Sennheiser HD600.....Again!

[southall-1998_mk2]

Bloody hell, I keep returning back to these frigging things!

Over the years I've tried many Grado's, Beyerdynamic, Stax and few more others etc. Don't get me wrong all are good sounding. But sadly to my ears, they lack in not having a certain 'smooth easy tone'. It's the type of presentation that you can listen for long periods. The latter you easily get with the HD6XX family of headphones.

I've also owned a good few HD650's which sound very much similar to the HD600. The only difference is that the HD650 is a little more smoother/warmer on top.

The HD600 is a very difficult headphone to beat for under £500. This is just my opinion. So as always, YMMV.

S.

[CageyH]

You should try an HD540 référence at some point.

[gninnam]

You should try an HD540 référence at some point.

I have the 545 reference and I find it too light (next to no bass) but brilliant midrange, far better than my 600's, so I wonder if the 540 whould be similar?

[Ian7633]

I've got both the HD600 and HD650 and I like them both. The 600s are great for most music but the 650 really excel with classical. I'd keep the 600s if I had to choose but 650s just have something that keeps me from moving them on. Both are the most comfortable headphones I've ever had too.

[Pete The Cat]

Bloody hell, I keep returning back to these frigging things!

Over the years I've tried many Grado's, Beyerdynamic, Stax and few more others etc. Don't get me wrong all are good sounding. But sadly to my ears, they lack in not having a certain 'smooth easy tone'. It's the type of presentation that you can listen for long periods. The latter you easily get with the HD6XX family of headphones.

I've also owned a good few HD650's which sound very much similar to the HD600. The only difference is that the HD650 is a little more smoother/warmer on top.

The HD600 is a very difficult headphone to beat for under £500. This is just my opinion. So as always, YMMV.

S.

I agree with your analysis of their character. However I find that "smooth easy tone" makes them less involving and a bit flat for rock. I keep a pair as well as Beyer DT990s and Denon AHD2000s both of which are more fun especially, as you imply, over shorter periods. However the HD600s excel at analytical listening and for classical they recreate the sense of witnessing a performance very well. Just IMHO. Vive la difference.

Pete