Just picked up a pair of these and honestly, this fits my perfect style for sound. Listening to vocals is sooooo clear and smooth, bass is super quick but doesn't destroy your ear. This sound in general is very pleasant to listen to. Especially when you're listening to your own voice as you sing, you will sound amazing. Trust me Obviously, everyone has their preferences, but these are definitely worth a try. Easily my favorite studio headphone and worth its $500 price point. As you said, you're not a big fan of the closed-back market, but as a person who uses closed-back specifically because of no bleeding noise for vocals, these are exceptional. Try them!
Comfort depends 100% on your head size and shape. The ndh30 are the most comfortable I have ever had. But then my ears fit perfectly in the cups. I can see how some people would have trouble with them.
Who cares about fashion, the only question is; can you mix a metal song with them in your bedroom at night disturbing no one else - and it still sounds right and good the next day in your studio monitors. I get my pair tomorrow.
@@mattd2001 Haha I returned them, so dull.. Bought myself DT 1999 pro, which are semi open. Good sound, and works for mixing. Not as comfortable as my old AKG, but i guess i stick with these for a decade or two 😏 But if buying now I would also check out Ollo.
These aren't intended for casual music listening. These are for the musician that's monitoring, mixing, etc. Also you can't really just "monitor" on any type of headphones, at least monitor well.
I have a slightly above average sized head (not sure about ears) based on hat and helmet sizes I have worn. I notice the weight of the ndh20, but I don't really notice any discomfort as long as I have the headphones placed over my ears properly (it seems to take a bit of effort to get the full seal over your ear right, and if the cans don't get the full enclosure over your ears, it will be uncomfortable and degrade in sound. So if you have big ears and/or head and are worried about the enclosure, consider other cans). But they do get warm after use (1 hour in) but I frequently get up from my PC (bathroom/smoke break) every hour or 2 and don't really notice discomfort other than warm pads. Weird headphones; they're neutral, but not neutral....but harman curve neutral but not really. They really are unforgiving on poorly mastered tracks and will reveal all the imperfections and blemishes. Mixed feelings about it as studio/monitoring headphones but very amazing as audiophile headphones.
@@maxsettings7884 It's really annoying, but you could try measuring them one side at a time if there are problems with mounting it to the miniDSP EARS. I also use 2 large rubber bands to get a consistent seal with closed-backs. It's a bit more work, but mostly repeatable as long as the pads are a decent size. EDIT - or make multiple measurements in different positions and settle for the 'average' curve. I'm not saying you did anything wrong, I know the pain of trying to measure small closed-backs :)
The NDH20 is made in China. Just like the 630VB. The Studio Monitors are made in Ireland. The microphones are made in Germany. I think the only headphone Sennheiser makes in Germany is HD800S. Beyerdynamic makes almost all "pro" gear and headphones above 100€ in Germany. Not that it makes a difference quality wise anyway, but there you go.
that does make differences, made in China hugely decrease the cost, and there is a say, you get what you paid, the market determines the price and its price is right there with the all made in German gear, really means if they are made in Germany, they will be cost a lot more......
Luca , thank you for posting this is extremely helpful information and yes I base my decisions of info like this. I have a Neuman 184 mt mic $800 and I would have never bought it if it wasn’t made in Germany. I was going to buy these NDH20s but now I’m going Beyerdynamic made in Germany . Thank you
I really like mine for both tracking and mixing. My mixes translate better than ever using these as an alternative to my monitors. I like my Neumann monitors too so maybe it's a matter of taste and/or musical style/genre. Cheers.
Nice lies. Also they have everything great. By bass what do you mean? better extension or better bloat around upper and mid bass? also treble is detailed very detailed to me and the frequency respond as whole is good and they are pretty much flat around mids for me. They do sound incredible Also these have no dynamics? you have a very crude opinion since everyone else says the differ.
If u need fully closed headphones this is best option better than Denon or Shure 1540 I have both and I can say Ndh are better in sound quality, but yeah if you compare to open back or semi open ndh 20 in the sound quality is shit, not as clear and soundstage ehh, but I personally hate open back because I love rumble sub bass long long deep bass so for me extremely closed back headphones are best choice fuck soundstage and clarity. and take on mind focal closed flagship zmf, fostex are semi open it’s basically open back so from closed back NDH 20 is king
If u need fully closed headphones this is best option better than Denon or Shure 1540 I have both and I can say Ndh are better in sound quality, but yeah if you compare to open back or semi open ndh 20 in the sound quality is shit, not as clear and soundstage ehh, but I personally hate open back because I love rumble sub bass long long deep bass so for me extremely closed back headphones are best choice fuck soundstage and clarity. and take on mind focal closed flagship zmf, fostex are semi open it’s basically open back so from closed back NDH 20 is king
Does anybody have more detail about how they actually compare to the HD600 and HD650? (And the new DT700 pro x) I have the sennheisers and I love them and I am looking for something that ressembles even remotely the sound of those but closed back since I want them for outside use. Yesterday I tried the DT700 pro x and I absolutely loved them, I found the overall signature to be quite similar to the HD600 at least for the genre of music that I listen to, just a bit scooped and with MIND BLOWING bass in my opinion. But how would you compare them to the NDH20? Are they closer to the Sennheisers than the Beyerdynamic?
Ok....sooo! I own the NDH 20s, Beyerdynamic DT 700 PRO X, DT 770 Pro 250ohm, and Sennheiser HD 600. So it depends on what you are using them for? Mixing? Mastering? Just listening to music? For just listening to music I'd say that for closed back enjoyment the Beyerdynamics both 770s and 700 pro x are "better" for that, Beyerdynamic has that "hyped" high end thing that makes most people think they are hearing details in music. The NDH 20s are going to sound "dull" by comparison and the "sound stage" for closed back headphones is much wider on the Beyerdynamics. I like my DT 700 Pro Xs for listening to music or tracking guitar and I love the HD 600 for just listening to music and mixing. The Neumann NDHs are good for vocalists tracking or I've used them for finding the low end of tracks. They are good for that. HD 600s weren't made for studio stuff I don't think, they are an audiophile headphones. The Neumann NDH 20s will not make the music you listen to sound good. 🤷
Nice review man. Maybe being a bit tough on the closed back market as a whole though. Are there any closed backs you do like? I mean the Focal Stellia is supposed to be absolutely fantastic from everything I’ve heard. Granted it costs 3k and is arguably not as good as the Utopias due to being closed. Just wondered if there was any instance where you would choose a closed back and what you would pick.
Not really, there are a significantly lower ammount of good closed back headphones than there are good open ones. Closed headphones are just a lot harder to make good. I actually have a Stellia coming in some time today so you will get my thoughts on that in the following weeks.
Max Settings - Awesome. Looking forward to it. My only closed set is the Campfire Cascade and I really like them for what they are. Not your traditional audiophile sound signature, but a great truly portable set. Granted I also don’t have golden ears (so what do I know) but really like your reviews/opinions. Keep it up!
@@maxsettings7884 which is why you need to review closed backs with that in mind. You can’t expect them to sound as good as open back. They are made so that you can listen in louder environments, not disturb people around you, track vocals and instruments with them etc.
I'm using a pair of these on an SPL Class A headphone output stage, which generally has me very happy. The As an ex-audiophile, I think most of your concerns are on point, although I think that with a properly sturdy amplifier you will get enough dynamics to help bring out the "detail" you might be missing out on. With a serious output stage, the dynamics + ballpark balanced sound signature you can learn for mixing purposes.... to me, my $400 refurbished pair, is an absolute steal, but maybe not worth $500 retail to every casual listener who want them to sound as enticing as they look
Is that the SPL phonitor you are using? I have an SPL crimson interface which I’m using to drive my ndh30 and so far I’m quite happy. However I would love a phonitor
@@CarlyonProduction no, I’m talking about the crimson! I love the headphone amps on it so much. I no longer use it, but I can’t bear to sell it due to the HP amps and the glorious saturation on the 2 preamps
@@maisonmallninja yeah, I have been using mine for close to a decade. It really is the best of its kind imo. I have no problem driving the ndh30 on it. Quite surprised at how well it’s working. I can only imagine how amazing the phonitor is. I really rate SPL stuff highly and don’t think they get enough credit.
Just found your channel and appreciate the review 👍 Any thoughts on how these compare to m40x frequency response wise? I know they're in different price brackets but it's what I'm coming from. Thanks!
These are rated from 5hz-30khz, but I don't think it really goes that low and is probably more like 10-15hz. Compared to the m40x, the neutrality of the sound will be sort of similar but the clarity (in revealing imperfections in the track), low end extension and sound stage is way way superior on the ndh20. I was especially impressed with the sound stage of these cans considering they are closed back. When I go back and forth between my m40, ndh20, and he4xx (I only use the first 2 for music work) and even for just casual music listening I would prefer the ndh20 over the other 2 by far.
for me it's vice versa, they hurt my head top and not ears, 20 minutes in... can't imagine wearing them for hours without some kind of foam modding for that awful headband. the reason I'm not returning them is sound. it reveals f-ups even on the well known recordings within the same album, how cool is that. and now we know who was the true god of mixing and mastering and who was an impostor. but the discomfort...
Valhalla 2 is OTL and more neutral sounding. Has some tube flavor but not a ton at least not stock. OTL also means high OI which means not great with low impedance dynamics or Planars. ZDT is OTC so it has much lower OI and sounds more tubey stock.
It could be that , given 20 more yrs, you might find a set of headphones that you dont hate. And if that happens, let it not be the ARYA, as this is exactly the one that you should hate.
No. My first day with the headphones without an amp because it didn't arrive, and it was atrocious, especially when you just run out of volume. With the amp, it's the usual bells and whistles: you finally get proper listening volumes and the headphone drivers come to life being powered properly. The sound without a dedicated amp and with one is like night and day. If for use without an amp, don't get these, you're just wasting your money. Get ath m40x or something.
Do you think 1990 pro are an good upgrade from the 600s in detail ? If not which headphone do you think would be a good step up , especially for detail?
@@Spyrozzz 1990 has just been way overhyped. It trades treble detail for a better stage and more bass extension and better build than DT880 I guess. But the price delta makes no sense. Way too expensive for what it is
Bismillah Great review thanks. Would you classify these as warm compared to the Stellia (I know you said they were brighter than the 650’s)? Im looking for a smooth warm full size closeback with good isolation and leakage prevention, if you have a better recommendation than these. Thanks.
Yeah, I confirm the fitting of these as being a huge factor in the f/r. I listened to a friend's pair for a few days, and he introduced them to me with pride because of their flat and present sub-bass, and that is what most f/r-s show after all, great sub with no roll-off. So I wear them, put on some massive attack to test the low end, and I'm like... meh... where is this crazy sub-bass you claim you are hearing? As it turns out, his ears fit entirely in that hole, mine don't. No sealed pads no sub-bass with these, and the fact you hear a roll-off at around 50hz might be an indication they don't seal on your head either. My sealing problem with these is such that I actually hear more sub with stax l700's... yeah you read correctly, haha! For the rest, the review is pretty spot on, clearer sounding than HD650, but 650 more resolving in spite of the darker signature. Timbers probably more real on the 650, but the neumann still having pretty good liquidity. To its credit, to me it gives me the general impression of being more full-range than the 650, with more tonal extension on both ends, but yeah, can't compete with the lush and musical beauty of a 650.
Personally I am not a DT1990 fan, but that is not really a fair comparison because 1990 is an open back. As I said the 1770 is the real competitor. If you can do open back I would not buy these, much better options. These are a monitor, that is their use case first and foremost.
630VB are not a terrible headphone, they just did not really have a market, and so there were really few who actually heard them much less reviewed them. They aren’t anything like the Neumann NDH 20 except for some basic superficial resemblance, though.
I got NDH 20 today, and absolutely hate them. Sounds really muffed, dull, no details, and so flat that you can not even enjoy the music with them. Being a musician myself, I don't need these. I am returning those back to Amazon.
ndh 20 on my ur22 mk2 are perfect easy to see the sound while producing (holoprojector) u get sucked in the sound image its so dry and uncolored these audiphile guys dont get what there ment for is my impression sound objects have the right size and distance witch is the main thing for me its effortless to make decissions while tweaking and fiddeling with ur sound objects i wear them for hours
I'm really disappointed these dont have good bass. Any idea what's the best sounding headphones for hip hop? I cant find anything better than my sennheiser hd 8 djs
