd600 on lesser setup.
In response to that last line you wrote, I recently got a pair of 650's and have it paired with my Micca Origen+ that I was using for my HD598's. The Micca Origen (A $110 dac/amp) gives my HD650's plenty of volume (in my opinion) and i'm really liking the sound of the headphones. Would you recommend hopping up to the Schiit Magni/Modi Stack or is there anything else in that price range that competes. Thanks dude. - A Newbie in need of advice
A good soundcard is a decent start, but still not enough to get the full potential of the 650s. I'm using mine with the Audio-GD NFB11. Very good.
Fabio Rocks I don't have money for that kind of amp dac setup. Should I get a schiit stack uber on ebay when I have the money and upgrade to a bottleneck crack later? Or just wait till I can afford a bottle crack?
Since I don't know much about amps/headphones, but what do you mean 'hard to drive to full potential'. Do you mean at gain level or what ? Since I listen to low volume and mix on low volume, and I have Scarlett 2i4, and I dunno if it's okay for HD600 or HD650? What amps do you recommend me? Also, I have ATH-M50X, and after 4 years I feel they are a bit different, could headphones loose some quality over time? I did listened and cranked up the volume from here and there (more than I should have done).
Thanks.
HD650's retain their tone better when plugging into different headphone amplifiers, whereas the HD600's are more sensitive to variances in amplifier topology. Hope this helps!
Excellent review. Thanks. I got the hd600.
Do you know wich tube amp would be a good match. I am using topping dx 3 pro plus ans the audioquest cobalt on the road right now. But every reviews I see told that we need a tube amp to enjoy the hd600 at best.
Any entry level suggestion since I am not rich 😂
i only know budget tubes and those don't have enough power to drive the HD, those need quite a lot after all. So I can't help
Thanks for the nice review Damir. I have the 598 and love them (I use them mainly for playing digital pianos) and wonder how the 600 compare to them....
Thanks, I see. Supposing 599 is very similar to 598, 600 would be better in general, but it's hard to say which one would be better for piano playing as you need the flattest sound possible to fully enjoy sampled pianos. Anyway thanks again for replyiing
Digitalguy I own the HD 600 and my Brother lately sold his hd 598 for a new pair of hd 599.
I can tell you there is a Noticable difference between the hd 598 and the 599, the new pair has noticably better and a little tighter bass, but also a little more midbass, and the mids and highs also have considerably better detail and the vocals are more present now with the new pair.
The soundstage is just a little less and imaging got better instead.
Though you will still find both headphones to have their similiaritys, the new hd 599 is an upgrade, id say it sounds like an HD 598 with a touch of an HD 600, which is good! The HD 600s are defently better for more active listening... when you like to hear or notice things in songs you never heared before, then these can be magical (like for me), but otherwhise or if you lack a good enought dac and amp as source (id take a Schiit Fulla as minimum requirement here) youre defently better of with the easyer to drive 599.
Id even recomend a Schiit Stack (Magni/Modi) for the HD 600.
I don't have these nor have I tried them, but for my head, the Status OB-1 is the most comfortable headphones I know of. I have the HD 579 coming and I might still have to try (which means I have to buy) the HD 600. I just didn't want to spend $200 right now and I wanted to try Sennheiser open back because for some reason I dig open back - I think because you can almost forget you have them on and speakers were always open rather than closed off. Plus, they seem like less resonance.
Anyway, I hope the 579 is a good set compared to either of these? I have the Sennheiser Momentum 2.0 and think they sound good but not the most comfy.
Good review, the 600 & 650's are good headphones but i prefer the 660s...mine have plenty of bass after 300+ hrs of using a high quality burn in CD & plenty of 5 string bass Rap...used balanced with the balanced cables & pentacomm headphone output on my Ifi V DAC ll they sound fantastic....the high sensitivity & 150ohms means i can use them with my PC interface when not using a mic...i use closed backed BD DT770's, 80ohm version, when using my Rode mic...
How Pxc550 compare with these in terms of sound quality, they are closed back. I currently own HD 518 and looking for an upgrade with a similar sound signature.
How would you say the 600/650 compare to the 579, which you stated was your favorite in Sennheiser's 5XX lineup?
Afther i have seen your reviews i have bought the sennhaiser hd 579.I am satisfied with that headphone ,and i want to say thanks for the recomandation.I have a few questions :is the sennhaiser hd 600/650 much higher quality than 579?what are the differences?will an fiio e10 k drive the sen hd 600/650?
thanks.
Thanks for your videos! I play guitar on Line 6 Helix LT Guitar Multi-effects Processor with headphones. The output has 12 Ohm impedance and as manual says: "provides plenty of gain for high impedance headphones". Do you think it will run HD 600 with 300 Ohm properly?
Have you tried the HD650 without the driver foam cover or replacing it with some very thin cloth?
Top nocht revew. Thank you Damir
If you want the bass of the 650 on the hd600 maybe try the Cooper weight mod by Custom Cans UK it is fully reversible
Ok so I'm into music production and just got the HD 6XX and an Objective 2 amp. I do EDM. Did i mess up? Should i have gotten the 600s?
I"m leaning towards getting the 600's. I will be using them with my 1080p Samsung TV and my Mac Pro. Do I need a amplifier? If yes, can you please recommend a few. Thank you! Love your video!!!
Yes, Zen dac
Thanks for going into the difference between the two in so much detail! One minor point that came to mind: you mentioned that color coding in the HD 600's cable is handy, because you can easily tell them apart from the red vs black connector. I agree, but just how often does one need to disconnect and reconnect the cables? It's still trivial to just check which letter the connector has :D Especially since you have to pay attention to it anyway, as you can accidentally have the connector the wrong way around.
Sure it trivial, I just mentioned it, that's all
@@TheNitpicker Sure, it wasn't meant as a criticism either, just a peculiar detail :) Great video!
It isn’t just useful when connecting the cable, it also allows you to see which side is left and right without looking at the indicators when putting them on
can't you buy the 650 cable for the 600s?
What headphone amp do you use? I'm getting the Audioengine D1 will this work well with the Sennheiser HD 600?
I have the audioengine d1. And New in the headphones and sounds. Is the d1 a good dac for the HD 600?
Great review. Just wondering what would be better for classical music listening?
hd800s
If you listen vocals and you like Jazz bass slapping then the 650 will be the one to get?
Is 650 or 600 much better than the 579?
I've had the HD595's for yeeeeeaaars and they are my reference. However like others have mentioned buying the upgrade is tempting .....I'd go for the 600's and maybe paint them like Z did.
Couple of questions:
1. I'm aware the 600s don't have the largest soundstage, but do they have good enough imaging for gaming? I don't crave lots of bass for immersion, so in terms of sound signature these may be a good fit for games for me.
2. Have you heard the hifiman he400i? They are currently cheaper than the 600 and I have heard that they are similar in quality. If so, would you still recommend these?
phillips sph 9500s are superb for imaging in games, wide soundstage and pinpoint imaging, they are good for music too, slightly less refined of course to these as they are open back at $50-$70
I'm driving both from a Focusrite 6i6 (2nd gen). They do not sound thin. I have the 6XX version instead.
you're losing out on a lot of quality, I use the 6i6 for my xlr mic and can tell you the jack on this one is quite average at best
Wunderbar. Danke for your fast response.
As of today I only have a FiiO K3 to compare those 6i6 jacks with, and couldn't distinguish any differences. It could be due other variables though, such as the songs I listen (Google Play Music), DAC settings, non trained ears, etc...
Ohh man, I feel like entering in a rabbit hole. :-)
I really liked This review, so natural And true. Do you think the 600 Will be fine for ópera, organ conciertos, guitar etc, classical music? THX, And wich amp would you recomiendo?
I don't like the 600 or 650 anymore, imo the 58X or 660S is much more enjoyable
Hello everybody, for studio mixing and mastering, which are your opinions comparing Sennheiser HD600 and Akg 701? (I currently have the 701).
Maybe any of you guys had the opportunity to check side by side these two?...
Thanks a lot for your comment!
Love your descriptions, thanks man.
i have a zune and i want use the hd600 and fiio e18 do you think this is a good idea or an overkill...
Can you use an EQ to make the 600 have bigger bass like the 650?
hi im using 558 and i like them ,would 600 be better fit or 650 ,i prefer instrumental and clarity
Then I'd say 600
I am a producer/composer and have studio monitors in an untreated room so naturally I can't really use them as an accurate reference for my mixes. I make dance music like house and edm but also compose and produce film music of a mainly classical style. I want headphones that are as accurate as possible without exaggerating or accentuating any frequencies, but provide enough bass response to show me how the bass is in the mix (as this is something I struggle to gauge with my monitors in my room currently). Would I be right in assuming the HD600s are better for me given the apparently more neutral performance? Please let me know. Thanks
Idk but especially in the bass department I think they're lacking, you'd maybe need sonarworks to correct them but the they should be definitely very accurate.
The Nitpicker Oh so maybe the 650s would be a better shout to cover the range of music I produce?
Yes but I wouldn't use either for that purpose if than actually rather the 58X or something entirely different.
I've got the hd599. Are either of these worth the upgrade? Which might be closer to the 599 signature? I felt I needed to EQ down the bass a touch with the 599 but didn't think they had a V signature or anything.
By now I'd personally definitely recommend the 660s or the pretty much same but much cheaper HD58X, those are absolutely great for the price and definitely an upgrade, signature should be similar enough from what I remember
The HD58X are cheaper kinda rebuilt 660s but so close it doesn't make much sense to pay extra for the 660s. You should get the 58X in UK, I ordered mine from Germany, all you have to do is pay like 20£ in taxes, that's it
@@TheNitpicker ty again. I've just joined massdrop.
I can see the HD6xx and hd58x. Former are $200, latter are $150.
Still stick with hd58x?
ooooo just seen the hifiman he4xx. I heard they have a spectacular sound state + separation. Don't know much else about them though?
Personally I'd definitely still go for the 58X
@@TheNitpicker ty again. I totally don't need another pair of headphones (as I've got the hd599 and like them). However, i took a chance and have bought a pair of the hd58x jubilee. Pure greed :)
I play electronic drums via midi on an ifi zen dac with m50x. I'm thinking of upgrading to HD600. I play them really loud. can you hear your voice when the music is too loud ? because i want to see if the drum sounds will annoy me while i play.
The m50 are closed, the 600 are open back, you sure open is right for you since you'll here everything just as if you'd not be wearing headphones.
Damir Franc even if i play them at maximum volume?
I don't know how loud the outside is what exactly it is what you want. Do you want to hear your voice or not, and with voice, do you mean singing or what? But I'd assume listening loud you will definitely not understand much, maybe try to test an open back somewhere to see what you're getting into
Damir Franc i play over songs at my place at a quiet enviroment. Never had experience with open type but i find it hard to hear for example the drum pads when playing at maximum volume over a song
I've never played an instrument and can't judge that at all, sorry.
I listen Rock and roll what should I get or any better choice under 400usd
i just find your review and i love it, great job man, im going to buy a pair of hd600 to use with my s8 and spotify extreme, so...i want to know what amp do you recommend me? i was thinking fiio q1, but i want your professional opinion. Thanks!
Damir Franc ok thanks for your answer...one more question, between hd600 and hd700 wich one you can recommend me? i want a natural sound in all ranges , its gonna be my first open model, so...please tell me.
pd: you earn a new suscribe! thanks
Damir Franc ok i'll go for hd700 thanks!!
I wish I never sold my hd600....but now I want them both!
I prefer the 650, mainly because the sound from the 600 will hurt my ears (from the sound) after 20 minutes or so. Both are incredible cans and both make an acoustic guitar so realistic.
Bill Boys I was thinking the same, my ears, specially right one, is very sensitive, or weak, whatever, you say 650 are more sweet, soft? More bassy?
All of the above, Abrahan. To me, the treble is just not as much in your face. I'm not good enough to tell you whether it less treble or more bass, although, it seems like most people say, it's just more bass. I think my ears, just have a problem lasting very long when the sound signature is flatter. If you can, you should probably give the 660s a listen too. I understand the detail is the best of all three.
Also, for people with treble sensitivity, I highly recommend the AudioQuest NightHawks. But give them 150 to 200 hours to burn in.
Any recommendation for portable amp to drive these guys?
Tasos a year late but fiio has some good ones. What did you go with?
Chord Mojo, Chord Hugo 2, ifi iDSD Black Label, or my personal favourite Woo Audio WA8 Eclipse
Bismillah
How does the 599 compare with these two? Thanks I love your passion!
Hd599 way better soundstage great for games and movies. Hd 600 and.650 way.better for.music
I miss your english reviews. I hope you made one for the Sundara!
Why hope? Just search for it. I've reviewed it ages ago
Would u like to do review on some suitable amp? Aune x1s maybe?
Damir Franc look forward on your review, and thank you for your quick reply😄
Love my HD600. But always dreamt of getting the HD650 or HD6XX as well.
germans = good at sound, cars, and efficiency, and the british royal family :P and tech reviews
Very good review mate. You reinforced my decision with getting the HD600 since I am a fellow metal head as well. I just hope they will pair good with the Objective2 DAC I have. From your name I would say you are from Slovenia or Bosnia?
Damir Franc I was close! Subscribed, i jos jednom hvala za review. Pozdrav!
hey Damir, do you recommend buying hd 660 over 650?
Damir Franc thanks will wait for your review
Great video. I own the HD650 and I find that the imaging ideal. How does the imaging of the HD600 compare to the HD650? Cheers.
650's slightly wider soundstage but they're same kind of ....left right centre channels are separated better on the 650's overall 600's are also quite good
Dt990 vs hd600 which one is better for anime and movie and music?
Dt990
Whichever one you pick: make sure you get to the chopper after you've decided.
Great one, never heard before...
i have hd598... dose hd600 good upgrade?
I wouldn't really recommend the 600, especially for music, I'd rather go with the way more pleasant hd58x from drop, great value and sound since it's pretty much slightly modified hd660s
This is probably the most controversial question in the headphone industry. Which one to get? I had both at the same time tied into my Bottlehead Crack and I thought that the 600 was far superior.........for my liking. If you want the 650 bass then just eq the bottom end of the 600 then bingo, 600 with 650 bass. I thought on the Crack that the bass was better and more than the 650 without even equing it. Of course the Crack is a veeeeery good OTL amp and has an abundance of power. The 600 with a OTL tube amp needs zero equing. When people compared the 2 cans, if you used a solid state amp that is underpowered, then I can understand why someone could like the 650 more. But, personal taste plays a big roll also I'm sure.
I have not had a chance to try those yet. They have been getting good reviews from most people though.