An interesting review as always. Love watching your reviews. I think you have excellent verbal communication skills. :) I agree that r70x is a remarkably well balanced sounding headphone. This headphone has the ability to "disappear" like no other headphone I've heard in the sense that it just connects the listener with the recording while introducing almost no coloration of its own... Of course, amps and DACs also introduce some coloration into the sound, but those are very mild compared to the coloration that most headphones/speakers have... I am not sure what to think about the idea that r70x is not as realistic, clear or resolving as the HD600. I do have both and have compared both directly for a couple weeks now. My general impression is that HD600 does seem to sound clearer, more vivid and I guess more realistic than the r70x, but at the same time, I don't feel that the r70x sounds less natural. It's a difficult comparison. I believe that HD600 may actually be colored to deliver a more vivid and realistic take on a recording than the r70x, while r70x actually reproduces the recording more like it was recorded (no pun intended lol) But I am just pulling this out of my a*s really as I have no idea what recordings should sound like as I am no sound engineer or even a musician. It's just the ideas I get when listening to these headphones. BTW, in terms of resolution, I actually think r70x is truly great. I can easily hear all details with it that I can hear with HD600, maybe even more. I am especially impressed by how much texture/micro-detail it provides. I think it even surpasses HD600 in this regard. At the same time, the details, at least the macro details, on r70x don't seem as clear and vivid as they are on the HD600. I suppose that's what one may call "grain." Both my HD600 and DT150 sound more vivid and clear than the r70x, but not necessarily better because of it. They have different presentations...
+Rhoso thanks I really appreciate that. What's the point of reviewing something if you aren't really giving people an idea of what it's like to use it lol
Excellent review mate. Especially the comparison with the HD600 is something that a lot of peaple were interested in! I got so tempted that I ordered both the HD600 and the R70X to test them! I have auditioned both at the same local exhibition and I slightly prefered the R70x but the thing is I used a lot of EDM . Now that refinement and detail of the HD600 got me intrigued to try them in better conditions!
+manos manoss yeah the bass on the R70X is very impressive in terms of extension but unfortunately the highs can be a little edgy and are kind of confused with EDM
+metal571 Your impressions match mine. I found the R70x to be a bit too grainy sounding. The bass is indeed impressively strong for an open-back dynamic headphone, but also a bit muddy to my ears.
Hey there! You mentioned detail and clarity is one of the things that makes music more enjoyable to you personally. I really need to recommend you the Shure SRH940 then. It is still one of the best headphones I own because of it's untouched detail. There are many reviews available if you want to check them out first, one also mentioned a comparions with the HD800 and that it rivals (beats? dont remember good enough atm) its details and clarity.
Would these be good to play guitar and synths late at night? Would they be enjoyable to record with? I've never owned flat response headphones but I'm wondering if I'll be missing low end in those applications.
Comparing these back and forth between the Sennheisers (600, 650, and 58X), the R70x just has a more natural open image to me, in addition to a more realistic upper midrange and treble. Even with EQ, the HD600 family sounds pretty claustrophobic to me in direct comparison to the R70x. It's kind of like I can hear the driver cup shape and size itself with the 600/650. This is something I would have never noticed until comparing to headphones with a larger image and soundstage. I also never really understood that 3-blob effect until the R70x came along, it's very apparent to me now. And when it comes to the grain you're hearing, I just don't hear any grain at all. But anyway, I know this is an older review and you have gone on to review better and newer headphones, so thanks for what you do.
I firmly remain in the "too grainy" camp and remember that about these very clearly. As far as soundstage I have no idea, but the 6x0s have always had that weird 3 blob closed in effect though for sure
How do they fair against the dt 990 pros? I'm getting the two at a very simillar(-ish) price tag, and there aren't any direct comparisons I could find online. Thanks in advance.
Whats goin on man? It's been awhile. I am jealous that you got your hands on these headphones because I wanted to check them out for myself sooo bad. And I see you took my advice about getting the NT1 too. Told you that mic was awesome
+metal571 Yup. It is honestly the best out of all the Rode mics to me. At least when comparing them in STOCK condition anyway. I happened to get my hands on a CAD E100s microphone for a really good deal. As excellent as that mic is, the NT1 rivals it quite well both in sound and self noise and the NT1 is waaay cheaper. I would even venture to say that in some ways, the NT1 is the better overall pick. The CAD E100s has a regular street price of $500 while the NT1 is like $260 or so I think.
The resistance of a .5m section of 28awg wire is about .08Ω, which shouldn't cause any noticeable imbalance, so the one connector vs two connector debate is pretty much moot on that point. The real benefit of dual connectors is simplicity in design, where you don't have to account for passing a cable through in headband, manufacturing/engineering cost and durability.
+EnsoZero I remember reading some interesting data on how there were some minor effects to driver ringing on the K701 somewhere but I never personally noticed it.
Nice review. Your opinions match a lot of the other reviews and comparisons of this headphone. Neutral but grainy, to put it in basic terms. I just recently acquired an HD650 and was a little disappointed by how thin they sound compared to my mad dogs. I want to think i'm just not getting a good seal. Has this ever happened to you with the 600s?
+metal571 I meant not being able to get a good seal resulting in the headphone sounding thin. Does that ever happen to you with your 600s. With the mad dogs I can just pretty much throw them on and achieve a good seal since they have leather pads. With the 6X0s it seems to be a little trickier. Any tips to get a better seal with these?
I have the ATH-MSR7b and I really love them. Found a couple of direct comparisons with HD600 and people who have both say that AT sound better. Would like to give @metal571 another chance for making an adequate review.
Lol they don't, but people might prefer that FR. At $399 their original price they seemed way too expensive. I had an opportunity to review them when relatively new a few years ago but didn't bother
@@metal571 In 2015 MSR7 originally costed $250. Now something like $180-190. Apparently I was talking about the improved 2018 edition - MSR7b. These now cost $250 and are really fantastic for the price.
Will the ATH r70x any good for casual listening. People warn me about listening to uncolored flat headphone as a consumer end casual listener, and as said in the video that's as flat and as uncolored as it gets? All these warnings against casual listening to HD 280 pro should also apply to ATH r70x, is that correct to say?
Could these headphones be good for gaming? Cuz I want to get open back headphones for gaming but not just for gaming. I like to listen to music too but I am tired of wasting my money on those "gaming headsets" and never enjoy them. Are there any good open back headphones you know are good for gaming?
ARRO Studio Paris co-designed the R70x., they're the most comfortable of all the AT headphones with the 3D-wing mechanism I think. AT probably decided to add a bit more bass to make it more attractive for buyers' opting to use it also for gaming, watching films. Fostex is also joining with their new line of dynamic driven headphones - TR70-open, TR80-close and TR-90-semi-open. Close back TR80 ( in particular ) at first glance I thought looked like a mix of Custom One Pro/T50RP/M50X. Hope somebody out there would send you any of the TR-series to review sometime.
+metring073 I'm going to be opening up ability to send stuff in soon so that might happen. Also these are reference headphones so the bass doesn't sound boosted, it's just missing on the HD 600 and isn't on these.
I don't have the HD 600, but I do have the 660 S. And funnily enough, I still prefer the R70X. It has more depth and feeling to me. It's hard to pinpoint the reason why I like them so much, but I just keep coming back. If the sound stage was a LITTLE bit bigger, and the cups a bit bigger so as to be more comfy for my giant ears, it'd be my endgame.
Some people have said that the special spherical soundstage, weight and comfort of the R70x hides the fact/makes you forget that you're listening to a pair of headphones. Sound is so natural that it appear to just be "there". Did you find this to be true? Further, some have made the analogy that if the HD600 is a bookshelf speaker (Lacking low-end weight but having more precise and refined mids and treble as you've described), then the R70x is a floor standing speaker (having that lower frequency weight and heft that is missing in the HD600's). Did you find this to also be true?
+Raadic I've never really heard a headphone that has a soundstage that sounds like speakers. As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't exist. The problem with the R70X in the mids and highs is that they are just rougher and not as clear, so even with better bass extension, the majority of the frequency response just isn't as detailed and clean.
metal571 Thanks for the very quick reply. Do you think that the HD600 is clearer because it lacks bass? As in the cone doesn't move as much lending to a more precise reproduction of higher frequencies?
+Raadic it's just a better engineered driver with a faster transient response. Even if you equalize up the bass the mids and highs remain pristine, which is what I do
what EQ do you recommend for the HD 600? I think it's a good headphone but they don't WOW me. Their bass, or rather the lack of extension, make them sound "incomplete" to me.
Germo Staalfeldt well I don't know about you but here's my track if you're interested. Listen to Psychological Nightmares by Pzyklon #np on #SoundCloud soundcloud.com/psysword-rizvi/psychological
DT1990 hands down but it'll cost you double. After owning the R70x for over a year the one thing that really stood out to me was live and acoustic studio recordings. The bass on the R70x does dig slightly deeper much like the feel of planars than the DT1990(balanced pads) but the DT1990 performs better overall with much more clarity, better sound stage and more precise bass especially with the analytical pads. The DT1990 headband is a lot tighter and the ear pads are deeper and wider. The only downside with the DT1990 is the 3 pin mini xlr; you can't go balanced with those cans.
I just wish the cans would rotate flat both ways. These do not. So over time I just know one of them is going to turn too far in one way and break. It always happens in cheaper headphones I've had. I actually associate this limitation with cheaper headphones. Think m30x m40x and m50x. The m50x rotates flat in both directions while the cheaper two do not. They knew that was a premium feature. Yet these 350 dollar premium cans do not have those joints. Its just strange to me.
One of my dream models is an Audio Technica JUST LIKE THIS ONE. It's just a bit of a gamble to guess which one is the most neutral. A lot of similar models from AT, but most of them are not flat enough.
Hey :) I have both of them Headphones and i use the r70x mostly for rock/hiphop/pop and Movies and the HD 600 mostly for Classic and Games. For me Headphones like k701, ad1000/2000x and dt880 are killing my ears in the treble. r70x is more easy listening than the 600. In my opinion the Soundstage of the r70x is smaller than the HD600. The HD 600 sounds a little bit more transparent, but i think thats because the midbase is more lean back and they become a higher dynamic. With an good Amp you can improve the r70x more than the Sennheiser HD 600 i find...
+dns ron Ιnteresting. I agree with what you say about the treble. About the soundstage In my opinion the the HD600 is definitely wider but somehow the experience in the r70x is more airy and speaker-like. I think that is because the front and back depth and the general height are better on the R70x. It's like a more intimate but at the same time natural-airy soundstage. What do you think about that? Also what amps did you use for the r70x and the hd600? I am looking for a new amp. Currently I am using the amp of the Ifi micro idsd.
+Greek-Fi Hey, yeah in my opinion the r70x is more intimate, i maybe think that the soundstage of the HD 600 are maybe a little illusion cause of the trebles. Am i right, that the mids on the r70x are more coloured ? Maybe thats a reason also for my mind of the soundstage. Im using a Fostex HP-A3, nothing special. Next week i get the Korg DS-Dac-100 for my Phonon smb 02 ds-dac edition. But im not shure if i will keep them :)
For movies and games I bet R70x is much better since it has more midbass and punch on the lower end right? Explosions must sound much better. Also I heard that you said that the soundstage is better in R70x too, so if that is the case it might be much better for gaming and movies than the HD600.
@@metal571 Oh I didn't know crinacle reviewed it, but I was thinking to get the HD600 for an allrounder neutral headphone that I will be using for mostly movies and gaming, this review came up and I watched it. I am looking for something that is less detailed and but still has a decent soundstage, more bass and sounded more natural, R70x seems to tick all the points. HD600 as you said is known for boosted mids and has less bass presence. I've ever had a headphone with boosted mids too in the past, it doesn't sound really natural and is a little bit sharp when there is a dialogue in game or movies. Not to mention the smaller soundstage will make games or movies less immersive. I also own ATH-ADX5000, so it already filled the role for detailed music listening headphone. Hopefully R70X will do the job for the gaming and movie department with its more mellow sound and better space recreation. Thanks for the great review by the way, this is still relevant until today! Cheers!
@@kato2395 yeah the 600's mids are a little too annoying for me now which is why I keep a 650 around but most of my listening is on the LCD-2F with lots of EQ and an SA6 with no EQ at all since my retirement from this channel years ago. Glad this was helpful
Cool review! it is a horrible design ..so it sounds better than the beyerdynamic 1990 pro??? what in your opinion is the bes headphone for $600 ? keep in mind is for mixing and I do not like bright headphones..thanks!!
Ah shucks, I had my heart set on 'em at $100 off Can. price, but now not so sure. I already own the old HD 580's, and yeah, I know what u mean re the highs and separation etc and who cares about all the bass. I recently bought the 40x's thinking they'd kill my Senn's and ... later figured it out (NOT!)! Anyway, I'd really like to know why the ATM-50x's got their big reputation, cuz I sure wouldn't want 'em. A sensible mature review BTW! I couldn't disagree anywhere.
I really enjoy the m50x. They're versatile cans. I can go out with them. They're a good work horse headphone. Its the headphone you take with you everywhere. They look great, sound great, and make great ambassadors for people who inquire about it having never used headphones beyond budget earbuds. They educate Beats users like nothing else. They're durable. Portable and don't feel like they're going to break if you toss them around. Replaceable cables. Stuff like that is what helps make it popular. You can't claim half of this stuff with anything from Sennheiser. Not even the R70x or the AD series have this versatility.
Krystal Myth Agree 100%. My M50x's served me so well, both as workhorse headphones and they got the job done as monitor headphones for me for a while. Mixed two of my EPs that were eventually released on labels with them, and looking back, they have helped me create extremely professional mixdowns when I combined them with listening (when referencing and mixing) and visual monitoring of various aspects of the mixdown. No, they aren't the best for mixing and mastering out of the box. But they're a great pair of first studio monitor headphones that almost forced me to learn a lot of visual mixing techniques to really perfect my tracks, which I'm grateful for.
This or K712 Pro? I have the HD560S and love them, but would like something more open and maybe more revealing? I'm driving them with the iFi Zen Can, so power will be no issue. I'm not really into the HD600/650 because I prefer cold to warm sound and "intimate" soundstage is claustrophobic to me (I really didn't like the staging on the HifiMan HE1000SE)
@@miladesn I currently use heavily EQd Audioquest Nighthawk Carbons and they're my absolute favourite cans. I'm still thinking of getting the K712's, how is their power handling? I'm an unapologetic basshead
The new HD560s is very very very similar to R70X and it cost a lot less. It has a very cheap looking build but the sound is good. The treble is also similarly grainy a bit and isnt that detailed but similarly the bass extension is very impressive and same as R70X. Very good alternative.
OK I literally just received both the R70x and HD600. First minutes impressions: Both are great headphones but holy shit the treble of the HD600 is fucking amazeballs!!
+metal571 Yeah :D The thing is ordered them to write a review-comparison between them in a domestic forum and ultimately keep one but now I can't decide! First impression the HD 600 sounds like it is slightly better techically with better micro detail and amazing treble . Rock and metal sound great , disturbed+sennheiser was always a LOVE relationship for me. But the R70x has that seductive natural smooth sound which along with an intimate soundstage that somehow extents and envelops you naturally and the feather weight and smoother clamping force makes you forget that you wear headphones! Sometimes it even makes the HD 600 sound a touch fatiguing! THE HD600! I am seriously considering keeping them both! Damn that hobby! And I have the phillips X2s coming next week...
manos manoss equalize the 600 and then you will have an even better can. The R70 will retain the better soundstage but less detail though. The 600 can be fatiguing yes that's why I lower the upper mids on it myself
metal, do you realize a lot of people just don't like to equalize their headphones? I personally always notice something off, something that just doesn't feel right when applying equalization, whether to a speaker, headphone, or heck even a car stereo.
Never had that feeling with good headphones with enough speed. Very high end headphones tend to EQ significantly better as they have lower THD and a faster transient response. I used to avoid EQ at all costs, then I realized that I liked nothing.
You're insane if you suggest ANYTHING that is still called "neutral" at first, might at the same time be "warmer" than the HD600. But people have always been utterly insane (meaning deluded, illogical, nonsensical, fanatic, deranged, or just randomly babbling and namedropping) about the HD600... But to go back to logic, the HD600 are incredibly "warm" and "uniform"-sounding, meaning everything is lacking differentiation and is beneath a veil, and nothing can be warmer in the mids and still EVER be called neutral. It is a discredit to any headphone if a reviewer starts talking about HD600, because it means they will have nothing of interest and or anything relatable to say.
Head pads are awful. They don't support your head and you have to use rubber bands to make them work. Ear pads are extremely uncomfortable for long hours. Sound quality is great. Overall I thought they seemed very cheap feeling and was disappointed.
after checking this review I think pretty much all headphones are crappy regardless the price.... all pretty unstable frequency wise, too boomy, excessive brightness and lots of distortion...seems that the headphone market just target deaf people that have no clue how a good recording should sound and they just boost the hell of of low frequencies and Low End .... comparing to my Amphions Two15, my Genelec 8351a and even my KRK's V4(new version) ...headphones even around 700 bucks sounds so unbalanced and terrible
+Blue Matrix headphones are just starting to get good as of a few years ago. Research is finally taking off finding out why that the classic target curve is wrong and that is quite responsible for why so many headphones do not meet the mark. Comparing headphones to monitors is definitely an easy way to see how much better speakers are in terms of accuracy. Stay tuned though, the market is rapidly changing thanks to some research done by Harman. See my neutrality video
I'm watching numerous videos and reading some of your responses. You send mix signals. I'm looking to buy headphones and you're basically the only one reviewing numerous brands, but you give too many mix signals, besides the HD 600.
+davdcl499 that's because a lot of headphones have a lot of flaws. There's always a downside. The HD 600 is a great headphone, but it suffers in both soundstage width and the bass drops off like a rock. It is rare however for a headphone to nail the midrange and treble tonality like it can. The very first thing to understand about this hobby is that every single headphone you buy will have compromises. No such thing as a perfect model, not even in the $1000+ range. So that's why I may sound like I'm giving mixed signals - that's because it's true, nothing is perfect.
Understood. I'm asking for your opinion, of course: I'm familiar with Audio-Technica and Beyer Dynamic. Which headphone(s) would you recommend for mixing/mastering purposes? Again, I know it's a recommendation, but I can start there.
+davdcl499 it's a pretty broad question but my usual recommendation for professionals is a K553. Depending on budget the Audeze LCD2 is also an acceptable open back mixing headphone that sounds even more like speakers. I don't recommend most open headphones as dynamic open backs almost always roll off too much in the sub bass region to be useful for mixing.
Do not listen to him he is talking bs he doesn't like anything from audio technica this headphones are the best no idea what he hear in his head and not just that even mire cheaper like ath m 50x bt2 that's what i have are good one and i can tell you i have no problem with mixing all is alright when i compared to speakers..
In my opinnion, flat headphones are just so boring. Its like a musician with perfect technical vocals but no soul...its just blahh. Heard it before, moving on. I want life and colour.
An interesting review as always. Love watching your reviews. I think you have excellent verbal communication skills. :)
I agree that r70x is a remarkably well balanced sounding headphone. This headphone has the ability to "disappear" like no other headphone I've heard in the sense that it just connects the listener with the recording while introducing almost no coloration of its own... Of course, amps and DACs also introduce some coloration into the sound, but those are very mild compared to the coloration that most headphones/speakers have...
I am not sure what to think about the idea that r70x is not as realistic, clear or resolving as the HD600. I do have both and have compared both directly for a couple weeks now. My general impression is that HD600 does seem to sound clearer, more vivid and I guess more realistic than the r70x, but at the same time, I don't feel that the r70x sounds less natural. It's a difficult comparison. I believe that HD600 may actually be colored to deliver a more vivid and realistic take on a recording than the r70x, while r70x actually reproduces the recording more like it was recorded (no pun intended lol) But I am just pulling this out of my a*s really as I have no idea what recordings should sound like as I am no sound engineer or even a musician. It's just the ideas I get when listening to these headphones.
BTW, in terms of resolution, I actually think r70x is truly great. I can easily hear all details with it that I can hear with HD600, maybe even more. I am especially impressed by how much texture/micro-detail it provides. I think it even surpasses HD600 in this regard. At the same time, the details, at least the macro details, on r70x don't seem as clear and vivid as they are on the HD600. I suppose that's what one may call "grain." Both my HD600 and DT150 sound more vivid and clear than the r70x, but not necessarily better because of it. They have different presentations...
Your reviews make me walk away with more of a feeling of understanding than any one else. Never change!
+Rhoso thanks I really appreciate that. What's the point of reviewing something if you aren't really giving people an idea of what it's like to use it lol
Holy shit I guess you really appreciate positive feedback.
Jeff Cook lmao Jesus thanks for pointing that out clearly my CZcams studio app failed miserably
I had a good laugh
Excellent review mate. Especially the comparison with the HD600 is something that a lot of peaple were interested in!
I got so tempted that I ordered both the HD600 and the R70X to test them!
I have auditioned both at the same local exhibition and I slightly prefered the R70x but the thing is I used a lot of EDM .
Now that refinement and detail of the HD600 got me intrigued to try them in better conditions!
+manos manoss yeah the bass on the R70X is very impressive in terms of extension but unfortunately the highs can be a little edgy and are kind of confused with EDM
+metal571 Your impressions match mine. I found the R70x to be a bit too grainy sounding. The bass is indeed impressively strong for an open-back dynamic headphone, but also a bit muddy to my ears.
05:45 sound!
Hi, would you do also a review to the ATH M70x?
if you had to choose, these pair or K712 ?? they seem to be very close in signature
Hey there! You mentioned detail and clarity is one of the things that makes music more enjoyable to you personally. I really need to recommend you the Shure SRH940 then. It is still one of the best headphones I own because of it's untouched detail. There are many reviews available if you want to check them out first, one also mentioned a comparions with the HD800 and that it rivals (beats? dont remember good enough atm) its details and clarity.
+87detto I've also heard this about the 940 before, supposedly having really good treble extension. The build quality issues kept me away
Would these be good to play guitar and synths late at night? Would they be enjoyable to record with? I've never owned flat response headphones but I'm wondering if I'll be missing low end in those applications.
Hello metal, do you think this headphone would pair well with hybrid amps like CTH? And does it sound warmer than 650's?
good review, thanks
Comparing these back and forth between the Sennheisers (600, 650, and 58X), the R70x just has a more natural open image to me, in addition to a more realistic upper midrange and treble. Even with EQ, the HD600 family sounds pretty claustrophobic to me in direct comparison to the R70x. It's kind of like I can hear the driver cup shape and size itself with the 600/650. This is something I would have never noticed until comparing to headphones with a larger image and soundstage. I also never really understood that 3-blob effect until the R70x came along, it's very apparent to me now. And when it comes to the grain you're hearing, I just don't hear any grain at all. But anyway, I know this is an older review and you have gone on to review better and newer headphones, so thanks for what you do.
I firmly remain in the "too grainy" camp and remember that about these very clearly. As far as soundstage I have no idea, but the 6x0s have always had that weird 3 blob closed in effect though for sure
me too
What the bleep does grainy mean? Couldn't stand the low end on hd6x0. Now that we have Sonarworks and that other one those can probably be fixed...
How do they fair against the dt 990 pros? I'm getting the two at a very simillar(-ish) price tag, and there aren't any direct comparisons I could find online. Thanks in advance.
What is your best headphone of all these you have reviewed?
Hi! A very nice review! Can you please tell me where are these headphones made? Japan or somewhere else? Cheers!
+antunkatona yeah Japan
Some are made in Japan and some in Taiwan.
Will these sound good with Fostex HP-A3?
Whats goin on man? It's been awhile. I am jealous that you got your hands on these headphones because I wanted to check them out for myself sooo bad. And I see you took my advice about getting the NT1 too. Told you that mic was awesome
+Amir Grant I think the mic speaks for itself in quality lol much smoother and faster transient response with better extension and insanely low noise
+metal571 Yup. It is honestly the best out of all the Rode mics to me. At least when comparing them in STOCK condition anyway. I happened to get my hands on a CAD E100s microphone for a really good deal. As excellent as that mic is, the NT1 rivals it quite well both in sound and self noise and the NT1 is waaay cheaper. I would even venture to say that in some ways, the NT1 is the better overall pick. The CAD E100s has a regular street price of $500 while the NT1 is like $260 or so I think.
are the pads removable?
The resistance of a .5m section of 28awg wire is about .08Ω, which shouldn't cause any noticeable imbalance, so the one connector vs two connector debate is pretty much moot on that point. The real benefit of dual connectors is simplicity in design, where you don't have to account for passing a cable through in headband, manufacturing/engineering cost and durability.
+EnsoZero I remember reading some interesting data on how there were some minor effects to driver ringing on the K701 somewhere but I never personally noticed it.
Just curious, between the K702 and R70x, which do you find to be more proficient in soundstage and imaging?
Speaking of eq, may I ask what you use?
+E.Kent.D EqualizerAPO and Peace GUI
Nice review. Your opinions match a lot of the other reviews and comparisons of this headphone. Neutral but grainy, to put it in basic terms. I just recently acquired an HD650 and was a little disappointed by how thin they sound compared to my mad dogs. I want to think i'm just not getting a good seal. Has this ever happened to you with the 600s?
+M Forrette the 650s are darkish and fairly boring to me. I'm never bored by the 600s with EQ.
+metal571 I meant not being able to get a good seal resulting in the headphone sounding thin. Does that ever happen to you with your 600s. With the mad dogs I can just pretty much throw them on and achieve a good seal since they have leather pads. With the 6X0s it seems to be a little trickier. Any tips to get a better seal with these?
+M Forrette If you're planning on a long listening session I've heard that Loctite provide some excellent solutions.
+liminal12 That made me chuckle. Thanks.
M Forrette open cans don't seal. I'm not sure what to say
What about a review on the ATH-MSR7's? Would like to know the eqing on them
I have the ATH-MSR7b and I really love them. Found a couple of direct comparisons with HD600 and people who have both say that AT sound better. Would like to give @metal571 another chance for making an adequate review.
Lol they don't, but people might prefer that FR. At $399 their original price they seemed way too expensive. I had an opportunity to review them when relatively new a few years ago but didn't bother
@@metal571 In 2015 MSR7 originally costed $250. Now something like $180-190. Apparently I was talking about the improved 2018 edition - MSR7b. These now cost $250 and are really fantastic for the price.
@@HeathHunter much better price. I seem to remember them retailing for the same as a PM3 back at that time, but maybe I'm remembering wrong
Can i drive these with Fiio E10K
Will the ATH r70x any good for casual listening. People warn me about listening to uncolored flat headphone as a consumer end casual listener, and as said in the video that's as flat and as uncolored as it gets? All these warnings against casual listening to HD 280 pro should also apply to ATH r70x, is that correct to say?
so what color are you looking for :)
Could these headphones be good for gaming? Cuz I want to get open back headphones for gaming but not just for gaming. I like to listen to music too but I am tired of wasting my money on those "gaming headsets" and never enjoy them. Are there any good open back headphones you know are good for gaming?
+Alex Taraszka DT880 250 ohm has the most precise soundstage for the price. Amp required.
ARRO Studio Paris co-designed the R70x., they're the most comfortable of all the AT headphones with the 3D-wing mechanism I think. AT probably decided to add a bit more bass to make it more attractive for buyers' opting to use it also for gaming, watching films.
Fostex is also joining with their new line of dynamic driven headphones - TR70-open, TR80-close and TR-90-semi-open. Close back TR80 ( in particular ) at first glance I thought looked like a mix of Custom One Pro/T50RP/M50X. Hope somebody out there would send you any of the TR-series to review sometime.
+metring073 I'm going to be opening up ability to send stuff in soon so that might happen. Also these are reference headphones so the bass doesn't sound boosted, it's just missing on the HD 600 and isn't on these.
How do these compare to the Beyerdynamic DT770/DT880
+Lingk not really as bright but also not as articulate. Fuzzier sounding. More bass than the 880 though and definitely not as sibilant.
The R70X kicks HD 600 ass. I have both so I know.
I don't have the HD 600, but I do have the 660 S. And funnily enough, I still prefer the R70X. It has more depth and feeling to me. It's hard to pinpoint the reason why I like them so much, but I just keep coming back. If the sound stage was a LITTLE bit bigger, and the cups a bit bigger so as to be more comfy for my giant ears, it'd be my endgame.
@@nisem0no Thanks, to put it simply I just find the R70 more fun than HD 600. The R70 is also very comfortable to me.
why don't you use the standard pop screen with the NT1?
It wasn't actually all that effective in my experience if I remember right, and also is very tall
If I have $20 koss ksc75 what reason is there to buy the ATH-R70x
I wish they would bring over the swivelling feature of the ear-cups like the M50s
+TheMrFishnDucks the closed back A900X has swiveling cups up and down thankfully
metal571
nice. thats the a thing i like about m50 they got the cups done right
One of the most genuine looking flies I've seen lol. You almost got me. It really pops!!
Some people have said that the special spherical soundstage, weight and comfort of the R70x hides the fact/makes you forget that you're listening to a pair of headphones. Sound is so natural that it appear to just be "there".
Did you find this to be true?
Further, some have made the analogy that if the HD600 is a bookshelf speaker (Lacking low-end weight but having more precise and refined mids and treble as you've described), then the R70x is a floor standing speaker (having that lower frequency weight and heft that is missing in the HD600's).
Did you find this to also be true?
+Raadic I've never really heard a headphone that has a soundstage that sounds like speakers. As far as I'm concerned, that doesn't exist. The problem with the R70X in the mids and highs is that they are just rougher and not as clear, so even with better bass extension, the majority of the frequency response just isn't as detailed and clean.
metal571 Thanks for the very quick reply.
Do you think that the HD600 is clearer because it lacks bass? As in the cone doesn't move as much lending to a more precise reproduction of higher frequencies?
+Raadic it's just a better engineered driver with a faster transient response. Even if you equalize up the bass the mids and highs remain pristine, which is what I do
what EQ do you recommend for the HD 600? I think it's a good headphone but they don't WOW me. Their bass, or rather the lack of extension, make them sound "incomplete" to me.
+RojasTKD7 I'll have to post it when I get a chance back on the HD 600 review since I get asked this a lot now
+metal571 Thanks.
Because i make trance music, i took your video advice for dance music and went and bought the sennys, HD700 at a great rate., Thanks alot
Apparently. And some headphones are much better than others for checking mixes
Germo Staalfeldt well I don't know about you but here's my track if you're interested.
Listen to Psychological Nightmares by Pzyklon #np on #SoundCloud
soundcloud.com/psysword-rizvi/psychological
How would you compare these to the Beyerdynamic DT 1990
DT1990 hands down but it'll cost you double. After owning the R70x for over a year the one thing that really stood out to me was live and acoustic studio recordings. The bass on the R70x does dig slightly deeper much like the feel of planars than the DT1990(balanced pads) but the DT1990 performs better overall with much more clarity, better sound stage and more precise bass especially with the analytical pads. The DT1990 headband is a lot tighter and the ear pads are deeper and wider. The only downside with the DT1990 is the 3 pin mini xlr; you can't go balanced with those cans.
Kevin Yeoh thanks. Ordered the DTs they’ll be here tomorrow.
is it a decent upgrade from srh 440 to r70x, because i see you wear the 440 and its my daily driver till now
That was just a 440 for a closed back monitoring headphone of the mic while recording. I would use a K361 or K371 for that nowadays
I just wish the cans would rotate flat both ways. These do not. So over time I just know one of them is going to turn too far in one way and break. It always happens in cheaper headphones I've had. I actually associate this limitation with cheaper headphones. Think m30x m40x and m50x. The m50x rotates flat in both directions while the cheaper two do not. They knew that was a premium feature. Yet these 350 dollar premium cans do not have those joints. Its just strange to me.
One of my dream models is an Audio Technica JUST LIKE THIS ONE. It's just a bit of a gamble to guess which one is the most neutral. A lot of similar models from AT, but most of them are not flat enough.
The r70x is the flattest open back from audio technica.
@@JohnSmith-qt4pv If they don't make a better model, it might be the one I get....... in a few years.
@@NotOrdinaryInGames ADX5000
@@soulfulfool Over 1000 dollaroos, and less neutral
Definitely the R70x. They tend to make pretty colored sounding headphones but that one is verging on boring and has a tuning similar to the HD 650
subscribed
Hey :) I have both of them Headphones and i use the r70x mostly for rock/hiphop/pop and Movies and the HD 600 mostly for Classic and Games. For me Headphones like k701, ad1000/2000x and dt880 are killing my ears in the treble. r70x is more easy listening than the 600. In my opinion the Soundstage of the r70x is smaller than the HD600. The HD 600 sounds a little bit more transparent, but i think thats because the midbase is more lean back and they become a higher dynamic.
With an good Amp you can improve the r70x more than the Sennheiser HD 600 i find...
+dns ron Ιnteresting. I agree with what you say about the treble. About the soundstage In my opinion the the HD600 is definitely wider but somehow the experience in the r70x is more airy and speaker-like. I think that is because the front and back depth and the general height are better on the R70x. It's like a more intimate but at the same time natural-airy soundstage. What do you think about that?
Also what amps did you use for the r70x and the hd600? I am looking for a new amp. Currently I am using the amp of the Ifi micro idsd.
+Greek-Fi Hey, yeah in my opinion the r70x is more intimate, i maybe think that the soundstage of the HD 600 are maybe a little illusion cause of the trebles. Am i right, that the mids on the r70x are more coloured ? Maybe thats a reason also for my mind of the soundstage.
Im using a Fostex HP-A3, nothing special. Next week i get the Korg DS-Dac-100 for my Phonon smb 02 ds-dac edition. But im not shure if i will keep them :)
For movies and games I bet R70x is much better since it has more midbass and punch on the lower end right? Explosions must sound much better. Also I heard that you said that the soundstage is better in R70x too, so if that is the case it might be much better for gaming and movies than the HD600.
That seems quite likely. I think these had a bit of a revival in interest after Crinacle reviewed them not too long ago
@@metal571 Oh I didn't know crinacle reviewed it, but I was thinking to get the HD600 for an allrounder neutral headphone that I will be using for mostly movies and gaming, this review came up and I watched it.
I am looking for something that is less detailed and but still has a decent soundstage, more bass and sounded more natural, R70x seems to tick all the points.
HD600 as you said is known for boosted mids and has less bass presence. I've ever had a headphone with boosted mids too in the past, it doesn't sound really natural and is a little bit sharp when there is a dialogue in game or movies. Not to mention the smaller soundstage will make games or movies less immersive.
I also own ATH-ADX5000, so it already filled the role for detailed music listening headphone. Hopefully R70X will do the job for the gaming and movie department with its more mellow sound and better space recreation.
Thanks for the great review by the way, this is still relevant until today! Cheers!
@@kato2395 yeah the 600's mids are a little too annoying for me now which is why I keep a 650 around but most of my listening is on the LCD-2F with lots of EQ and an SA6 with no EQ at all since my retirement from this channel years ago. Glad this was helpful
Cool review! it is a horrible design ..so it sounds better than the beyerdynamic 1990 pro??? what in your opinion is the bes headphone for $600 ? keep in mind is for mixing and I do not like bright headphones..thanks!!
Ah shucks, I had my heart set on 'em at $100 off Can. price, but now not so sure. I already own the old HD 580's, and yeah, I know what u mean re the highs and separation etc and who cares about all the bass. I recently bought the 40x's thinking they'd kill my Senn's and ... later figured it out (NOT!)! Anyway, I'd really like to know why the ATM-50x's got their big reputation, cuz I sure wouldn't want 'em. A sensible mature review BTW! I couldn't disagree anywhere.
+Peartfection honestly not sure how the M50 got so popular. They were good at the time I think, just not really anymore.
I really enjoy the m50x. They're versatile cans. I can go out with them. They're a good work horse headphone. Its the headphone you take with you everywhere. They look great, sound great, and make great ambassadors for people who inquire about it having never used headphones beyond budget earbuds. They educate Beats users like nothing else. They're durable. Portable and don't feel like they're going to break if you toss them around. Replaceable cables. Stuff like that is what helps make it popular. You can't claim half of this stuff with anything from Sennheiser. Not even the R70x or the AD series have this versatility.
Krystal Myth Agree 100%. My M50x's served me so well, both as workhorse headphones and they got the job done as monitor headphones for me for a while. Mixed two of my EPs that were eventually released on labels with them, and looking back, they have helped me create extremely professional mixdowns when I combined them with listening (when referencing and mixing) and visual monitoring of various aspects of the mixdown. No, they aren't the best for mixing and mastering out of the box. But they're a great pair of first studio monitor headphones that almost forced me to learn a lot of visual mixing techniques to really perfect my tracks, which I'm grateful for.
This or K712 Pro? I have the HD560S and love them, but would like something more open and maybe more revealing? I'm driving them with the iFi Zen Can, so power will be no issue. I'm not really into the HD600/650 because I prefer cold to warm sound and "intimate" soundstage is claustrophobic to me (I really didn't like the staging on the HifiMan HE1000SE)
R70X and HD560s are like 95% same sound. K712 is an entirely different beast probably the best soundstage you can get beside HD800.
@@miladesn I currently use heavily EQd Audioquest Nighthawk Carbons and they're my absolute favourite cans. I'm still thinking of getting the K712's, how is their power handling? I'm an unapologetic basshead
@@miladesn
Which headphone could be the next contender for HD600's throne?
400i?
Btw R.I.P R70x you were a a good one.
+manos manoss I would expect the 400i to come a lot closer to being a serious alternative.
What Is The Name Of The Microphone You Used In This Video ?
GENERAL KING Rode NT1 2014
Cool . And Which Headphone Would Be Ideal For Mixing Just Vocals Alone ?
The review of the AD-900X?
+Luis Díaz nope
metal571 Now I'm curious. Why?
I actually sold it already. All you need to know is it has huge 4k and 10k peaks and no bass, and also fits very strangely. Not really a fan
metal571 I'm sure it's similar to my ad700x. Still, reviews for the Art & Air series by non-AT fanboys are far and few between.
The new HD560s is very very very similar to R70X and it cost a lot less. It has a very cheap looking build but the sound is good. The treble is also similarly grainy a bit and isnt that detailed but similarly the bass extension is very impressive and same as R70X. Very good alternative.
No
470 Ohms...WOW! Has anybody heard of higher than that?
There are plenty of audiophile headphones with a 600 ohm impedance such as the beyerdynamic T1 and DT880 premium 600 ohm
Cool. Thanks for the education. I wonder how many headphone amps could handle 600 Ohms.
+Bill Boys the Schiit Magni 2 Uber has no issue with that, that's what I have now
I've got the Shiit Jotunheim. You think that would handle 600 Ohms?
+Bill Boys absolutely. It has the same 1.5W out at 32 ohms as the Magni 2 Uber. And it is way way more powerful if you run balanced as well
OK I literally just received both the R70x and HD600.
First minutes impressions: Both are great headphones but holy shit the treble of the HD600 is fucking amazeballs!!
Told ya ;)
+metal571 Yeah :D
The thing is ordered them to write a review-comparison between them in a domestic forum and ultimately keep one but now I can't decide!
First impression the HD 600 sounds like it is slightly better techically with better micro detail and amazing treble . Rock and metal sound great , disturbed+sennheiser was always a LOVE relationship for me.
But the R70x has that seductive natural smooth sound which along with an intimate soundstage that somehow extents and envelops you naturally and the feather weight and smoother clamping force makes you forget that you wear headphones!
Sometimes it even makes the HD 600 sound a touch fatiguing! THE HD600!
I am seriously considering keeping them both!
Damn that hobby! And I have the phillips X2s coming next week...
manos manoss equalize the 600 and then you will have an even better can. The R70 will retain the better soundstage but less detail though. The 600 can be fatiguing yes that's why I lower the upper mids on it myself
metal, do you realize a lot of people just don't like to equalize their headphones? I personally always notice something off, something that just doesn't feel right when applying equalization, whether to a speaker, headphone, or heck even a car stereo.
Never had that feeling with good headphones with enough speed. Very high end headphones tend to EQ significantly better as they have lower THD and a faster transient response. I used to avoid EQ at all costs, then I realized that I liked nothing.
You're insane if you suggest ANYTHING that is still called "neutral" at first, might at the same time be "warmer" than the HD600. But people have always been utterly insane (meaning deluded, illogical, nonsensical, fanatic, deranged, or just randomly babbling and namedropping) about the HD600... But to go back to logic, the HD600 are incredibly "warm" and "uniform"-sounding, meaning everything is lacking differentiation and is beneath a veil, and nothing can be warmer in the mids and still EVER be called neutral. It is a discredit to any headphone if a reviewer starts talking about HD600, because it means they will have nothing of interest and or anything relatable to say.
Head pads are awful. They don't support your head and you have to use rubber bands to make them work. Ear pads are extremely uncomfortable for long hours. Sound quality is great. Overall I thought they seemed very cheap feeling and was disappointed.
after checking this review I think pretty much all headphones are crappy regardless the price.... all pretty unstable frequency wise, too boomy, excessive brightness and lots of distortion...seems that the headphone market just target deaf people that have no clue how a good recording should sound and they just boost the hell of of low frequencies and Low End .... comparing to my Amphions Two15, my Genelec 8351a and even my KRK's V4(new version) ...headphones even around 700 bucks sounds so unbalanced and terrible
+Blue Matrix headphones are just starting to get good as of a few years ago. Research is finally taking off finding out why that the classic target curve is wrong and that is quite responsible for why so many headphones do not meet the mark. Comparing headphones to monitors is definitely an easy way to see how much better speakers are in terms of accuracy. Stay tuned though, the market is rapidly changing thanks to some research done by Harman. See my neutrality video
I can't get a feel for this guy and his reviews. It's like every headphone besides the HD600 sounds terrible.
+davdcl499 then you are only watching the reviews of stuff I don't like
I'm watching numerous videos and reading some of your responses. You send mix signals. I'm looking to buy headphones and you're basically the only one reviewing numerous brands, but you give too many mix signals, besides the HD 600.
+davdcl499 that's because a lot of headphones have a lot of flaws. There's always a downside. The HD 600 is a great headphone, but it suffers in both soundstage width and the bass drops off like a rock. It is rare however for a headphone to nail the midrange and treble tonality like it can. The very first thing to understand about this hobby is that every single headphone you buy will have compromises. No such thing as a perfect model, not even in the $1000+ range. So that's why I may sound like I'm giving mixed signals - that's because it's true, nothing is perfect.
Understood. I'm asking for your opinion, of course: I'm familiar with Audio-Technica and Beyer Dynamic. Which headphone(s) would you recommend for mixing/mastering purposes? Again, I know it's a recommendation, but I can start there.
+davdcl499 it's a pretty broad question but my usual recommendation for professionals is a K553. Depending on budget the Audeze LCD2 is also an acceptable open back mixing headphone that sounds even more like speakers. I don't recommend most open headphones as dynamic open backs almost always roll off too much in the sub bass region to be useful for mixing.
Do not listen to him he is talking bs he doesn't like anything from audio technica this headphones are the best no idea what he hear in his head and not just that even mire cheaper like ath m 50x bt2 that's what i have are good one and i can tell you i have no problem with mixing all is alright when i compared to speakers..
exactly, the HD600 has very little treble beyond 8kHz, no presence, no staging, what was he talking about??
In my opinnion, flat headphones are just so boring. Its like a musician with perfect technical vocals but no soul...its just blahh. Heard it before, moving on. I want life and colour.
+Dag Ut I agree 100%, no one is always in the mood for perfectly flat and dull sound
are the pads removable?
I don't actually know the answer to that
Joshua Sng yes removable