Home Headphone Comparisons Sennheiser HD58X vs. 6XX vs. 600 vs. 650 – THE FINAL SHOOTOUT

Sennheiser HD58X vs. 6XX vs. 600 vs. 650 – THE FINAL SHOOTOUT

Which of these headphones is most worth a purchase in today's audiophile landscape?

by Stuart Charles Black

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

Greetings mate and Welcome aboard.

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 (NOT gear) all over again, so…

Before we get into the Sennheiser HD58X vs. HD6XX vs. HD600 vs. HD650 shootout, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!

If you landed here from another page, it means that I’ve decided to consolidate all articles on these headphones into one big article, so stick around because we’re going to cover everything today: Build, comfort, sound, genre, amplification, and more 🙂

Any and all future iterations of this headphone or future impressions of existing headphones in the line (660S and original 580 for instance) will be included here.

So bookmark, share, and visit often.

By the end of this write-up,

you should know which one is most worth a purchase.

At the very very end, I will provide a photo gallery of all images I’ve taken of these headphones over the years.

So get excited and let’s dive in!

Introduction

I’ve owned the Sennheiser HD 600 since December 2016 and it’s been a mostly great relationship.

I also owned the HD58X (gave it to my brother-in-law) and have demoed the HD6XX and 650 extensively.

The 600s are fine headphones and they will likely continue to stand the test of time for many reasons.

However,

there are a few things I don’t like about them. We’ll also get into that.

Long story short,

I got the chance to demo Massdrop’s newer HD6XX iteration.

Big shoutout and thanks to Shawn Quint for sending me them!

Shawn is a really nice guy who frequents my blog.

I enjoy talking with him about all things audio, and he was nice enough to entrust me with his baby.

No, not a real live baby mind you; I’m talking about the headphone. Lol.

You see, Shawn was doubly sure to send these bad boys packaged as if they could withstand a nuclear holocaust.

Have to make sure we can still listen to music in the midst of all that rubble and destruction, right? 😛

Seriously though,

I’ve been loving my time with these and was curious to see how they compared with the others.

Sennheiser HD58X

Price: Check Drop! | Official Review: Here!

In The Box

Sennheiser HD58X Headphones

1/4″ (6.35mm) adapter

Manufacturer’s 2-year warranty

Not included but pictured: 2.5mm balanced cable

Specifications

  • Massdrop x Sennheiser
  • Materials: Glossy black headband, gray metal grilles
  • Fit: Over-ear (circumaural)
  • Type: Open Back, dynamic
  • Impedance: 150 ohms
  • Frequency response: 12–38,500 Hz (-10 dB)
  • THD + N: < 0.1% at 1 kHz, 100 dB
  • Sound pressure level: 104 dB at 1V, 1 kHz
  • Connector: ⅛ in (3.5 mm) gold-plated stereo jack plug
  • Cable: 6 ft (1.8 m) OFC, detachable
  • Weight without cable: Approx. 9.2 oz (260 g)
  • Origin: Made in Romania

Sennheiser HD600

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check B&H! | Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!

In The Box

Sennheiser HD600 Headphones

1/4″ Adapter

Limited 2-Year Warranty (not pictured)

Specifications

  • Type: Open Back.
  • Fit: Circumaural (Over-Ear).
  • Impedance: 300 Ohms.
  • Sensitivity: 97 dB/mW.
  • Frequency response: 12Hz – 39000 kHz.
  • Material: Metal grilles, carbon fiber, velour earpads, plastic.
  • Color: Speckled blue finish, black.
  • Cable Length: 3m (9.84 ft.)
  • Weight: 9.17 Oz.

Sennheiser HD6XX

Price: Check Drop! | Check Amazon! | Official Review: Here!

Sennheiser HD600 vs. HD6XX

HD6XX.

  • Type: Open Back.
  • Fit: Circumaural (Over-Ear).
  • Impedance: 300 Ohms.
  • Sensitivity: 103dB/mW.
  • Frequency Response: 10 Hz – 41kHz.
  • Material: Metal grilles, carbon fiber, velour earpads, plastic.
  • Color: Midnight Blue, Black.
  • Cable Length: 6 ft. (1.8m)
  • Weight: 9.2 oz (260g).

Sennheiser HD650

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check eBay! | Official Review: Here!

Sennheiser HD650 Review

Let’s get into build!

Build

What you’ll find across these 4 headphones is that the build is roughly the same, and excellent at that.

None of them fold or rotate, but the cups on each move in and out ever so slightly to ensure a comfortable fit on your head.

Cosmetically is where they differ,

as each has a slightly different color scheme:

  • HD58X – Mostly black with some hints of white and gray.
  • HD6XX – Midnight Blue/Black.
  • HD600 – Speckled Blue finish.
  • HD650 – Gray Metal Flake finish.

The headbands, cups, grilles, connections, branding, and velour padding are all the same, though the HD600 utilizes the 4 nugget pads for the headband while the other 3 have the cratered pad that the original 650 employed.

A huge benefit for you is that all parts are replaceable here which has always been a huge selling point. 

You can essentially take the headphones apart and put them back together with relative ease, though I’d caution you about not putting too much pressure on the grille.

I inadvertently dented mine on the HD600 ever so slightly, but they still work fine.

You’ll notice the 58X’s branding has a slightly different design aesthetic (just moved left a little and looks to be smaller), but otherwise, it’s just about the same.

Sennheiser HD58X Review

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Sennheiser HD650 ReviewOn the inside of the right headband adjustment, we have the “Massdrop” logo silk-screened in white for each of the 58X and 6XX.

On the outside of the headband adjustment at the bottom, the familiar lettering appears again inside of Sennheiser’s ‘ol rectangle, giving the headphone its distinct look.

It reads “HD 6XX”, which hearkens back to the “HD 600” lettering on the older model.

Sennheiser HD58X Review

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Sennheiser HD58X ReviewSennheiser HD650 ReviewThe 650 is similar, and the 58X includes “Jubilee” as well.

The other similarity is that both the 600 and 6XX say “Made In Ireland” on each side of the inner headband adjustment, right near the start of the padding.

You do really have to look rather closely for it, but it is there.

I can’t remember if the 650s I demoed were made in Ireland or not, and I don’t see any lettering in the pictures.

One other clear difference in each of these 4 is the wiring.

Wiring

  • HD58X – Nice thickness to it. Subtle off-gray coloring. Let’s see Paul Allen’s 58X. xD
  • HD6XX – Same as above. Nice and THICC.
  • HD600 – Feels flimsy and it’s very thin, but darn this cable has really held up over the years.
  • HD650 – Same as 6XX and 58X.

All terminate in the proprietary 2-pin into each earcup,

but the HD600s are tiny and still are a pain to get in and out.

You will however appreciate the Red to differentiate between right and left on the HD600.

The other 3 headphones made the connections dummy thiccer and easier to pull out.

Sennheiser HD600 vs. 650

Sennheiser HD600 vs. 650Sennheiser HD6XX Review

What you’ll also love about the 6XX is that the cable is now a lot shorter.

I’ve lost count of how many times my chair has run over the 600’s cable, but fortunately, it’s held up remarkably well over time which is something I was not expecting at all.

It just tends to get in the way more often than not because of its length.

Termination

  • HD58X – 3.5mm w/ 1/4″ adapter.
  • HD6XX – 3.5mm w/ 1/4″ adapter.
  • HD600 – 3.5mm w/ Black 1/4″ adapter
  • HD6501/4″ termination with awkward 3.5mm adapter.

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get into comfort!

Comfort

Comfort here is mostly the same on all 4.

In other words,

Exemplary. A lot of this has to do with their compact design and wonderfully soft velour padding – both of which feel really good on your head.

I did notice the HD 6XX tends to dig a little into the top of my head after a while, but this comes after quite an extended listening period and is a very minor nitpick.

Simply put,

all of these headphones are some of the most comfortable you’ll ever wear, but I do think the 4-padded HD 600 takes the cake, slightly edging out the rest.

In all actuality though?

You can consider these just about the same in terms of comfort.

All HD580/600 series headphones are notorious for being very “clampy” at first, but they do open up over time.

You may actually enjoy the snug clamp as it tends to make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

Maybe that’s just me. xD

One thing of note:

My left pad looks like it has been worn in a bit more than Shawn’s left, which may have some sort of effect on the sound.

This is understandable as I’ve had the 600 longer than he’s had his 6XX, but it’s important to mention regardless.

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Let’s get into that there sound, shall we?!

Sound & Imaging

  • Source: Tidal, FLAC, Masters. Spotify Premium.
  • Amp(s): FiiO K3, JDS Labs Atom, Audioquest DragonFly Red, too many to count.
  • Final Shootout Playlist: Here!

That hallmark Sennheiser sound comes through with each of these, but there are some subtle differences between them even though it’s important to understand that all 4 follow roughly the same general trajectory on a graph:

  1. Rolled off bass below 100Hz.
  2. Slight mid-bass bump.
  3. Darker sounding treble.
  4. Forward mids around 3k though there are some slight discrepancies (i.e. the mids on each represent the most notable differences).

Let’s take a look:

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

There’s a reason the HD600 has remained relevant since 1997.

It’s vintage audiophile sound.

You’ve got an almost completely neutral signature with loads of detail, pinpoint accuracy and a relaxed but still detailed treble that pretty much never gets out of line.

Add to that some amazing bass texture and a fluid mid-range with plenty of presence, and you’ve got essentially all you’ll ever need in this hobby.

What’s not to love?

The first thing you’ll notice about the updated HD6XX is that it just sounds a little more airy and feathery by contrast.

It isn’t a huge difference, but it is noticeable.

It’s got this natural grace about it that’s truly wonderful to behold.

It sounds effortless as if it’s never trying too hard.

As for seeming effortless, the HD 6XXs never sound like they are working hard to reproduce music, whether connected to a laptop, a smartphone, or whatever. Some headphones allow you to more easily experience and enjoy your music without distractions from the things on your ears. The HD 6XXs are these kinds of headphones.Bill Henderson

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

One back-and-forth listen reveals the mids on the 600 to be more forward and less relaxing.

Listening to the 6XX for about a week straight, then switching to the 600 indicated an easily identifiable difference between the 2.

John Coltrane’s Tenor Saxophone in particular on Miles Davis’ Blue in Green sounds more aggressive with the 6XX.

Another note of contention is air and texture.

The 6XX seems to excel better at both.

I got a sense that the 600 is a bit clammier and more congested by contrast, and even though it’s technically crisper-sounding, it’s a little too in your face.

The 6XX seems to open things up to a greater degree while coming across as more relaxed and mellowed out.

Overall Imaging and Soundstage has gotten a slight upgrade with the 6XX, but don’t expect miracles.

It mostly sounds about the same as far as width and depth go. What is Soundstage?

The HD 600 has long since had a pretty narrow image.

All the pinpoint accuracy is there – you can pick out individual instruments, sounds, and other subtle nuances, but the picture of said elements is fairly small and does feel a bit boxed in.

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Is the HD 600 still your cup ‘o tea?

The 6XX basically continues this trend, but because it’s got a bit more air it gives off the illusion that Soundstage is a tad better (at least in my opinion).

It might be a bit wider, but it’s hard to say because the overall image of both is very similar.

Even with that said,

you’ll still experience some nice out-of-your-head moments with both of these headphones.

I just feel like the HD 600’s mid-range around 1-4k has always just been slightly too in your face.

It can really get fatiguing after a while as if the vocalist is shouting at you or raising his/her voice.

Joan’s “Take Me On (Chilled)” is a perfect example of a track that just sounds too aggressive with the HD600.

The vocals stand out, but they do so in a way that’s invasive.

Listening to the same track with the HD6XX is just a better, lighter, and more enjoyable experience overall.

The vocals sit perfectly in the mix, and the headphones overall exude so much class that I’m having a hard time justifying holding onto my HD 600.

Call it a form of Cognitive Dissonance.

Despite that,

you can always EQ that area down, but out of the box, the 6XX is just more professional sounding.

More refined.

It’s like a woman who has matured with age.

In her younger years perhaps she was a bit rough around the edges.

As she’s gotten older, her aura has changed a bit.

She’s not brash and reckless in her appearance, or even in her emotions. She doesn’t fly off the handle so easily.

The HD6XX resembles a woman who’s sure of herself and doesn’t have to put on a front any longer.

The HD600 resembles a young lady who’s still got some growing up to do.

However,

could all these perceived differences in the mid-range be attributed to the one pad on the 600 being slightly more depressed than the other?

Perhaps, but my money is on no.

I’ve owned the HD600 since 2016 and that area has always bothered me.

Add to that,

a few millimeters isn’t going to completely change the sound signature. Some may disagree and that’s fine.

You’re wrong. Lol. Just kidding. Maybe I’m wrong.

Whatever. Here’s another picture:

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

Confidence exuded.

650 Comparison

I have also had extensive time with the HD 650 although I don’t own it.

I would say the sound is similar, but I find the 650 to be a warmer affair while the 6XX sounds a little crisper.

The 6XX, if you weren’t aware, is actually a rebrand of the original 650, which makes sense.

Both have 103dB Sensitivity, both have very similar cabling (The 6XX’s cable is shorter, however), and both have that uniform crater pad on the headband.

With that said, the 6XX, in my opinion, does not sound identical to the HD650 even despite a lot of folks claiming it does.

The article linked above will go into exactly why, from a graphical standpoint, the 6XX is not the same as the 650.

It’s also very clearly discernable to my ears, thus why I have to point it out.

Bass

I will say that the bass on the 650 is certainly a bit more boosted in the mid-area around 100-200Hz, and most will agree on that.

58X comparison

Overall, the 58X probably sounds the most different out of all these, and the differences are fairly obvious:

  1. The 58X’s bass rolls off slightly less below 100Hz, giving it some added meat in the sub-regions.
  2. The 58X sounds a bit more overly sheeny and contrast-y (not a word, I know lol).

An analogy would be an image in Photoshop that has a tad too much contrast, making it look like it was photoshopped. 

Similarly,

the 58X sounds a bit less natural and more overtly lush/dense if that makes sense.

Think of the 58X as a less organic and natural version of the other 3.

To quickly recap:

  • HD58X – Most dense, lush, contrast-y. A bit unnatural sounding but still enjoyable. Less bass roll-off below 100Hz.
  • HD6XX – Strikes a nice balance of airy, light, yet still crisp and impactful. Less in your face mid-range.
  • HD600 – Mostly crisp and good, but mid-range is a bit too forward around 3kHz. In other words, too shouty at times. More bass roll-off below 100Hz.
  • HD650 – Definitely the warmest out of the bunch, but a bit too laid-back and dull. Slightly more mid-bass emphasis than the others.

Treble

As for the treble, I’d classify it as roughly the same for each: Darker, though again, the 650s seem to be even more dulled down than the others.

Video Comparison/Shootout

Don’t forget to leave me some love on the channel!! Any support is much appreciated 🙂

Let’s talk a bit about amplification and genre pairing!

Amplification & Genre Pairing

I used the HD6XX with a FiiO K3 paired up with a JDS Labs ATOM. 

In this case, the K3 functions as just the DAC, into the ATOM as an amp.

A wonderful combination!

I’ve also used just the K3 into said ATOM to a nice effect.

The Audioquest DragonFly Red is also a fantastic option here as well, though I’ve since removed it from the list below.

If you’re wanting a simplified solution,

the above article is great and will help you immensely.

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

There are so many amps that will likely work very well, so don’t get too hung up on what you go with.

To quickly sum it up:

  • HD58X – 150 Ohm Impedance, easiest to drive.
  • HD6XX – 300 Ohm Impedance, 103dB Sensitivity, not very hard to drive.
  • HD600 – 300 Ohm Impedance, 97dB Sensitivity, a bit harder to drive, but still pretty easy.
  • HD650 – 300 Ohm Impedance, 103dB Sensitivity, same as 6XX.

Onto genre…

Genre Pairing

The original HD 600 and 650 have long since been known to work with nearly any genre, and the same holds true for the HD6XX and 58X.

Rock has always been the 600’s bread and butter, but the sheer amount of music that sounds great with these is staggering.

I tend to listen to mostly Indie Pop and Jazz nowadays, with some Classical, Hip-Hop, and Oldies thrown in for good measure.

I still listen to Classic Rock, Progressive Rock, Math Rock, and Hard Rock/Metal from time to time, but sparingly.

For those genres,

I prefer bands and artists like Chon, Plini, Animals as Leaders, Rage Against the Machine, and some Megadeth/Metallica.

That’s about the hardest I will go.

It’s plenty good enough to gauge how certain headphones will sound with various genres.

Just know this:

The 600, 650, 58X and 6XX will sound fantastic with all of the above.

Chon’s self-titled follow-up to 2017’s “Homie” in particular sounds wonderful with the 6XX.

JDS ATOM HEVI ReviewWith that, let’s take a look at my notes…

Stu’s Notepad

Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 6XX

 

Final Verdict

Well, I think you know what I’m about to say; I’d definitely take the HD6XX over the rest.

It improves on that mid-range but also doesn’t sound as sleepy as an HD650.

What I mean by that is the 650 can almost sound too relaxed at times, and almost too warm, while the HD58X can be a bit unnatural and the 600 too forward in the mids.

It seems as though the 6XX is basically a rebranded HD650, but it sounds better and is priced just right like Bob Barker.

In other words,

they got it 100% correct with the 6XX.

Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

This headphone would make a fantastic gift for someone because it represents a true foray into better sound at a crazy good price.

Introducing anyone to this product who doesn’t have a clue (no offense to non-audiophiles) is likely to make them go ape sh** with delight. What is an Audiophile?

Seriously, I let a friend borrow the HD 600 and an iFi xCAN and she told me she literally didn’t want to leave her room.

Like ever. Haha.

If you’ve made it this far, the 6XX is what I would recommend.

In 2023 and beyond,

there’s simply no reason to pay the original retail for the 650 or 600 – not when the 6XX is a better product and more sensibly priced.

Interested? You should be.

 

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Sennheiser HD58X vs. HD6XX vs. HD600 vs. HD650 Review & Comparison.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

Are you convinced the 6XX is the better purchase? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Photo Gallery

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

You may also like

22 comments

Gene August 18, 2019 - 3:53 am

Howdy Stu…! Thank you for this awesome review. I my self am in love with HD6XX since the day i bought it last year. It was a big leap for me because its price was unbelievable for someone like me in a place like where i live.

I believe it is the only hd6xx in a fifty kilometer radius from my home. Lol, and you helped me to buy an amplifier last year. However I ended up buying the Fx audio dac-x6 but I wasn’t happy with it, even though it was a great cheap device it wasn’t doing what i wanted to hear so i scraped the last bit of spare money i could get and bought a “little dot MK2” and upgraded the tubes to “mullards” and “russian power tubes”. Then there was bliss, I felt like i have reached the pinnacle of sound which i was looking for. Later i had to swear an oath to myself, “never to spend on audiogear again for many years”, lol.

My current configuration is

Fx audio dac-x6 (just dac section) + little dot mk2 + HD6XX.

It sounds amazing!

All the best Stu, keep those good honest reviews coming. Many blessings to you.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black August 18, 2019 - 1:35 pm

Hey Gene, great to hear from you again!!

That’s awesome man and so glad to hear you’re enjoying the Little Dot. I know how that can be, you make that first foray into the hobby and all of a sudden you’re throwing money at peeps left and right. Lol.

I’m definitely of the mindset that you don’t have to go down that rabbit hole! Haha. I enjoy sound as much as the next guy, but the differences in high end gear are marginal at best. I think it has more to do with source file first (the quality of the mix itself), then the quality of the headphones second, and third is the Amp/DAC.

What specifically didn’t you like about the DAC-X6? I’ve heard some good things about it but have not tried one myself. I would really love to get a dedicated Tube set up sometime down the road. Had my eye on a few: The Bravo Audio Ocean to get my feet wet, then maybe a Little Dot MK III, Darkvoice 336, or the DIY Bottlehead Crack.

Anyway, thank you so much for the kind words!

Talk soon,

-Stu

Reply
Shawn Quint September 13, 2019 - 12:01 am

Hey Stu. Great review! I’m glad you enjoyed the cans! It was very interesting to hear the differences between the HD6XX and HD650 since I was under the impression that they were more similar. It’s nice to see that Massdrop’s version came out on top, especially since it’s the cheapest of the bunch. I’m glad they had such an impact on you. This website is such a great resource for someone new to high quality personal audio. Thank you for your work and I’ll be looking forward to more reviews.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 13, 2019 - 1:38 am

Thanks so much for lending them to me Shawn! It was a great pleasure listening with these for the last month. I really didn’t want to send them back! Hahaha. I think they are similar to the 650 but I found them a tad crisper by contrast. I think they strike the perfect balance between the too forward HD 600 (mid-range) and laid back 650. It’s just a perfect headphone all around for me. Massdrop did a fantastic job with them.

I look forward to our future dialogues as well, and really happy to have you on-board.

Blessings,
-Stu

Reply
Colin Johns May 24, 2020 - 12:38 am

Hi there
I really appreciate you taking the time to do these reviews I currently have a pair of HD555 which I think are great I have just ordered a Cyrus soundkey dac/amp to try out however my question please is would I notice a improvement going to HD 6xx as I am enjoying kicking back listening to Elvis and having a scotch more these days.
Thanks very much . Colin

Reply
Stuart Charles Black May 24, 2020 - 5:32 pm

Hey man thank you so much! Absolutely it would be a marked improvement from your 555. How’s the Soundstage on that? Is it anything like a 598 or 599? If so, you will lose a bit of that on the 6XX. I don’t know how important that is to you but the 6XX is pretty much a perfect headphone. Let me know and we can go from there 🙂

Reply
Manuel July 27, 2020 - 7:58 pm

Hi, after seeing the good reviews written here and your videos on youtube I am very excited to buy the HD6xx in Drop . But the price increase of HD6xx to 220 $ and the disappearance of the store in Europe, the final price of these headphones adding shipping, taxes and customs transaction costs stays around 312 € (calculating more or less what it has cost other people before).
So my question is, do you think it still pays to buy the HD6xx from my country at that price, or is it better to buy the HD650 that are available for 333 €?

Thank you very much, Manuel.

PS: Another option is to buy a K712 for 233 €, although I know that this is a headphone not so comparable to the first two.

(Sorry for my English, I used DeepL 🙂 )

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 27, 2020 - 8:27 pm

Hey man! If the total cost is still less than the 650, I’d go with the 6XX. A lot of people will tell you that the 650 and 6XX are essentially the same sound, but I kind of disagree a little. I didn’t find the 6XX to be quite as warm as the 650, and I do prefer it’s sound signature. It strikes a nice balance between the HD 600 and 650.

The 712 is fantastic, but it’s just a different type of sound really. It excels better with lighter genres like Classical, Jazz, Acoustic, etc. and also fares better for Gaming and Film.

Let me know about Drop! If you use my drop link for the 6XX, or end up deciding on the 650 to amazon, I do get a small kick back which helps the site moving forward. Thank you so much in advance and keep me posted!

Reply
René Ouimet September 15, 2021 - 4:47 am

Hello, I much enjoy your reviews : always sensible and informative. I am new to the world of headphones but have a speakers-based system. After much listening and research, I finally bought the HD6XX. Finding a top-flight amplifier was not easy but in the end, I got the SPL Phonitor se : the result is fantastic! It is always a subjective decision but your reviews were most helpful. Digital source is a Roksan K3 CD player (sometimes used as a CD transport with an Aqua Acoustic Dac). Music is an endless wonder, is it not? Best regards.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 19, 2021 - 8:21 pm

Thank you René!! So glad you’re enjoying. 6XX is my top choice under $500! 🙂

Reply
René Ouimet September 19, 2021 - 1:10 am

Hello, I am new to the world of headphones. I much enjoy your reviews : always sensible and informative. After much reading and listening, I chose the HD6XX. With a top-flight amplifier such as the SPL Phonitor se, they sing beautifully. They are very musical and are worth more than the price asked. In truth, they are a ridiculous bargain. I was also impressed with the Grado gs 1000s but decided to go with the Sennheiser. My sister bought the Focal Clear and they are fantastic but I didn’t want to spend that much. I am curious about the planar magnetic designs but basically, I am happy with the HD6XX. Digital source is a Roksan K3 cd player, used sometimes as a transport with an Aqua Acoustic dac (La Voce) : the result is most impressive. I have no interest in streaming and computer audio for now. It is always a subjective decision, but your articles were most helpful. (to see clearly in the audio jungle is a real challenge!) Best regards.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 19, 2021 - 8:32 pm

Hey René!! The 6XX is indeed pretty awesome. I will say that the difference between a planar and dynamic is apparent, albeit not monumental or anything. Still, you can tell it’s just a tad more realistic with timbre and decay being especially noteworthy. Check out the DEVA review I just did as your comment is perfect timing lol. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTn9nluJTaY

Reply
René Ouimet September 19, 2021 - 9:42 pm

Hello again, I wrote twice because I was’nt sure if you received the first one. Thanks for your response. 2 questions: is it worth it to get a ”better” quality cable for the hd6XX? (single-ended in my case) A cable specialist, Audiophile Ninja, (in the USA) has caught my attention (there are others). And what is the best value in the HifiMan line-up? The Ananda model looks interesting. Comparable (or better) than the Grado gs 1000e? Your site is a gold mine of informations! Regards.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 28, 2021 - 1:15 pm

Hey René! I wouldn’t bother with another cable unless it’s balanced. Best value in the HIFIMAN lineup is definitely the DEVA. Nice timing as I just did this video. Check it out and let me know what you think 🙂 Also, the Ananda would be a nice step up from the DEVA as it does perform a bit better overall in terms of its sound. It’s been a while since I’ve heard a GS1000e, and though it was my favorite out of the lineup, I probably wouldn’t personally purchase one as I think it’s a bit overpriced. If you’re going to go with something closer to Hi-Fi, the Ananda is my choice.

Reply
Steve Guttenberg July 11, 2023 - 7:59 am

Great review Stuart Charles!

A month ago, I made the exciting purchase of the new HD600 headphones, which boast a redesigned look, HD650 headband padding, and a new cable. However, a few days ago, I came across a fantastic deal on a used pair of HD58x headphones in excellent condition. Intrigued, I decided to conduct some tests, including swapping pads, headbands, and amplifiers, to ensure that none of these factors were affecting the frequency response and overall music delivery.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black July 24, 2023 - 4:43 pm

Thanks, Steven Guttenberg! What were your findings?

Reply
wesavecart September 26, 2023 - 4:58 am

Great Blog! The information article was very helpful, Thanks a lot for sharing this, I really appreciate it

Reply
Stuart Charles Black September 26, 2023 - 1:03 pm

You’re quite welcome!

Reply
Matthew Reynolds October 26, 2023 - 9:04 pm

Hey Stu, God bless you man and thanks for this write up. I’ve got the hd600’s and have some hd6xx’s and hd58x’s coming (headphone overdose, maybe), I bought the hd58x’s before I realised I’d probably prefer the sound signature of the hd6xx’s, but who knows, maybe I’ll prefer them for the bass the hd600’s were lacking.

I was just wondering why you paired these headphones with the Fiio k3 AND Atom amp, is the amp just better than Fiio’s k3. I’m wondering because I’m looking at getting a budget Fiio K7 bt here in Australia for a good price. Would you recommend this dac/amp combo with these headphones? Cheers. – Matthew

Reply
Stuart Charles Black October 30, 2023 - 9:29 pm

Hey Matthew!

God Bless you as well brother.

*Concerned Country Father* Don’t get too far down that rabbit hole, ya hear! xD

But yeah, so I mostly just use the K3 when I need to quickly hook up a standalone Amp to a DAC. The K3 is very versatile in that regard. For awhile I was using it as a preamp into my Eris e3.5s as well. And even though it’s a good combo amp/dac on its own, it does lack a bit of power unbalanced for headphones.

I would absolutely just go for the K7 though – especially if you plan to run balanced headphones in the future. Which, you should absolutely do with the Sennheisers.

So yeah, the K7 is a great pair for any of those and you’ll really enjoy it.

Hope that helps! Keep me posted.

-Stu

Reply
Shaun Conroy January 24, 2024 - 4:32 am

Interesting, I will have to give the HD58X a try. My only worry is the comments on the treble. I’ve had a ton of headphones and love the H6XX, but maybe I’ll like the other headphone more.

Reply
Stuart Charles Black January 25, 2024 - 6:44 pm

Hey man! What did you read about the treble? My only issue with the 58X is it sounds a bit overly lush/saturated – similar to a photo in Photoshop that has a bit too much contrast; rendering it slightly artificial looking. So no, the timbre of the 58X isn’t like, plasticky or anything, but it does come across a little try hard. Does that make sense?

Reply

Leave a Reply to Stuart Charles Black Cancel Reply