Massdrop 4XX VS. 6XX (Comparison) 

Damn, that's what I call an underrated youtuber.

I love the quality and professionalism in your reviews. Very concise yet informative :)

Freakin massdrop, you feel like u save a lot on purchasing either one, you end up buying one, get the other and a 3rd, maybe get a new amp and in the end you spend more instead of buying one $500 headphone...

I own both of these headphones and your review is spot on, sir! Your comparison is exactly what I heard. I was really surprised when I got the 6XX because I was told for years that the HD650 was "laid back" and I felt assaulted when I first used them because the sound is so close and intense. Anyway, if the HD6XX had better bass extension and impact, they would get more head time, since I'm somewhat of a basshead. The 4XX are probably my favorite headphone that I own and they didn't cost close to some of my other 'phones. On the right amp they are absolutely magical! I lightly modded them, I swapped the Focus-A pads for Focus pads and added a piece of rubber shelf liner as a fazor (this is one of the mods on the SuperBestAudioFriends HE4XX thread). That took the sound from good to great! Based on your review, if I had seen it before I bought either, I would have gotten the 4XX and that would have been the right choice for me so I think you did a great job presenting the headphones and highlighting the differences. Keep up the good work!

Hey Josh, here from Wong on Z's discord. I like the reviews so far but one thing I'd like is maybe a song list of the music you use in these videos as I'm a fan of the synthwave sounding music you've used so far. Thanks and keep it up!

I just got my 4xxs. I've had my 6xx for more than a year. I'd have to say that having both is great and worth the money. They really compliment each other. The 6xx is dark and laid back, the 4xx is quick, detailed and fun. Grace DAC and Magni 3 are great with both

Super late but I owned HD650s for like 4 years, bought some 4XX's on a whim, plugged them in and never used the 650s again, gave them to my little brother after a few weeks. 2 years with the 4XX's and I have an unopened 2nd pair incase anything happens. Last sentence of this review nails it, the 4XX is simply fun and something I wished more reviewers touched on was gaming, combined with the punchy bass and open soundstage these make games sound so alive, played Resident evil 8 and got legit startled multiple times because I thought something was in my room lol.

Dude Everytime I look up a headphone comparison, you've done it. That's awesome.

Was very much looking forward to this direct comparison after watching both reviews and immediately picked up the HE-4XX's as my first set of planars. :D Excellent content, keep up the great work!

I love my 4xx, but honestly if you want to get a pair you have to keep in mind that the pads wear off rather quickly (after receiving them 1 year full of care and the right pad is completely detached, the left one is taped with black electrical tape). So basicly be aware of a future expense of $50-70 for replacement pads from Brainwavez or Dekoni.

If you like 4XX's, you're going to LOVE Sundara's

I love Mountains by Hans Zimmer and that is going to be the song I will use to decide whether to pick up the HE-4XX (used) or not. Just loved that you mentioned this masterpiece

Good make-sense review. I've owned both a couple of years and while I like either very much, as a "daily driver" on my pc, I have used the 4xx far more, both for physical and auditory "comfort". These days, I'm actually leaning more to the Sivga Phoenix and the Focal Elegia.

Wow, awesome review! It was very organized, timestamps were convenient, and intro was short. I also love how you weren't passive, and weren't afraid to point out the differences. Very high quality review, you kept it short and sweet

Another point in the favor of the 6XX is the fact that it is an amazing companion for a tube amp. The 4XX will be matched very poorly for this

Great review, solidifies my choice with the 4XX. Got mine last week and I am loving them. I have an old set of HD-580's so I can't see any reason to get the 6XX, especially since it's not the sound signature that I'm really looking for.

Loving the retro synthwave soundtrack and 80's style clour scheme on this older video Josh. Be great to see more of it with your ever-increasing sound, camera work and editing skills. I always make sure I've got a decent pair of amped-up cans for your videos.

This was a fantastic comparison video. You are doing top notch work. Keep it up JV.

I have been waiting for this video for a long time

1:09 What my incognito searches at 3:00 AM sound like...

I think that Americans, in general, love low frequencies. That's why most headphones from the US are relatively more aggressive than the European brands. And I'm specifically talking about audiophile or studio-level headphones.

One thing to look out for is the quality control issues of the HE4XX. I have the 58X,600,6XX and all of those have 0 issues to this day. However when I first got my HE4XXs the side grill was popped out in the box, easy enough fix. I popped it back in then 6 hours later the actual cups and their screws were popping out from the frame. Had to screw them all back in with hex screws and now when I take them out or have them on my desk a set of screw drivers is not too far away. To my knowledge your mileage varies on how long they last before they start needing to be screwed with no pun intended. But it is a guarantee you will need to tighten them at some point.

I was waiting this comparison for ages, Thank you Joshua !

I am loving your reviews man, so straight to the point and clear to understand what you want to mean, thanks a lot

So have been a sennheiser fan for years, but i had purchased the He4XX to try planar magnetic, kinda wish i had stuck to my senns.... But this will be mostly used for gaming, and i hope i picked right :) thanks for the review, i like this and you didn't use too many "audiophile" phrases which noone understands. thanks for breaking it down so clearly. new sub here.

Before I've seen the review I'd like to mention my experience with the headphones. I purchased both of them because I was being really indecisive. On straight out of the box listen to both of them, I found that the 4XX sounded a bit more drowsy which gave me the illusion that they are richer. A few month went by and I continued going back and forth, trying out EQ and using them in public where you find that the 4XX need a little bit more juice to drive than the 6XX. Both of the headphones were very comfortable, but I wasn't a fan of the pads for either of them (valuer just isn't my thing). I like a little bit of bass when I'm listening and so I decided to change them to leather pads for both and by this point they were nicely broken in and I was already starting to prefer the richer sound of the 4XX. After the leather pad change I have to say without a doubt in my mind that I prefer the 4XX. Hands down I haven't taken them off my head with the pad change. The bass became super punchy and they still have that openness about them. The 6XX improved for me as well, but not as dramatically. Previously in order to get decent punchy bass out of the 4XX I'd crank it up so high, that they'd distort and rattle like crazy. But due to the nature of their drivers, they are very sensitive to pressure and the seal that you get with the leather pads was all they needed. Honestly If I were anyone that's looking for either of them I'd grab the 4XX and invest into a nice pair of leather pads, ( these are the ones I purchased and they are super soft and comfortable www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Thicker-Replacement-Cushion-ear-pads-For-HIFIMAN-HE-300-400-500-560-HE-4-6-5-5LE-/172534289105?var=&hash=item282bd852d1) this way you'd have spent less and to be honest, they are a lot more impressive to show off to people :D If you are crazy like me and decide to crank the bass with an amp on these, they will squish your head like no other open back headphone I've tested.

I have both too (actually, the He400i instead of the He4xx). You're so spot on with everything. I just... downright AGREE a 100% your review so let's just agree to agree... Oh wait. We just did that.

The latest version of the HE4XX has gone from 2.5mm plugs at the earcups to 3.5mm plugs. Mine were purchased 1-14-2019.

What I saw your content, and I think 100k subs+ But 8k... WTF

just wanted to let you know been looking at the 58X and the 6XX and found your chan. love the vids keep up the great work. Cheers

You should have more subscribers man. I can appreciate the amount of work you put in to your videos. Great content.

Just stumbled across this video and instantly subscribed. The presentation of organization of everything was just perfect. Really high quality content :)

Im conflicted cus i dont care about highs and i like the description of vocals from 4xx, but also 6xx seems to have better detail and more comfortable. But in the end, i feel like 4xx is better for listening to xxxtentacion, so might just go with those. ----- side notes- really love how you dont talk as much about your own opinions (like z reviews) and dont ramble about somewhat important topics. you waste no time, very good and concise straight to the point. like the words robust, longevity for example.

I just ordered the 58x jubilees, very excited. How do the HE4xxs compare to the 58x?

I prefer accurate for most youtube videos and fun for most games.

HELP!! Hey Josh, great reviews mate. I'm tossing up between the 4XX and the 58X Jubilees. I'm no expert, just someone looking for a decent set of headphones for what I listen to which is mainly dance, pop and rock with some movie watching (action and sifi). Which of these would you recommend or is there something else. I was also looking at Fostex. Cheers.

Nice review. I have both and I feel almost the exact opposite. The 4XX are much brighter and have a lot more detail up top. I hear things in music that I never heard with the 6xx. You can hear every thing to the point where's it's annoying. The sound stage on the 4xx is massive compared to the 6xx. 6xx almost feels like a closed headphone. The Mids of the 6xx are in your face. The bass of both are about the same in volume but the 4xx goes deeper and seems more detailed, but the 6xx has more impact. Just my thoughts.

After listening to the 6xx and 4xx my initial thoughts were the 6xx were better but the more and more i listen i think the 4xx wins and is WAY more confortable

Impressive review. I have both headphones (and many more, i am addict audiophile) and this comparison is very accurate and professionally done. You have future kid. Those who are deciding which one to buy, go for both! And welcome to the world of Audiophiles, it will be painful road ahead especially on your wallet but well worth it! Humans came to world because of God and they stayed cause of music!

I have HD 660 S. I bought HE4XXs so I can appreciate them even more.

Thanks for this video and your advice - I've subscribed (and picked up the 4XXs on the current Massdrop). :-)

I have both, and I found the 4 to be harder to drive than the 6

I own both, and while I generally agree, there are two issues with the Senns that I want to mention. Number one, I have big ears, and when listening with the HD-6XX after a while the back of my ears start to hurt. The oval design is just not a good fit for me. Something I hear rarely mentioned in reviews of the 6XX is a certain boominess. I didn't see the frequency response measurements, but I guess that there's a little too much energy around 100 - 120 Hz. I don't like that, it sounds wrong to me. With the HE-4XX OTOH there is nothing I would like to change in FR or timbre, they sound just right although I agree the resolution could be finer. But there's a certain 3D quality to the sound that I never experienced with the Sennheisers: each instrument is very clearly separated from the others (provided a good recording) and so while they are "fun" in terms of frequency response I would also call the "analytical" in the sense that they make it easy to follow a certain instrument in a jazz recording or group in an orchestra. I like the 4XX better than the 6XX although the latter also have aspects where they shine.

I bought a pair of HD 580 Precisions back in 2004. Upgraded everything but the headband assembly; the drivers, pads, cable. Had the 4xx for 6 months and of course in HiFiMan fashion they fell apart within 6 months. Too bad they were a great compliment to the 580 Frankensteins.

The 6xx has a higher impedance but it also has a higher sensitivity rating. The 4xx needs 1mw. of power to reach a volume level of 93db. The 6xx reaches 103db with 1mw. of power. Give them each 1mw of power and the hd6xx has 10 db more volume. I can't rap my mind around the hd 6xx being brighter than the 4xx. The 6xx is well known for being a non bright and dark headphone. The 400 has been described as having a fairly elevated treble from 7khz. to 10khz. The only explanation I can come up with is that the 400 treble is more diffuse and spread out,rather than up front and compact. Keep in mind I've never heard the 4xx.

Your video makes me wanna buy both for different listening scenarios

6xx/Magni/Modi/Reference 4 - Mixing for flat response...

Great review and comparison, I think the mic analogy of the 6xx is 100% correct, IF you haven't I hope you get a change to check out 1more triple over ears. To me they were as big of an eye opener as m1060 and 6xx were. Worst case is I can send them in a few months after I get some love out of them lol

I wouldn't bother with the 4XX without an amp, not so much for the power but for some coloring to the upper mids. The right amp really makes all the difference with these planar magnetics.

I find it surprising you said the sennheiser HD650 were a bit fatiguing when they are "the sennheiser veil" by almost everyone. They are definitely buttery smooth on the treble with a great amount of details.

I purchased the HD6XX and find they lack bass a little but I am ok with that because they do mids and highs so well that it makes up for it. Thanks for the review.

Hi Joshua, really enjoy your channel bro! Hey, what amp did you use for this comparison? Cheers

i have both of them and enjoy both for different reasons.

I honestly don’t get the hype on the 6XXs. Maybe you’d say they are warm/dark, but they just sound kinda muted to me. That’s how my wife described them when she first tried them and she’s not an audiophile at all. With some EQ, I can get my 6XXs sounding pretty good. I can’t stand them without the EQz

Your thumbnails made me want to buy a used cheap 4xx and add rgb for display.

Since you have tried both ... 58x (the Jubillee ones) or 6xx ? In which I should invest to tame my thirst of Sennheiser ? Fantastic comparison once again..

You made some errors. 4XX uses 3.5mm connectors and requires more power than the 6XX to reach the same volume level.

Great vids!!! Will you be comparing the akg 7xx with these?

Awesome coverage Josh, voice was clear, you told it like it is, and no bs. Oh and btw, after seeing this video, I liked, subbed, and notified !! :))

I'm super new to all of this and finding this video made me realize I'm not just making this shit up. I have both of these and I agree with everything you said. Thanks.

If I like to listen to Metal and play some Videogames, then which one could be better for me?

I want to buy these for like 80% gaming and 20% music (although when i do listen to music i REALLY listen to music, i can lose like 2 hours just listening to music) what amp should i buy? I do not want to break the bank but i want something that will draw out the best of these Headphones. I chose these headphones bc most people think they are the best in their price range. (have not bought anything yet) Also i was thinking of the mayflower arc strictly bc of the bass boost button. (im a bass head when it comes to music) PLEASE GIVE YOUR OPINIONS.

Wonderful comparison video. I am looking at both of these headphones as my current Sennheiser HD579s are falling apart currently lol. As tempted as I am by the 4XX's planar magnetic drivers I think I'm going to go with the 6XX as I do some music production and an accurate sound is what I want most. I definitely want get a pair of the 4XXs at some point though because they do sound like a very fun pair of headphones!

Great review. Have you had anytime with the Sundara headphones by HiFiman? I am trying to decide between 4XX and them

Thanks for this couldn't have been better timing.

I have HE-4XX, HD600 and Fostex TH-610. HE-4XX my favorites. They are just more fun.

I have HD650's and just got a pair of HE-4XX's. I have to say I actually like the lateral/clamp force of the 650's. With the 4XX it feels like its just kind of sitting there weighing your head down. It's kind of like wearing a hiking backpack with or without the hip strap engaged.

Hi, would you know if he4xx similar to athm40x? I'm confused in buying he4xx or hd6xx. I'm wanting to buy an opposite sound sig with my atm40x. Thank you for insight in this.

I had both and eventually sold the HE4XX. My main reason was that every time I put on the Hifiman my ears had to adjust to the gnarly dip in the upper-midrange (maybe a longer burn-in period could have solved it. But graphs confirmed my suspicion.) With the HD6XX it sound very alive and real right away without my ears having to get used to a certain flaw. (This does not mean it doesn't have some, but everything does.) I would love to try the HD58X. But unfortunately I do not have unlimited amounts of cash laying around.

watching this with my he4xx i love it more than m1060 unmodded

Accurate and flat always. Hear the music as the producer intended. Why anyone wants big bass or a lot of high frequencies ? You can put an eq in your listening app , but buy accurate headphones first. Sennhiser hd 600 ! Game over.

sorry that im really late but just wanna say HOLY FUCK THAT THUMBNAIL IS BEAUTIFUL

Awesome video man. Great filming

THANK YOU VERY MUTCH !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i was going crasy trying to decide !!!! 4XX here i go

07:03 I certainly DID!!! And gaaawd! I love that fat retrowave track playing in the background!

Your goal is point us to the right direction if I just need to pick one. After watching your video, I have both.

Great video and straight to the point. Went with the 4XX for "fun" factor. :) Both are great though.Very underrated You Tuber like Oracion said. :O

these are cheap enough get both lol

'Clamp Force' was the name of my superhero team in college.

What do you think of the DT 770 Pros? I know that's kind of a random comment based on the content of this video but I'm trying to decide what's right for me.

Exactly the comparison I was hoping for considering my Sennheiser hd600 are getting old. They are still working like a champ just falling apart a little, that is the foam inside the ear has a hole in it. 😁

I had a HD-600 and later a HD-650 for years and years. Both had loose sounding bass - most noticeable on solo piano. Even 3dB of bass cut at 125Hz did not help (clearly resonance cannot be EQed out). I have not heard the HD-6XXs but I suspect they'd be the same. So much for the 6s. The 4s solve the loose bass problem the 6s have, but are also less "dark". I also replaced the original ear pads with velvet pads so they stick less. The bass of the 4s goes deeper and has much more growl and punch than the 6s. The upper mids are a little too forward tho, so I use a 2dB cut at 4kHz and it goes back to the nicer Sennheiser-like "dark" but - better still - not as dark.

How are you not more popular, like your vids

Any chance you'd look at the 58x Jubilee?

Will you compare the AKG K7XX with the HD6XX or the HE4XX ?

Do the upgraded cables make much of a quality in audio difference?

You need to slow down a bit..having a hard time keeping up with while trying to take it in and make sense of what you are saying, and not to mention, on top of that you cut and forward your footage quite often, making it even more difficult to fully comprehend w/o backing up several times. For example, what was that cable that could substitute the proprietary sennheiser cable?

Josh, how would you describe the difference in soundstage between Argon and 4XX?

unfortunately I cant agree with the build quality. My he4xx headband and retainers basically separated and I was forced to purchase a new headband assembly. but I do agree with everything else Joshua says

And if we compare the 58x against 4xx, which one would be better?

I’m still so confused about the amp part. Do I really need to buy a separate headphone amp or is the built-in on my Cambridge axr100 adequate? It claims anything from 35-600 ohms would work fine and I know that’s misleading but I can’t imagine my amps power is any less than a schiit magni?

Or like me, you have both the 4XX and the 6XX, oh yeah also the 58X also.

Great reviews, and refreshing to see a down-to-earth, reasonable guide to headphones. Glad I found this!

I now have both but fail to hear any significant difference between them. Am I missing something?!

Went with the 4xx because of your review, 6xx are more of just an upgrade to my SHP9500s'

Thanks for the review, it really helped.

that was a good review . gets better and better everyday. :)

I had the HD6XX's for six months and sold them. I found them boring. I have had the HE4XX's for a month and use them pretty much every day. I prefer Fun over Neutral.

I was searching for 4XX vs HD58X due to the price range... but I guess, 4XX is the winner then?

Soooo.. gaming wise which is the better headphone?