Sundara v 660S v 1990 (Under $500 Headphone Comparison)
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- Опубліковано 12 лют 2020
- These are some of the best, and by popular demand, here is the comparison of the top 3 under $500!
Sundara Here - amzn.to/2Sk3TCn
660S Here - amzn.to/3byhfTe
DT1990 Pro Here - amzn.to/39vNJeV
SOCIAL MEDIA
📘 / joshua-valouryt
📷 / joshua.valour
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PATREON / joshuavalour
⭐HALL OF FAME⭐
1. Hifiman Arya - amzn.to/2WNGzQr
2. Audeze LCD-X - amzn.to/2WpMbRE
3. Massdrop 58X - massdrop.7eer.net/vmYeN
4. Koss KSC75 - amzn.to/2ENisar
5. (Studio Pick) - DT1990 - amzn.to/2WgWUZA
Amps
1. Massdrop THX 789 - massdrop.7eer.net/0BoxP
NEW - IDSD BL - amzn.to/30DAzYs
2. Liquid Spark - amzn.to/2WhyUFC
3. JDS ATOM - jdslabs.com/product/atom-amp/
4. (TUBE PICK) - Darkvoice - amzn.to/2MuexW4
5. (Power Pick) - www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphone...
📫SENDING FOR REVIEW??📫
Email Me - JoshuaValourYT@gmail.com
#Sundara #HD660S #DT1990Pro
*As an Amazon & Drop Associate I earn from qualifying - Наука та технологія
06:40 scared the living hell out of me...
SAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAME
Fuck me, I was listening to this review in the background and this scared me big time.
lol..why?
@@badhabit714 that girl came out of fkn nowhere. sounded like she was walking up behind me Dx
came here to comment this...middle of the night and I ripped my headphones off my head so fast looking around for a little demon child behind me lol
I went with the DT 1990 Pro not only because I found them new on sale, but also because the the build quality. Really sturdy and easy to replace parts if I needed, not to mention the extra cables and case is a really nice extra.
Joshua you´ve simply become my favorite reviewer. Your reviews are straight to the point, simple and very useful when it comes to making the right purchase decision. Needless to say, your videos quality is top-notch and a joy to watch! Thanks for the wonderful work you do
In Germany I got the Sennheiser HD 660S Apogee directly from Sennheiser for 330 €. They offers this set to university students. I think this is a amazing deal. I love these headphones.
Extremely helpful Josh, and I do have to lean on reviewers like you since my Orlando market lacks dedicated audio stores. I’m leaning Sundara for the sound profile you describe and because it would allow a future upgrade to a balanced amp, unlike the DT1990. But, the DT may better fill a hole in my collection for that SQ and a little voice tells me I won’t be satisfied until I spend closer to $800 so... paralysis grips me for now.
Your intro music is always worth a visit.
Your opening is a perfect statement of why I love trying lots of different bits of kit; why I love rolling tubes into my Freya+, etc. And why i love buying different pressings of the same records. The rush of discovery of hearing something new, some nuance or detail in a recording with which you thought you were already intimately familiar.
thank you, i was waiting for this comparative. Excellent video as always, greetings.
That b-roll. I want to appreciate your effort and detail :)
Edit: One more thing: DT 1990s are FANTASTIC for good crossover or surround emulations. Like REALLY fantastic, they do loose sharpness by doing that too.
All three of them are great choices depending on your taste.
I decided on the DT1990 Pro for several reasons:
I found the Sundaras to be boring. Plain and simple. They lack the sense of "being in the moment" or have some interesting tuning but they don't really feel neutral either. They have a lot of detail (so do the DT 1990) but very rolled of bass.
The 1990s are also ALOT easier to modify with good results without damaging the actual structure and with the Balanced and Analytical pads it's really fun to explore differences though I would go with neither: more on that later.
The HD 660 do the same thing the old 600 series does with more detail but less charming. They lack the kind of imagined analogue quality the old HDs had.
After my honeymoon phase was over I simply had no use for them since every music I have sounded better on other pairs of headphones including the DT 1990s.
The DT1990s don't need to have a noticeable V shaped sound.
In fact I'm not the biggest fan of V shape but the amount the DT 1990s show is not something I find bad at all, especially since you can get rid of it so easily without sacrificing the strong points of the headphone unlike the Sundaras.
I also hate sharp highs but the DT 1990s aren't all that bad in this department depending on pads in my possession which eliminate the sharpness of the DT 1990s to a VERY good degree.
Also I often use a slightly more inaccurate high gain setting on certain amps, even though I know they are technically less accurate on those specific devices since on low gain they CAN sound sharp AND a bit hollow on some, (probably due to not satisfying the ohm rating of the DTs..) so ... maybe don't use low gain. It makes the V shape more pronounced.
I also found they are tremendously versatile depending on the pads, mods or EQs you throw at them without really trading in their strong suits for it which is a character I usually find more on the Planar side of things but applies here too. There are people that disagree with me on the EQ point though, to which I can only say : maybe don't use a 5 band EQ. Not to mention that they are build like a tank wich is very very important to me.
I basically chew through headphones, especially if I tend to use them as my main.
No, looks do not matter to me, Quality does, though I have to confess that the DT 1990 looks the best to me, all three designs are to my liking though.
My personal favorite change was the change from the stock pads to some Dekoni Pads. They completely kill the sharpness in the right regions of the fr.
Saljon
Saljon think u nailed it....all 3 perform well, DT1990....similar to the old school DT880 or 990, just kinda draw me into the music more. Very well written view u had...u bring up excellent points others may overlook!
Do you recommend the 1990s for casual music listening and solo pc gaming? And do you use an amp/DAC to drive them (not sure my motherboard would be suitable)?
@@maximebense2081
PC Gaming definitely a yes, Solo or MP doesn't matter, but you have to be prepared to notice recording errors or rather: bad compression of ingame music and voice acting (an example is Skyrim, horrendous audio quality).
Casual Music Listening : Well yes, BUT while I think the DT 1990 Pro are very versatile and a good listen I don't have the slightest clue of your preferences.
Yes I use an AMP and I suggest for you doing the same but only AFTER you tried it with your mainboard.
If it sounds fine to you work with it until you have the money freely available.
The DT 1990 might be loud enough on your mainboard since I rarely find that to be a problem but it also might sound a bit hollow or sharp. I currently have a rather cheap mainboard on one of our PCs and quite frankly it's more than just a little noticeable that it doesn't sound great on it to the point that my girlfriend asked me if they were broken when she plugged them in my PC.
Get something inexpensive like the Fiio E10K or K3 (try high gain on them) for the start and work yourself up if you see the need I really don't think DACs or AMPS in the thousands or even five-hundreds should even exist. You might as well burn that money at that point. 300 should be the absolute maximum that you ever pay for one and even that is not really a good purchase decision.
@@Kill0rbAg Thank you! My use of the dt 1990 would be roughly 60% of SOLO, non competitive PC gaming and 40% of casual music listening (flac, crappy mp3 and UA-cam), from chill-hop/chillwave set-lists to jazz, funk, death metal, video games OST, EDM (everything actually...)
Living in France makes buying Schiit or jdslabs products very difficult and costly, the fiio k5 pro is available, but I am not sure whether I would only need an amp or and amp+dac combo.
@@maximebense2081
You might notice the faults in MP3 especially during direct comparisons but otherwise that sounds alright. (I like to suggest Tidal as a good sounding solution but not everyone likes streaming or changing the service)
I live in Germany so I know what you mean but you aren't bound to any Schiit product (IMO they are somewhat overpriced anyway)
An Amp will suffice. DACs aren't that important as long as your build in one isn't the lowliest DAC available.
The K5 pro is mighty fine, but I always suggest that if you are on a budget spend it as follows:
-First care about the headphones
You still have money left? Then:
-If they are low impedance check if your device has a semi competent DAC (Most Devices have) and spend a bit on that if need be.
-If the headphones are high impedance or are known to be difficult to drive get an AMP
If the K5 is in your budget get it.
Word of advice: don't get the Topping A50. It sounds great but makes the DT1990 hollow and adds soundstage it doesn't need.
Thank you so much for sharing Josh. Your video helped me a lot in choosing my new headphones. High quality videos, technically impeccable.
I love both good tight bass (not boomy) and great clarity (not sharp) at the same time. Mids don't have to be 'in the face'. So the 1990 Pro suits my taste perfectly for just about everything occasion! I don't find its treble too strong as some say but in fact it's just... nice for me. Yes a bit more higher it'll too sharp, but it's just nice. Coupled with good responsive bass... omg! Thanks for all your detailed review I finally got myself a 1990 Pro without any hesitance!
FUK YES!!!! I own the beyers and they are amazing!! I am no audiophile but I LOVE music of all genres. I came from non audiophile headphones such as sony wh1000xm3, random bluetooth headphones, crushers, sol republic master tracks etc and I've never been happier than with the 1990s. In fact I think the bass is still amazing on them. If I want pure quality I use my 1990s. If I want crazy bass n mess around I use my sony xm3 or new bluetooth skullcandy crushers just for fun.
hey I was looking for an upgrade for my dt990, which pads do y'all use? balanced or analytical
I got the DT 1990 Pro a few days ago and I love it.
1. I chose it because I like hearing the detail in my music and will be using them in the creation of animation and videos game music and sounds.
2. I did not consider the other ones however after seeing your video I can tell the DT 1990 Pro would still have been my choice. I didn't realise until I got them how much I love hearing the details in music. Also the DT 1990 Pro is built like a tank, all my old headsets got trashed (pieces coming of breaking) through normal use one during my time in animation studio in university one from my streaming and few outside uses. I wanted, needed, something tough.
3. Yes looks do matter to me I love having technology that's not only good but looks good. However it doesn't factor into my final choice, quality and performance are the most important to me.
I bought the Hifiman Sundara after a great deal of careful consideration. I have an HD6xx and a Byerdynamics DT 770 PRO. I love the vocals of the 6xx and the lovely bass of the 770's. The Sundara is next level though, giving a very complete sound experience with a great soundstage. I have no regrets at all.
I agree, I had own the HD 650 for a while. After hearing the speed of the Sundara's, I realized they are on another level.
I'm excited, I found a pair of the Sundaras fir very cheap and they should be shipping right now
Agree
I had the Tygr 300r for 2 years, and recently picked up open box/used Sundara and 6xx. Loving this trio, you did a great job articulating their differences, and I can't see myself picking anything else up for a long, long time.
Would you have a recommendation between these 3? For mostly gaming but some music as well.
@@chancebudvarson1659I’d assume the Tygr 300 performs the best based on reviews
I just bought the Sundara as my entry audiophile pair, the main selling point for me was: Planar. I wanted the clarity and fast response and specially the accurate bass. I also looked for soundstage and the Sundara didn't lack that. Now my first impression "wooow bass", after the initial react I found the fr to be a bit dark, it missed the sparkle and voice clarity I was looking for and this comes suprising as some people describe them as bright, and I'm running them through a D50s + Atom which aren't speciallly warm. I'm sincerely not worried it's not something that a slight treble tilt can't fix whilst still having all the planar goodness. For my next pair I look for something that can put up more battle on a day to day basis and be analytical, the 1990 Pro fills the checks.
Do you have both now? If so, which do you prefer
Since I watched your review of the DT 1990 I made my choice and I do not regret it even a moment. The kind of music I listen to is metal and classic music. Since I am not into vocals I abandoned the idea of the Senh. Really happy with my purchase also this headphones are build like a tank.
I've watched this video several times to help make my decision on which to buy. I ended up going with the 1990's, and I LOVE them. So thank you for being a huge influence on my purchase!
My headphone collection goes as follows: 58x, 6xx, 4xx, 177x GO, and now the 1990's. It's definitely a welcome addition, and are now my daily drivers. I love planars as well (have a weakness for my 4xx's), and have been in hot internal debate on settling for the sundara's instead, but the 1990 won me over. I just appreciate the fact that you can mix/master music, enjoy casual listening, as well as game casually and competitively on the 1990's. They're all rounder beasts, and I have no regrets.
The Sundara's still pique my interest, but I'm also planning on buying LCD 2C's real soon, so I may settle for those instead. The trifecta for me would be my 6xx, 1990, and soon to be LCD 2C's. I do also hope that I get to demo the 660's at some point, cause I do love the Sennheiser sound.
@@AustinKim-yj8gx Hey! So I don't mix nor master music, but I would recommend DT 1990's purely for the fact that they're made for mixing and mastering music. Detail retrieval on the 1990's are phenomenal (from my limited experience). From what I know, LCD-2C's are more for the enjoyment of music itself rather than working with music. I'm not familiar with sonarworks and if it'd have any effect on which headphone(s) you decide on, but I still say 1990's! Goodluck with your search!
Really informative and enjoyable review thanks Joshua.
I'd choose the Sundara as I listen to a variety of music styles and I don't want to buy too many headphones and keep alternating.
Re looks: they all look "good enough" where it doesn't factor in my decision. The 660S are a little aggressive and not appealing like the others, but if I were prioritising their vocal strengths it wouldn't factor.
Just wanted to say a thank you for this review. I have had DT990's for about a year and a half now. While I loved them, the highs were always fatiguing and one of the things I wish wasn't there. Also, in a lesser way I wanted more bass. Not really more, but a wider sounding bass sound if that makes sense. You always feel like you're taking a gamble on purchasing audio equipment, especially when I'm hours away from the nearest store that would even let me try stuff out. I almost bought the DT1990's, but after watching this, and other reviews/comparisons I purchased the Sundara's instead. I have to say I'm so pleased. I still have the detail that I like, but without the piercing highs, and I have a more, personally enjoyable, bass and lows. The vocals are even a bit warmer which I'm happy about. Thanks again
If you spend an afternoon EQ'ing those DT990's you have, you'll fall in love with them. You're 100 % right - The high's are piercing, to the point of nearly causing tinnitus, and the bass is somewhere, just not audible, lol. With something like equalizer apo + peace plug-in(free stuff), then EQ them based on oratory1990 EQ profile (a quick google search, should find on reddit). You'll then be running them with the Harman curve, and can go from there. It's nice that you can make it a global EQ setting as well, so everything you hear sounds better. I have the closed back version, the dt770's, and I had to EQ them right away, else they were going back. The high's are just way to much for me without EQ.
@@RADERFPV Appreciate this reply. I just now saw it. I gave my DT990's to my mom. When she was over for the holidays, everytime I turned around she was wanting to just sit and listen to music. She is 65 and love music, but this was her first experience with anything at an Audiophile level. As I said, I have my sundara's, but they leak sound bad enough that at night, my wife doesn't like me listening to them, because she hears everything and can't sleep. So I bought some DT770's and I really enjoy them for what they are. I have gotten the different sound profiles for Equalizer APO including a few others. I'm still kind of picking and choosing which I like better. Those those sound profiles help so much. They bring life to everything. I'm still working on the 770's to get them where I want. I'm finding the Low's are hardest for me atm. I love the punchy-ness of the bass but it almost sounds like the bass sound is narrow? Does that make sense? Lots of bass, but its just sound and not as clear. Anyawys, still working it out. I don't have as much time as I would like. Ok, long enough reply. Cheers.
Re: Appearance factor... It was one of the main factors why I own a Klipsch Heritage HP-3, alongside Z's review. It also sounds heavenly. BTW is that one on your to-do list? ;)
Honestly, I would like all three of those and would find it really hard to choose one. However I can see myself choosing one of those eventually. Admittedly I have just bought the AKG K712 Pro and although wasn't quite sure on the first day, after getting the settings right I'm liking it a lot more now. Mainly bought it for Bass guitar practicing, all kinds of music playback and monitoring. When using the K712 Pro with the dedicated headphone socket on my Mark Bass combo amp, the output powers the K712's fantastically and my Musicman Sterling bass guitar sounds incredible catching every nuance of the resonating strings - some other devices however may require a headphone amp as the outputs aren't quire strong enough (i.e. BOSS Micro BR-80). Hardly notice the K712's sitting on the head as they're lightly distributed around the head and incredibly comfy.
Hey Josh. I found your channel right as I was getting into audio about a month ago and I literally had to decide between these three headphones. I ultimately went with the Sundara's because of a couple things. The looks were a huge factor, but also they were slightly cheaper at $350 (as opposed to the DT 1990's). I really want the DT 1990 Pro's as well. I'm glad I picked the Sundara's as well.
@@Queefy very happy actually.
Josh I really love some of your choices for video music. Its an interesting genre that sounds amazing through my Hifiman Planars. Could you point me in any direction I will take it from there...Chillstep? Thank You!
I learn over the time ( past 20 years , I'm 34) that for me nr 1 is the comfort !! No matter how good the hp sounds , how is suppose to wear them ? So ;
1. Comfort ( large and soft ear cups , that doesn't get hot , dont touch the ears , no hot spots on the headband )
2. Audio quality
3. Weight
4. Materials , build quality
5. Aesthetics/ style
@@nhatlam96 mmm in theory yes but in real life is different, let me explain , if the ear cup is big and comfy soft ,no hot spots on the headband but they are 500g I still take them every day over ones that weight only 200g but the cups are very very small , the clams force kills me and the head band have hot spots , so weight is relative doesn't really goes neck to neck with comfort
Answering your question at the end; I picked the Sundara for a few reasons. I've had the 58x and was told the 660S wasn't very far away from it so I wanted to try something else. Also, I like slightly bright headphones and both you and Metal raved about the treble of the Sundara (currently loving it). Despite loving my DT990, the price was the biggest thing that made me not go with the DT1990 (used sundaras can go for $260 and new is now always $349).
In Europe, Sundara costs 350 and DT 1990 are 440. Having that in mind, would you still pick the Sundaras?
I've been debating which headphone to buy for a while now. The 3 you list here were all on my list.
I ended up buying the Sundara. I really liked the sound and they fit my head perfectly. Very comfortable. Got a great deal through my dealer. $350 Canadian. 1 year warranty. Hopefully, I won't need it. I've heard the same about the material quality issues as well. Apparently, Hifiman have made some subtle changes for the better.
Steve Fick 350 cad is pretty good, who’s your dealer?
The software called Reference 4 really brings out the rumble that was left out in in the lower frequencies and it really helps bring out the full potential of the headphones
Bought my 660s from Amazon 2 weeks ago for £370 and now down to £309...and I waited for months before deciding..just as well they sound so good
2 more things about the DT1990pro, they are very Track dependent, if the track is poorly mastered, it can get pretty harsh, but for track that is well mastered, it's a joy to listen to. For DT1990pro user I recommend listening to Childish Gambino, he not only mix and master using dt1990pro, he also daily drive it and his musics are very enjoyable on the 1990pro. The Dt1990pro also scale very well with better amplification, I recently upgraded from an Aune x1s to a Aune s7 and the sound overall improved quite a bit, it's a bit wider, and have more details.
Going with the DT 1990 Pro. Great review Josh!
Dropped a sub
I couldn't live with those beyer treble cannons. Ive had the 660s for over a year now without any issues at all. I find the tuning to be perfect for an open back. Only one thing I would change is that I wish the soundstage was a bit wider
within reason I'm not driven by looks; as a starter in this field, I go with the "Jack of all trades"; thanks for a highly insightful analysis
that intro made me expect you dropping soem sick bars for some reason
Josh I see that Woo Audio WES and the planar you're talking about is probably Abyss. Pretty hyped for the things you're to review next
I've been. using DT880 Pro's (250 ohms) for several years now, and am quite happy with them. I'd love to hear the DT1990 Pros. Years ago, I almost always used Koss Pro 4 double and triple 'A's. I decided I wanted something lighter and more comfortable.I liked the sound, but I found them heavy and hot. I also had an issue with a channel going out after a while. This even happened with my Pro 4AAt (titanium), which appears to no longer be made. The ear pads tended to go flat, too. When I first heard them, I loved the sound, Before I bought the 889s. I was going to get the DT 770s but many reviews reported the left channel going out. With my 880s, the left channel went out once, but I sent it Beyer and they had it back to me working and with new pads in less than a week. I practice bass and guitar using a Sans Amp and a pedal board. These sound good for that. They have no problem with the low B on my 5 string bass.
"the 1990s pickup on mistakes you usually wouldn't pick up on the first time" *listens to jimmy page shredding*
The rhythm section in that band carried the other members on their shoulders. Also, very good mix engineer who managed to make Pages playing sound way more solid than the isolated tracks.
06:40 fuck man that heart attack almost killed me
OMFG SAME
literally wtf, watching this for the third time and it still scares the shit out of me
hahahaha same! i though i heard a ghost..
@@missmataleo so so scary xd
disliked that indeed
This man is doing what he loves - and quite well. Thanks for the review and for helping us figure out some important decisions
Where do you keep getting your intro music, it's so good. It fits your editing style so well.
Yeah his editing style is very pristine/refined & perfectionistic, just like the music
@Leaders aA Viriya - Boss at Nova
For me there is a fine line between how good the headphone looks. In the case of these three they all look good enough that I would put looks all the way at the bottom of my priority
Agree, non of them are horrendous comparatively.
Thanks for your reviews! I ended up going with the 1990 and have been blown away. After a week of listening I put my 6xx back on and they sounded super flat, lol. The amount of detail and resolution on these cans is awesome, and exactly what I was looking for. Thanks again!
aaron.gormley is it harsh like others say? i think even other beyer models, people say they are bright. I have the 650 but wanted to try a different one
Senn is known for their "veiled" sound signature. They're very dependent on your dac/amp quality
Love the vids! Where are your headphone stands from?
Great video man! Wanted to ask which of these you would recommend for audio mixing, many thanks.
Hi Joshua
I've had the 660S for about 3 years now and at the moment I drive them with the FiiO K5 Pro (which is a total recommendation I think). I've chosen these headphones because i really like this Sennheiser specific sound, this super clear mids which highlight the voices of great singers so clean and beautiful. I think they are a little bit overpriced but they are fine for me. What I like the most about them is that I can use them for everything. I use them to watch movies, listening to music and gaming. I can wear them the whole day and they still feel perfectly comfortable. When playing FPS I can hear footsteps very clear and can hear from where they come from. I understand that a lot of people find them not pleasing to look at but for me they look fine. I kinda like that techy look that Sennheiser sometimes has (HD820 are a perfect example). So for me they look fine but I don't care that much about looks of headphones. Yesterday I ordered the Sundaras and I'm looking forward to try them out. I don't know for sure but I think they are a good second pair to my 660S because they complement each other well. (this is just based on reviews, so thank you for your review ;) )
And to wrap this long essay up I can say that I have no regrets buying the 660S, for me they are a recommendation for everyone, so give them a try, maybe you will fall in love with them like I did.
Hi, please help me! I have been choosing headphones for a very long time and can't decide between: 560s, 660s, sundara, K712 pro, LCD 1, 1990.
I select headphones for:
1. Mixing music
2. Games (R6 siege) the steps and the scene are very important.
3. Watch movies and listen to music (almost all genres, but I don't like electronic music, I like electric guitar, jazz and more.)
@@dixienormous5453 no
@@dixienormous5453 toxic
@@dixienormous5453 toxic x2
@@dixienormous5453 Racism to the Russians? I understood... in fact, I read and chose everything a long time ago, and also ordered DT1990 headphones. And it was just fun to correspond with you once a day. :)
Excellent comparison
Can you compare the lcd2 to the hifiman ananda ??
Me watching this about $500 headphones on my SPH9500's LOL. Seriously tho the 9500 just might be THE best deal in headphones! When the music came in at 6:41 I actually jumped because i thought someone came up behind me talking! Josh you have the highest quality audio on UA-cam for real. Just stellar
They're like $74 on Amazon right now, seems like a great deal for them.
Thanks Josh, another great v. to v. comparison. To answer your questions with the caveat that I have heard all 3 of these headphones but don't own any one.
1. What I look for: Primarily soundstage and imaging (Sundara) 90 % of the time depending on the medium/format and production. For example, if it's from an older, ill-produced 45 or 7 inch single and then I prefer something more analytical (DT1900)
2. Aesthetics: Never truly a consideration. It's a bonus if they look good but it's simply all about what they can do and how well
Hey there, nice review!
My Sundaras makes a popping noise on drum sounds when I turn the volume up a lot. Could it be that I do something wrong or might there be an issue with the headphone?
Amp might be the problem.
It's a design problem. Why the hell do all hifimans do this shit for 10 years
Like every driver, dynamic or planner, they all have displacement limits and once they reach the limit they distor. Again amps when pushed to clipping will make ugly cracking like noise distortions on transients.
What cable are you using with the HD660s Josh?
I chose the DT 1990 Pro for the purpose of music production, also due to your original review. On top of that the build quality makes them more of an investment for me than the Sundara, which I never owned, but the review didn't sound promising. And yes, the looks matter!
Owned the Hifiman Sundara for more than a year now, right before your review came up was the time i bought it iirc. Everything about is simply fantastic, the sound, the build and comfort of the headband and the cups, with the EXCEPTION of the earpads. Hifiman has given me basically no problem/trouble other than the fact that of 3 Hifiman headphones I've owned (2 HE400i, and my current Sundara) their earpads just start falling apart, like literally. The earpads will somehow, even if I treat them like my babies, the leather on them just falls apart, not snow flaking, but just coming off the pad ring itself.
How does the he400i compare to the Sundara in sound?
I love my Sundara headphones. They are great if you just wanna sit back and enjoy music. So clear and clean.
@@Queefy Yes, I highly recommend them. I do not think you will regret it.
It‘s quite fun how you point out the „negatives“ of the 1990 Pro‘s, e.g. them pointing out all the mistakes and errors in music, and I simultaneously approve them and love them for these points. Have been running them for 1.5 years and I hope they‘ll last for years more to come, seriously don‘t want to miss out on them.
And to answer your questions: I don‘t care about looks when deciding at all, but I love the 1990s for their optics and build quality. For me personally, Sennheiser lacks the insane detail, precision and analytic sound signature of the beyers, I‘m simply not into intimidating vocals. Sadly, I haven‘t had the chance of trying the Sundora yet, only had the HE-4XX running for a week, but sent them back. Neither did they do anything better than my cheaper DT 990 Pro‘s (which they would‘ve replaced else) nor was I happy with build quality, mine had a broken arm that didn‘t stay in it‘s position, so my headphones would keep unadjusting themselves. So as a conclusion, I‘d greatly appreciate testing the Focal Elex for planars and following your advice to go test the Sunduras, but I‘m perfectly happy with soundstage, clarity, details, punch, speed and the more or less analytic sound of my 1990s. (Schiit Magni/Modi Stack, both rev. 3)
@@TechEtrix I have both the DT1990 and Sundaras.
The DT1990 are definitely more detailed in the higher frequencies.
I'd say the sundaras are more pleasant for listening to music while the DT1990s are better when composing.
Both are really good imo and you can't go wrong with either.
I didn't own the HD660s, but I did test them and they didn't wow me like those two did, but maybe that's just because I did not have the chance to use them long term.
The vocal production on your videos is next level. Content creators, take note.
Hi, Sundara Owner here. (In reference to @12:20) I've dropped mine a few times (oops) and they've held up so far. i think i've dropped them maybe around 10 times from 1meter/3feet onto a carpeted floor. Cheers!
I bought the 660S while on our honeymoon in Germany in Dec. I picked it since I wanted something really fkn good and it was highly recommended by Zeos
Zeos is kind of an idiot who doesn't have great ears and doesn't understand fairly basic audio enthusiast things like damping factor and impedance. I strongly advise taking anything he says with a spoonful of salt.
@@alondite215 calling him "kind of an idiot" is very harsh,he has his unique style and gives good advice.However like no headphone is perfect, also same applies to reviewers. That's why I am subscribed to a selection of channels including Zeos and Joshua to get a more balanced view.
One of the best cinematography channel
Hey Josh ! Great channel !!! I bought the Sundara on your recommendations and really love it. The pad are a bit too small for my ears though and also if possible I’d like to avoid the sound spill. Personnally I dont care but my wife a bit less :-) Is there any equivalent closed back head phone in the 500£ range ?? Thanks for your help.
Great review! What's that metal headphone stand you are using?
Personally, if I was to get another headphone, I would probably go with either the 660S or the 1990. For two reasons. I like tubes. I already have a pair of open-back planar. That said, I would probably going to go with the 660S. I enjoy my PXC550 and my HD1.
I am typically more of an IEM person. I went a different route and got the SendyAudio Aiva's. I watched many videos (including this one) and listened to a good amount of music with them. I wear them at the office, wear them at home. They have hardly been taken off. I have been fighting through headaches from the pressure. In the Aiva's defense, even the SHP9500 cause me headaches. This is why I am normally an IEM person.
I have the dt1990 pro in combination with the 2i2 3rd gen and the JDS atom amp. When I use Sonarworks (to flatten the Frequency response) it sounds magical man, I couldnt ask for more haha!
Thomas van der Laan are you also using a daw with that setup? (dunno if a headphone amp can cause latency issues while producing)
FDothat Yes I am using fl studio. I don’t experience latency issues while producing!
I can't personally compare to the others but the DT 1990 with the Dekoni Elite Velour pads are the best sounding cans I've ever owned. Would love to try some Focals or Sennheiser HD800s.
I do appreciate a good design that is based in functionality, the Beyerdynamics win here for me. Are they really that much better than the 990 though? I also appreciate a well produced YT video which this one is a stellar example of. Thank you for that. Your voice sounds really good too, especially considering the fact you are using an out of frame mic. Which one are you using here? And also thanks for bringing the Sundara to my attention, hadnt even heard of them before.
I have all three. Each are special at what they do. None are weak at anything and all provide a enjoyable listening experience. The build quality of the Beyerdynamic is exceptional. The Sundara is the most comfortable. The 660 I have just received yesterday so I am still evaluating. It’s clamping force is a little tight but as you say will probably get more comfortable over time. Vocals are amazing and it definitely shines and benefits from better equipment. The Sundara are the brightest ant also need power and the right equipment to bring out their qualities. Bottom line I’m keeping all three.
thx, can you please tell me again after +2 years how you think of the 3? :)
@@kingo5940 I still have all three. To be honest I don’t usually sell off any of my headphones so if I keep them past the allotted return period then they are keepers. None of the three get used a lot but that’s do to the quantity of headphones I have. Which did you go with and what do you think of your decision?
@@whn2309 im currently still looking but u think ill go with the bd`s. if you wanna know why. i think they look cool, the sound seems like the best of all 3 and especially for producing music (which i do) + i think about buying an SMSL SH-6 AMP if im going to buy the 1990s
oh and ofc the buildquality seems way better and sturdier
Thank you for making this! I do produce music, mix, and master so I would probably go with the DT 1990 because of its technicality. But I also have the ATH-MX50's because it has more of a commercial sound. The ATH-MX50's represent what most peoples listening devices sound like. My DT 770's are noticeably more detailed, defined, and actually have a sound stage, where as the MX50's miss things and don't have a sound stage at all. Thanks again!
I have the Sundara's and looking at getting the 1990's . I'm really looking for a nice soundstage over vocals. Good review!
Don't the Sundara's have a much bigger soundstage and better imaging?
6:40 you caught me out with that transition music..lol I was looking around my room like what is that.
I got the Sennheiser HD660s when I went to a music gear convention last year. Sennheiser and Beyer were the only brands that showcased expensive headphones during that show (the rest were musical instruments and recording equipment which I almost considered buying over headphones lol). I got the HD660s because I couldn't find Beyer's booth and I really wanted to own a product from the HD6xx line. There's just something about the way it looks that really catches my attention. I wasn't able to demo it properly due to the noise and the lack of proper equipment such as DAC/Amps. This was my first headphone that's over 200 USD and I had no idea about the Sundara and DT1990. Despite hearing good things about the DT1990 and Sundara, I decided not to sell my headphones and switch to those because I think the HD660s is good enough for both my listening and professional use.
I have both Sundara and HD660s in my house. Both of them are fine, and unless you like to listen to classical music a lot, HD660s will do the job great (even though I listen to classical music on HD660s every day, and it's awesome, it's just Sundara has a bit of an edge there imo)
I’ve had the 660s and I really liked it. In the end I switched to the DT1990, because the sound of the DT1990 is more ‘agressive’. In my opinion it’s better for electronic and house music.
Good review, I am doubting, I do not know if you have tried the shure 1840, among the shure. 1840 and the hifiman sundara which one would you choose? I'm also looking at the audeze lcd-2 classic but they go up a lot in price. Thank you.
Thanks, Josh. Ordered the Sundara today to be delivered Monday. I considered the Beyerdynamic, but it was a little too pricey for my current budget
Hi, do you like them?
I have the 6xx. It was my first set of nice headphones and I chose it mostly because it seemed like a great price and I wanted to start with a dynamic before venturing into planar, electrostatic, etc. I really like them for just about everything, but being my only set of nice headphones, I don't get to compare them to others often. I have to co-workers with Sundaras that I got to compare with and while I like the sound characteristics of my Senns, I can't drive them as loud on some music as they can drive the Sundaras. Some very bass-heavy tracks, and some of the Hans Zimmer stuff (eg Mountains from Interstellar) can have some distortion at high volumes. That being said, and I know its an over-used word, the Senns sound warmer to me than the Sundaras.
I'd like to get a second pair of headphones at some point that do some things that my Senns can't do. I make music so I'm leaning toward the DT1990 right now, but I'd like to listen to a pair and compare them. Not sure where I could do that these days though.
Loved the video! Very helpful. Thank you!
get an amp mate
@@malnutritionboy yeah especially when alot of dac include amps
When I'm comparing similar headphones I start with deal-breakers. For me it would be sibilance or too hot treble, or not enough or flabby bass. Everyone will have different deal breakers but it's a good place to start.
For me, the main deal-breaker is Quality control and a peace of mind. So, probably won't dive into Hifiman anytime soon.
Here I am looking for my 7th pair of headphones and I've decided on the Sundara, no small part based on your review. I had the HD6xx sold it because prefer the sound of my Oppo PM3. Also, I already have the 177x and the highs are about as high as I can tolerate from Beyerdynamic so HifiMan it is.
Of those three...it really comes down to like you said, what you looking for the most. The 660s would be my choice if I had to pick. But for me, the 58x with a Schiit stack is still the best setup for headphones for me. I need the look of the 600 series ..it's my favorite look of headphones..need the sub-bass and buttery mids with clarity in the highs. And with the Schiit stack adding more resolution for the highs without killing off the sub-bass ...means it creates the best setup for me for trance/ house, rnb, and even Hans Zimmer tracks.
yeah the 6 series look beautiful, I prefer it to the clears that I currently jse
When are you gonna review electrostatic earphones?
Thank you for the awesome video.
Answers to your questions:
1./2. I have the Sundaras and the reason I went with them was that I wanted to try out planar magnetic headphones. I already owned a pair of Sennheisers (the HD 555's) and I wanted to try something new. I also like bass and wanted a headphone with decent bass. I was considering the 1990's and also the 6XX, but the Sundaras were cheaper than the 1990's and unique enough to warrant me getting them over the 6XX. The Sennheiser 600 series and Sundaras both have pretty much universally good reviews. The 1990's get some mixed reviews, mostly due to the treble response.
3. Looks do matter. I like the looks of all three of them. Personally, I probably like the looks of the DT1990's the best, but not enough to choose them over the Sundaras, apparently. If there were theoretical headphones that sounded great, but they were neon green or something I probably wouldn't consider them unless they were end-game level audio for a basement bargain price.
My Old Senns have finally bitten the dust, so I'm currently producing on a pair of AKGK271s, which are OK'ish, but the Senns were just sooo comfortable. I tend to mix at low volumes, principally to dial in the best levels, which I can't do at mid to high levels (but also to preserve my hearing). The mid dip and analytical nature of the 1990s sounds like it may work for me, so I'll probably audition them first.
love the intro music man
Planars are awesome! I have Sundara's and wasn't thrilled initially with them (but nor was I with any other headphone I tried tbh). I am talking here mainly about FR, everything else about them was top notch, great imaging, tight and precise bass, awesome sounding midrange for all the vocals I threw at it. I bought them specifically because I heard planars respond really well to PEQ. I am running them off my smartphone, UAPP as tidal client, DX3PRO. UAPP has this amazing feature of 6 band PEQ addon that can make these headphones sound absolutely amazing. Settings I found satisfying to warm up the sound (actually flatten the response as much as possible) and tame the treble and get the best detail possible are
Hz db Q
23 4.9 0.7
69 1.3 1.3
1940 3 1.8
4840 -4.8 1.6
5780 7.4 6.1
7730 -4.4 4.3
Out of all the different amp/dac/headphone combos I have tried, I have found that planars with PEQ can sound as good as it gets. I don't listen to them as often as I would love to (I spend most of the time with my lxmini's) but every so often I find the song that I really want to hear detail from, I plug in the Sundara's. DX3PRO can drive them to decent levels with high dynamic range stuff on high gain without damaging my hearing. For most of the new stuff, low gain does the job. As an audiophile it's kinda disappointing that I have found combination so good that I can't even force myself to justify going further into the audiophile rabbit hole. That is now exclusive for speakers and home theater. I couldn't recommend more Sundara's / UAPP combo, I don't think dac / amp combo could bring as much benefit and I found DX3PRO very good all around, with all the features I could possibly need.
@Christopher Sadler they are definitely lacking bass, rolloff starts around 120hz and they are at least -5db down at 20hz. I gave them 5db, fairly wide low shelf boost around 25hz, and drivers are handling it like a champ, no sign of distortion and the bass sounds much fuller. But yeah, without eq they do sound like most of the open back headphones in the bass department.
the sundara sounded great as most reviewers said. unfortunately, my larger than average head made them borderline unbearable to wear for over an hour, and my jaw would end up being sore for few hours after taking them off. returned them for the m1070 and im really happy with that decision. The clamp, which many people complained about, is perferct for me.
big brain
I'm the exact same. I bought a pair a few weeks ago and I really wish I could've kept it but I could always feel the headband digging into my skull and it was getting really distracting. I'm glad I'm not alone.
To answer some of your questions: personally, I care a little bit about the aesthetics as I have an overall aesthetic with my current home setup. So that's a factor I put in play, but it would be at the bottom of my checklist.
As for what I'm looking for, after doing vast amounts of research from your videos, DMS, Z, etc., I told myself I had enough awareness of what I was looking for based on what I like from what I listen to (vocals, clarity and good imaging with instruments, and just an overall good set of cans to play competitively on PC), so I went ahead and tested the HD 660s with a Simaudio Amp/Dac and that was truly an experience to me to set a benchmark to go off of. Next, I ordered a pair from Amazon alongside the Dt 1990s to test them back to back between a Schiit stack and a THX AAA 789 and just let my ears guide my decision on what I'll keep and what I'll return.
It's good to get an opinion of things from someone else, but one's ultimate deciding factor should be their listening experience with what they think will match or exceed their audio expectations!
indeed, trying the real cans matters the most.
What did you end up liking the most ?
Hey Joshua best headphone to enjoy pop/vocal music in your opinion?Thanks!
I chose the hd 660s as I already owned beyer 990s and thought they were a little too bright, so wanted to try something different also I liked the open back look of the 660s very cool
I've considered exactly these models for my next purchase, ending up with choosing the sundara. Sundara was best for me thanks to openness and soundstage. I am not a fan of Sennheiser sound signature, while I was scared of the 1990 treble exaggeration. As for look, yes I was tempted by the 1990 but I used my brain (or I should say ears) rather my heart
@Open-minded World - two years and they are still in perfect condition
Found you recently and cant get enough content! What would you recommend to add to my Magni Heresy/Modi3+ and TX-X00 Ebonys? Looking for larger sound stage and detailed imaging, love the X00's for rock and modern music but want to experience something new. Looking at Sundara, 400i, TYGR, 6XX etc.
Great video.
a question, in your opinion which is better the HIFIMAN he400se or the sennheiser hd 560s? I am not sure which one to choose as I have seen that both are excellent and have a similar price. but I would like your personal opinion on which is better.
I am waiting for OLLO S4/S4R review :)
Listening to this on my Sundara. Very satisfied with my purchase. Thanks Josh!
Joshua, I'm attempting to find a great soundstage wireless headphone. Seen all the reviews of Sony, Bose, Sennheiser but nothing about planar that are available in wireless. Any thoughts?
Your videos have been super helpful. I’m looking to get my first quality headphone. Budget is $1000. My go to is Bluegrass and alt country / singer songwriter (think Cadillac Sky, Greensky bluegrass, Billy Strings, Tyler Childers, Jason Isbell, Sturgill Simpson… though I do get on classic country kicks as well) style is kinda my go to every day stuff.
When studying I’m mostly classical / church music featuring organ and choirs / Mass settings and orchestral music. When relaxing w whisky in evenings all things Jazz/Blues.
(My ears are a bit big and I worry the Sundara might be uncomfortable. Are the ear holes smaller or bigger than the original wired Sennheiser momentum? I have them and usually have to take them off after 1-2 hours because they’re uncomfortable for me).
W that said - can you recommend a headphone setup? Based on what I’ve watched on your channel, I’m considering the 6xx or 660S with DarkVoice 336SE or the Monoprice monolith DAC / Amp combo you talked up. But based on my preferences and budget; I’d appreciate your recommendation. Thank you!
I'm really interested in getting either the sundara or 1990s, I really enjoy my dt770s/990s, and would want to go to the "next step" but at the same time I feel like trying a planar out at that price is hella worth it!
Checkout the newer Dt900 pro x
Great Video , I also have to say HD660S have way better imaging from all 6 or 5 Series .
@@turkishultranationalist ? I have all 5 and 6 series from Senn and I am 99% sure that 660S have better resolution, better imaging than any other . This has been also said by a lot of people on Headfi forum. 650 are just smoother with veil thats nice for old recoding's
@@turkishultranationalist Nope. The HD660s has better imaging, a slightly wider stage, and more extension in the bass and treble.
Would love to hear how the Ollo S4 compared to this headphones especially against the 660s
Great video! Considering I could get the 1990 for 390 and the sundara for 350, would you still go for the sundaras? Or your decision is considering a 600/350 price difference?
When selecting headphones I’m looking for my music to sound musical. I want to enjoy it. As a musician I believe the search for reference gear is a fools errand. I would choose the sundaras as well.
Kind of funny. I want to greatly enjoy my music, but for me I get enjoyment from hearing every little detail, every nuance and texture to an extreme extent. So I'd end up going with the DT 1990s.
After watching this comparison I decided to go for the 660s and the 1990 pro. Now I am using them both for about a year and won't sell any of them. Everything Joshua is saying about the sound characteristics can be confirmed. I am listening a lot to newer classical music recordings (24 bit PCM and DSD64 - DSD256) and here the 1990 pro absolutely outperforms. At the same time I am a heavy Spotify consumer. For long hours listening sessions (mostly while I am programming) I wouldn't like to miss the 660s, which sound is super friendly to the ears. Among the two headphones I'd say may usage ratio is 70% 660s and 30% 1990 pro.
Smart
If you could only purchase one, would it be the 660s or 1990?
I had the 6xx and love the mids,but wanted a little bit more of bass so I’m going to try the Sundaras. Thanks for your advice
Hey man, it's been 5 months since you commented. I was wondering how the Sundaras went for you? Currently contemplating between the 6xx and Sundaras just like you and wanted to hear more to make my decision.
@@adrian_ncm Sundara’s is my current favorite Headphone Jack of all trade!
@@rdtstudios Thanks for taking the time to reply man, just wanted to ask a few more questions. You're really not looking back on the 6xx? And you would wholeheartedly recommend the Sundaras instead? People have said that Sundaras are actually a step above 6xx. Also, I've heard of quality isues, do they bother you? I appreciate this man
@@adrian_ncm had both, 6xx are good for acoustic and vocals but Sundara’s will give your more Bass detail retrieval and soundstage and no quality issues on my Sundara’s
@@rdtstudios thanks for the update!
Very helpful, thanks! To answer your questions:
1) I was agonising between the 660 S and the Sundara. I am choosing the Sundara because I want to write big orchestral film score stuff like Hans Zimmer or Two Steps from Hell, and the Sundara's sound stage and improved bass response seems like the winner at this price point for those 'big sounds'. Sundara is also ~£250 here in the UK vs ~£350 of the 660 S, and I think the Sundara might actually be marginally better on balance.
2) I'm getting into music production and I've been using some HyperX Cloud 2 USB gaming headphones up until now. I know the difference is going to be night and day, especially with an amp.
3) Looks are irrelevant, I just want to be pragmatic and get the best sound, followed closely by build quality and comfort. Don't understand all these comments about the visuals/aesthetics of things they can't see when they're using, and are spending hundreds on specifically for how they *sound*.