The thing that sold me on the 600’s over the others is it’s awesome ability to scale. A lot of people say the order of $ spent should go HP.. Amp.. DAC, but the 600’s are so good at scaling to quality sources. Run it through a $3k amp with good synergy and it will sound like a $3k headphone. Even the sound stage can come out subtlety with the right set up without sounding too airy
So to sum it up....Variations on a theme. I have a pair of HD580s (for like 15+ years). Replaced pads and band with 600 replacements. Still going strong. Great review by the way. Cheers!
This was a really good comparison, I love videos comparing these classics. I like the 600 the best out of all Sennheisers when paired with a amplifier. Plugged into an iPad, I like the easier to drive 58X
@@Mahlaser_ there is an amp called the ifi zen amp signature that was specifically made for the 6xx. There is also a dac version but if you’re willing to spend that money, it is more worth getting another dac
The HD580 is exactly same parts catalog number as HD600. the drivers are interchangeable. I did mine after losing the right side one and sennheiser shipped a driver of HD600 and specifically explained its the same Cat # of the 580. the HD580 were re-branded as HD600 at 1997 in order to widen the model numbers range for them to be able to introduce new 500 series models below their reference model (that is something the old guys between us know and remember well). so they renamed the reference as 600 and solve the problem. the only difference between 580 and 600 are the grills: they changed the plastic once on the 580 to metal on the 600. the reason was aesthetic wise. the draw back was a small sonic characteristic change, but it was negligible, and barely measurable as well. Tested them both back and forth blindly - couldn't hear a distinguishable difference. some will say the plastic once on the 580's are less interacting with sound than the metal once on the 600, as plastic is less sound reflecting material.
I have my 20+ (from mid 90's?) year old pair of HD 580's and the HD 600's which I purchased around 2011. I replaced the pads, inner felt and cable on the 580's. The parts were purchased directly from Sennheiser after the 580 was discontinued. The replacement pads matched the original 580 pads. The 600 pads are uncomfortably warm and almost itchy in comparison. Even though I have used them for so many years, with the worn parts replaced the 580's could last another 20+ years. The 580's also have never been head-griping like the 600's. I rarely use the HD 600's. I have not listened to a pair of 650's but I prefer the sound from the 580's over the 600's as there is more clarity in the upper range and the sound stage is wider.
I don't find any of these fatiguing. I've owned the hd 600's for a really long time and it IS neutral as hell, but its treble isn't harsh at all. It's a really relaxed sound that I can listen to basically the entire day. Keep in mind that I'm pretty sensitive to treble so the dt990's are a bit too bright for me.
6xx makes the most sense to me. I don't know if any of these are overall better than the other...they are just different. But the value you get from the 6xx makes the most sense to me.
I have the 6XX and I love the warmth of them. I saw an old 580 (not Jubilee) on eBay for only $149 and I had to give in and cop, like you said, it's not that common on the used market.
Crap! This is a damn good review, brother. I'm still on the fence between the 600 and the 650. Bur, the thing is, I ordered the 600s last night. Now, there is still time to cancel and order the 650s; but I can't think of a reason why I should. I'm a newb who just ended a bad relationship with my Hifiman HE 400s. I had to replace the cable and the pads, and then the plastic broke. I appreciate that you mentioned the cables and provided a link. I think I'll sit on my order, and I look forward to my new HD600s!
After 20 yrs I still have my 580! Will they outlive me? 580 and 600 are great and very very reliable headphones that do most of things right. They have that famous midrange (where, IMHO, most of the music is) and an important virtue for me: they let you listen to music you love even poorly recorded! Please consider that I never tryed the 650 because I don't like very much warm headphones. Well, simply my humble opinion, it's always good to have other opinion(s). BRs
My HD580 is indeed a healthy mix between the two. A little better bass and less shouty mids than my now long gone HD600s and brighter treble than my friend's very dark and gooey HD650s. HD580/600 pads are shallow and HD650 pads are thick BTW so all 3 headphones can be tuned a little within the stock pads. I left stock pads on mine for now. I tried swapping in the HD600 grills but I can't say I liked the change. The HD580 already sounded better to me than the HD600 and the grills basically made it a 600 so it was pointless for me. They all have slightly different pads and slightly different housing materials. Otherwise they're all internally identical. The 4th and possibly 3rd version 580 have the same drivers as the 1st gen HD600. The 2nd gen HD600 has the same driver as the HD650. So you can see they're all basically the same headphone just adjusted over time. It's not very hard, changing pads and grills, maybe a little padding, to turn a cheapo used HD580 into something closer to either of the other two. You can get one in decent shape used for well under $200 and repad it with generic pads and headband for cheap. It's probably the best one in the line-up because of that.
Subscribed! I really like your reviews man. Clear, concise, very enjoyable to watch... Keep it up! After comparing the HD600 and 6xx directly out of my O2 amp and Fiio X5 as DAC, I came to the conclusion that HD600 sounds a bit too bright to me and bass light... While HD6xx is nearly perfect in terms of tonality. Don't you think that on solid state gear, HD650/6xx actually sounds more accurate - closer to the original recording? Because listening to EDM on the HD600, I don't feel that's quite how it should sound - too bright, not enough oomph in the lows, kinda harsh. HD6xx on the other hand is nearly perfect just slightly warm and a little rolled off in the bass... But perfectly smooth, rhythmic and just sounds... right. Now, for acoustic music, I do feel the HD650 may be a bit recessed in the highs, but I think that's more of a preference thing. With EDM or pop, I really feel like HD6xx is objectively superior. Don't even know how you can prove that, but I think it's just better for sure - more like the original recording lol So in sum, I guess my point is that HD6xx/650 is more true to the original recording than the HD600. Probably because with headphone drivers being so close to the ear, you actually need some emphasis in the bass and recession in the treble for music to sound natural.
This is really an old story. Some cans better (a little) in some areas, some better in other areas. All this stuff is subjective as a lot of us already know. Always entertaining to see & listen to though. I've never been sorry I bought the 600's. And that's after listening to the 650's.
Still an incredibly helpful video. I concur with all DMS's views here. HD600 for my tube amp. HD650/6xx for my solid state amp. No matter what other phones come and go from my stable, these two remain. You can't go wrong.
I'm thinking of upgrading from my M40x to the 650 as I understand they would be more 'musical' overall. Could you please tell me which amplifier you use with your 650? Thank you.
Hello, DMS. Since you are a big fan of HD600 & HD650... If you can swing it, you should consider buying the Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH). I love it most when feeding the amp a signal from the Chord MOJO, while using the Dekoni Hybrid pads for the HD650. I know the MOJO is spendy, but the CTH is not, and I'd be surprised if you did not have great things to say about that combo. That's all I got. Take care.
so you mentioned preventing blowing your drivers. how could you tell if you were going to acheive that. i ended up getting the 6xx a bit ago and im pretty new to high quality audio and it seemed like a bargian opportunity to enter it. any tips you have for taking proper care of your sennheisers would be great thanks. also great vid i learned alot about my headset.
Tbh I’m happy with any of these headphones. Including the 58x and the 660s. the 580 is sold for 800 Australian dollars, so I’m not looking for a collectible or a vintage. If any of them go under $200 on drop it’s worth buying
I was just trying out my HD660s which just arrived this morning. I actually was not particularly impressed at first. HOWEVER, I swapped the pads on my HD650s onto the HD660s. The sound immediately changed like a plot twist! I literally yelled "HOLY CRAP"! I don't like them with the brand new stock pads. So, I'm hoping to wear down the new pads as soon as possible.
I had sennheisers in 1975. The 650 provides superb listening. almost as relaxing as Quad 57s. I have the 599s good but not in the same league. The 580s I had for 20yrs the connecters became bad as many have , and one day no sound, I Iooked inside and all the 4 fine wires to the phones were *cut", local lightening I guess.
good comparison video massdrop has active drops on the HD6xx and the 58x which do you recommended between the two massdrop prices 58x=149.99 6xx=199.99 Thank you for your reply
What will you say on the Hd700 on a tube amp? And what should I buy next to the Hd800? The 650 or 600?? Great Channel BTW easy to listen and very learning.
I can see how the 600 and the 650 differ subtlely. I have the 600 now and definitely enjoy the mids. Should I have the 650s, I guess I'd be going back and forth on listening mood :D
I hear a lot of classical music ranging from solo Violin to big choir works. Right now I'm looking to upgrade from my dt 990 600 Ohm. Would you recommend getting the HD 600 or are there other headphones I should consider? I drive them with my creative soundblaster AE7 Soundcard.
Hey man! I love your reviews. I noticed that you're a bass player, I am too; I frequently post "bass covers" on my channel. I currently use the HD 598s, which are great, but I was thinking of upgrading to the HD 600s or 650s but still can't decide. What would you advise is the better headphone for playing bass guitar (direct through my Apogee Duet interface) along with songs? The main thing I'm looking for is clarity and separation. When I used to use closed headphones, my bass playing would sound so smushed together with the song I'm playing along with and I hated that since it was hard to distinguish myself from the recording. When I switched to open headphones it was like a breath of fresh air. The 598s are already satisfying, yet I keep hearing the 600s or 650s would be even better, but which would be better specifically for a bass player? Are they a significant enough step up from the 598s to be worth it for my specific use? I'd even consider the 700s if you think that would be good for my situation. I know the 650s are your personal favorite, but I'm concerned about them being called warmer or darker, since I might not want that when i'm planning to add my own bass guitar to a mix. For me, ideally the song i'm playing along with should be relatively bright sounding to contrast with my bass guitar filling in the low end (I often dip the bass frequency on the song I'm playing along with to get even more of a separation from my intsrument); this makes me think the 600s would be better, yet you also said the 600s have a narrower soundstage...so I'm not sure what's more important. Anyways, your advice would be much appreciated!
Nevermind, I ended up getting the HD650s. My local store let me try both the 600s and 650s and I simply thought the 650s sounded better. The more neutral, brighter sound of the 600s might indeed be better for when I mix stuff at home, but it occurred to me that I spend vastly more time listening to songs so I can learn them by ear, and thus the better bass sound of the 650s are probably more practical for me. Now that i've been using them for several hours, I'm loving the extra clarity. I can hear subtle sounds better. My bass guitar also sounds quite striking through the headphones. There's certainly no mistaking if I don't have a bass set up optimally or if I don't play with the best technique! I'm not gonna claim that my ear is so good that I can say it's like night and day with the 598s, but after comparison back and forth over many songs, I definitely can say the 650s are noticeably better, better enough that I'm keeping them. Thanks again for your informative reviews.
I'm actually aiming to get an Open pair of headphones and ideally over-ear as well. This had me set my sights on the HD650's but due to the price I'm getting swayed by the other headphones you've made videos of like the T50RP (Semi-open) and M560's. Do you think it's worth it to get one of the planar ones instead or should I still go with the 650's? Ideally I want to use it for gaming, movies and mostly music (don't really listen to classical much). Which pair do you think would not give me an urge to buy another pair soon after?
Hello there... Could someone tell me what would be the best pick for blues(rock), classic rock, acoustic, folk, and some jazzy tunes? HD580, HD600, HD650, HiFiman 400SE, or... sth else entirely?
Different impedance and different driver. The 580 is 300ohm while 58X is 150ohm. The 58X has similar tuning to the 580 but the old 580 is definitely more detailed (and sought after)
@@DMS3TV Did you know that HD 580 Jubilee, HD 580 Precision and HD 600 Avantgarde are all using the same identical drived. Sennheiser part number is 091570
I am undecided between the hd600 and m 1060, but I think all in all the hd600/650 might still be the king from all the things I read and watch, they just do so many things so well! It looks like some extra sub bass added and would be perfect. Thanks for the great comparison!
If you like sub-bass go for planars. I haven't heard M1060 but the FR shows exact planar like behaviour so has DM3TV confirmed. The other VERY important aspect of making a purchase would be that any HD6xx series will require a hefty amp, M1060 will do just fine with a Magni/O2.
True but then again the hd600 probably does the rest a little better, will need to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. If I did not watch movies on headphones the sub-bass, while being important, would not matter as much for me.
Z Reveiws is a really good channel for very detailed reviews, he can ramble a bit but he really does give you a good impression and no bullshit thought process of what he thinks of the headphones.
@@dannybos7024 6XX definitely sounds way better than the X2HR in many areas. The X2HR still has more powerful bass but lack in the highs, mids, and overall depth and precision. Listening to the 6XX for months now, the X2HR just don't sound nears as good - easy win.
So I have the x2's, but I want a pair of these legendary sennheisers. However I just cant decide on either. I can get the 600's for 293 dollars or the 650's for 324 dollars. Would you sway me in either direction? I love your reviews, keep up the good work man.
I only have the x2's for reference and all I know is that i'm not too impressed. I love them for playing cs, but when I listen to music ill turn on my speakers. From what I understand the x2s have a large soundstage so mabye I should get the opposite witch would be the 600?
Why use a tube amp if you can just use DSP, i.e. through use of a convolver? Combining that with a solid state would decrease the distortion and save you money.
Care to explain? Theoretically, if you had a transparent amp, you could simulate any other amp by adjusting the phase and frequency response. It can already be done with headphones. Why could it not be done with amps?
@Wise Guy The key word here is 'theoretically'. Bob Craver en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Carver proved that you don't need a tube amp for that euphoric sound but again he was an engineer and needed well made and tuned hardware components to achieve that. I have tried DSPs and hate it what it does to the soundstage.
I bought the HD6xx from Massdrop in January 2018. On certain occasions, I'm hearing some buzzing or rattling but only when the volume is a bit louder on piano for example. I am a bit concerned. It is only on the left headphone. Is this a bad driver? If so, are there replacement parts for the HD6xx? Is that something Massdrop offers or Seinheiser?
Was really looking for a video like this thanks... I'm relatively new to audiophile scene never really did want to spend much looking for a good pair of headphones but don't know where to start there aren't many places to go and try a pair of sennheisers... I've always stuck to iems, I've tried like the se 530s which didn't last long so stuck with cx 300 for like 8 years.. recently bought re-00 from hifi mans and had a pair of senn 201 looking to go for a one time investment and still stuck between the three? I listen to acoustic, Edm, rock and rnb; I do a lot of gaming as well I'm usually using headphones for 10 hours a day. Looked at your review for the x2's and what I get from them is don't buy em... so... really confused and need some guidance..
If you like Edm you might like planars more however 650 is my go-to for long listening sessions since its warm sound signature is less fatiguing. I can easily wear it all day long.
@@DMS3TV Thank you for answering. If you don't mind to give a brief explanation of what "warmer" means when it comes to headphones I will really appreciate it.
DMS can you be a little more specific? You say something different in your video than you’re implying here. Are you saying the 650s sound different than the 6xx ?
I would take the M1060 10/10 times over the HD650. I own both, and of all my cans (8 full size), the HD650 is my least favorite. To me it sounds to mid forward, bass is sloppy but present, and highs are rolled off. The M1060 thread on Head-Fi has some interesting mods for it, taking a good headphone and bringing it up to a much better headphone. I'll be modding my M1060s today (Audeze Vegan pads, Paper Towel 3" circle between outside grill and foam). These two mods flatten the frequency response in the higher end, lessening a few peaks and dips. Measurements are extremely good for a $300 ($365 total after Vegan pads) headphone, and planar quickness is to die for.
Thanks for the answer, I also have the m1060 and my akg k7xx sound muffled and lifeless compared to the m1060, the bass is nowhere near the depth the punch and the tightness of the m1060 bass. the m1060 have made my akg k7xx useless.
@@DMS3TV it surprise me you talk so differently about soundstage (you point the hd600 is much more intimate than the others). Also he tells the hd580 and hd600 are quite the same and changing the grid would leave them as the same headphone. But for what you say... you make many more differences between them. I am a bit confuse, since I try to decide between them.
So how does the 58x compares to the family? Is it good too? Or not? Because theyre the cheapest of the family line of hd 6 series.. Help me decide hehe thanks!
I just joined the drop for the 6xx. However, I have no idea what amp/dac to use with them. Seems like there are a ton of options, but I want to get the most out of them for under $500. Help pls?
It'd be rad if you could do a similar video but comparing the Hifiman 400/500 line. They kind of seem to be in similar price brackets and similar "series" but for those with a preference to planars.
If you are on the budget try Superlux HD330 and remove all fume disk (those are Beyerdynamic clone so super easy to dissemble) you will be surprised how good those 30$ headphones will sound although be prepared because they are 150 ohm out of the box and when you do this mod they gone be way harder to power - stock I used them with FiiO E10k on half power low gain. After modification at 70-80% hi-gain.
Anthony Almodovar dark voice or crack bottle if you want a tube amp. Magni 3 for on a budget. Dragonfly red or cobalt for mobile use. Stream with tidal or the much better Qobuz.
Ha-ha... You've been laying HD 650 on your desk a lot... I've been sleeping in HD 215 for five years, carefully of course, but still. Got my pads worn off too much due to pressure, and that cable bending limiter got broken off in the middle, and now that I think about it, a few ear pads clips got broken, but man - five years sleeping in those phones is an insane abuse.
This is just my personal opinion, but for me the HD650 is just a fucked up version of the HD600. It's certainly not enjoyable to listen to them for too long because of the over-exposed lows that cover the mids and highs. Anyway, thanks for the video. Very nice comparison.
Someone is wrong about Soundstage HD600 vs HD650, you said that HD650 have wider soundstage, but on rtings.com and their mesurements it's much worse in HD650 compare to HD600. www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/hd-600-hd600 - score 6.6 www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/hd-650 - score 6.0
Well, surprise, surprise! HD600 vs HD650 frequency response is here (graph #6 from the top): diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd600-2/ They look identical except a 1-2 dB lift in the midbass on the HD650.. The HD650 measured was also the old version with black screens fitted with new pads. Not sure which HD600 was measured, but judging from the first pic in that review, it was most certainly the new silver screen version and pads were probably in good condition, because reviewer didn't state otherwise: What surprises me the most is that HD650 measures even a bit brighter than the HD600 in the treble and yet most people seem to believe that HD650 is quite a bit darker... And I was surprised when I found my last HD650 a bit bright for me in the treble. lol I was like "WTF, is going on with my ears?!" Turns out HD650s may indeed be brighter than many think, at least with fresh pads. lol I also read that with old, worn pads, even HD600 becomes dark and veiled. lol
Looking forward to the balanced vs the unbalanced issue. Please do a blind listening with multiple people to see if they can hear the the difference between balanced and unbalanced. Here is interesting article benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better Great comparison . IMO lower the backgroud music 10% . Thanks for your insights.
There is no difference between balanced and unbalanced. Sadly, TRUE balanced is very rare in the headphone world. Schiit Audio co-owner Jason Stoddard has covered this is his free book on Head-fi. www.head-fi.org/forum/newestpost/701900. Great read. If you need insane power, balanced is a great way to go. Don't listen to the Golden ear people saying the difference is drastic. Odds are they are listening on a "balanced' headphone setup, but inside their components it is being converted to Single Ended, and then converted back to balanced output, which isn't balanced. Balanced is very expensive to do correctly, and many don't.
Matt the link didn't take me to Jason Stoddard's free book. I find itinteresting that Schitt put's them on the RAGNAROK and JOTUNHEIM. Please send me new link for the article. Thanks.
Robbie's Incoherent thoughts they have the same part number but the driver went through a number of revisions that replaced previous version each time. There’s a great image of them all laid out on Reddit.
HD700 is pretty cool. It gets a lot of hate for what people believe is "sibilance" when its actually just ringing. This can be fixed with mods but some people prefer the added brightness.
Plot Twist: The HD580 and HD600 have the exact same driver. The same. They measure the same and sound exactly the same. Only the 650 is different. The difference is not huge however. I have both sitting here. Listening on my Audeze LCD-2 right now.
Svperstarr same driver does not mean same sound, the grill and internal padding is entirely different. They do not measure the same either, look up the graphs
IME ODAC is such crap...with or without usb galvanic isolator and ferrite cable. get yourself the $20 behringer uca202 and be surprised. the schiit modi multibit is ahead of them both though. Sadly, I must keep the bulky CDP-X303ES because it sounds best. Of course, my computer's USB could be bad or something, as the ODAC is known to be problematic and it sounded different on my other computer, without having to squint my years.
The thing that sold me on the 600’s over the others is it’s awesome ability to scale. A lot of people say the order of $ spent should go HP.. Amp.. DAC, but the 600’s are so good at scaling to quality sources. Run it through a $3k amp with good synergy and it will sound like a $3k headphone.
Even the sound stage can come out subtlety with the right set up without sounding too airy
The 600 SPECIFICALLY scales better than even the 650 with tubes?
So to sum it up....Variations on a theme. I have a pair of HD580s (for like 15+ years). Replaced pads and band with 600 replacements. Still going strong.
Great review by the way. Cheers!
This was a really good comparison, I love videos comparing these classics.
I like the 600 the best out of all Sennheisers when paired with a amplifier. Plugged into an iPad, I like the easier to drive 58X
I bought the 6XX and very happy with my purchase! Highly recommend!
I got my 6xx on now. Love them
Do you amp it with something in particular, I have to know...
@@Mahlaser_ there is an amp called the ifi zen amp signature that was specifically made for the 6xx. There is also a dac version but if you’re willing to spend that money, it is more worth getting another dac
The HD580 is exactly same parts catalog number as HD600. the drivers are interchangeable. I did mine after losing the right side one and sennheiser shipped a driver of HD600 and specifically explained its the same Cat # of the 580.
the HD580 were re-branded as HD600 at 1997 in order to widen the model numbers range for them to be able to introduce new 500 series models below their reference model (that is something the old guys between us know and remember well). so they renamed the reference as 600 and solve the problem.
the only difference between 580 and 600 are the grills:
they changed the plastic once on the 580 to metal on the 600. the reason was aesthetic wise.
the draw back was a small sonic characteristic change, but it was negligible, and barely measurable as well.
Tested them both back and forth blindly - couldn't hear a distinguishable difference.
some will say the plastic once on the 580's are less interacting with sound than the metal once on the 600, as plastic is less sound reflecting material.
it's also the same drive in HD650/HD6XX too
I like how you wear a blue plug in your left ear and red in right, kind of like L/R earbud indicators.
Yea! I have to get more though. One of these got messed up.
I have my 20+ (from mid 90's?) year old pair of HD 580's and the HD 600's which I purchased around 2011. I replaced the pads, inner felt and cable on the 580's. The parts were purchased directly from Sennheiser after the 580 was discontinued. The replacement pads matched the original 580 pads. The 600 pads are uncomfortably warm and almost itchy in comparison. Even though I have used them for so many years, with the worn parts replaced the 580's could last another 20+ years. The 580's also have never been head-griping like the 600's. I rarely use the HD 600's. I have not listened to a pair of 650's but I prefer the sound from the 580's over the 600's as there is more clarity in the upper range and the sound stage is wider.
the 580s are fantastic. I'm going to own a pair at some point just to have in the collection.
Hmm. It's my impression that the replacement pads that Sennheiser sells for the 580, 600, and 650 are the same.
I don't find any of these fatiguing. I've owned the hd 600's for a really long time and it IS neutral as hell, but its treble isn't harsh at all. It's a really relaxed sound that I can listen to basically the entire day. Keep in mind that I'm pretty sensitive to treble so the dt990's are a bit too bright for me.
6xx makes the most sense to me. I don't know if any of these are overall better than the other...they are just different. But the value you get from the 6xx makes the most sense to me.
Thank you for taking the time and making this video. This has helped me in making the right choice!
6XX is the right choice
Great review! Got 600. Wow, they are great! Chose them over 660s.
I have the 6XX and I love the warmth of them. I saw an old 580 (not Jubilee) on eBay for only $149 and I had to give in and cop, like you said, it's not that common on the used market.
I bought my HD580 over 30 years ago and I still use them.
Watching this video wearing the HD650's sounds quite nice! Great content, just subbed!
That was awesome. How come you only have 3.7K subs???? Your content is great.
because he looks like young onision
It's not that great.
Probably because he looks like a douchebag vape bro
my 600s sounded real good on my restored fisher 500c, so I'm seconding what he says here about the 600s: great with a high quality tube amp.
Crap! This is a damn good review, brother. I'm still on the fence between the 600 and the 650. Bur, the thing is, I ordered the 600s last night. Now, there is still time to cancel and order the 650s; but I can't think of a reason why I should. I'm a newb who just ended a bad relationship with my Hifiman HE 400s. I had to replace the cable and the pads, and then the plastic broke. I appreciate that you mentioned the cables and provided a link. I think I'll sit on my order, and I look forward to my new HD600s!
After 20 yrs I still have my 580! Will they outlive me? 580 and 600 are great and very very reliable headphones that do most of things right. They have that famous midrange (where, IMHO, most of the music is) and an important virtue for me: they let you listen to music you love even poorly recorded! Please consider that I never tryed the 650 because I don't like very much warm headphones. Well, simply my humble opinion, it's always good to have other opinion(s).
BRs
What do you think of them?
My HD580 is indeed a healthy mix between the two. A little better bass and less shouty mids than my now long gone HD600s and brighter treble than my friend's very dark and gooey HD650s. HD580/600 pads are shallow and HD650 pads are thick BTW so all 3 headphones can be tuned a little within the stock pads. I left stock pads on mine for now. I tried swapping in the HD600 grills but I can't say I liked the change. The HD580 already sounded better to me than the HD600 and the grills basically made it a 600 so it was pointless for me.
They all have slightly different pads and slightly different housing materials. Otherwise they're all internally identical. The 4th and possibly 3rd version 580 have the same drivers as the 1st gen HD600. The 2nd gen HD600 has the same driver as the HD650. So you can see they're all basically the same headphone just adjusted over time. It's not very hard, changing pads and grills, maybe a little padding, to turn a cheapo used HD580 into something closer to either of the other two. You can get one in decent shape used for well under $200 and repad it with generic pads and headband for cheap. It's probably the best one in the line-up because of that.
Subscribed! I really like your reviews man. Clear, concise, very enjoyable to watch... Keep it up! After comparing the HD600 and 6xx directly out of my O2 amp and Fiio X5 as DAC, I came to the conclusion that HD600 sounds a bit too bright to me and bass light... While HD6xx is nearly perfect in terms of tonality. Don't you think that on solid state gear, HD650/6xx actually sounds more accurate - closer to the original recording? Because listening to EDM on the HD600, I don't feel that's quite how it should sound - too bright, not enough oomph in the lows, kinda harsh. HD6xx on the other hand is nearly perfect just slightly warm and a little rolled off in the bass... But perfectly smooth, rhythmic and just sounds... right.
Now, for acoustic music, I do feel the HD650 may be a bit recessed in the highs, but I think that's more of a preference thing. With EDM or pop, I really feel like HD6xx is objectively superior. Don't even know how you can prove that, but I think it's just better for sure - more like the original recording lol So in sum, I guess my point is that HD6xx/650 is more true to the original recording than the HD600. Probably because with headphone drivers being so close to the ear, you actually need some emphasis in the bass and recession in the treble for music to sound natural.
Finally! The HD600 and HD650 comparison. Thanks man.
Sure thing : )
This is really an old story. Some cans better (a little) in some areas, some better in other areas. All this stuff is subjective as a lot of us already know. Always entertaining to see & listen to though. I've never been sorry I bought the 600's. And that's after listening to the 650's.
Still an incredibly helpful video. I concur with all DMS's views here. HD600 for my tube amp. HD650/6xx for my solid state amp. No matter what other phones come and go from my stable, these two remain. You can't go wrong.
Started with HD555. Went to HD600. Loved both. Maybe loved HD555 more. But now considering getting HD650/6XX.
I'm thinking of upgrading from my M40x to the 650 as I understand they would be more 'musical' overall. Could you please tell me which amplifier you use with your 650?
Thank you.
I am really interesting in seeing a comparison of the HD599 to the HD560s.
Hello, DMS. Since you are a big fan of HD600 & HD650... If you can swing it, you should consider buying the Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Tube Hybrid Amp (CTH). I love it most when feeding the amp a signal from the Chord MOJO, while using the Dekoni Hybrid pads for the HD650. I know the MOJO is spendy, but the CTH is not, and I'd be surprised if you did not have great things to say about that combo. That's all I got. Take care.
so you mentioned preventing blowing your drivers. how could you tell if you were going to acheive that. i ended up getting the 6xx a bit ago and im pretty new to high quality audio and it seemed like a bargian opportunity to enter it. any tips you have for taking proper care of your sennheisers would be great thanks. also great vid i learned alot about my headset.
Tbh I’m happy with any of these headphones. Including the 58x and the 660s. the 580 is sold for 800 Australian dollars, so I’m not looking for a collectible or a vintage. If any of them go under $200 on drop it’s worth buying
How about a follow up including these and the HD660s?
I hear fuzzy sound.
Yea this room is mostly untreated so compression adds noise from the room. Gotta get that foam up!
you could add Noise Gate before the Compressor that silences all signal below a certain volume (eg. -50db where the noise would most likely be).
Winston, noise gates are very distracting. At times, even annoying. Locking the gain instead of allowing it autoadjust would probably help DMS here.
i can hear the fuzz in my samsung earbuds
I was just trying out my HD660s which just arrived this morning. I actually was not particularly impressed at first. HOWEVER, I swapped the pads on my HD650s onto the HD660s. The sound immediately changed like a plot twist! I literally yelled "HOLY CRAP"! I don't like them with the brand new stock pads. So, I'm hoping to wear down the new pads as soon as possible.
the best reviewer for musical instruments ever (for me and for 9,6k people)
I would pick HD600 out of the bunch, just think it is the best.
Nice review there.
Its surely a can to love. Especially with tubes.
I had sennheisers in 1975. The 650 provides superb listening. almost as relaxing as Quad 57s. I have the 599s good but not in the same league. The 580s I had for 20yrs the connecters became bad as many have , and one day no sound, I Iooked inside and all the 4 fine wires to the phones were *cut", local lightening I guess.
Your videos have so much information that not a lot of people can catch up.
Appreciate it’s an old review but could I ask if any of these models are suitable for listening to classical music please? Thanks
good comparison video massdrop has active drops on the HD6xx and the 58x which do you recommended between the two massdrop prices 58x=149.99 6xx=199.99 Thank you for your reply
What will you say on the Hd700 on a tube amp? And what should I buy next to the Hd800? The 650 or 600?? Great Channel BTW easy to listen and very learning.
Why is he wearing that 6XX in the begining?
Just as a neck-warmer?
Or does he want to show-off with his wireless-version?
Nice quick comparison. I wonder if you tried HD 58X Jubilee and what is your opinion on it.
I can see how the 600 and the 650 differ subtlely. I have the 600 now and definitely enjoy the mids. Should I have the 650s, I guess I'd be going back and forth on listening mood :D
I hear a lot of classical music ranging from solo Violin to big choir works. Right now I'm looking to upgrade from my dt 990 600 Ohm. Would you recommend getting the HD 600 or are there other headphones I should consider? I drive them with my creative soundblaster AE7 Soundcard.
K702
Thanks a bunch man.
Okay so how does HD650 with a tube amp compare to HD600 with tube amp??
Hey man! I love your reviews. I noticed that you're a bass player, I am too; I frequently post "bass covers" on my channel. I currently use the HD 598s, which are great, but I was thinking of upgrading to the HD 600s or 650s but still can't decide. What would you advise is the better headphone for playing bass guitar (direct through my Apogee Duet interface) along with songs? The main thing I'm looking for is clarity and separation. When I used to use closed headphones, my bass playing would sound so smushed together with the song I'm playing along with and I hated that since it was hard to distinguish myself from the recording. When I switched to open headphones it was like a breath of fresh air. The 598s are already satisfying, yet I keep hearing the 600s or 650s would be even better, but which would be better specifically for a bass player? Are they a significant enough step up from the 598s to be worth it for my specific use? I'd even consider the 700s if you think that would be good for my situation. I know the 650s are your personal favorite, but I'm concerned about them being called warmer or darker, since I might not want that when i'm planning to add my own bass guitar to a mix. For me, ideally the song i'm playing along with should be relatively bright sounding to contrast with my bass guitar filling in the low end (I often dip the bass frequency on the song I'm playing along with to get even more of a separation from my intsrument); this makes me think the 600s would be better, yet you also said the 600s have a narrower soundstage...so I'm not sure what's more important. Anyways, your advice would be much appreciated!
Nevermind, I ended up getting the HD650s. My local store let me try both the 600s and 650s and I simply thought the 650s sounded better. The more neutral, brighter sound of the 600s might indeed be better for when I mix stuff at home, but it occurred to me that I spend vastly more time listening to songs so I can learn them by ear, and thus the better bass sound of the 650s are probably more practical for me. Now that i've been using them for several hours, I'm loving the extra clarity. I can hear subtle sounds better. My bass guitar also sounds quite striking through the headphones. There's certainly no mistaking if I don't have a bass set up optimally or if I don't play with the best technique! I'm not gonna claim that my ear is so good that I can say it's like night and day with the 598s, but after comparison back and forth over many songs, I definitely can say the 650s are noticeably better, better enough that I'm keeping them. Thanks again for your informative reviews.
The HD 600 on a LYR 3 Tube Amp changed my mind about the HD600. Way better now
now what is that older headphone hanging directly behind you?
I'm actually aiming to get an Open pair of headphones and ideally over-ear as well. This had me set my sights on the HD650's but due to the price I'm getting swayed by the other headphones you've made videos of like the T50RP (Semi-open) and M560's.
Do you think it's worth it to get one of the planar ones instead or should I still go with the 650's? Ideally I want to use it for gaming, movies and mostly music (don't really listen to classical much).
Which pair do you think would not give me an urge to buy another pair soon after?
Hello there... Could someone tell me what would be the best pick for blues(rock), classic rock, acoustic, folk, and some jazzy tunes? HD580, HD600, HD650, HiFiman 400SE, or... sth else entirely?
What is the sound difference on HD580 Precision and HD58X ? Are those both having the same impedance ?
Different impedance and different driver.
The 580 is 300ohm while 58X is 150ohm. The 58X has similar tuning to the 580 but the old 580 is definitely more detailed (and sought after)
@@DMS3TV Thank you. Do you know what is the difference between HD580 Precission and HD580 Jubilee. Yes I know the grilles but sonically ?
@@MrJabinho Sure thing. Sonically they should be the same as far as I know. The Jubilee was a limited edition colorway.
@@DMS3TV Did you know that HD 580 Jubilee, HD 580 Precision and HD 600 Avantgarde are all using the same identical drived. Sennheiser part number is 091570
Sweet review man. I just bought the AKG K7XX's for gaming and they aren't bad, but, I really would like to own a pair of Sennheisers. Subscribed👍
from €300 to €600 that's super-hard to see thoses subtiles differences translated by an huge selling-price gap.
So the HD650 and HD6XX sound exactly the same sonically ? Some people say otherwise.
I am undecided between the hd600 and m 1060, but I think all in all the hd600/650 might still be the king from all the things I read and watch, they just do so many things so well! It looks like some extra sub bass added and would be perfect.
Thanks for the great comparison!
If you like sub-bass go for planars. I haven't heard M1060 but the FR shows exact planar like behaviour so has DM3TV confirmed. The other VERY important aspect of making a purchase would be that any HD6xx series will require a hefty amp, M1060 will do just fine with a Magni/O2.
True but then again the hd600 probably does the rest a little better, will need to decide if the pros outweigh the cons. If I did not watch movies on headphones the sub-bass, while being important, would not matter as much for me.
Z Reveiws is a really good channel for very detailed reviews, he can ramble a bit but he really does give you a good impression and no bullshit thought process of what he thinks of the headphones.
Pedro Almeida m1060c
Never tried any of these - going with the 6XX! Using Philips Fidelio X2HR, so I'm curious how they compare
The X2HR is a joke; the HD6XX is so much better.
@@dannybos7024 Great to hear. Gotta wait till May 31 to get em from Mass Drop but worth the wait
@@JimmyJaxJellyStax And what do you think of them? :)
@@dannybos7024 6XX definitely sounds way better than the X2HR in many areas. The X2HR still has more powerful bass but lack in the highs, mids, and overall depth and precision. Listening to the 6XX for months now, the X2HR just don't sound nears as good - easy win.
@@JimmyJaxJellyStax I've been thinking about picking up a 600 or 650 to kinda sidegrade from my trusty DT880. Wondering which one is better for metal
So I have the x2's, but I want a pair of these legendary sennheisers. However I just cant decide on either. I can get the 600's for 293 dollars or the 650's for 324 dollars. Would you sway me in either direction? I love your reviews, keep up the good work man.
Kris J thanks! So the real question is do you want more soundstage/less treble/more lows OR less soundstage/more treble/less lows?
I only have the x2's for reference and all I know is that i'm not too impressed. I love them for playing cs, but when I listen to music ill turn on my speakers. From what I understand the x2s have a large soundstage so mabye I should get the opposite witch would be the 600?
Or mabye just get both right away and break the bank x)
Which would u recommend best for gaming?
Wish you could find an HD 540 or 530. THAT would be a gem of a comparison
Why use a tube amp if you can just use DSP, i.e. through use of a convolver? Combining that with a solid state would decrease the distortion and save you money.
Wise Guy 508 it's not the same and you have gotten what a tube amp does wrong
Care to explain? Theoretically, if you had a transparent amp, you could simulate any other amp by adjusting the phase and frequency response. It can already be done with headphones. Why could it not be done with amps?
@Wise Guy 508 Why use DSP + decent solid state amp when you can bay tube amp for similar money ? Or hybrid for as low as 40$ ?
Less distortion and more options if you want to use other headphones that don't require a warm source. Also solid state tends to be cheaper.
@Wise Guy The key word here is 'theoretically'. Bob Craver en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Carver proved that you don't need a tube amp for that euphoric sound but again he was an engineer and needed well made and tuned hardware components to achieve that.
I have tried DSPs and hate it what it does to the soundstage.
I bought the HD6xx from Massdrop in January 2018. On certain occasions, I'm hearing some buzzing or rattling but only when the volume is a bit louder on piano for example. I am a bit concerned. It is only on the left headphone. Is this a bad driver? If so, are there replacement parts for the HD6xx? Is that something Massdrop offers or Seinheiser?
hair or dust behind the foam between the ear and the driver. easy to clean out.
Was really looking for a video like this thanks... I'm relatively new to audiophile scene never really did want to spend much looking for a good pair of headphones but don't know where to start there aren't many places to go and try a pair of sennheisers... I've always stuck to iems, I've tried like the se 530s which didn't last long so stuck with cx 300 for like 8 years.. recently bought re-00 from hifi mans and had a pair of senn 201 looking to go for a one time investment and still stuck between the three? I listen to acoustic, Edm, rock and rnb; I do a lot of gaming as well I'm usually using headphones for 10 hours a day. Looked at your review for the x2's and what I get from them is don't buy em... so... really confused and need some guidance..
If you like Edm you might like planars more however 650 is my go-to for long listening sessions since its warm sound signature is less fatiguing. I can easily wear it all day long.
Thanks appreciate it. I love your videos.
I have HD600 with fiio e10k. I feel I can get more of these headphones. Can you suggest one tube amp and one solid state which I can consider? ~ 200 $
I have the exact same setup. Did you find a good tube amp by now? I am actually looking for one as well.
@@alduthegreat I bought Solid state dac/amp Audio-gd NFB11.28. It's my endgame :D
Which Tube Amp should i buy for the HD 600 if im going to price to value ratio
What amps are you using?? Tube and solid state.
NFB-11, Dynalo, Gof's modified starving student, iFi iDSD Black label, and a few others.
Hey DMS, are you still going to release the balanced vs unbalanced Video? Would love to see that. :)
What tube amp and dac combo do you recommend for the HD600s?
Please help. HD 650 VS HD 600. I am about to buy HD600, Should I reconsider for HD650?
600 is more flat. 650 is warmer with slightly less treble. Depends on preference.
@@DMS3TV Thank you for answering. If you don't mind to give a brief explanation of what "warmer" means when it comes to headphones I will really appreciate it.
Guy Lerman it’s a little bit more of the low-mids and bass region. So less focus on highs and more focus on a “full bodied” sound.
Are the 6xx cables good quality, or would you suggest an upgrade?
they "work" though I certainly wouldn't trust them to last years.
Thank you, ill probably pick up something nice soon then c:
Hey @DMS3 TV what was the soundtrack you use in this video?
I’ve heard that the 650 is still better than the mass drop sound wise. What’s your take?
I still prefer the 650 over any other headphone in the line.
DMS can you be a little more specific? You say something different in your video than you’re implying here. Are you saying the 650s sound different than the 6xx ?
Please can you be more specific about hd650 vs m1060?
I would take the M1060 10/10 times over the HD650. I own both, and of all my cans (8 full size), the HD650 is my least favorite. To me it sounds to mid forward, bass is sloppy but present, and highs are rolled off. The M1060 thread on Head-Fi has some interesting mods for it, taking a good headphone and bringing it up to a much better headphone. I'll be modding my M1060s today (Audeze Vegan pads, Paper Towel 3" circle between outside grill and foam). These two mods flatten the frequency response in the higher end, lessening a few peaks and dips. Measurements are extremely good for a $300 ($365 total after Vegan pads) headphone, and planar quickness is to die for.
Thanks for the answer, I also have the m1060 and my akg k7xx sound muffled and lifeless compared to the m1060, the bass is nowhere near the depth the punch and the tightness of the m1060 bass.
the m1060 have made my akg k7xx useless.
Needs more zoomin into his face
Unless you want to gaze the wall
Metal571 did a similar review.
I saw that haha! Ends up we were filming them around the same time. Funny how things work out.
@@DMS3TV it surprise me you talk so differently about soundstage (you point the hd600 is much more intimate than the others). Also he tells the hd580 and hd600 are quite the same and changing the grid would leave them as the same headphone. But for what you say... you make many more differences between them. I am a bit confuse, since I try to decide between them.
Witch one of these for long period of just gaming ??
So how does the 58x compares to the family? Is it good too? Or not? Because theyre the cheapest of the family line of hd 6 series.. Help me decide hehe thanks!
Hey man, did you end up shipping the giveaway items yet?
brian philips yes indeed! I have to return to ups though to add customs paperwork to yours. I forgot the first time.
HD650 is my favorite headphone , so dark clean sound . Everything else is to bright to be clear.
I recently got the Monolith M1060. Is there any point in getting a Sennheiser 650 or 6XX?
I own both and use both a lot.
I just joined the drop for the 6xx. However, I have no idea what amp/dac to use with them. Seems like there are a ton of options, but I want to get the most out of them for under $500. Help pls?
Junglist82 Valhalla 2 Modi 2
It'd be rad if you could do a similar video but comparing the Hifiman 400/500 line. They kind of seem to be in similar price brackets and similar "series" but for those with a preference to planars.
IvGranite unfortunarly that series is out of production and that would be counter productive. HE4, 5, 5le, and the 6s especially are hard to find.
Hi...I appreciate your chanel and your work !!! Please make a review of Hifiman HE400S...thx !
HD6XX worth getting even though i have the M1060?
What are the most open headphones you've tried?
If you are on the budget try Superlux HD330 and remove all fume disk (those are Beyerdynamic clone so super easy to dissemble) you will be surprised how good those 30$ headphones will sound although be prepared because they are 150 ohm out of the box and when you do this mod they gone be way harder to power - stock I used them with FiiO E10k on half power low gain. After modification at 70-80% hi-gain.
Orpheus lol
But that's not really practical is it?
Where did you get your cables?
What DAC/AMP is recommended for HD 6XX?
Anthony Almodovar dark voice or crack bottle if you want a tube amp. Magni 3 for on a budget. Dragonfly red or cobalt for mobile use. Stream with tidal or the much better Qobuz.
Ha-ha... You've been laying HD 650 on your desk a lot... I've been sleeping in HD 215 for five years, carefully of course, but still. Got my pads worn off too much due to pressure, and that cable bending limiter got broken off in the middle, and now that I think about it, a few ear pads clips got broken, but man - five years sleeping in those phones is an insane abuse.
My 600's have a wider soundstage than my Ireland 650's (which I sold) and my 6XX.
This is just my personal opinion, but for me the HD650 is just a fucked up version of the HD600. It's certainly not enjoyable to listen to them for too long because of the over-exposed lows that cover the mids and highs.
Anyway, thanks for the video. Very nice comparison.
Someone is wrong about Soundstage HD600 vs HD650, you said that HD650 have wider soundstage, but on rtings.com and their mesurements it's much worse in HD650 compare to HD600.
www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/hd-600-hd600 - score 6.6
www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/hd-650 - score 6.0
Well, surprise, surprise! HD600 vs HD650 frequency response is here (graph #6 from the top):
diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd600-2/
They look identical except a 1-2 dB lift in the midbass on the HD650.. The HD650 measured was also the old version with black screens fitted with new pads. Not sure which HD600 was measured, but judging from the first pic in that review, it was most certainly the new silver screen version and pads were probably in good condition, because reviewer didn't state otherwise:
What surprises me the most is that HD650 measures even a bit brighter than the HD600 in the treble and yet most people seem to believe that HD650 is quite a bit darker... And I was surprised when I found my last HD650 a bit bright for me in the treble. lol I was like "WTF, is going on with my ears?!" Turns out HD650s may indeed be brighter than many think, at least with fresh pads. lol I also read that with old, worn pads, even HD600 becomes dark and veiled. lol
listening to this on AD1000X's
Looking forward to the balanced vs the unbalanced issue. Please do a blind listening with multiple people to see if they can hear the the difference between balanced and unbalanced. Here is interesting article benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/audio-myth-balanced-headphone-outputs-are-better
Great comparison . IMO lower the backgroud music 10% . Thanks for your insights.
There is no difference between balanced and unbalanced. Sadly, TRUE balanced is very rare in the headphone world. Schiit Audio co-owner Jason Stoddard has covered this is his free book on Head-fi. www.head-fi.org/forum/newestpost/701900.
Great read. If you need insane power, balanced is a great way to go. Don't listen to the Golden ear people saying the difference is drastic. Odds are they are listening on a "balanced' headphone setup, but inside their components it is being converted to Single Ended, and then converted back to balanced output, which isn't balanced. Balanced is very expensive to do correctly, and many don't.
Matt the link didn't take me to Jason Stoddard's free book. I find itinteresting that Schitt put's them on the RAGNAROK and JOTUNHEIM. Please send me new link for the article. Thanks.
Rick Hasemeier go to the first page of that thread. I'm sorry, it linked to the last page.
The 580 used a similar driver to the 600 if you mean the exact same driver .
If you buy the HD-580 jubilee you are buying an HD-600 minus the ugly
they do have slight differences in performance and FR but the 580 is the best extended out of the 3
The 580 ,580 jubilee and the 600 have the exact same driver
They don't. There are small changes.
@@DMS3TV except I have all three and they are exactly the same and Sennheiser says they are and share the same part #
Robbie's Incoherent thoughts they have the same part number but the driver went through a number of revisions that replaced previous version each time. There’s a great image of them all laid out on Reddit.
Song name???
auto focus ON POINT finally :D
Added some light so I could use manual focus with a tighter aperture : D
At $500 the HD700 fits right into this line up and I believe has superior sound and comfort to the 650's. what do you think?
SSSsSSSsssS SS ss SSS AHHhh the sibilance! My Ears BLEED
Just like he mentioned difference between HD600 and Hd650. It's about preference, if you are a treble head go for HD700.
HD700 is pretty cool. It gets a lot of hate for what people believe is "sibilance" when its actually just ringing. This can be fixed with mods but some people prefer the added brightness.
@@DMS3TV Even the original HD 800 has a treble peak.
@@godinhumanform1594 that it does, also from chassis ringing. It can be fixed by adding an absorptive ring to the back side of the pads.
Plot Twist:
The HD580 and HD600 have the exact same driver. The same. They measure the same and sound exactly the same. Only the 650 is different. The difference is not huge however. I have both sitting here.
Listening on my Audeze LCD-2 right now.
Svperstarr same driver does not mean same sound, the grill and internal padding is entirely different. They do not measure the same either, look up the graphs
I have RS220 and HD6XX both have same transducer. Sound very different.
The HD580 and 600 definitely don't sound the same.
HD 600 + O2/ODAC combo here.
IME ODAC is such crap...with or without usb galvanic isolator and ferrite cable. get yourself the $20 behringer uca202 and be surprised. the schiit modi multibit is ahead of them both though. Sadly, I must keep the bulky CDP-X303ES because it sounds best. Of course, my computer's USB could be bad or something, as the ODAC is known to be problematic and it sounded different on my other computer, without having to squint my years.
or you could just run Sonarworks Reference and find that all the HD 6 series sound the same....