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Review: Sennheiser Hd 660s2 – Great Expectations
The Sennheiser HD 660S2 make stronger upon their predecessors whilst dealing with the daunting job of changing a cult vintage.
Sennheiser has a singular downside: it’s its personal pageant in lots of sides.
Let me additional explain that remark.
The HD 650 have been launched over 20 years in the past. Even now they continue to be related, a staple even with regards to open-back dynamic driving force headphones.
So, how do you apply up a bonafide vintage? There’s no simple solution to that query. Sennheiser has been exhausting at paintings, seeking to seize lightning in a bottle another time.
The burden of expectancies bears heavier at the HD 660S2 than every other pair of mid-range headphones. In all probability unfairly so, however that’s what makes reviewing them profitable.
Learn on.
Sennheiser has made a nearly absolute best pair of studio screens with the HD 660S2. I actually just like the HD 660S2 and may are living with them as my best pair of headphones – for probably the most section. Sadly, the associated fee is exaggerated for a product that may be a slight improve over the past style. The HD 660S2 don’t be offering the entirety they must at that worth. I be expecting higher staging, and the bass slam may well be stepped forward. On the MSRP, I’ve my reservations.
- Time-tested construct that are supposed to closing years
- Simply to be had alternative portions
- Balanced cable bundled within the bundle
- Uncolored and highly-resolving midrange
- A lot stepped forward sub-bass reaction over the HD 650 and the HD 660S
- Higher upper-treble extension than the former HD 6xx sequence of headphones.
- Higher macro and microdynamics than their predecessors.
- Just right imaging
- Clamp-force is also tight for some
- Presence area top may also be distracting every now and then (intentional tuning selection)
- Vocals aren’t as ahead because the HD 600, nor as lush because the HD 650
- Staging is reasonable within the higher scheme of items
- Pricing may well be decrease given the extremely aggressive marketplace
In This Article
Unboxing and First Affect
Technical Specs
Packaging
Sennheiser has simplified the packaging of the 6xx sequence headphones to one thing fairly generic.
Whilst the previous packaging of the HD 650 and HD 600 used to come back with a heavy garage field and padded innards, the more recent revisions arrive in recyclable cardboard cutouts.
Within the field
- Sennheiser HD 660S2 headphones
- 1.8m 6.35mm terminated cable
- 1.6m 4.4mm balanced cable
- 6.35mm to three.5mm adapter cable
The excellent news is that the HD 600S2 come bundled with balanced and single-ended cables, making it simple to glue them to more than a few assets with no need to shop for an oem cable.
Design
The HD 660S2 have a most commonly plastic construct with a spring metal headscarf.
In spite of the standard sneer directed at plastic for now not having a “top rate” sufficient really feel in hand, the HD 6xx sequence of headphones generally tend to closing for a very long time. My HD 650, for instance, had been going sturdy for over seven years.
The HD 660S2 use a “dual-entry” cable gadget the place each earcups use separate cable entries. The program is way more powerful than the single-entry ones and does now not depend on wires working throughout the headscarf.
The yokes have ok sidewise motion, and the earcups rotate front-to-back by way of about 15 levels, so I believe most of the people gained’t have problems getting a excellent seal. The left earcup may also be recognized by way of contact thank you to a few raised dots close to the headscarf.
As soon as once more, Sennheiser took care of the little main points.
The earpads are the similar ones that include the opposite HD 6xx sequence of headphones, which means that that the sound signature will turn into extra mid-centric because the pads put on through the years.
Worry now not, despite the fact that, as alternative pads are broadly to be had.
Convenience and isolation
The clamp drive is quite upper than I desire. On the other hand, the drive is so properly disbursed that no hotspots are shaped.
Isolation is nearly nonexistent because of the open-back design.
Internals
The Sennheiser HD 660S2 use 38mm drivers with a new magnet design in spite of using a previous-generation housing.
Sennheiser makes use of the similar “vented” magnetic gadget at the HD 660S2 because the predecessor HD 660S. At the older fashions (e.g., HD 650 and HD 660), the air displacement behind the driving force used to be managed by way of foam inserts.
This new design makes use of chrome steel mesh, leading to a lot tighter tolerance and awesome subject matter longevity.
The motive force could also be very similar to the older style with the exception of for the voice coil, which is now thinner (and thus, the rise in impedance, I suppose). The housing is basically the similar because the HD 660S as properly.
Minor enhancements fairly than a generational driving force efficiency and design jump.
Because the efficiency used to be superb already, it’s fairly tough to muster a holistic growth.
Sennheiser HD 660S2 Sound
The HD 660S2 are most commonly impartial with slight emphasis close to the presence area.
The sub-bass succeed in and extension are a noticeable growth over the previous fashions.
Bass
Sub-bass was once the Achilles’ heel for the HD 600 and HD 650, and whilst the HD 660S2 stepped forward noticeably, the most recent model of the HD 660S2 delivers the most productive efficiency.
The HD 660S2 produce superb bass for a couple of open-back, dynamic-driver headphones.
Bass is tight and regulated whilst having superb pace and mid-bass texture. Deep, low rumble till 30Hz with awesome definition. On the other hand, the ones used to accentuated sub-bass won’t to find it right here.
For the reason that the HD 660S2 are supposed to be impartial, reference-tuned headphones, the sub-bass now not having a +10dB shelf makes absolute sense. The slam issue is a space that may be stepped forward, as bass notes do not need numerous physicality to them.
Midrange
The mids are the bread and butter of the HD 6xx sequence of headphones. The HD 660S2 aren’t any exception.
Sennheiser is going a quite other direction this time, with the upper-mids being much less pronounced than the predecessors.
This leads to a extra laid-back presentation of feminine vocals in comparison to the hyper-forward HD 600, whilst male vocals aren’t as lush-sounding because the HD 650.
If you’re touchy to shout, the HD 660S2 can be absolute best for you.
Treble
The aforementioned lower-treble top round 6kHz may also be tiring for treble-sensitive other folks. I enjoy fatigue when paying attention to poorly mastered tracks. Sure rock and steel songs, e.g., Purple Sizzling Chilli Pepper’s Californication, are prone right here.
This top aids find mastering problems, then again, particularly for de-essing. So it’s there for a explanation why.
Thankfully, the upper-treble is well-extended and has superb tuning. Cymbals, hi-hats, and triangles resonate naturally, with actual assault and rot. Treble timbre is excellent as properly, with out a metal “zing’ or “sheen” affecting the excessive notes.
Total element and backbone are superb, however the HD 660S2 fall in the back of some mid-range planar magnetic headphones.
Soundstage and imaging
Soundstage is reasonable for an open-back, however those don’t sound as closed-in because the HD 600 or HD 650. Degree intensity could also be stepped forward, with frontal projection higher reproduced.
Imaging is actual with correct software placement.
Dynamics and pace
Macrodynamic punch is rather excellent, despite the fact that those aren’t the ultimate for general slam and punch.
Microdynamics (slow shifts in quantity) are superb, alternatively. Separation could also be above reasonable, however some mid-range planars (e.g., the Hifiman Ananda Nano) are higher.
Comparisons
Vs Sennheiser HD 650
Sennheiser’s HD 650 are mythical in their very own proper and are hugely common even two decades after release. The HD 660S2 organize to significantly make stronger the bass reaction over the older style.
There actually isn’t any contest – the HD 660S2 bass is in any other league in comparison to the HD 650.
The HD 650 have noticeable distortion within the sub-bass area, and in busy tracks, bass notes generally tend to smear into each and every different.
After some modding, I’ve quite stepped forward the distortion traits of my very own HD 650, however even then, you succeed in the boundaries rather briefly.
Some other facet that has observed a soar is the level width. Whilst the HD 660S2 aren’t specifically wide-sounding, they fare significantly better than the HD 650. A explanation why for that is the fewer ahead upper-midrange, whilst the bass extension additionally is helping create a way of intensity.
The higher-treble is an issue of style. I to find them each well-tuned on this regard, with the HD 660S2 most likely being a tad extra resolving. On the other hand, the lower-treble is the place I a lot desire the HD 650.
For male vocals, the lushness of the HD 650 stay unequalled for me. For vocal-centric tracks, I gravitate against the HD 650 because of this, whilst for instrumentals and extra full of life tracks, the HD 660S2 turned into the herbal select.
Total, the HD 660S2 are higher fitted to most current genres. On the identical time, I will not forget the associated fee tag, which is just about two times that of the HD 6XX Drop variant of the HD 650. The efficiency improve rarely justifies the sort of huge worth hole, so the HD 650/6XX nonetheless stay as excellent an possibility as ever.
The place to Purchase
Conclusion
Sennheiser has made a nearly absolute best pair of studio screens with the HD 660S2. That is what the HD 560S attempted to be, and the HD 660S have been touted as being, however neither may conquer the overall hurdles.
Sadly, the associated fee is upper than I imagine “apt.” The MSRP is exaggerated for a product that may be a slight improve over the past style – essentially providing growth within the bass for current HD 600 and HD 650 house owners.
This places me in a relatively awkward place.
I actually just like the HD 660S2 and may are living with them as my best pair of headphones – for probably the most section. They don’t require numerous amping (despite the fact that I’d suggest selecting a supply with >5 Vrms and >10 ohm output impedance for highest effects). They sound nice with each and every style.
On the other hand, the marketplace has grown so aggressive that the HD 660S2 don’t be offering the entirety they must at that worth. For one, I be expecting higher staging, and the bass slam may well be stepped forward.
If you happen to to find the HD 660S2 on the market at an important bargain, they’re properly definitely worth the acquire. On the MSRP, I’ve my reservations.
Allow 48h for review and removal.