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Sennheiser HD6XX - Metalhead review

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TunaFishSandwich
6
Sep 13, 2022236 VIEWS
I recently wrote on the Focal Elegia with a nod to metal and really enjoyed it. This is the next in the ‘metalhead’ impressions series. Previous review is here: Focal Elegia - Metalhead review Next up is the Sennheiser HD6XX from Drop. The HD6-series really needs no introduction; it’s a legendary headphone line with quite a lot of accolades and history behind it. I am quite happy with the headphones I already have, but was so curious about the HD6XX because they are (along with the HD650) considered the benchmark for ‘proper’ headphones. Regardless of view on the 6XX, nearly everyone starts their scale here so I wanted to see what I was missing. These opinions are just that; my opinion. That said, my favorite part of the headphone community is the dialogue. I don’t see many reviews for high-ish gear discussed with a nod towards metalheads. The majority of my listening is Metalcore, Metal, Hip Hop, Emo, Electronic and Pop. Typically very busy music. Build, Comfort, and Aesthetics: Unboxing the 6XX was much nicer than I expected and impressed for the price. There aren’t a lot of frills but the presentation box inside was a pleasant touch. Build seems quite nice; while not premium per se, the cans feel solid and not like cheap plastic. I have heard that these are built like a tank and the initial impression backs that up. Comfort on Sennheiser is very good in my limited experience; I have the PC38x as well and out of the box the pads feel quite nice and plush, but the clamp force is strong. Not quite unpleasant but teetering on that edge. The HD6XX seem pretty comfortable out of the box and loosen up quite a bit faster than the PC38x. Overall I would rate the comfort as excellent, with the caveat of some real break-in needed. I always appreciate egg-shaped or elongated earcups. Ears aren’t round and I don’t find round earcups as comfortable. Aesthetically, I think they look great. The open grill where you can see the backside of the driver is striking, and I really like the matte midnight blue color. These are simple, attractive, and classic. I feel like Dieter Rams would approve of these more than most sets. Off-ramp to vanity for a second; I think the 6XX look the best (or the least ridiculous) when worn of all the headphones I own. Accessories: This is easy: outside of the box and the serviceable (but not impressive) cable, there is nothing to speak of here. This is quite the lean presentation. No case is provided, but I am fine with that because these are home headphones-only due to the lack of isolation and power requirements. Subjective sound and performance: Now to the meat of the 6XX. They are incredible. This is not a surprise to anyone in the community because of how lauded these headphones are. I have started a moderate collection and while I enjoyed having a few different sets, I figured I would just have to give up the feeling of being blown away due to the minimal gains after moving from ‘mainstream’ headphones to audiophile-ish ‘phones. The balance on the 6XX, to me, is perfect; I have not found them to lack bass or sound ‘veiled’ like others have. This tuning and presentation are a very good match to my preferences. Bass is very tight and hits but is not overtly present in the mix. I think this is the reason people find it lacking; it does not overstay its welcome but steps in to play the role. Mids are very present and fill out the sound so well. Highs stay in their place and don’t overpower. Metal isn’t really an ‘audiophile’ genre, but the tuning and presentation really showcase the hard work and talent of my favorite artists. The 6XX seem reasonably easy to drive; my Macbook Pro (M1 Pro) has no trouble with them and they sound great on the JDS Labs El Amp II. It might be placebo, but I feel like they do sound ‘bigger’ and more ‘full’ on the El Amp vs the Macbook Pro. I was able to run them off a Series X and PS5 controller, but they both need to be pegged to the top for sure. One notable aspect of this headphone is that it tends to scale quite well with amplification or tubes. Soundstage: This is another place where the HD6XX takes a hit. They sound very open and decently wide , but I feel like I have closed backs that only take a small hit compared to the 6XX on soundstage. It’s pretty good in gaming but not as good as the PC38X. Dynamics are way better than the DCA Aeon Closed X. The difference between loud and soft is much more noticeable on the 6XX. Isolation: Zero. Zip. Nada. You aren’t isolating from a damn thing. These are for home and reasonably quiet areas. To that end, they don’t so much ‘leak’ as they broadcast what you are listening to. Spiritbox is one of my current darlings, and nothing is left wanting on the 6XX. It’s hard to describe without saying the same thing as the Elegia review, but you feel more defined notes than some of my other cans. ‘Circle with Me’ benefits a lot from the punchy, tight presentation and bass that hits, then quickly decays making for a really pleasant and compelling listen. The soft harmonics during the pre-chorus really stay in their lane but sound excellent and Mike’s stunning guitar performance perfectly frame Courtney’s vocals. Post Malone’s tracks sound wonderful, but I feel like this style of music benefits less from the open-backs. Bass is still punchy and, again, one of my favorite characteristics of the 6XX is the hit and quick decay of the bass. The high vocals of The Weeknd in ‘One Right Now’ are beautiful and contrast the rasp and breathy vocals of Post Malone very well. ‘Contraband’ by Make Them Suffer + Courtney LaPlante is an interesting one; it’s so damn busy and has a lot of competing dynamics that I feel like the planars I have handle it better. Of the dynamic drivers, this is one of the only songs I feel the Focal Elegia sounds better than the 6XX on. Architects' metalcore classic 'Doomsday' has been the template for excellence in metalcore since its release and the band's brilliance is on display with the 6XX. This song does show a bit of the veiled presentation compared to the Aeon X, but the dynamics chops of the headphones help the song come alive. Comparisons:
6XX vs Focal Elegia: This has been a bit of a hard comparison for me to make; these headphones arrived in the same week and I was excited for both. One is a revered benchmark open-back and the other is a polarizing first-attempt closed back. These serve different roles for me; the Elegia is my ‘out and about’ headphone for the office or coffee shops/travel. The Elegia benefits from its isolation and exceptionally easy to drive qualities. Sitting at my desk at home, the 6XX wins nearly every time on both comfort and sound quality. One interesting note is that I find the Elegia perform better at lower volumes than my other headphones. 6XX vs DCA Aeon X Closed: Ooooh boy. This comparison is the battle of the titans for me. The Aeon X is my favorite headphone right now. It is such a good fit for my ears, both literally and from a tuning perspective. For me, one is not ‘better’ but they are different. Both are very versatile with different genres but they present quite differently. Dynamics and imaging are better on the 6XX but the Aeon X envelopes me in their sound and everything is so tight. Both need a bit of juice, even more so with the Aeon X. These complement each other exceptionally well. 6XX vs Hifiman hd400se: This is another interesting comparison for me, because I feel like these two represent the ‘reference’ or entry level pinnacle. The hd400se was the first audiophile-adjacent headphone I acquired and it blew my mind. I didn’t get that feeling again until I picked up the 6XX. Dynamics are considerably better on the 6XX and while the bass is more present overall on the he400se, I feel like the punch and slam is better on the he400se. Overall, I feel the 6XX is the better headphone. The incredible thing about this comparison is that they are so close; I said in my last review that the more headphones I listen to, the more impressed I am with the Hifiman hd400se. At nearly a third of the current price of the HD6XX, the hd400se is very compelling and you can drive them reasonably well without an amp. 6XX vs Airpods Pro: No contest. The 6XX absolutely knock the socks off the Airpods Pro. This isn’t really a surprise to anyone because it’s not quite a fair fight. Again, these serve different purposes; I am never ‘critically listening’ to tracks on Airpods. The Pros still get as much or even more use than all the other headphones on convenience alone, and I feel like they sound much better than they have to. Conclusions: This is going to be easier than with the Focal Elegia. The 6XX/650 are benchmark headphones for a reason. Being able to get this kind of performance and sound quality for less than $500 (including a quality amp) is stunning. The fact that these originally retailed for approximately double the cost is not surprising to me. It’s going to be a hard fight for my favorite between the DCA Aeon X Closed and the Sennheiser HD6XX. They are both excellent, but excel at different things. To me, they are the perfect one-two punch in affordable audio. I personally like the Aeon X more, but I will keeping both of them within arms reach on my desk for sure. Sources: Macbook Pro (M1 Pro) —> JDS Labs Atom+ Macbook Pro (M1 Pro) —> direct to headphone jack PC —> JDS Labs switcher —>El Amp 2 Apple Music Lossless (ALAC up to 24bit/48hz) via Macbook Pro Apple Music (AAC 192kbps) via PC To be honest, I can’t tell the difference between lossless and not. Reference tracks: Rotoscope - Spiritbox Circle with Me - Spiritbox One Right Now - Post Malone + The Weeknd Wow - Post Malone Sunflower - Post Malone + Swae Lee Doomsday - Architects When We Were Young - Architects Save Dat Money - Lil Dicky Collide (feat. Erin Renee) - Moog Contraband - Make Them Suffer + Courtney LaPlante Shivering - ILLENIUM feat. Spiritbox Concrete - Poppy
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