(Still the King of Mid-fi?) Drop + Sennheiser HD 6XX - Headphone Highlights REDUX
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- Well known and respected for many years as the best value in headphones, but is the HD 6XX still relevant in 2023?
This is our second visit with the HD 6XX, but the original review never made it to CZcams. Time to correct that!
If you need to make an account with Drop.com, use my referral link to earn $10 in Drop points for signing up! drop.com/?referer=ZH8KR8
Drop + Sennheiser HD 6XX - drop.com/buy/massdrop-sennhei...
Sennheiser HD 600 - amzn.to/3LzhEbZ
Sennheiser HD 650 - amzn.to/3NlSNcX
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Chapters
0:00 Introduction
3:04 Build
11:14 Comfort
18:27 Sound (pure and simple)
30:12 How do they hold up in 2023?
32:43 Closing Thoughts
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#audiophile #headphones #drop #sennheiser #hd6xx @sennheiser @drop_dotcom - Zábava
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.
Great and thorough review. 🙌
🙏
Best review of these headphones I've seen so far. Great video!
Much appreciated, thank you!
Good morning from Toronto ☕️
Still rocking the OG Sen’s 650’s 😎
Marslander! Well done, sir. Really appreciate your thoughts on what seems to be a legendary headphone, especially on tubes! ❤
Thank you! Tube magic is real, man!
@@MasterMarslander class A is not bad either
Toyota Corolla is a good metaphor
If cars were only driven by car enthusiasts.
Great review on all counts. I couldn't disagree with any of your comments.
As someone else said the toyota corolla analogy is great.
Must be a good review if Drop themselves are praising 👏🏼😎
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.
Certainly helps make them more comfortable!
Have u tryed the HE400SE ? Would love to see how it compare to these and just ur thought overall on it.
Not the 400SE specifically, no. But other hifimans like the 4XX, 560, and 6SE. Have definitely been looking at 400SE sales lately.
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.
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.
I'm always watching reviews to justify my purchases :)
It's the best 👌
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
I have the HD600 and HD650...I'll be handing them down to my kids when the time comes. They are that cherished! Long live the king! Bae Bae.
Amen 🙏
Hi , interesting video, I fitted Custom Can bass mod , they sound a lot better in the bottom end of frequency range. Regards mark
I agree. I did the same thing. Excellent upgrade.
@@stephenlegg262 , hi Steve , thanks I also fitted thicker ear pads and done the same for my 660 s too . Regards mark
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.
eq?
@@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
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.
Often times I too prefer the HD600 over the 650 or 6XX.
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.
"It's possible you might be forcing the larger pole into the smaller hole."
Are we still talking headphones here? 🤔😛🤣🤣
I ordered the ifi micro iDSD signature finale to pair with these. For 300 USD, did I make the right choice?
You got a micro idsd signature finale for only $300?? That's a great deal. Yes, should be a very solid pairing.
One thing everyone agrees..they do scale with better source chain and they love TUUUUBBBBEEEESSSS😎
I own the ifi zen dac version 2 dac/amp is that a good pairing?
Also what reasonable price tube amp would you recommend?
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
@@MasterMarslander thanks for advice 👍
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
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.
Thank you just bought a pair and. Waiting
Congrats! Hope you enjoy them!
Me too! Scared the audio will seep into my mic tho
@@riotgamesx6201 unless you have the most sensitive mic on earth, that shouldn't be a problem. 👍
@@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.
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
Could not agree more that it’s tried and true and in no way requires an update
they need to fix the lows! deeper extension at 5hz will be a good start, to justify the price. until then, the 560S are the clear winner at 6hz.
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.
They will last you forever. Enjoy!
for 180 this is solid headphone, even if I wanted to talk about their flaws low price not allow to compare them to more expensive headphones :)
Does a Fiio k7 scale well with the 6xx?
The K7 outputs 560mW per channel at 300ohm, so you should be fine. 1% distortion isn't the best measurement, but you shouldn't notice it.
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
are the sennheiser hd 6xx blutooth?or can you recommend a mad pair that is blutooth.cheers
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.
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
A pair of 6xx and a Schiit Asgard 3 is a crazy good combo for the money
Amen to that.
What cable are you using with your HD6xx? what tubes are you using?
The cable is from FANMUSIC. I run 6N8P and 6N5P tubes on an xDuoo TA-26S.
@@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.
i just got em
Awesome. Hope you enjoy them!
If i buy this, and after considering to buy an amp ?? Im using a gaming laptop and i will using that headset for gaming and listen music a lot
I highly reccomend pairing with an amp. This is a 300 ohm headphone, which means it needs some substantial power to perform properly.
@@MasterMarslander ye what amp about 100$ can i buy? In fron Eu
@bloodenjoyer7108 I'm a fan of the Schiit Magni for an entry level amp.
www.schiit.com/products/magni-plus
@@MasterMarslander i need to buy from usa??
@@Baldimir500 it would ship from the US, yes. Let me find you an alternative if you don't want to deal with that.
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.
Do you have a budget in mind? That can help narrow down some ideal options.
I was thinking about something like this model: FX-Audio DAC-X6 Mini HiFi 2.0.
@@olyoly8914 if you want to stay in the sub $100 range, I'd say maybe try an ifi zen air dac.
amzn.to/3u4YnJw
Thanks
are these worth it if i already own 58x and 560s ?
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!
....Can My Fiio BTR7 AND BTR15 Power These Properly ....
I think both will be fine, especially through the balanced output. Math is in the green for both.
Whats a amp you'd recommend for these for around $100?
@@Panda-1911 Schiit Magni. Can't go wrong.
@@MasterMarslander magni+ ?
@@Panda-1911 by directly to be sure you get the most current version.
www.schiit.com/products/magni-unity
Truly nice sounding with my JDS Atom 2 Stack (HD600 for me).
One day I will try tube when i want to spend for tubes rolling. (expensive in Canada).
@MuzdokOfficial funnily enough, I was just running them on tubes earlier today. Euphoric.
@@MasterMarslander what is your setup for them?
@@MuzdokOfficial TA-26S from a D90.
@@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.
shit im gonna get these you said theyre neutral perfect
Hope you enjoy them!
It's $169 right now. Will i notice a big upgrade from philips shp9500?
You'll notice a huge improvement to resolution and detail, and a much more natural and balanced sound.
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.
im having an issue with mine, the audio cuts out and doesnt play clearly. im not using a dak or anything like that.
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
@justliving4500 you need an amp more than a dac. Dac would be nice to have, but without the power it still won't work right.
@@MasterMarslander what exactly will an amp do?
Still my favourite headphone, better timbre than my HD800S!
I would say its the honda civic of headphones
I agree with this analogy!
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?
Will they sound good with black metal or any extreme sound low fi sound?
@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.
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 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 I thought no one would be reading my comment 😅
@@hong-enlin4651 I read them all, bud!
@@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.
No sex sex sex. The HD 600 are the most famous
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.
Wild. Can't say I've had the same experience with the HD600. Course, I do spend most of my time with them on tubes.
@@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.
@@johenkay1129 what do you daily drive right now, out of curiosity?
@@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.
@@johenkay1129 whoo doggy, you got quite the setup!