Senneheiser HD660S Impressions

Someone on Head-Fi claims they emailed Sennheiser US to ask if the HD650 or HD600 was going to be discontinued. This was the reply they got.

 

Mm, got it. Sorta like how my current cans (TH-X00 EB) sound like they're artificially boosting small nuances in female vocal performances, as opposed to how the HD650 (white mesh version) presents the same information, but without the fake "in your face"-ness of it all? There are probably more apt comparisons to be made, but I've an easier time assessing vocals than instruments because my critical listening skills need work

I like the DR9 v DR13 comparison, it conveys how the 660S might be somewhat more tiring despite the KISS tonality, with sound coming in like a solid wall (like real life v. photograph?).

Anyway, butting out of posting here until I get to demo a pair for myself, but I think the jury'll have returned from recess by then, haha. Thanks!

EDIT:
@Marvey, sorry for the trouble but I just noticed: if I'm reading that graphic correctly, you're saying the HP3 is more compressed than the HD650 on a TOTL amp? You mentioned in your review that the HP3 scales like crazy, but has a higher "starting point" than the HD650, making it easier to eke out performance on more modest rigs.

 

What are x and y on these plots?

 

EDIT: Bilingual brain fart, sorry. By "volume" below, I meant the lines represent the upper and lower audible thresholds the cans are capable of reproducing in a single instant.

y Axis = volume
Everything within the lines is sonic information presented, everything outside is "lost info"; analogous to dynamic range compression in music releases?

... Now I wanna try listening to HD650s out of that damn EC Custom 45. Fudge. How much are plane tickets again? =_=

 

The more impressions/analysis that come in, the more it seems that
HD6xx +Vali2= less than 660s but better sound.

I know it's an oversimplification, but the only advantage the 660s seems to have is that it's easier to drive, so if you can get better sound (including amplification) for less $$, the 660s seems to have a limited audience.

 

Very interesting.

 

Can you explain this - I don't quite get the y=volume answer above.

If I understand this the plot is quiet info vs loud info at low and higher power/vol. So the 660 is functioning like a compander, raising the quiet passages and compressing the peaks relative to the 600/650 which is only compressing the peaks. Or ?

 

I'm thinking of the y axis as total scale-ability with better gear (this may be homogeneous with net fidelity or transparency), with no lines technically meaning infinite scaling. The bottom line designates the 'floor' or finite resolution of the transducer. The space below it is permanently lost or un-resolvable information due to the inherent limitation of the transducer.

I believe then the top line represents dynamic compression on a micro level which will further detriment fidelity. I can only guess the slope of the line indicates the rough relation of this compression/floor to frequency. As the two lines converge, total scale-ability (fidelity, whatever) is reduced significantly.

 

I was just about to post this. I'll be making a glass case for my HD650 now. Starting bid is $5,000 in 50 years.

 

It seems likely that one of the HD600 or HD650 would be dropped given the HD6xx massdrops. Oh well, at least my cables will still be usable.

I will probably try the HD660S when things die down a bit, perhaps after Christmas or by next spring. It sounds like it may be interesting to try to identify the nuances in these cans and to move away from the obsolete.

Struggling over which can to pick (not just the HD660S-or-not dilemma but) in general seems like a first-world problem whatever that may mean.

It's a great luxury to have this as a dilemma of sorts in life. I certainly am thankful to be able to ponder this in some way no matter what the outcome will be.

 

Well i was wondering if that's why Sennheiser did a collaboration with Massdrop, since they were planning on discontinuing the HD650. Makes sense to get rid of all remaining HD650 stock.

 

... and probably to keep earning a royalty on the 6xx sales as the new cans are used to replace the old.

 

The Massdrop doesn't come from existing HD650 stock — Sennheiser does a manufacturing run to produce it (one reason for the months long shipment dates). But it's all good for Sennheiser, because Massdrop pays upfront for the order.

 

I think @cskippy was referring to a back inventory of drivers, which Sennheiser likely has. This is something @Cspirou alluded to earlier in a profile post. It will be interesting to see whether the 6XX has longevity as a product, or if it serves as a means to an end for Sennheiser (in this case preparing to phase out the 650).

I'm also curious to see if the HD660S performance out of a DAP provides clues about what the Sennheiser engineers were aiming for. It certainly appears they made compromises with respect to performance on higher end gear. I presume they made that decision to gain something else, and this explanation seems as plausible as any.