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Greetings mate! Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions leading to a beautiful audio experience, that will make you fall in love with music.. all over again, so…
At A Glance
Let’s discuss the HIFIMAN Sundara and compare it with the venerable HD600 & 650, shall we?!
We’ll start with the build…
Build
which is somewhat of a dicey proposition.
When the Sundara first came out in 2018, it seemed like all prior build issues with the original 400S and 400i were rectified.
It wasn’t until a year or 2 later that some problems started creeping up, from cable connection issues to glue issues on the pads and so forth.
The good news is that the 1st redesign (Sundara/Ananda design) did prove fruitful in terms of the more streamlined and robust nature of the frame and bales, but the cups cannot rotate fully this time around which may or may not bother you.
Still, the Sundara is a mostly rock-solid headphone.
Design-wise,
we’ve got the updated lattice grilles, the click adjustments for the headband, and a rounded-off piece connecting the 2 ear cups with a thin, flimsy pad underneath.
Headband & Thin Pad Underneath.
Click Adjustment.
Overall,
the combination of Spring Steel, Synthetic Leather, Anodized Aluminum, and OFC Copper are all welcome upgrades, but purchasing a Sundara is still a roll of the dice in some ways.
By contrast, the HD600 and 650 are both built to last like Duralast for certain, even despite feeling somewhat cheap on your person.
The utilitarian design of both headphones looks a little more retro than the Sundara, with more plastic present as well.
All 3 headphones have cables connecting into each ear cup, but the Sundara’s is a 3.5mm vs. the 2-pin connectors on the HD 600 and 650.
2 pin connectors for HD600 and 650.
3.5mm (or 2.5mm, can’t remember) on the Sundara.
Both also sport velour for the ear cups, but the Sundara’s contain memory foam encased with a bit of protein leather, while the 600/650 does not.
Question of the day: Does anyone know the technical name for the 600/650 cable?
Leave me a comment down below if you know, because I couldn’t find it anywhere online yo!
Moving on…
HD600’s pad.
HD650’s pad.
This is a 400S, but the pads look the same from model to model.
Pictured left is the pad on most 400 series models. Right is Dekoni’s pad (much better designed).
Here’s a look at the 400i’s pads.
The Sundara’s pad.
While the HD600/650’s pad mimics the shape of your ear, the Sundara’s are round like the a** on a steer. Worst joke ever.
Headband padding on both the 600 and 650 is more plentiful, and while the 600 boasts the 4 nugget pads, the 650 opts for the single pad with a crater in the middle.
Pricing:
Check HD600 @ Sweetwater & B&H | Check HD650 @ Sweetwater & B&H
Nugget pads (HD600).
Single pad with crater (HD650).
While we’re at it, let’s get into comfort and find out how these feel.
Comfort
Clamp force on the HD600 and 650 is known to be rather snug like a bug in a rug, but it does open up over time.
Feel free to stretch the headphones gently, but be extra cautious clay because the headband has been known to snap under pressure like Private Pyle in Full Metal Jacket.
The Sundara’s clamp is a bit more loosey-goosey but still conforms to the shape of your head rather nicely.
I don’t find any of the headphones here to dig much at all, and I would place all 3 near the top of any shortlist for the absolute best in terms of overall comfort.
But how do they sound in relation to one another?
Sound
Interestingly enough,
both the HD650 and Sundara bear some of the same warmer sentiments, while the HD600 is rather crisp and cool by comparison, with a more forward mid-range around 3kHz and a livelier overall character than both the 650 and Sundara.
On its own, or compared to another brighter can, the 600 will sound slightly “veiled”, but by and large it’s still a term that’s a bit overdone like your mom’s meatloaf.
- Related: What is the Sennheiser Veil?
Both imaging and Soundstage do receive slight upgrades when going from a dynamic driver HD600/650 to a planar magnetic Sundara.
This is in large part due to the fact that a planar just performs better across the board for a couple of important reasons:
- There are more magnets present in a Planar.
- They are placed more evenly around the diaphragm.
This results in all of the following per my experience:
- A more realistic and natural sound presentation to your ears
- Improved Imaging and Soundstage
- Lower distortion
- A more buttery smooth bass
- Better reproduction of micro-detail
- Better overall resolution than what you’ll get from an HD600 or 650.
Sundara is a Sanskrit word meaning “beautiful.”
Both those headphones have a tendency to feel a bit boxed in sounding, but instrument separation and imaging are still exemplary, and the headphones themselves continue to remain relevant after more than 2 decades on the market.
Bass, mid-range, and treble are all incredibly natural-sounding, and accurately portray a wide range of musical genres with ease and care.
From Rock, Hip-Hop, Pop, to Indie, EDM, Metal, and almost anything else abound, you can rest assured knowing your purchase is sound!
The Sundara works for many of the same genres, but I’d argue it does a bit better for Classical, Jazz, Acoustic, Gaming, and Film because of the reasons mentioned above regarding Imaging and Soundstage, as well as instrument Timbre in the case of delicate guitars and voices specifically.
As far as amplification is concerned, the Sundara is woefully inefficient at around 94dB/mW but has a fairly low impedance at 37 Ohms.
Still,
you will need an Amp/DAC for this bad boy but I wouldn’t mortgage away your kidney or anything.
Helpful articles:
- What is Headphone Impedance? [Explained]
- What is Sensitivity in Headphones? [Explained]
- How to Choose a Headphone Amp [Definitive Guide]
The HD600/650 are a bit more efficient at 97 and 103dB respectively but do have a much higher impedance at 300 Ohm.
Still, they’re all fairly easy to drive and you shouldn’t have much of an issue finding a great Amp/DAC to pair.
Don’t overthink it!
Photo Gallery
Video Shootout
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Final Word + 2023 Update
Things have gotten slightly more complicated since this article was originally posted, but I still like all of these headphones.
Still,
if you’re looking for the HIFIMAN sound in 2023, my recommendation is the 400se as it’s dirt cheap and follows the same general tuning of the HIFIMAN house sound.
Put another way,
there’s no reason (in my opinion) to spend $349 (or thereabouts) on a Sundara when you can get the same sound signature for just over $100.
Interested in one of my top recommendations for newcomers under $500?
Learn More:
The HD600/650 has been a devastating one-two punch for many years now, but I do prefer the Sennheiser HD6XX for a couple of marked reasons:
- It’s way more affordable than the others nowadays.
- It strikes a nice balance between the 2 sound signatures. The HD600’s mid-range has some issues around 3kHz and can come across as a bit “shouty” and too forward, and the 650 can be a bit too laid back and creamy at times, almost lulling you to sleep. I believe the 6XX represents a nice middle ground.
In all honesty, I wouldn’t be mad if you went with one of these over the other, as I firmly believe both sit in the Top 3 regardless (the other being AKG’s K702).
Interested in hearing about my experiences with the 6XX?
Learn More:
Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this HIFIMAN Sundara vs. HD650 vs. HD600 shootout and now understand the main differences between them!
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Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!
Which of these headphones sounds like YOU? I would love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…
All the best and God bless,
-Stu
4 comments
Me again Stu jaja, I’m very glad to find this page.
With the dragonfly red I’d like to drive a HD 650 or Sundara, but I’ve checked un some pages like the reviews on Amazon there are saying about the Bad construction in the Sundara un case of 2 or 3 months the left driver just doesnt exist, from a few volume to get 0 volume in some driver, but there are other opinions about the 2020 version is better.
And the ear pads looks like an On Ear and it looks like you can touch the drivers with your ears. ¿Is it real, or is just my looking??
Hey man, thank you! Yeah, I talked about that stuff at length in this article/video. It’s def a gamble to buy a Sundara. The 2020 version is much better build wise, but the sound is a bit different. More treble emphasis for sure. The DEVA is also a great option with the same updated build and a brighter treble. It can get essy at times but I kind of got used to it, lol. My ears don’t touch the drivers on the DEVA at all, but on the Sundara I think they do ever so slightly. I can’t remember haha. They are definitely not On-ear though. They go around your ears just fine.
I just checked the amazon score again and it’s gone up quite a bit from where it was. I think HIFIMAN fixed a lot of the issues with the stealth revision so I’d def be more comfortable buying it now than I was maybe a year or so ago.
I have the HD600 and the Sundara (latest version) and I would say the Sennheiser is a touch warmer if anything. But I concur the Sundara is slightly more laid-back, the HD600 is a little more transient-rich.
Don’t be put off by people saying that planar headphones are harder to drive, I drive both from the same headphone amp and the Sundara is only the merest touch quieter, so even though the impedance is about a tenth of the HD600 with only marginally less sensitivity, they’re virtually identical to drive, so there’s nothing to be concerned about there at all.
I’ve had the HD600 since 2006, at the time I compared it to the HD650 and could not reliably hear a difference so I decided to save £50 and go for the 600. I’ve not heard the 650 since but I like to think that after a further 15 years of experience, I would hear it now! It’s crazy how cheap they were then, I picked up the 600 for under £150…even the 650 was under £200.
I recently bought the Sundara as I wanted a second reference headphone to cross-reference mixes with, I bought them on recommendation from someone I trust implicitly without hearing them first, but actually they are tonally very similar, the biggest difference I notice is in the transient response (and I don’t even make dance music, I mostly record soul, funk, jazz, hiphop, world music, some rock with classical elements etc)
I think the main reason the Sundara is often quoted as being great for classical, jazz etc is because of its slightly smoother bass and its more forgiving nature on transients. If you make any form of EDM, the HD600 will sound a little punchier on drums and slightly fuller on bass but the Sundara will make you work a little harder to get a slamming bassline and drums that bounce. The HD600 may make you think you’re already there 🙂
Hey Tamer!
I’m so glad you pointed that out. Your first paragraph is a microcosm of what I believe is horribly wrong in this hobby – that is, the propensity for people to blow almost EVERYTHING out of proportion and make things seem way more complicated than they actually are. What’s funny about it is that it’s always the people who actually experience these things firsthand rather than the silly reviewers who tend to sensationalize everything.
Because here’s the thing, most people don’t give a crap that you’re an audiophile and think you can hear the grass growing. The average person is light years more realistic and pragmatic than those people will ever be – i.e. they look at things from a more practical standpoint and aren’t caught in the web of industry lies.
Heck, I’d argue 99% of headphones aren’t that hard to drive. The problem is that one person with a little influence says something stupid and then all the parrots follow suit which exacerbates the lie and ends up confusing a whole lot more people who are brand new and don’t have a clue. That’s what’s always been my issue. It’s a quadruple whammy of bullsh**, and the fact that you put it so succinctly and matter of fact just makes me laugh out loud.
“Don’t make a big thing out of it, Spyder.”
Anyway, aside from my totally asshole-ish rant, I definitely agree with you about these 2 headphones. I personally feel the Sundara has more in common with the 650 than it does with the 600 and ends up being a touch too warm/laid-back for me although I do still love it because of its excellent Timbre and bass as you point out.
As far as my HD600, every time I go back to it after a long time away I remember why it’s still around and why I keep it. I’ve had one since 2016 and don’t plan on ever parting with it because it’s also an original Made in Ireland model.