Thanks friend. I would personally go for the Sennheiser for indoor, it doesn't isolate well. I liked its sound over the m50x considerably and it's more comfortable.
aornic Do you still have the AEON Flow closed? I’m selling my 660S and strongly considering picking up the AFC to replace it. I listen to mostly metal and jazz. I find that my tastes often align with yours so I’d love to hear your thoughts. Regards!
I just want to take a moment to appreciate how far your review quality has come over time. I remember watching your long ZMF vibro reviews and later the Omni one again and again because they were so well done. But the quality of your reviews only got better from there. And now your channel too has grown much since then. Cheers man! I'm happy for you.
Nice job Aornic, really enjoyed this comparison, although I regret to inform you that (by default) your reviews are helping viewers with their purchase decisions! I wonder if the industrial designer of this 600-line has ever been awarded/recognised? Incredible to think these somewhat plasticky, but ultimately durable things were first walking out the factory door in 1994.
I just got my hd660s , and yes they have one of the best sub bass I ever heard , they go easily to 20hz , so don't worry ! That was my only fear ! And yes I'm a fucking bass head ! And if a bass head like me love the sub bass of hd660s trust me .. they have it , thank you sennheiser !
I've auditioned all three. I've gone for the 660s. 650 is my least favorite because I found it a little darker than the other 2. 600 was smooth easy, but I wanted more bass. It's true, some audiophile say that the 660s don't scale as well vs it's siblings being "amped"... but I don't want to spend more on an additional amp. Problem solved. 660s are coming my way. That's my experience and my two cents.
Honestly the lesser scaling potential of the 660 S isn't even a bad thing. Because what we've gotten in return, is a headphone that sounds better on cheaper sources. And for those who want to add different coloration characteristics to them, EQ software really isn't a sin. That's free and allows you precise control of whatever you want to increase or tone down. I've also decided on the 660 S, because of it being easier to drive, sounding just more technically resolving and being more flexible with EQ. I've had mine for ~6 months by now, and it's still such a pleasure to put them on every single day. Should I somehow manage to break them any time soon, I'd just purchase another 660 S in a heartbeat.
I've just subbed. Great review, beautifully shot. You get a bonus point for mentioning Angel from Massive Attack. Haha. Love my 650's and won't be changing anytime soon, even though I agree with much of the negatives points you made against them.
I really think this is the best review I've found concerning this headphones. This video is what I expect from a person who really enjoys music. Even each instrument is perfectly described. Thank you so much for this excelled review.
Here’s a good way to look at the price. The HD650 and HD660S both have a MSRP Of $399.99. The HD650 sells for $315 or less. If the HD660S is not necessarily a replacement of the HD650....but just a DIFFERENT flavor one must decide WHICH flavor they prefer. But pay NO MORE than $315. If the HD650 will be put out of production grab one now while they’re still available or grab a used pair.The Massdrop HD6XX is another option.
Coming from the momentum 2.0s, I figure either will be a substantial upgrade, so I'll just go with the cheaper 650. It sounds like they sound close, with differences that would more than likely come down to personal preference (aside from the obvious draw to the 660s which is the better separation). Thanks for the review: you saved me $200.
I have the 6xx/650, just listened to 660s, still love my 6xx, 660s is little bit more fun/exciting , but not that much, just a little. lets say coffee with milk--- 660s more coffee less milk, 6xx/650 more milk less coffee.
Glad to hear I'm not alone. I find the 660s to be substantially more shouty and artificial, compared to the 600, and everybody I talked to just say it's just me. lol. Out of the three I've kept my 600 and 650. The 660s is just... weird, it's good, but I just don't enjoy it as much.
The so-called 'veil' on the HD 650 is a sign that the headphone needs more current pushed through it. When powered with a high-quality tube headphone amp, the veil almost completely disappears. It is replaced by lashings of detail and impactful control that not many people are aware of from this headphone. It is true that the HD650 Scales well but in reality, it is more like the headphone actually needs the extra power, control, finesse, and money spent on amplification to be able to sing at the truly high level that it can. Personally, I feel that when purchasing it, you must factor in a very high-quality amp as well, otherwise, you will never allow it to shine. If you can, then you will be rewarded with an experience as good as any headphones on the market regardless of price. This is the reason why almost all headphone fanatics and audiophiles have and will always keep a set of 650s in their collection.
The reviewer seems to be contradicting himself a bit here. He claims that the HD660 still has the 'Sennheiser veil' which would mean that the treble is a bit recessed or 'smoothed'. Yet he also claims that the treble is a bit harsh and 'artificial', which I would take as there being too much treble. I don't understand how it can be both veiled and harsh at the same time.
Maybe that is just how he is hearing it and those annoyances could be from peaks that don't show in many smoothed over graphs. While I agree the 650 could be called veiled I never really thought the 600 was "veiled". It always came across more as "smooth" to me with the 600 and I find the 660s to be even less "smooth". I personally don't agree with much in this review when it comes to the comparisons but with that said the 660s still sounds like all the others in the family. I guess if you can call one "veiled" you can call them all "veiled". Idk
Thanks for your review. I am using iFi Zen DAC v1. balanced connection with HD660s and I listen predominantly classical music. I find HD660S very detailed, smooth, natural and realistic sound with a touch of warmth and excellent instrument separation. With 150 ohm impedance I never need to turn the volume above 11 o’clock. As they are not heavy, I can listen for a few hours without feeling fatigue. I mainly listen to classical music which I think HD660s is ideal for this genre. No matter it’s Chopin’s nocturne (solo piano) or Schubert’s string quartets or symphonies by Beethoven and Mahler involving 100 + pieces of instruments of varied tones and textures, the HD660s reproduces them with ease and accuracy. With well recorded music, HD660S makes me feel I am sitting right in the the best seat of a concert hall.
I'm glad for this review. I have the 650's and don't want to dish out the premium $$ that the 660's require. Seems to me that all 3 are close given a quality amp. I'll wait until the prices equalize.
Folks, take reviews with a grain of salt. It's all subjective! We all hear things differently. I don't find these cans shouty or harsh at all. Gear upstream will also have an effect on sq as well. If you're listening to poorly recorded shit , like Black Sabbath, you'll hate every headphone on the market. Lol
Is the 660s really shouty or is it just about the poorly mastered tracks being too harsh because the 660s is just too honest and doesnt smoothe the music?
Hello. Many reviewers have highlighted that this headphone lacks the warm sound delivered by 650S and is not even nearby 650S. I am looking for a headphone with detailed sound bits and warm sound. I mostly listen to songs that include Rhythm guitar and 80's rock and ballads. Is this model really worth buying?
Sundara and Audeze are planars, so need better amping, and they're heavier too. 660S are very good in positioning for their price and are very versatile.
Do not listen to this video with headphones. I can hear this guy salivating. 🤢 Besides that excellent review. Next time don't put the mic so close to your mouth.
According to MANY reviewers and people who own the HD650 the infamous Sennheiser veil has NOT existed in a LONG TIME. Look what happened when Sennheiser attempted to avoid the veil in the HD80....we get treble spikes. Does this demonstrate the limitations of a fully open dynamic driver can? Go with. DT990 600 ohm and you won’t get any sort of “veil”....whatever that actually means.
650 vs the 600 sounded more muffled IME. 660s had a slight more clarity than 650. Anyhow not to argue too much. Sennheiser did tune the 660s, so that's that.
Ditto here... For example, I never found the 660S to be shouty or veiled in any way. It has a lot to do with the amp pairing I believe. The new generation chip based amps tend to bring in the shouty nature cause of lack of texture. So instead of the Amp getting blamed (probably cause they measure well, so what could be wrong) the headphone is identified as culprit.
It isn't as dynamic, impactful or as fast as the Elear. However, those who hate the Elear would probably enjoy this more as it isn't largely dipped in the upper-midrange.
Quite confusing sound presentation ... From ur description ... Ur best n detailed review ever ... Read ur written review last night ... Was expecting Sennheiser to give us something better than 700 n somewhat closer to 800 n an improvement over 6xx. Do u think it has something to do with the design of the HPs? Wrong design for this driver?
same question with Ariana Grande How long do you burn in this headphones? At least it should be 300 hrs. From what i heard from this review it seem to been not enough hours.
After a year of owning HD660s - I finally can hear and agree with what he is talking about, in hindsight I would buy something else, because after first noticing it - shouty mids are very annoying
Burn in does not make any difference. It doesn't change the phase/frequency response. Rather, it is a psychological phenomenon of getting used to the headphones.
What’s does clarity imaging separation,smoothness and neutrality mean? I’m new to audiophile headphones and I’m deciding between these three headphones
@@HeyNavi clarity is when u can hear every note clear without distortion . imaging is when u can understand exactly where every vocal or intruments are placed . smoothness is when u get clarity but without bright painful brightness for example dt1990 and sundara sound more clear but they are for most people painful on highs. Neutrality is when the frequency responce is flat and bass mids highs are all flat. For example HD650 have a bump on midbass and a dip on highs that make them more smooth and warm. Hd600 are natural flat responce every note it comes to u equally .Hd660s are clear have a slight bump on mids so u get more vocals and also HD660 use the blue driver from HD700 series that is waaaay more fast more detail and imaging also u get better seperation ... This is when a lot of instruments play together and u can hear the space between them for example on HD600 and 650 u can hear guitar and drumsticks from the same place and not the one next to the other like HD660s do. But again its all about taste. Thats why Sennheiser sell these 3 600 650 and 660s so can people choose what is better for them. All i am saying is compared each other. Because DT1990 are V shaped headphones very cllear fatigued with better bass extension than every HD6 series.
Mpamphs Kangourosaurous Thanks a lot for the response. It really did help a lot and made things less confusing when it comes to these terms. As for my taste. I previously had a DT990 pro but as you mentioned with the 1990 pro, they fatigued. The 990 pro, to me were very loud and most of the times, a little too much, sharp and not comfortable. My ears are very sensitive and I prefer something (excuse me if I don’t use the right terms when it comes to audio) warm, soft, easy on the ears? A bit of balance on everything but not too much where everything sounds the same and not too much of one thing where it over shadows one thing. I’ll be using these for gaming as well and I’ve been using the hyper xcloud flights and did enjoy the audio on them but at time they sound mushy, low, compressed but somewhat balanced. I want more of the same thing but I want the audio to not be mushy, not too low, compressed and balanced, warm, soft, easy on the ears and not somethings extremely loud and piercing and fatigue like the dt990pro. From your own experience with the headphones, which one do you think fits my needs? Or what do you personally think what’s best for me. I was gonna get the hd700 btw but it appears they’re discontinued? On amazon there are some for sale but used. Is there any other place to get them new? And if so what about the hd700 compared to the 600/650/660
@@HeyNavi about HD700 vs 660 they use same driver both of.them are fast responce great image. But u have to.know HD6 series are perfect for stereo music they.have best vocals etch etch but they dont have big soundstage like 990 or akg 712 or philips x2 have. So HD600 for small soundstage but the most neutral not exciting. HD 650 for the smoothest warm low highs but again small soundstage. HD660s for the best imaging of all , clarity , fast response and also they share the warm reaponce of HD 6 series but they are the most clear of them. HD700 the bigest soundstage of all by far they have small bump on highbass responce more boomy and they have more highs than anything its something close to 990 but with more clarity and position sonif u want for gaming HD700 are the ones u need footsteps are easy to.listen. So if u like the sound of 990 and need upgrade get the hd700 or sph9500 philips. If u need something for music and more correct on frequency take.something from.HD6 series. If.i unerstand correct the best option for u is 660s they are the ones with.best image to.help u hear footsteps at games and they are also warmer than dt990. But u.need to understand they dont.have the low.bass and bright higha that 990 have. In my opinion HD660 are the only headphone that can do everything great but not perfect thats why if i had to choose one headphone this would.be hd660s
Mpamphs Kangourosaurous Is there a difference between the hd660/660s? I think I’ve decided and will be getting the 660s. I will be using these for gaming and music. Oh and will it run good on a creative sound blaster x7?
aornic I know. I do this professionally. :) but I had to sell my home studio setup to fun my wifes masters degree. In the meantime I'm doing some work at home while I save up for the proper setup again. I also have to travel and work and need something usable and consistent from room to room. You are right though and yet.. Here we are ;) Thanks for the reply.
Butterfield Studios ahh I understand. I would not recommend any of these options then to be honest. They're all pulling a certain direction in sound signature. I wish I could give you an answer though, but I'm not very familiar with headphones you could use for mixing. Hope it works out, cheers.
chuckolatte I don't hear it. The HD650 is still not a bass heavy headphone. Bloat to me is what you'd hear in, let's say, the Meze 99 Classics. Bass bloat is not a common criticism of the HD650
Thank you for acknowledging the veil of the senn 6xx cans! I have used the hd600 for the last 10 years, and the veil is so obvious! And all those existing reviews (without mentioning names...) of people claiming that veil does not exist...what are they, deaf?!
Sennheiser had made driver changes over the HD600/650 series over the years. HD600 came out, what 1997? HD650 came out in like 2003? The most recent change, was only a few years ago. The HD650, usually considered to have more veil, is a lot closer to what the HD600 once was.
The HD600 is my favorite pair of headphones, period. There is a veil. It exists. I use a Xonnar Essence STX and Valhalla 2. Before that, I used an Asgard 1 to amp them. They were properly amped and its there. Its just part of its sound. I also like the HD700 so I may not have much in the way of taste... Take what I say with a grain of salt
