First impressions: Sennheiser HD600

[Puma Cat]

Well, I've been listening to my HD600s for a good portion of the day, and I have to say I am truly impressed. This is truly a wonderful headphone.

The mids are absolutely superb, and I know that folks have referred to the Sennheiser veil, but I don't think this is in fact, true. I think those folks were probably previously influenced by overly bright Grados and the like. I've listened to a number of very well mastered and recorded classical recordings today, and I think the highs are amongst the most accurate, neutral, yet natural-sounding I've ever heard, and that includes some very good loudspeakers. And I've only been listening to them through a Geek Out 450!

It is very difficult to accurately reproduce the timbre, harmonics and overtones of piano, violin and bells, etc. without things getting muddied, splashy or bright, and the HD600s get this more right than just about anything that I've ever heard.

I can't wait to hear these with some really nice vinyl on my Rega P5 turntable, Sumiko Pearwood Celebration II moving coil cartridge, EAR phono stage and Conrad-Johnson Premier 17 preamp driving a Schiit Valhalla 2.

[AndyPandy]

Glad for you Stephen, I think they are a very nice headphone as well. Happy listening.

[Yamaki]

Congratulations on finding a great pair of headphones, Stephen!

I have always been impressed with the Sennheiser line. I have a pair of Momentums I use with my A&K portable player and it's a superb match.

[jdandy]

Stephen.......Your description of the midrange and accurate timbre is exactly why I have no problem recommending the HD600 to anyone. It is also why I chose not to replace the HD600 with the HD650 when I made direct comparisons of the two. The HD600 sounds neutral and accurate. It also manages to maintain an excellent balance between lows, mid, and highs when listening at lower volume. You don't have to blast the Sennheiser HD600 to reap the full benefit. Happy listening.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......Your description of the midrange and accurate timbre is exactly why I have no problem recommending the HD600 to anyone. It is also why I chose not to replace the HD600 with the HD650 when I made direct comparisons of the two. The HD600 sounds neutral and accurate. It also manages to maintain an excellent balance between lows, mid, and highs when listening at lower volume. You don't have to blast the Sennheiser HD600 to reap the full benefit. Happy listening.

Dan your synopsis is on the nose.

[ronenash]

I love my HD600 although I have heard better phones I still think the senns hd600 are probably one of the best value in audio. Try to add a WW headphone cable to them. That will lift the performance even further.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by Yamaki

Congratulations on finding a great pair of headphones, Stephen!

I have always been impressed with the Sennheiser line. I have a pair of Momentums I use with my A&K portable player and it's a superb match.

Michael,
Which A&K model player do you have?

-Stephen

[John49]

I bought my HD600s too long ago to remember. They did me fine, until HiFiMan and Audeze came into the picture. I mostly use HE-500s now, but the HD600 is still used every now and then as it doesn't need driving with a high wattage amplifier.

[Puma Cat]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Stephen.......Your description of the midrange and accurate timbre is exactly why I have no problem recommending the HD600 to anyone. It is also why I chose not to replace the HD600 with the HD650 when I made direct comparisons of the two. The HD600 sounds neutral and accurate. It also manages to maintain an excellent balance between lows, mid, and highs when listening at lower volume. You don't have to blast the Sennheiser HD600 to reap the full benefit. Happy listening.

Dan, your comments are interesting; I noticed that yesterday when I was listening to them, you can listen at low volumes and still hear deeply into the musical presentation, and they still sound clean and neutral. In this respect, they remind me of Quad electrostatics. Yet, clean and neutral doesn't mean analytical, far from it, they are almost lush-sounding in that they are so natural-sounding. But, they're not lush, they are so just so natural-sounding one could refer to them that way.

Really a remarkable transducer. Can't wait to get a proper amp to drive them with. Oh, BTW, didn't know WW made a cord for them. I will look into that.

[Jack in Wilmington]

Originally Posted by John49

I bought my HD600s too long ago to remember. They did me fine, until HiFiMan and Audeze came into the picture. I mostly use HE-500s now, but the HD600 is still used every now and then as it doesn't need driving with a high wattage amplifier.

I don't think they really shine until you use a good tube amp with them.