Sennheiser HD660S Speculation

"The successor of the legendary HD650..." So it will replace the HD650 (no more new ones) but there should be all the used ones necessary for anyone who chooses one. Hopefully Sennheiser continues making all of the spare parts for the HD650. The current pics of the HD660S have a blank where the "Made in Ireland" was. I would guess they will be made in Ireland, regardless. Time will tell.

 

@MuppetFace - I don't have any issues with yours or anyone else's opinion regarding the k1000.
I only take exception when you imply that someone else's opinion is false or not based upon what they really feel, which is how I read your comment about those who have one for sale writing glowing comments about it. That's their opinion or mine so not sure why you have to crap over what other people feel about a headphone, especially when they've owned it for a period of time and can really know much better than someone who has just heard it at a meet or casually listened to them.

That's all I will say about this so as not to derail this thread.

 

Not very familiar with headphone lexicon. Can someone define for me the term "sub-bass" and how it is distinguised (and measures differently) from "bass"? My understanding was that bass is a range of lower frequencies that go down to 20 Hz,which is the limit of (perfect) human hearing. How is "sub-bass" different from that?

 

I feel like it would be an unnecessary cost for them to move production of them to China as well when they share so much in common with the 6x0 but who knows. I'm sure they also realize that it's still a selling point to some in the community, hence the 800 being made in Germany.

 

Bass: 20Hz - 250Hz
...are divided into:
Sub-bass: 20Hz - 60Hz
Mid-bass: 60Hz - 150Hz
Upper-bass: 150Hz-250Hz

 

Was anyone able to get an order in or were they immediately posted as 'out of stock - available soon'?

I'm generally patient about new releases and waiting to see what they're made of, but the thought of a true HD-650 successor makes my insides hurt.

 

Based off the the description of the item and the fact that these share the same price point as the HD650, I believe Sennheiser intends the HD660S to be a lower ohm version of the HD580/600/650 family, sharing the same celebrated sound signature. The transducer is "higher performing" because it can convey the same sound with lower coil sensitivity and hence allows for more listening use cases. Kinda like the Beyer DT 880's product strategy.

This would also explain why they needed to create a new driver.

If the HD660S is a strict improvement on the HD650 sound as some of you have suggested (i.e. same midrange, better imaging, less low end distortion), I doubt that it'd MSRP at the same price point.

 

Basically the only two weaknesses of the HD650 in my book are:

1) Sub-bass distortion and lack of "tightness" compared to HD800 and high-end orthos. Compared to low-fi gear the bass of the HD650 isn't bad, it's just not the best.
2) Soundstage is kind of non-uniform and imaging is a little hazy. Not compared to low-fi gear, or most closed headphones, but compared to the best.

If the HD660S keeps the midrange magic of the HD650 and improves the bass distortion/tightness and soundstage/imaging it will be a major improvement. Even if it's just by 10% or so. Time will tell.

 

They still produce the hd600. I would imagine the 650 will live on alongside the 660S.

At least i hope it does... If not, time to stock up on spare 650's.

 

I'm optimistic this will be the case. Listed THD+N for the HD660S is < 0.04% (1 kHz, 100 dB), compared to ≤ 0.05% (1 kHz, 100 dB) per the HD650 manual. (Note the change in symbol.)

 

@Mystic

Sennheiser not selling the HD650 would almost be like McD not selling the BigMac at this point. And they are at pretty different price points as well. The HD600 on the other hand... that one might be in more trouble. But who knows.

 

A while back there were all kinds of rumors from multiple sources, some retailers and Senn reps, that the 650 was being discontinued. I wonder if this is why.

 

With the HD650 driver being replaceable, and the HD660S having the same housing, wouldn't we be able to buy a matched pair of 660S drivers to throw into a HD6XX along with those sexy new grilles?

 

Thank you, Marv. It's a logical hypothesis then, that improved sub-bass may be embodied by a driver design with lower distortion around the 30 Hz frequency range that would result in a more linear and accurate response to actual ~30 Hz source content than an "artifact" of hearing 60 Hz instead of a true 30 Hz.

 

Thank you. Always helpful to understand the lexicon to have a context of understanding behind the discussion. Interestingly, this isn't a term that is used in loudspeaker based listening, rather terms like full range (reproduction of a true 20 Hz)," limited" Low-frequency response (not quite 20 Hz; maybe 30-50 Hz) are used.

 

Thanks, Marv. Makes sense that making a variant that is more suitable for portable amps would be a logical line extension strategy from a product development perspective. This could create a more accessible market segment for Senn, potentially "new uses for existing users" as well as "new uses for new users", from a product innovation perspective.

"I find that lowering expectations is a better approach. Better to be surprised rather than disappointed."
Truer words were never spoken; the old corporate maxim of "under promise and over deliver".

Thanks and cheers.

 

I don't know if anybody is going to know this, but does that mean they're retiring the hd650? Sad if so.