As detailed, smooth, non-fatiguing sound I have ever heard

bass response could be improved

This is as terrific a sounding product as I've ever heard. I don't really know where to begin. With the notable exception of subdued bass output, the HD600's are as perfect a headphone as I could imagine or ever want. Instruments and vocals are so detailed and so smooth and refined in character that I've found myelf (without exaggeration) addicted to these headphones. If these were speakers, they'd be comparable to $10,000 plus dollar products. Grado's are too warm and "romantic" sounding then I prefer (though i own 2 pairs). They do have more bass, but in all other respects, the Senn 600's are far, far superior.

Similar Products Used:

Grado SR-60 (own), Senn HD580 (own), Grado SR-325 (own)

HD600 - WOW!!
If you use cans, you must try these. But be warned, you will never feel the same way about the ability of you loudspeakers again. Come to that, you will never feel the same way about recording engineers either. The 600's ability to bring you into the atmosphere of the venue is difficult to describe, but if someone walks about in the studio whilst the red light is on, it will be on the tape somewhere. And with the HD600's you will notice it, you'll probably look round to see who it is; I've done it several times. The fiddler who knocks the music stand with the bow while turing a page will drive yoou MAD! They are that good. No, actually, they are even better!

Very natural, detailed, comfortable

Nothing significant

I bought these recently and my expectations were actually surpassed. In particular I was impressed by the level of detail and separation. Perhaps most impressive is the uncannily natural rendition of many instruments in classical recordings. The unique characteristics are preserved. The headphones can reproduce a beautifully warm rendition of strings, a sparklingly clear triangle or cymbal, and a very natural human voice simultaneously. The tonal differences of the same instrument in different recordings becomes abundantly clear, as does the quality of the recordings theselves.
Bass is very good too, and i could hear basslines properly for the first time. Not many loudspeakers have bass this articulate and tuneful.
Dynamics are more than sufficient.
Very comfortable too. Highly recommended.

Similar Products Used:

Sennheiser HD480

Everything

None, only sometimes a little trouble with the cable connection

When used with a proper headphone amp it's one of the best headphones you can buy. I'm lucky to live in Holland because prices there are much lower than those in the States; I purchased these for only Dfl.540 which is the equivalent of $250. I first listened to the Senn HD600 without a headphone amp and though the sound was very detailled it lacked a bit of warmth. Now, like many others, I'm using them with the Musical-Fidelity X-Cans. At first there was little improvement but as time went by it got better and better. Now i'm totally satisfied with the sound. The sound is warm, airy and very detailled. The whole soundspectum is superb; it's able to reproduce a sound that is totally natural from triangle to double bass (though bass is not so strong as with my speakers). They can be used with every type of music. Only with rock music the sound becomes a bit harder but I think thats due more to the quality of the CD's (most rockCD's are tuned for use with cheaper systems) than a fault of the Sennheiser.

Similar Products Used:

AKG K141mkII

- Strong in the high and mid bands.
- High degree of control at higher volumes.
- Price / Quality ratio. (Particulary for the price I paid).
- All round ability means no need to spend more unless you have some VERY SERIOUS HI-FI.
- Well priced, even at the RRP.

-Impedance not as efficient as my old headphones. Harder to drive using headphone sockets on sources, but fine with meaty amp or dedicated headphone amp. Virtually unusable with personal hi-fi. Just too quiet. Full volume = distortion.
- Ear pads far too soft. Out of shape within a couple of weeks. Collects fluff / dust / skin ? like nothing else !!!
- Nowhere near as comfortable to wear as Beyer phones.
- Cable 'straight' unlike Beyer's 'coiled' cable on my old DT511. A personal thing but less likely to go too far or tread on it without warning.
- Bass a bit light for some music, even by open back standards, but controlled none-the-less.
- Could be a bit lighter to aid comfort.

I know these are great phones but I can't help having mixed opinions and I wasn't as impressed with them as I thought I might be. I'm just too critical these days.

On anything other than top notch recordings and sources, they are simply too revealing and I found myself prefering the less detailed sound of my old phones. My CD player with off-board DAC sounded more clinical, though the Rega Planar 3 suited them better. I can't believe I am saying this as when I used to read articles with reviews which talked of this 'too revealing' thing I used to think they were talking rubbish. Now I understand. I would NEVER spend more on phones than this as anything less than the £10000 Orpheus phones just wouldn't give me the jump in quality I would be satisfied with.

Build quality is good but the fit just isn't as good for me as the Beyers, which are lighter, fit more snugly around the ears, and adjust better. It may just be that my Beyers became a living part of me as I wore them so much that anything else automatically feels alien.

In short, if you are stepping up from budget phones and can get a good deal on the HD600's I would say get 'em !
They will blow you away with their quality. Speakers just can't compare. But don't be surprised if you start to hear every bit of distortion, crackle and hiss !

Similar Products Used:

Beyerdynamic DT511 - Several years HEAVY use until they gave up. A great phone for the price (£80 at the time) and bass was better than HD600's. Less detailed, but more forgiving fwith my equipment and recordings. Boy, I had my use out of them though !!!!!
JVC phones (£30 phones bought around 1990 which did the job until I heard the DT511's !!!)

Please help !!!

Please help !!!

I am buying the this Sen 600. However, I only Yamaha 2095 to power this headphone. Can someone PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me if I need to buy a extra headphone amps for it ?
Or I am okay with using this receiver ( 100W X 5 channes )
Reading these review, I think more or less I need to buy one power amp to this headphone. So if I do, please let me know what brand to buy. My budget is pretty limited.
How different will I head with and without the extra amp.
You help will be highly appreciated. Again, Thanks a bunch.

Regards,
Tuan

Best sounding headphones I ever heard.

Two months and still looking for one.

I just wanted to say that I don't see the weaknesses I read about these headphones from others.
Heavy? No way I use them for 6 hours straight sometimes and I don't feel any fatigue.
And the sound it's just amazing.

Similar Products Used:

Sony MDR-V900

comfort of wear,explicit detail,can play loud

none

I came across these headpnone on buying the sennheiser
lucas unit.(They came with hd580 headphones).And I thought
this sounds flipping great.

So I thought I'll upgrade to hd 600.
They are simply the most awesome unit I have ever heard.

Fantastic detail,You hear things you are not supposed to
hear.On several occasions I had to whip this unit off
thinking I was hearing a noise from outside.

My musical preferences are from Mozart to Metallica
and everything inbetween.
This unit handles these with incredible ease.

I am listening to "Trois Couleurs: Rouge" whilst I am
writing this e-mail.Awesomely transparent.

On reading some of the reviews I have had no problems
with the cable connections, the bass is deep, the midrange
is pure, and the treble is explicit.

Buy them now.(I purchased these for £180, a bargain).

A happy reviewer - Tahir

Similar Products Used:

sony cd1700,hd580

Crystal clear, articulate sound, very comfortable, hard case included in price, modular construction makes replacement of cord/earpads very simple.

300 Ohm impedance requires purpose designed headphone amp for best results, cord a bit too long perhaps?

The excellent HD600's are the best dynamic headphones I've ever heard - by quite a margin. Having been VERY disappointed with the purchase of Sony's MDRCD1700, I tried the Sennheisers and I was pleasantly stunned by the neautrality, spaciousness and detail offered by the HD600.
I listen through the World Audio HD83 Headphone amp, (which has four output impedance options for optimum performance) and basically how much I hear is down to how cute my hearing is at the time of listening, and also how much extraneous noise is present.
The treble quality is excellent - detail in cymbals is resolved particularly well, vocals are very natural and holographic, bass is well controlled and punchy, never overbearing or lumpy. This is one of the few headphones that can actually create some real ambience, too, and paint a really clear sonic picture for your ears to savour.
Old CDs that previously sounded cluttered and muddled open up to reveal their 'hidden' clarity, which is overlooked by inferior 'phones. These phones have the ability to dig up detail, and even layers of backing vocals, etc. you never had a clue were there!
You really can't go wrong buying these incredible 'phones - I strongly recommend a purpose made headphone amp to hear them at their best, and each time you make an upgrade to your kit, the HD600's will show it - would love to hear them at their ultimate!
I say BUY THEM, you won't look back!

Headphone listening setup:
Marantz CD-94 CD Player (+Trichord Clock 3) - QED Qunex OT TOSLINK digital optical cable - Marantz CDA-94 Digital to Analogue converter (upgraded extensively incl. 1541A/S2 and Black Gate caps) - Kimber Silver Streak interconnect - World Audio HD83 Headphone Amp (Kimber Wired)

Similar Products Used:

Sony MDRCD1000, MDRCD1700

fantastic,detailed sound.

none

Simply the best sound I've heard from a set of headphones that most normal humans can afford. Sure you can get better, but at what cost? Thousands for electrostatics??? What you'll hear through these phones is what you'd hear through speakers that would cost you at least 10 times as much. Astounding midrange and wonderful soundstage. To my ears, the lows are also very satisfying. I got mine at headroom.com for way cheaper than the $450 retail. You should check them out as the product arrived promptly(I paid the extra $15 for next day delivery)and was everything they said it would be. A very honest WWW company.

Similar Products Used:

HD570,Sony V900,Sony MDR F-1