I’ve had mine for years. I kid you not. I listen to these more than any other headphones I have. I’ve got $1,800 Hifimans, I’ve got $800 Focals, I’ve got other competitively priced headphones but I keep putting these back on. Even Sundaras in that price range sound pretty darn good but the HD6xx just has such a natural sound I enjoy. I’ve replaced the pads to perforated sheep skin leather and I love them even more.
I've gone full circle, from thinking plastic was low quality. To getting metal Focal. To getting wood ZMF. Ultimately realising that plastic is the best material for good sound.
I have the pc38x, I’m not playing rant much lately. Is it t really worth to upgrade, taking in consideration that I will have to buy an amp too? Are they that far apart from the pc38x?
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! There’s nothing about the design of the 600 Series that needs to be updated. The materials are solid and functional. Yes, the basic design is about 30 years old but they were ahead of their time and their reliability is legendary. What I would say is that for vocal performance, they are still relevant. Where they fall behind is in other areas like soundstage and instrument separation. My current favorite is the new FiiO FT3 which is more expensive but outperforms the 6XX. FTR….. The 6XX is now priced at $239 but goes on sale from time to time.
Would like to see an option for different cable attachment, I get they have a classic design. Still is a large selling point when getting into the hobby and I have finite space
I find no use for it in my line up, about 6 years ago I bought it after I bought the Sundara, I have 4 other headsets. 6XX has no details (not good for instruments), no bass (can't use for pop music), veiled mids (so so vocals., just a relaxed sound. Just can't find a use for it I am sorry.
Hey man, no need to be sorry! No matter how gear might measure, preference will always be subjective. Sundara's can do a lot that the 6XX can't, so you might just be more of a planar listener.
@@MasterMarslander Actually I might have to take my statement back, it' been many years like you said. Back then you have to use the 6XX as a reference if you are watch DMS or other audiophile channels. They compare a lot of speakers to the 6XX. Secondly I do remember using it smooth out tracks that's been recorded terribly. Any analytical headsets in that situation would be unusable.
These are butter smooth, delicious headphones. Don't believe anyone who says they're "veiled" or "muffled", they clearly haven't heard them properly amped. I use a tiny bit of EQ to make the treble sparkle and they are always a joy to listen. Any analog, acoustic recording sounds sweet and vivid. They're an absolute steal at $220, the original HD650 retail price was $550 and I still think they would be worth it at that price.
Even having upgraded to headphones multiple times the price of the hd6xx, it's very nearly as good. And in some songs just as good as thousand dollar headphones. I've used them daily for about 3-4 years. Especially with EQ, (I can reply with the EQ I use) they are exceptional for my preference. Needs some power tho, schiit magni heresy amp and modi 3+ dac do the trick for me.
@@acombo Will take a proper amp to run but with equalizer apo this is my eq: Preamp: -15 dB Channel: All Filter 1: ON PK Fc 2284 Hz Gain -10.4 dB Q 1.00 Filter 2: ON PK Fc 228 Hz Gain -8.7 dB Q 1.00 Filter 3: ON PK Fc 415 Hz Gain -8.3 dB Q 1.00 Filter 4: ON PK Fc 1247 Hz Gain -5.5 dB Q 1.04 Filter 5: ON PK Fc 901 Hz Gain 3.8 dB Q 1.07 Filter 6: ON PK Fc 2061 Hz Gain 9.0 dB Q 2.73 Filter 7: ON PK Fc 626 Hz Gain -3.0 dB Q 2.02 Filter 8: ON PK Fc 3512 Hz Gain -4.7 dB Q 3.53 Filter 9: ON PK Fc 5900 Hz Gain 3.9 dB Q 3.00 Filter 10: ON PK Fc 128 Hz Gain -2.2 dB Q 2.00 Filter 11: ON PK Fc 5108 Hz Gain -2.3 dB Q 12.59 Filter 12: ON PK Fc 5494 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 20.00 Filter 13: ON PK Fc 4513 Hz Gain -1.5 dB Q 10.00 Filter 14: ON PK Fc 4228 Hz Gain 1.2 dB Q 20.00 Filter 15: ON PK Fc 4732 Hz Gain 1.1 dB Q 20.00 Filter 16: ON PK Fc 4664 Hz Gain -0.4 dB Q 20.00 Filter 17: ON PK Fc 938 Hz Gain -0.3 dB Q 20.00 Filter 18: ON PK Fc 1746 Hz Gain -0.6 dB Q 20.00 Filter 19: ON PK Fc 1969 Hz Gain 0.6 dB Q 20.00 Filter 20: ON PK Fc 6100 Hz Gain -1.9 dB Q 5.00
Zen stack is a great pairing for the 6XX. You'll have a blast. As for tube amps I highly reccomend the Darkvoice 336SE, or the Xduoo TA-26s, the latter being available on Amazon. amzn.to/42xg0xF
Hi , totally agree with you my 660 comes alive with the true bass selected , I have also 6 xx with custom cans bass mod which improve bass at the bottom end . I also replace ear pads on 6xx and 660s to help too . Regards mark
Ive had hd600s for a while but always been tempted to try hd650s(6xx,same thing)to find out if I'm missing anything(as the bass is more present and overal sound fuller whilst traiding off details)..and finally got 650s recently,listened to side by side and on their own(trying not to remember hd600s sound) and ....I find them too buttery,yes,the bass is there(for those who say there's no bass you need to get your ears checked)Sound is fuller,rounder but I miss details hd600s gives me .HD600s with Zen Can XBass feature they sound just right,and the vocals are better on 600s incl details-all in all 6XX seem to dark to my ear taste,So don't always follow trends and what majority say,trying hard to like something only because "everyone"like this or that.
Re forcing the cable back into the headphone; if you look closely the poles are slightly different in size. It's possible you may be forcing the larger pole into the smaller hole. I find that theres not real effort to situate these if orientated correctly. Just something to consider.
This was really fun to look back on these classics for a second time and give an even more in-depth look than you originally had. Great review, very thorough.
@@calvinyip364 I had a review of the HD58X, but it got lost before I could upload it. The HF58X is warmer and smoother than the HD6XX. HD58X is more V-shaped, while the 6XX is more natural and more resolving.
Hi , an update from my last entry, I fitted thrust party van damme silver coated copper cable from a supplier in the Uk, I noted from my old hd575 has 1” velour pads so I found 11/4” 33mm pads on my hd660, so I fitted also to my 6xx to help with the sound signature and extremely comfortable over the stock pads. The audio reponse hasn’t changed that much . It’s also interesting that the hd650 in the Uk is £229 at the moment. Regards mark
I am considering it even I got PC38x and GSP500 How does it work with smartphone? I listen it indoors and quiet enviornment, and mostly traditional music and TV show
If you want to use it with your phone I reccomend you get a portable amp. I have a video on the Hip Dac, which is my favorite little portable powerhouse.
@@MasterMarslander Perhaps I should settle with PC38x and GSP500 I have no problem using the latter with smartphone and the mic is excellent for talking
@mingkee27 both are great, you can't really go wrong. HD6XX is just a much higher impedance headphone then those others and really requires amplification.
@@MasterMarslander what's your opinion on HD58x? I checked the spec and I think it should be more smartphone friendly. (150ohms and 104dB/1V) Keep in mind both of my phones support 32bit/192kHz with Poweramp and I have hundreds of albums in FLAC from CDs
Hi , interesting video, I fitted Custom Can bass mod , they sound a lot better in the bottom end of frequency range. But the spread shows a good audio reponse . Regards mark
I wouldnt say it feels cheap at all. Honestly the number one sold and most loved gun in the world is made out of plastic. So if a gun can be made out of plastic and be the best I'm pretty sure headphones can be too.
I like the sony mdr 7506 the best with that said which is the most similar open back headphone thats like those? speaking purely on how it sounds i dont care about earpds or anything else just the sound
Hi, do you know how these perform in games? Is the soundstage and positional audio accurate when it comes to footsteps and other audio cues? Also, do you know how these compare to the new 560s? There are a bunch of videos where people are saying those are excellent in games. Even videos from competitive gamers praising it's soundstage and positional accuracy.
I think they're fantastic for games. Tons of detail, spatial audio, fantastic imaging. You will need an amp though. Plugging them directly into your controller or PC will not be a great experience. I haven't heard the 560s just yet, so I can't directly comment on them, but I imagine the two are pretty similar overall.
It's lacking that base punch and details if you like the gun shots, explosions and rumbles, but It's not fatiguing since it's not exciting. There are a lot more others that has more details if you want that for gaming, but it's fatiguing.
@@hong-enlin4651 What would you recommend for gaming? I do listen to music and watch movies also. But I would appreshiate a good soundstage and positional audio.
@@MasterMarslander Do you think the DROP + XDUOO TA-84 will be equal or better than the xDuoo TA-26S? Will the 6N8P and 6N5P tubes also work on the TA-84? Does TA-84 output much less power? Does TA-26S have the same problem as TA-84 (which is only suitable for driving high impedance headphones)?
@@Viewer13128 Good question. I hope to get a DROP + xDuoo TA-84 in the studio sometime soon so I can make a direct comparison. I do not know if the tubes will be compatible between the two amplifiers, but I would guess that they are not, at least not entirely. Based on the published specs for the two, it looks like the TA-26S produces a lot more output power and can optimally run headphones between 60-600 ohms impedance, while the TA-84 impedance range is 100-600 ohms.
@@MasterMarslander thnx. sounding like the TA-26S is better. so the tubes TA-26S uses will be cheaper to replace too? how long do your tubes usually last? Regarding cable, is it the "FANMUSIC C6 Headphone Upgraded Cable"?
@@Viewer13128 on paper my guess is that the TA-26S is the better buy, but I won't know for sure until I've had a chance to try them side-by-side. Tube life varies by a number of metrics. How often they are used, how well they are taken care of, the climate you live in, manufacturing, etc. etc. The tubes that come with xDuoos in general are pretty cheap to replace, so if they do die on you over time you shouldn't have a lot of trouble replacing them.
There is a difference between the 6XX and the 58X. So if it is a question of are they too similar, then no, you will be getting a different listening experience with the 6XX. If it is a question of whether or not you would prefer the 6XX over the 58X, that's going to be up to you. 58X is more relaxed and fun. 6XX is more neutral and resolving with better natural timbre.
@@MasterMarslander yeah i get your point, unfortunately even second-hand 6 series are too expensive to try out. from sound demos i've heard online 6xx seems to have more depth @300 ohm, but personally can't justify the price! what's your thoughts on the 560S? because as far as neutrality, the 560S (revised 2022 edition) seem to out-perform the 6 series in all aspects (especially for music making).
@h-dawg6462 if you're happy with your 58X I don't think you need to worry about a 6XX anyway. In your shoes I'd probably save up for a different kind of headphone entirely, like maybe a planar. As for the HD560S I haven't had the opportunity to hear it yet, but I have heard very good things about it!
They are not bluetooth headphones, no. I just finished a review of some very stylish bluetooth headphones by Edifer you can check out, but they do not compare to the 6XX in terms of sound performance.
Recently got my HD6XX on sale for $180, so I feel like I'm lucky in that regard. So far The detail I've experienced from these are in a class of their own. I got balanced 2.5mm cables for these to connect to my FIIO BTR5 (yes that's my only DAC/AMP at this point) and they're SO NICE compared to the stock cables. These headphones have helped me appreciate all my other headphones and EQ them properly to my tastes. These have become my reference point. Hopefully these will last for pretty much all my life.
Can anyone help me with upgrades from hd6xx? best value for sure, but im looking to get into the upper grade headphones if i can... have no clue where to begin and there are only a few hours left for the holiday deals. but i guess the issue is it will all be subjective and ill have to hear for myself. i suppose if it was similar to the hd6xx but just improved that would be a good starting point. my hd6xx just recently broke also... something happened to one side no idea how woke up with it indented inward.. but yea so i dont know i might even get a replacement for those and an upgrade to compare.
Well what kind of sound signature do you tend to prefer? Something neutral and balanced, something a little more v shaped, big kicking bass, something super detailed? Also do you want open back or closed back?
Well, in case you run out of time and need a random suggestion in a hurry, I think the Higiman Edition XS might be a good choice. I have not heard one in a while, but i remember really enjoying it. amzn.to/3uJfQa8
Trollberg I own both headphones and I much prefer the hd 6xx. The shp9500 are brighter more treble, but it's grainy sounding treble. If you're used to the sound of the shp9500, there's a good chance you'll be thrown for a loop. The hd6xx is much warmer, mellower and not as bright. The hd 6xx is a more relaxed, laid back sound but I find them delicious after listening to them for a while and letting myself adjust to their sound profile.
Can someone recommend a decent desktop DAC/AMP for these? Will connecting AMP/DAC directly to PC mobo make a difference? I'm currently running them with cheapo Yamaha receiver (RX V377) and they don't sound as good as some of you say they should. Receiver has very high headphone impedance of course. Any advice is appreciated.
It's funny, I have a pair of HD650's that I purchased in 2012 & a pair of HD6XX's that I have had for about 5yrs. I have spent thousands of hours listening to everything from Opera to Jazz, to head splitting heavy metal with both of them and I still think the HD650 sounds better than the HD6XX. But that's just my opinion, everybody's ears hear differently. A lot of people prefer them on tubes, I prefer them on solid state equipment, such as my Burson Conductor 3 GT. Again, phones and amps are all subjective and everyone hears them differently.
This is interesting, as I've never had the two together to compare directly at one time. Could you describe the differences between the HD650 and HD6XX for us here?
@Trollberg they should serve well for both, but if you're looking to huge bass to accompany those genres then you might want to EQ for that. HD660s2 has very natural bass and great bass extension, but it's not a bass head headphone to be sure.
@@MasterMarslander most black metal is not bass heavy. Its more mid frequency and tremolo sound. Very minimalistic and raw production/mix. Thanks for the input I'm enjoying your channel.
@MasterMarslander The differences between the original HD650 & the HD6XX are very subtle, and one has to listen closely over a period of time to really notice. Don't get me wrong, the 6XX is an outstanding headphone for the price. Perhaps it's the age of my 650's, being 12yo. Another contributing factor could be the change in materials, suppliers, even the assembly of the units may have changed over the years. Sennheiser still make them, so a 2022 650 for example, may sound different to a 2011 650. The original 650's IMO, just have that edge in clarity. The mids are just a tad more life like and the treble sparkles without becoming fatiguing. I always thought if Sennheiser could add bass to a 650 without changing the mids or treble, they'd be near perfect. Unfortunately, as is the case with the 660S2's, in their quest to add bass, they've lost something from the mids/highs.
@@MasterMarslander I almost got this but as I mentioned earlier, because tubes needs to be replaced often, I decided to try at a later time. It was my choice for a while that Xduoo. Is it that obvious of a difference because opinions seems mixed about the difference it makes.
I hate it when people call the hd600's good... Terrible harshness, terrible mid range graininess, piercing upper mid range and highs, all in a tiny sound stage. Why would anyone spend money on the hd600's is beyond me.
@@MasterMarslander Yeah, I strongly dislike the HD600's. I've listened to them on a few solid state amps and well as the figaro 339 tube amp and the xduoo tube amps, and I just can't stand them.
@@MasterMarslander I swap from the Susvara and the Utopia, but I just ordered the HD650's. I'm hoping I can get that legendary mid range smoothness from the 650's on my chain without the veil.
@@MasterMarslander Thanks for the reply, I just got the Maono PD200x, I've had an M-audio mixer for a long time I'm just trying to get into this XLR stuff now
@@riotgamesx6201 the Maono Caster is a pretty easy way to get into XLR and interfaces. It's not the best thing out there, but it's pretty affordable and will get the job done.
The HD6XX is a 300 ohm headphone, which means that it does require a fair bit of power to run properly. If you are trying to listen to the headphone just through your phone or through your PC, you might encounter some issues. I strongly suggest a headphone amplifier for best results. I can offer some suggestions depending on your budget.
@@MasterMarslander makes sense because ill be playing a game or listening to music and it will be fine one second and then it will cut in or out or make the sound realy choppy
@@MasterMarslander would a dak fix my problem or would it still have issues? Sometimes it plays fine and then it chops in and out and doesn’t play clearly
