Sennheiser - HD 600

This is my 2nd Pair of HD600's (Lost the first one few days back). The reason I keep coming back to them despite using other headphones is their sheer brilliance in sound reproduction. Crisp Vocals with natural sound presentation make it a pleasure to listen to even for extended hours without any fatigue.

Having upgraded from the M50x, I was initially unsure if spending an extra 5K to 10K would provide similar or better sound clarity. To my delight the HD600 met my expectations. That said I’d strongly recommend pairing these with a dedicated amp/DAC, as my aging Pc setup struggles to power this badboy. Even at 90 to 100% volume, the sound lacked the fullness and rounded detail I know the HD650 can achieve. Shoutout to Headphonezone for their flawless service once again. The package arrived super quick making the experience almost like in-store purchase. Their commitment to quality products and customer service has kept me loyal since 2017 and I doubt I would find such reliable service elsewhere. A stellar experience. Thank you!

Very accurate sounding headphones. Very comfortable and extremely well built. I have heard the HD800 and thought about saving up for them, but these scale more and sound way more accurate. I listen to classical music with huge dynamic range via Apple Music and my personal hi-res library, and can safely say that these sound perhaps the most accurate. The hd600 is as detailed as hd800 but less resolving due to a tamer and more realistic treble. The soundstage is larger on the hd800 but less engaging than these. These sound more matured and realistic. I run them with the fiio K7 balanced and they sound excellent. I also have the Etymotic Er3se and these sound like those in headphone form but a touch brighter.

Absolute bliss…got at a great discount too thanks headphone zone

Six months ago, the audiophile bug bit me and I bought the Sennheiser HD 650 courtesy Headphonezone. I was introduced to a new world of sonic bliss which I didn't even know existed. I began piling up cd's, hi-res files, what have you - and then I became aware of the HD 650's shortcomings. It is a reference headphone, no doubt; but I wanted a bit more clarity and punch from my music. So, I decided to just go for it and get the HD 600. The internet is full of comparisons between the two already, but let me share my impressions:

The first thing I noticed after 10 hours of burn-in was the better treble extension. This is EXACTLY what I was looking for. Vocals sound DIVINE on the HD 600, and yes, edm sounds way more exciting than it does on the HD 650. And no, I entirely disagree with those that say it has no bass. I say " amp them correctly, man!" These cans are as power-hungry as the HD 650. The detailed detail retrieval however comes at a price - the HD 600 will mercilessly reveal the flaws in a recording. It is much less forgiving than the HD 650. Panic! At the Disco's " High Hopes" is tolerable on the HD 650. On the HD 600, the bad mastering and compression, coupled with excessive treble is fully exposed. Dua Lipa's album "Future Nostalgia" is not a pleasant listen on cd - but the Tidal Masters version at 24/192 bit hi-res is a revelation. The Pet Shop Boys' album " Hotspot" sounded like a complete mess, mastered by a tone-deaf person, both on cd and 24/44.1 bit hi-res. But "Random Access Memories" by Daft Punk sounded phenomenal in the 24/88.1 bit hi-res version. "The best of Armin Van Buuren" on cd was good , too, as was the remastered cd of Jean-Michel Járre's groundbreaking "Oxygéne" album. So you get the idea. Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Adele, Dido, Olivia Newton-John sound amazing on these cans. I mentioned before that this headphone is power-hungry - underpower them and then they become what is described as "shouty" by audiophiles, meaning, the treble will become annoying and ruin your listening experience. So a mixture of good amplification and well-mastered music will work wonders for you. So , you ask, should I go for the HD 600 ? My answer is, get BOTH the HD 650 AND the HD 600, and you will have a pair of cans that can satisfy you for years to come. There is no headphone that sounds good with all genres, no matter how pricey it is . When I listen to Hans Zimmer's "Interstellar" soundtrack, the HD 650's meatier bass and slightly larger soundstage beats the HD 600 hands down. Sibilant recordings like all of ABBA's albums sound wonderful on the HD 650. But Cliff Richard and George Michael's albums are much more enjoyable on the HD 600 due to the intricate vocals. For rock, industrial or metal , both headphones shine, depending on the recording. I found Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden fantastic on the HD 650, while Queen as well as Rob Zombie rocked on the HD 600. There is a reason these two headphones have remained favourites for more than two decades. Trust me, you will put off shelling out huge sums of money for a flagship headphone for a long time once you get both these headphones! They are both, simply brilliant. And yes, a BIG THANK YOU to Raghav Somani and his entire team for bringing audiophile bliss to Indian shores !

Given the right rig (not necessarily high end, it’s more about synergy here), this is a legit flagship

I honestly prefer this to HD 800S in terms of engagement and musicality

And unless you have a very high end setup, the technicalities aren’t all that far behind either when listening on mid range gear

Honestly, HD 600 is a must buy for every audiophile even at 50k, much less 20k

It’s actually competing with headphones like Ananda and Clear, and often leaving them in the dust, in the right setup

In my setup I actually preferred HD 650/600 even to Orpheus 2 honestly, not even kidding, but the secret for me was Sound ID/Sonarworks that transforms the experience magically so

My son is an audio engineer, and I am a retired professional flutist who worked for 35 years in the music industry. You can find more about me on my YouTube channel, @Udaydeyoffical. Although the audience here is mostly audiophiles, we are two sides of the same coin. Without good ears, neither side can be chosen.

Anyway, the HD600 is such a headphone that rivals tones of more than $3000 headsets out there. I had no problem using it with the MOTU Ultralite MK4 (ESS Saber) / Presonus Studio 26 (AKM) interface. My son confirmed that any 300-ohm powered DAC/Soundcard would do. The headset plays a crucial part in correcting correlation errors in a mix, and the musical tone feels like I am listening to a pair of EVE speakers next to me. I love it.

What is a correlation error? Let’s put it like this: you build a very nice-looking furniture table, but the drawers won’t fit. No matter the fit and finish, there is a size problem. And that from outside, you won’t notice unless an audiophile or a mixing engineer listens to it.

The packaging, marketing, and delivery support were fantastic.

Even when I had no idea about anything audio, I have heard about Sennheiser. And now that I proudly own one, thanks to Raghav, I would like to say a couple of things to those who wish to purchase the HD 600 (Revised).

Build Quality:
The HD 600 is made of polycarbonate (plastic) however, that does not scream cheap. The build is sturdy enough to last you ages unless you play baseball with it. I wonder whether the outer grills (metal) will survive or catch rust due to the humid weather.

I suggest everyone to keep the headphones out of dust and moisture as much as possible for longevity.

Sound:
They sound phenomenal. But there's a catch before it makes you happy. The HD 600 can be run on pretty much anything to decent - ish listening levels but the quality of sound you'll get might be trash. I would highly recommend a good solid state amp or a tube amp depending upon your preferences to drive these cans. They are not as analytical as the Sundara but while the Sundara lacks on bringing the instruments together, this is where the HD 600 shines.

Veiled?
I have read countless articles and watched God knows how many reviews saying the HD 600 is trash, the bass roll off is terrible, it has a veil sound and what not. In reality, the bass response is satisfactory in my opinion. The amount of bass produced is enough and enjoyable. Agreed it's nowhere close to it's competitors even with EQ (please don't EQ) but the detailed mids and highs (except the dip) make up for it.

This is still a legendary headphone and will remain a legend for decades to arrive.

Verdict
If you want to enjoy your music and not pay attention to the headphones, get the HD600. They are an orchestra over your head.

If you prefer something more technical, and a faster driver, get the Sundara.