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Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones
$199
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Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Headphones
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keyboard_arrow_downReedo
454
Oct 3, 2019
There is no difference other than branding - these will have Drop logos/HD6XX printed on the headband, while the 650 will have no Drop logo and will say HD650 instead. Acoustically, they are identical.
ovonisamja
0
May 11, 2020
ReedoJust received these, and boy am I surprised.
- There's a hidden cost of taxes because this price is shown before taxes! So I had to add 56$ on top of the price so it's not 235 with the shipping but 291, which in the end is only 80$ less than the original (at least in my country).
- The headphones aren't made from metal as the original, but from plastic which feels very cheap. They will certainly give in at the point where the head band joins the headphones.
- The sound isn't the same (I have the original), but is close enough, so that's a plus. Maybe with time they will come closer to the original model.
- Another plus is the box , which is nice and very similar to the original one. But I don't really care for the box. I need these for work in the studio. A better option would have been extra ear pads or cable, not the freaking box!
(Edited)
Reedo
454
May 11, 2020
ovonisamjaTax situation sounds like you're in the EU - paying import tax is standard, and should be expected on a product like this. Even if you're located somewhere else, pre-tax pricing is not a new concept. If you've never bought anything internationally/from the United States before, then I understand, but that's not exactly Drop's fault.
As for the sound: these are built alongside the 650 at Sennheiser's Romania facility. They are acoustically identical to the current HD650. It is possible that there was a minor sound revision at some point in the past after you bought your HD650, which would explain the difference, but these will sound the same as a new HD650. The more likely scenario is that your pads have compressed and worn over time, which will change the sound. Sennheisers (especially the 600 series) are extremely sensitive to pad swaps/condition, and if you've had yours for 10 years, I wouldn't be surprised if they've altered the acoustics a bit.
As for the construction: I have no idea what you are talking about. Every version of the 600 series that I have ever encountered (HD6XX, HD650, HD600, HD660S, HD58X, etc) has a plastic build. It's a very durable plastic, but plastic nonetheless. I have never heard of a titanium HD650 - Sennheiser's website touts that the 650 has a "titanium-silver finish," but that is purely referring to the color - I can assure you that they are plastic, just like the HD6XX.
100,000 people have bought this headphone, and I've never seen someone complain that they weren't made of titanium. Are you sure yours are, and if they're fine as you say, why did you buy the HD6XX? Why did you continue through the purchase process after seeing the taxes you would be paying? I'm a bit confused as to how you ended up in your situation.
(Edited)
ovonisamja
0
May 11, 2020
ReedoI meant made of metal, not titanium. Yeah, the finish is titanium silver. My bad. But I don't know if the plastic is of same quality.
I had already received the headphones, and had to pay the rest of the costs on delivery. Sending them back would be a hastle. All that is needed is here is that they say, prices are before taxes, that's it. Given the taxes on top of the price, the savings aren't that great so I'd go for the original ones.
(Edited)
Infinitooo
7
Jul 4, 2020
ReedoDrop is a JOKE for us Europeans, even in cases like this, when you're buying a product that was made here.
When I make an order on Amazon.com I know exactly how much I am going to pay.
fin170
130
Jul 5, 2020
ovonisamjaHi, would you mind breaking down the $56 - Country/VAT & Import duty in your countries currency £/€.
I'm assuming you purchased @ $220 & $15 shipping?
Thank you.
ovonisamja
0
Jul 6, 2020
fin170In my country Tax is 25% and you pay on the full amount you have payed. That is the (item price + the delivery costs)x0.25tax=the amount you pay.
fin170
130
Jul 6, 2020
ovonisamjaThank you.
That's a tad harsh (including the shipping).
It's 23% (product only) in Ireland & they'll charge you €10 to post it to you but there's also an import duty charge added to some products over €150 & under €700 I think? The duty % changes depending on the item - IDK why all of that cannot just be digitized so one knows what they are going to pay in total upon purchase... but sure, that'd be too easy.
Sifting through my countries revenue classifications with regard to items is... frustratingly laborious & often unresolved.
Infinitooo
7
Jul 8, 2020
fin170Because 220usd sounds tempting. You're going to spend over 300eur and patiently wait for them to arrive.
Or you can buy HD 650 for 330eur.
(Edited)
fin170
130
Jul 8, 2020
InfinitoooI've taken to listing the charges, time taken, updates... general all round data experience of purchases on drop in the discussions section of the purchased product.
It'd be helpful if more PPL did likewise to offset surprises from what is often effectively blind/gambling purchases or indeed opting not to purchase/purchase elsewhere - something I gravitate toward.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jul 24, 2020
ovonisamja
- It’s common practice not to advertise the price + tax, because tax varies. Even in the US, the tax is different depending on the state and county within the state. If you’re in the EU, you should be accustomed to VAT.
- Same specially developed plastic as the original. The only metal (on both headphones) is in the headband extensions, outer grille, wiring, and driver construction. This is a major contribution to why the headphone is so light. Plenty of the original release headphones with this construction still survive today, including similar older models like the original HD 580 which just needs new pads every few years.
- The sound is the same as the HD 650= less treble than the HD 600. Literally the same drivers from the same Ireland factory, even if the original enclosure tooling was shipped to Romania for now (for both the HD 650 and HD 6XX). The HD 650 sound wasn’t retuned over the years: the suppliers for parts like the silk dampening material or pads may have changed over the years, but all the headphones still were tested and packaged within the same original variance parameters. If yours sounds different, then something about yours changed over time of ownership (usually the pads, you should replace them every 1-2 years of regular usage).
- The HD 6XX come in a cardboard retail box, not the thick storage box of the HD 650... that (and the shorter cable, and special discount on Drop originally meant to be short-term) is a major reason why the HD 6XX can deliver the same sound for lower cost.
(Edited)
HifiHawaii808
12
Sep 19, 2020
ovonisamjaI'd offer a different perspective. I think for under $300 and when paired with the proper amp/DAC like a DragonFly Red and an iPhone, you cannot find a better sounding headphone set up for under $500 total. Tax is a function of where you live. That's not the fault of Drop or the product company. That's your personal choice. That tax is paying for your health care. We pay for that separately in the USA.
(Edited)
pradeep-s
161
Sep 23, 2020
Evshruggreat answer. btw, the cardboard box seems pretty sturdy. I have had it for some months now, and it has all the signs of being a marathoner :).
StandingDonkey
5
Oct 11, 2020
ReedoThe drivers are the same.
But the plastic is different. The 650 plastic is harder, and feel way different, solid.
The 6xx plastic feel almost hollow, more porous.
And the colour is different.
But really for $220 plus some shipping, its a really good deal!
Keep in mind the ear cup foam does wear out after a year, Ive had the furr start to come off after a time.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Oct 11, 2020
StandingDonkeyWell, NOW there is the additional difference that the HD6xx (and HD 58X Jubilee) is still using the old, original tooling/injection mold for plastic parts, while the HD 600, 650, and 660S are using the fresh tooling. However, both are using the same polymer. Are the HD 6XX glossy coated like the HD 650? That may be the difference you’re feeling in the plastic.
Pads are indeed a consumable part, and wear will vary with use. I still have my original HD 650 pads, but that’s easier since I have the HD 650, HD 58X Jubilee, and HD 660S. If I was wearing the same headphone more than once or twice per week, I would have to change them sooner, but I haven’t worn out any of the pads yet in two years.
I admit my personal HD 660S currently has Dekoni Velour pads on it, because I wanted to try them, and they’ve been my main headphone for the past year and a few months. The memory foam feels softer, and I don’t get a sore jaw... in fact I often keep them on even if I have to pause music for something, and a few times a month I’ll wear them for 7-12 hours at a time. I do use the headphone a few times a week on average, but after a year I don’t see the Dekoni deforming yet. I keep my original HD 660S pads in the Dekoni box, if I ever want an almost pristine pad to compare, but there’s also a fairly fresh pair on my Jubilee (hasn’t seen much use since getting the HD 660S) and a somewhat “head-shaped” pair of stock pads on my HD 650... head-shaped, but still lofty not flat or in need of replacement yet.
(Edited)
Infinitooo
7
Oct 13, 2020
HifiHawaii808BullSchiff, there's a better, quicker and cheaper choice in Europe, it's called Sennheiser HD 650.
And it isn't only about sennheiser HD 6XX, Drop can stop sending to Europe altogether, because of uncompetitive prices accompanied with long delivery dates.
P.S. European headphones are being sold cheaper by Drop in US than in EU. No thanks.
(Edited)
Gordonjpro
3
Jan 29, 2021
InfinitoooI'm assuming EU online stores are the same as your local stores. When you go to Amazon, you know exactly how much you are paying including taxes (maybe shipping as well?).
I live in America so correct me if I am wrong but I am pretty sure when you go shopping at your local grocery, the price tag you see is what you're paying including your taxes? So in the EU, if bread cost 2.30eur, you go to the register and you pay 2.30eur.
In America (anywhere in America that has state taxes), the price tag on the item is for the product before taxes. So if bread costs $2.30, you go to the register and end up paying $3.68 because your taxes are then applied.
So I would assume the same goes for EU vs US servers, EU shows your item cost + tax, and US shows your item cost before taxes have been applied. It's only when you go to "checkout" that you see your taxes apply and etc.
(Edited)
schmalgausen
14
Jun 9, 2021
StandingDonkeyCan you measure both weight to decide are there different plastic or not?
Rocket58
42
Jul 20, 2022
ReedoThey are differences. The current HD 650 (the one with new design 2021) is 10 grams lighter also use a different plastic headband and design. They are more confortable and way more nicer compare to HD6XX. I own both and they do not sound exactly the same (both with new pads). The HD 6xx is made from parts from the previous generation of HD 650 (circa 2014) first one with silver drivers. Also my first HD 650 (2003) the headband was made of metal and the drivers were white. RTINGS had also confirm in their measurements that HD6XX and HD 650 do not sound the same.
(Edited)
albertofgomez
26
Dec 29, 2022
ReedoThose headphones last time I purchased them, a few years back, were made in Ireland, till today they are in Europe, and they are part of the EU, not sure why they have to pay import fees from one European Country to another inside the EU....
Also as far as i know, except for the headband and grill they have been always plastic...and they last a long time...the reason I got rid of them is because I prefer close back to open back what defeats the purpose of the headphones IMO....
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 30, 2022
albertofgomezHD 6xx are still made in Ireland… but they’re an exclusive product for DROP, so all units are dropshipped to DROP’s US warehouse as one big order, before being separated out to individual orders. The HD 650 can be ordered and shipped from within the EU.
albertofgomez
26
Dec 30, 2022
EvshrugIf that is the case, then why purchasing here? The 650 in Europe without all the and taxes fees and shipping will end costing about the same...I can get in US an HD650 probably for under that price, maybe used, but replace pads and grills, and you will have a new pair...BTW I like a lot better the 580/600, more neutral, and same highs and comfort, a little less bass, which the 650 is not good at either...
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Dec 31, 2022
albertofgomezIf you prefer the HD 600 (I personally prefer the HD 660S), then that’s your taste, and that’s fine. Buying used is also your choice. Where I live in the USA, I would add 7% tax to the price here, Sennheiser direct, or other retailers (even eBay used). “You have to pay Caesar his due,” as they say, and Drop doesn’t control government tax rates.
The HD 650 (and by extension, the HD 6xx) was designed to have darker treble in order to make it less fatiguing to use it for a longer period of time in the studio, but only moderately so, and also add a moderate amount of bass. I prefer the HD 660S, but I still had to have the HD 650/6xx… it’s a common point of comparison and reference.
boxit
3
Jan 25, 2023
ovonisamja2016 buyer commenting here, My HD6XX still dont have problem on the plastic until now, no broken parts except the headpad now is thin and the soft pads that covers the driver starts to fall off because of the age.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 25, 2023
boxitEarpads and Headband pads always wear out over the years; Sennheiser made them easy to replace!
Earpads: https://drop.com/buy/drop-earpads-for-hd6xx-and-hd58x?utm_source=linkshare&referer=Z2JXCA
Headband:
https://dekoniaudio.com/product/dekoni-audio-memory-foam-replacement-headband-for-sennheiser-hd600-series-headphones/
(Edited)
mbw1
29
Aug 18, 2023
ReedoNo they aren't!! Vocals are better on the 650. Had both. And to my ears the 650 was superior! It was later confirmed by dms, its not a big difference, but noticeable instantly to my ears. My wife didn't notice, but I did easily. Vocals were much better on the 650. And the build quality is better on the 650. Even the 58x build is more premium looking. But they don't have a presentation box!! What's going on with the 6xx presentation box. Has it gone, or did they stop and start it up again, because I get them in regular, and the last pair had the box again; delivery was on Thursday 17th August 2023? Cheers from N.West U.K.
mbw1
29
Aug 18, 2023
ovonisamjaAnd they had the 650 with the apogee groove for £369 in u.k. a while ago so I grabbed the offer, and compared to the 6xx. Sold the 6xx in the box.kept the 650, with no box!! It's all in the vocals! And even the 58x is built better than the 6xx!
mbw1
29
Aug 19, 2023
Rocket58Correct!
From N.w U.K.! Its all about the vocals. Compared them both. Sold 6xx kept 650! I could tell by listening straight away. Just put some simple acoustic and vocal track on. 650 wins, and it feels more premium, probably because the 6xx has no layer of paintwork. Got the 650 and apogee groove for £369 in a deal, not long ago. Cheers!!
steveblizin
66
Oct 3, 2019
Mechanically, spec/tech wise - zero difference. Aesthetically, I believe the 650s match my hair color better. The 650s cost about $130 more, come in a different box and have a slightly longer cable. I found the Drop cable to be too short for me at just 6ft long. But, you can buy the "stock" 10ft cable which is about $20 retail, easily around the web. Even with that, you're still saving $110 on a great listening experience.
A-Rad
17
Oct 4, 2019
Crazy watching all these answers and wondering who has these and who is just trying to be cool.
I just got these headphones 2 months ago. Yes they will work with your phone. I have a Samsung S7 and they sound fine with them. I was actually impressed with the sound out of my phone. Yes they will sound better out of an amp/dac which I have (schitt stack) but personally I was very impressed with how well they sound out my phone. I use them with my phone while vaccumimg my house.
There is also a break in period with these as well. Probably somewhere around at least 40 hours. I almost sent them back but they keep sounding better and better. They're also a very even keeled headphone as well and what I mean is you get a very balanced eq between bass, mid and treble.
I hope this helps and all those number people who don't have these aren't offended by what I say. I know reading comments and blogs can be way confusing when getting into higher end audio and at the end of the day you gotta go with what you like.
If you're on the fence go ahead and buy them and remember you have 30 days to send them back. I don't think there's anything better for $220.
JohnCiaccio
33
Oct 7, 2019
A-Radthe 6xx and 650 are both 300ohm. You might have the HD598 or one of the others with a low impedance unless you only listen at low volume. The high impedance mode in the LG V and G series phones where designed for the HD650 and other high impedance headphones.
A-Rad
17
Oct 7, 2019
JohnCiaccioI'm pretty sure I have the HD 6xx or else Massdrop is blatently screwing us all and putting different drivers in the body of the HD 6xx, which would be a shame. But, I don't think Massdrop would do that and if they did I"m sure someone would have caught them by now.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 2, 2021
A-RadYeah, the HD 6XX is definitely using the same drivers as the HD 650. The HD 58X Jubilee is using a smaller and more efficient driver that is easier to power with a smartphone, so I would normally steer smartphone users that way.
It’s important to remember that the headphone’s sensitivity is just as important (if not moreso) when calculating the volume heard by the user.
The Samsung S7 is almost equal to the LG V and G series of smartphones, aka way better than the vast majority of the market, and they can just reach about 1 Volt of output. I think my HD 650 sounds pretty good in my iPad Pro too, though it’s even better in my FiiO X7 with the medium power amp module, and moreso in my HDV 820 desktop DAC/amp. The HD 6XX is pretty revealing of the upstream gear performance, and reward higher quality gear, but doesn’t reveal the flaws in upstream gear as much as something like, say, an HD 800S, because the HD 6XX has part of its treble sensitivity intentionally reduced (to reduce listening fatigue in long sessions).
(Edited)
Aakshey
7
Sep 26, 2020
Contrary to public opinion, they don’t measure the same. But they do measure very close to each other. Sonarworks has measured hundreds of samples of each type and confirmed that they do measure slightly different. The 6xx is a tiny bit brighter. However, due to sample variation, some 6xx and some 650 might sound identical. Or some 650 might even sound brighter than some 6xx and vice versa. But given the average trend, 6xx is brighter.
Download Sonarworks. Compare graphs of 650 vs 6xx. They don’t overlap at all. But they’re fairly close to each other.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 2, 2021
AaksheyIt’s not popular opinion, Sennheiser themselves have literally stated that they are the same headphone and tuning target. If they measure different, it would be small and just down to wear and usage (or how it was positioned on the measurement head, each seating will be a bit different!). Also, not every measurement rig is the same, so you can’t compare measurements from two blogs or something.
(Edited)
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Feb 11, 2021
blis100% for real, I’ve been consulting with Sennheiser since 2017. I got to visit Sennheiser KG when they were developing the HD 58X Jubilee, and I got to demo the HD 6XX and HD 58X Jubilee (when it was the bass-light pre-production version, I still have one of those) right off of Axel Grell and Ronja Harste’s desks, and compare to the HD 650 that I own. The projects were explained by the engineers themselves. So, I have first-hand confirmation and testing that they have the same acoustic design.
They use the same driver assembly line for the HD 650 and HD 6XX drivers (in Ireland), and the HD 6XX, HD 650, HD 600, HD 660S, and HD 58X Jubilee all used the same enclosure tooling with different coloring processes. The HD 600, 650, and 660S recently received some exterior cosmetic changes for the first time ever, but the HD 6XX and HD 58X Jubilee are still using the original tooling. Any difference in Sonar Works measurements would be due to a different seating on their measuring rig (never can get an identical seating) and sample variation.
The transducers, the care in selecting driver matching pairs and QC, and most other aspects of the HD 650 are the same as the HD 6XX, the only significant differences are the color, shorter cable, more economical packaging, and the price exclusive to Drop. It really was intended to be a strong value.
(Edited)
blis
0
Feb 11, 2021
EvshrugI understand you just wrote a book, but what evidence do you have that they are the same? Show us please. Because Sonarworks has evidence they aren't, you say they are. Because if your saying Sonar Works is wrong but just writing a bunch of stuff without proper graphs to show they are the same, then I would have to side with Sonar Works. This whole identical seating, they do hundreds of tests. So out of all those tests they show they are not the same. Are you affiliated with Sennheiser?
(Edited)
blis
0
Feb 11, 2021
EvshrugGood then show us the graphs that show these are identical. Where can we see this information. Because if your selling Sennheiser headphones for different costs that are identical, I want to see that. The 650's are much more expensive then these, so if they are identical I think everyone on Amazon would like to know this. Not because I want to prove you wrong, but because it saves me money. Why spend more money on the 650's, if these are identical
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Feb 11, 2021
blisMy answers are written above.
The short, TLDR version:
1.) I could take two HD 650 and measure them, and they will have the same variance as a comparison graph between an HD 6XX and HD 650.
2.) Packaging, looks, and accessories are different. The HD 6xx is exclusive to Drop.
(Edited)
blis
0
Feb 11, 2021
EvshrugEvshrug it's not that we didn't read what you wrote, I wanted to make sure you are affiliated. People online say a lot of stuff Evshrug. It's that they have evidence in graphs that show it's different, you say it's the same. So it's contradictory at two different price points that are not close. That warrants reason for questions don't you think? I'm not saying your wrong, I'm saying why are they selling two different headphones that are identical. It's confusing wouldn't you say for company to sell headphones that are the same for two different price points.
(Edited)
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Feb 11, 2021
blisI haven’t seen Sonarworks’ graphs. But the price difference is due to the mass quantity deal with Drop, and the different accessories like the box case and the shorter cable.
Graphs and measuring headphones is a complicated and tricky process. If you’d like to see how close a random sample HD 6XX and HD 650 can be, though, check out Head-Fi’s independent measurements done on extremely high end equipment:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sennheiser-x-massdrop-hd6xx-review-preview-head-fi-tv.824703/post-12981409
Tyll Hertsens also confirmed it with his measurement rig (which I’ve had the chance to use, but I don’t have access to my own measurement rig) on InnerFidelity before that site was taken down.
Thank you for keeping an open mind, @blis. It’s ok that you’re skeptical, and I can understand why. It’s a question I’ve seen over and over again since launch, despite Sennheiser being open about it. The HD 6XX is like a very extended sale price... but it’s the real deal. Now, the HD 58X Jubilee, that was a product developed just for Drop, exclusively.
(Edited)
blis
0
Feb 11, 2021
EvshrugThank you. I appreciate you showing the difference. This is what I didn't get. It's priced quite low wouldn't you say in comparison to the MSRP of the 650. This does showcase very similar frequency response, my issue was with the price and Sonar showing discrepancy. Even given the quantity deal, it was odd at such different price points. If these are truly the same, it's a hell of deal! I been Sennheiser user for the last three headphones, over the course of 15 years. I'm currently on the Sennheiser HD-599, and was looking to upgrade. Please don't take opposition negatively, I hope you look at it as fair questionable reason. People say a lot things online with affiliation as I'm sure you are aware of. So we all have to be aware of the why. Since you have insider knowledge what amp do they fair best in conjunction with PC hardware. I have tested my current pair with Xonar Essence STX sound card and the Sound Blaster G6. I have noticed huge difference in bass and clarity. I'm no expert on audiophile quality yet but as I move up the ladder, more and more sound means a lot to me. And going back to onboard sound on a computer through my headphones makes me almost tear my ears out lol.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Feb 11, 2021
blisNo problem, that kind of question is what I was hired to answer! With some caveats, since I am affiliated and I don’t want to say things about other companies which you could perceive as being said with bias 😉
I have a lot to say about that, so I’ll start with a short version: the HD 6XX will be clearer, tighter and less bassy than the HD 599, but it is still a warm headphone that will perform well on your sound cards 👍
First, I have a sample HD 599 at my home (I remote work). The HD 599 has noticeably more bass emphasis, and some detail is masked by this compared to the HD 650/6XX. This means the HD 6XX will sound cleaner, and present more micro details, though in the broad scope of things the HD 6XX does have a small but intentional reduction in the upper mids and lower treble range. The purpose is to make them more comfortable and less fatiguing with long listening sessions, but it’s still not far from “neutral sounding” so your brain will quickly get accustomed to it and feel very natural. This is what some people refer to as the “Sennheiser veil,” but it’s more like there’s less of a spotlight on this range, yet the details are still there.
I haven’t heard the Asus Xonar STX myself, nor the Creative Labs BlasterX G6, but even if I had I would have to be very general. However, I reviewed a LOT of Creative gear on Head-Fi before I started doing community management for Sennheiser. The important thing is that the HD 6XX has a high potential for sound quality and detail, and more of it is revealed by better quality gear upstream. Those sound cards will indeed be better than any motherboard’s integrated audio, and their specs show they will provide enough voltage and current to drive the HD 6XX well. Also, they offer some cool headphone surround DSP that can make a huge difference for intuitive awareness of where sounds come from in first person games, as well as providing more immersion.
Best amp? The sky’s the limit. I like to use my HD 650 (and HD 660S, HD 800) with my Sennheiser HDV 820 DAC/amp, and my Smyth Research Realiser A16 for DSP duties, and I still am able to hear improvements over a $500 audio chain.
If you’ve ever heard of Mad Lust Envy’s Headphone Gaming thread on Head-Fi, these days he almost exclusively uses the HD 6XX while gaming after selling almost all of his other review units. However, he’s a curious man, so he will probably keep exploring more headphones 😂👍
(Edited)
Auxority
15
Mar 31, 2021
EvshrugIsn't the main difference the service after warranty? You can get your HD 650 repaired if you pay for it, but I have heard that Sennheiser doesn't service the HD 6XX after its warranty has expired.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Apr 1, 2021
AuxorityWell, you wouldn’t be able to source the midnight blue parts (since Drop has exclusive rights to it, and all the HD 6XX are sent to Drop for sales and warranty replacements), but many of the parts are interchangeable with the HD 650. So, you could get new pads, or two new HD 650 grilles if your HD 6XX got scratched up (if you don’t put the headphone in a case or something), and you could potentially put a HD 650 headband on an HD 6XX but the colors wouldn’t match 😅
Auxority
15
Apr 2, 2021
EvshrugOh I didn't know this, thanks for letting me know :)
Good to hear that I could replace my parts after warranty if something breaks.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jun 1, 2021
AuxorityConsidering how old the HD 650 is and how many old units are still out in the wild, even the original HD 580 which are over 25 years old, its likely these durable goods will outlast your phones/computers/washing machine/other electronics and only need occasional pads replacements as maintenance.
(Edited)
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Aug 4, 2021
JYKIMThanks! To be fair, I suppose anyone could claim to be community manager (I lost track of the announcement post Sennheiser made back in 2017) and name drop a few Sennheiser employees, and blis did eventually feel he had the exact evidence he was looking for, and thanked me.
I probably wrote too long 🤷♂️
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 28, 2022
EvshrugJust an update… after almost 5 great years with Sennheiser, I’m wishing them a fond farewell and taking on an exciting opportunity at grell audio!
Things were picking up momentum at Sennheiser, and I truly believe they are in good hands and poised to do great things in the near future… no spoilers! I thank all of you guys for showing the kind of response Sennheiser would get when a representative personally interacts within the community, making posts and replies instead of just press releases. I hated leaving!
However, grell audio (yeah, all lowercase) brings a lot of opportunities. Axel Grell was the chief product manager and audio engineer who originally hired me at Sennheiser, and now that he’s been developing his own products after he left in 2019, he’s asked me to rejoin him on a new adventure! He will also like all of you to enjoy your HD 650’s and HD 6XX’s… it was one of his favorite tuned headphones he spearheaded at Sennheiser.
(Edited)
Yusake
2
Mar 10, 2022
EvshrugGood luck Evshrug and thank you for your posts.
Concerning sonarworks's measurements, the differences between HD650 and 6XX can be explained because the HD650's are an average over decades. The newer are different (pad for example) and should be identical of 6XX. I get a new HD650 and I prefer the 6XX eq from sonarworks. I can hear with a tone generator the 5,5KHz peak and the 10KHz area emphasized.
For me, new HD650 sounds like HD6XX.
(Edited)
Rocket58
42
Jul 20, 2022
EvshrugYou forgot that the HD 650 (new design) is 10 grams lighter. Headband design also different.
Rocket58
42
Jul 20, 2022
blisRTINGS had also confirm that the HD6xx and HD650 are different in sound. Have a look on their measurements. Current HD 650 (new design) is also 10 grams lighter with different plastic headband. HD6xx had the previous generation design of the HD650.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jul 20, 2022
Rocket58😅 Even so, measurement gear (especially high end measurement gear) is extremely sensitive, and each time you seat a pair of headphones on the head and torso simulator you will get a moderately different measurement too. Since the HD 650 has been in continuous production since 2003, and there were two times Sennheiser was forced to use new suppliers for driver baffles: black paper baffles, silk baffles, and steel mesh baffles (like mine). The sound target was always the same, but the impedance in the upper frequencies changed a little… the steel mesh is extremely fine and we actually didn’t have processes capable of manufacturing it at the time of the HD 650 launch, but it is extra low tolerance and the sample variation is smaller than with organic materials, which is why it was also used in the HD 800 (and HD 6XX). Depending on the amplifier used, this could make a small audible difference (very much in the realm of a “golden ears” trained listener). But RTINGS probably also measured the silver steel mesh HD 650, and I would put down a difference as within a margin of error.
I did mention that the HD 6XX was still using the OG tooling (for the earcups and headband) while Sennheiser had begun using the fresh one… I honestly didn’t think to check for a weight difference, because my new design HD 660S and silver age HD 650 (OG design earcups and headband) didn’t feel noticeably different in weight. But when I first responded to this thread, the new tooling hadn’t been created yet, and I was still doing contract work for Sennheiser (we parted amicably this year when I left to seek opportunity with grell audio).
(Edited)
Rocket58
42
Jul 22, 2022
EvshrugI still own 3 different models generations of HD 650. The first one from 2003 with white drivers and headband made with metal, the 2014 (first silver drivers) and the current one with new design (2022). Even with fresh new pads they sound all different (but with the same timbre). The last one have more resolution and details and fastest bass. The worst is the 2003 with a "creamy" and more prononce veiled sound.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Mar 10, 2023
Rocket58The HD 580, Sennheiser’s well-regarded 1990’s dynamic flagship (and one of Axel Grell’s first products for Sennheiser) was retired in favor of the HD 600; the plastic herringbone grilles actually had some resonance and made the resultant sound even more “creamy” and veiled. That said, some people love that 🤷♂️
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Apr 3, 2023
dwane5Yup! I learned a lot during the five years I did contract work for Sennheiser, but I left in 2021.
jaladan
4
Oct 4, 2019
The HD6XX have a 1/8" (3.5mm) connector with an adapter to 1/4" (6.35). The HD650 use a 1/4" connector
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 2, 2021
jaladanThat’s pretty much it.
Also, the HD 6XX’s enclosure is midnight blue, and it was formed in the old enclosure tooling that gives the enclosure a more “bubble” like shape (this tooling is in the process of being retired, after two decades of service). Lastly, the 1/4” terminated cable on the HD 650 is 3 meters long.
wyd4
37
Oct 3, 2019
Just the aesthetic as best I can tell and some packaging differences if this matters to you.
IMO I much prefer the blue of the HD6xx
thomsonSMG
91
Oct 3, 2019
Only the price and looks.
The 6XX is cheaper (about half price) and only comes in dark navy blue.
And of course, the 6XX is made and shipped in batches so you can't order a pair off-shelf on demand unless you buy secondhand.
SmithyNZ
225
Oct 6, 2019
I own both and have compared them directly. In terms of audio, the only difference I found was that the 650 is slightly louder, but this may have been due to their being well broken in etc. The finish looks more premium on the 650 but the paint on the top of the headband is prone to flaking whereas the 6xx does not look like it will have that issue.
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Jan 2, 2021
SmithyNZIf the HD 650 seems louder, it’s probably the pads are allowing your ears to come closer to the driver. Like you said, well broken in.
My HD 650 headband hasn’t flaked at all after two years, though stressing the material by stretching it aggressively could cause paint to warp and snap... paint isn’t a particularly elastic material.
SmithyNZ
225
Jan 3, 2021
EvshrugIt's just regular non-aggressive use, but I've had them for probably ten years now. The headphones cost me about us$600 back in the day so they've always been gently handled. I still love the way they sound and am wearing them now. I sometimes prefer them over my HD800S.
You might be right about the loudness coming from the squashed pads. I have new pads now but sold my HD6XX over a year ago so can't compare them now (this was an old post you replied to).
JYAus
2
Feb 4, 2024
I listened with both the Schitt stack and the Ifi stack (signature and regular) and prefer both the Ifi stacks. Warmer, fuller sound that naturally compliments the 6XX
Z0d1Ac
252
Oct 3, 2019
Both the 6xx and 650 are mostly the same headphone. The 6xx having midnight blue mat color while the 650 is more of a gloss black/gray color. Box and accessories vary slightly. As for sound they are mostly the same (very minor db differences in the frequency, but mostly the same sound).
A community member
May 23, 2021
There is a factual (proven) difference in the sound of HD6XX compared with HD600 and HD650.
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/reviews/sennheiser/hd-6xx
The people who claim the HD6XX to be a rebrand of HD650 are full of it.
The HD6XX is better than the HD650 and the HD600:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Ki2B_fGZqw
Evshrug
4130
Keyboard Club Member
Aug 15, 2021
The HD 600 is tuned differently, more neutral to the ear than the HD 650 and HD 6XX.
As I replied to @Aakshey , the HD 6XX are in fact HD 650 with a different color and different accessories. It’s not a rebrand, the HD 6XX is a special edition. This is confirmed by Sennheiser themselves, in an effort to prevent doubt and confusion. It does not benefit Sennheiser in any way to have customers buy the Drop edition with lower margin. It’s easy to see they measure within measurement seating variance and sample variance when comparing two fresh HD 650/6XX units: https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sennheiser-x-massdrop-hd6xx-review-preview-head-fi-tv.824703/post-12981409
Rtings made an error in their conclusions; their claimed differences of clamp and slight bass difference are likely due to breaking in / wear on the headband and pads. Same for that Youtuber: you can see his pads look substantially flatter, but at least he’s listened to his headphones for a long time… hopefully he enjoyed them!
(Edited)
thomsonSMG
91
Oct 3, 2019
Open backs project sound both towards your ears and out the sides of the earpieces.
This makes the sound feel as if they are coming from further away. Good for replicating the directions of where each vocals and instruments are coming from; like at a concert. Close backs sound as if the music is coming from the centre of your head; you get less "directional" experience but they feel more intimate.
Open backs leak sound so if you are riding on public transport, the people sitting next to you might look at you sideways wonder why you are playing music for everyone around you.
Most high end headphones are open back so don't worry about losing any sound quality from the leakage!
DrMEB
90
Oct 3, 2019
I have both. The HD6XX are definitely worth the premium and, to my ears, have fuller and crisper bass and clearer more defined highs. They are harder to drive, but I feed them with a Schiit Stack or EarStudio ES100. The HD58X feels lacking comparing side-by-side, but on its own is still a very pleasant listening experience.
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