Home Headphone Comparisons Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 700 | A LOT TO TAKE IN!

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

Hi friend and Welcome!!

Let’s start with a quick chart!


Comparison Chart


Preview
Better for Reference
Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone, Black
Better For Casual Listening
Sennheiser HD 700 Headphone
Color
Speckled Blue, Black
Gray/Black
Type
Open Back
Open Back
Fit
Circumaural
Circumaural
Frequency Response
12Hz - 39kHz
10Hz - 42kHz
Impedance
300 Ohms
150 Ohms
Sensitivity
97dB/mW
105dB/mW
Cable Type
Straight
Straight
Cable Length
9.8'
9.8'
Weight
.58 lbs.
3.5 lbs.
Amplification Required?
Primary Use
Mixing, Mastering, Reference
Casual Listening
Prime
Amazon Prime
-
Price
$295.83
Price not available
Better for Reference
Preview
Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD 600 - Audiophile Hi-Res Open Back Dynamic Headphone, Black
Color
Speckled Blue, Black
Type
Open Back
Fit
Circumaural
Frequency Response
12Hz - 39kHz
Impedance
300 Ohms
Sensitivity
97dB/mW
Cable Type
Straight
Cable Length
9.8'
Weight
.58 lbs.
Amplification Required?
Primary Use
Mixing, Mastering, Reference
Prime
Amazon Prime
Price
$295.83
Details
Better For Casual Listening
Preview
Sennheiser HD 700 Headphone
Color
Gray/Black
Type
Open Back
Fit
Circumaural
Frequency Response
10Hz - 42kHz
Impedance
150 Ohms
Sensitivity
105dB/mW
Cable Type
Straight
Cable Length
9.8'
Weight
3.5 lbs.
Amplification Required?
Primary Use
Casual Listening
Prime
-
Price
Price not available
Details

Before we get into the Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 700, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!!

What I will bring you in this review

I will outline the HD700, compare it to the HD600, then provide a link to my official recommendation & review, the HD600!

  1. Ratings/Price
  2. Specifications
  3. Summary
  4. Pros
  5. Cons
  6. Video Review
  7. Amp/DAC requirements
  8. Who these headphones benefit?
  9. Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
  10. Consensus/Conclusion
  11. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!

Sennheiser HD 700

Ratings/Price

Specifications

  • Type: Open back.
  • Fit: Circumaural.
  • Impedance: 150 Ohm. What is Headphone Impedance?
  • Frequency response: 10 – 42000 Hz.
  • Driver size: 40mm.
  • Replaceable cable: Yes.
  • Cable length: 9.8′
  • Plug size: 1/4″
  • Weight: 3.5 lbs.
  • Material: Plastic, microfiber ear cushions, specialty steel mesh.
  • Color: Grey and black.

Summary

Many people refer to the HD 700’s as the HD 800’s evil twin brother. Or sister. Lol. It’s sad because they don’t really receive the same accolades as some of Sennheiser’s other offerings but still remain a very important headphone nonetheless.

They are an exceptionally warm set of cans, but at the same time neutral and honest. They have a great Soundstage as well, with a more relaxed treble reproduction. Whereas the 800’s have been accused of an overly bright signature in the high end, the 700’s are much darker. What is the Sennheiser veil?

Pros

  • Warm character. These are very transparent, and elegant, with a musical warmth and a true to life acoustic presence.
  • Spatial imaging and accuracy is excellent.
  • More relaxed in treble reproduction. Not harsh or Sibilant. What does sibilant mean?
  • Bass reproduction is crisp and punchy.
  • Mid-range vibrant and clear.
  • Treble is crystalline and sharp without fatigue. Clear and transparent.
  • Light clamping force; extremely comfortable. Like you’re not wearing them. They are very comfortable over long sessions. The ear cups are also very large and deep.
  • Angled transducers providing good Soundstage. What is Soundstage?
  • They don’t overemphasize any particular frequency range. They allow for nuances in sound to be heard in each instrument and voice.

Neutral

  • A subject of debate is the treble. Is it bright? Sure. Is it peaky/harsh? Folks go back and forth on it. I would say that the overall signature is very balanced, with a spike at 6k. A lot of people say it’s what gives the HD 700 its character. Others claim it’s too bright. Your mileage may vary. If you find it harsh, EQ it down.

Cons

  • Chord is somewhat iffy. It’s a solid chord overall but may break near the 1/4″ phone plug. Alternatively, you could purchase the cable that sells with the HD 477 and 497, each of which fits the HD 700.
  • The Silver mesh material on the cups is very easily damaged.
  • While they are pretty solidly built, I saw quite a few complaints regarding some of the materials used. Specifically, people were saying they were disappointed over how much plastic was used in such a high-end model.

Video Review

Amp/DAC requirements

I’ve read a lot about these headphones, and many say that they do need an amp to reach their full potential. However, The jack from the iPad and iPhone were both said to work phenomenally well.

What are people using?

  • Grace Design M903
  • FiiO E9
  • Beyerdynamic A1
  • JDS Labs 02
  • Schiit Valhalla
  • Schiit Magni/Modi (Amp & DAC)
  • Schiit Vali/Modi
  • Little Dot MKII/MKIII
  • Bottlehead Crack
  • FiiO E12
  • Schiit Asgard
  • Schiit Vali
  • Audioquest Dragonfly v1.2 DAC/Amp.
  • Woo Audio WA7

Do not purchase:

  • FiiO E7. This cannot drive them correctly.

My recommendation?

The Schiit Magni/Modi will power the 700’s just fine from a volume standpoint, but the combo may be a bit too harsh/bright.

In this case I would go with the Vali 2/Modi 2 combo. Being a tube amp, it will come across as less fatiguing over a longer period of time.

Learn more:

Who these headphones benefit?

I’ve heard them endorsed for the following:

  • Metallica
  • Genesis
  • Tears for Fears
  • Metallica
  • NWA
  • Sting
  • The Scorpions
  • Post Malone
  • Jazz
  • Classical
  • Gaming
  • Watching movies.

Not as good for:

Pop, Rock, R&B. Some did say they were good for Rock, while others disagreed.

Thoughts from Stu’s notepad

  • Your listening volume should be on the conservative side. The music can get very loud very quickly.
  • Music that had been previously obscured by layers of sound is suddenly audible and distinct. The HD 700’s are really a crystal clear-sounding set of cans!
  • The chord should be stretched and left out for a day before use to loosen it up (removing knots and kinks), or wrapping the cord around a foam ball, and letting the outward pressure of the ball smooth out the odd bends in the fabric. You should be aware that quite a few people complained about the chord, but it was never a deal-breaker.
  • These are darker sounding headphones with not as much treble presence as say the HD 800’s. With the 700’s it’s like being in the front row. With the 800’s it’s like you’re on stage.
  • These are not portable. They are designed for the home audio enthusiast. They also have zero noise isolation. Don’t expect them to block out any sound. You will be able to hear things going on outside of them as well.
  • You may not feel “connected” to the music or be emotionally involved. Even though you can hear every instrument in complex orchestral work, and every subtlety, there is just this sense of artificiality.
  • May need to EQ these for EDM, as the sound can sometimes get a bit harsh/sharp/piercing.
  • They really need good source files. Expect the sound to be crappy from poor audio sources.
  • I’ve heard these are like a cross between the HD 600 and HD 800.
  • These have a more analog quality as opposed to digital.

Consensus/Conclusion

The HD 700’s are an extremely comfortable, grand listening experience, complete with a really good sound-stage and a crisp overall sound. Be aware of the lackluster cable (which can be replaced if need be), and the plastic-like feel.

Similarities & Differences (with the HD600)

Similarities

  • Both are open back, with no noise isolation.
  • Both are very neutral.
  • Both need good sound sources to sound their best.

Differences

  • The HD 600’s do well with any genre, while the 700’s are somewhat limited.
  • Impedance ratings are different. The HD600’s is 300 Ohm vs. the 150 of the 700. Fortunately, the HD600 isn’t very amp picky, even with a higher impedance.
  • The clamping force of the HD 600’s will take a bit of break-in to get used to. The HD 700’s won’t.
  • The HD600’s are some of the most accurate cans you will find. The HD700’s may add a touch of warmth to your recordings.
  • The HD700’s are said to have softer pads and an overall more comfy feel.
  • The bass on the HD700’s is more detailed than the 600.
  • The mid-range on the 600 is more smooth and detailed than the 700.
  • The treble on the HD700 felt uneven and out of place. Almost too “in your face” as opposed to the laid-back, relaxed treble of the HD 600.
  • Because the HD700 is so alive and demands your attention, the sound may become fatiguing after awhile. Not so with the 600.
  • The Soundstage on the 700 is a bit better (according to most), although a guy on Head-Fi said that the 600 had a better sense of depth and imaging. He said the sense of space was superior, while the HD700 can give a little more impression of detail and separation.
  • The HD700 is not as modular as the HD600. What this means is that you can take apart the entire HD600 and replace parts as needed. You can replace stuff on the 700, but you’ll need a screwdriver to open a lot of it.
  • The 700’s cable is rugged as all get out. The HD600’s is solid, but some say a bit cheap feeling for a high-end headphone.
  • There are times when the HD700’s can sound hollow, forced, or unnatural. With the 600’s you always know what you’re getting. A neutral, laid back, but also detailed sound. Their tonal balance is virtually unmatched.
  • Think of the HD700 like a power hitter in baseball. When they connect, there are fireworks. When they miss the mark, oftentimes it’s pretty ugly. The HD700’s are the same way. They do some things brilliantly and fail miserably in other areas. The 600’s would be like a .300 hitter. You can always rely on them to come through when the game is on the line. Similarly, the HD600’s just excel at all times, in all situations.

Someone on Reddit made a really funny analogy comparing the HD700’s treble with Peanut Butter:

“I don’t know how to put it in audiophile terms, but the treble was like having peanut butter stuck on the roof of your mouth. When you first take it in, you’re like, wow peanut butter, so goood. Then you get to the part where it gets stuck and you’re like wait a minute somethings not right.”

-Redditer

Final Word

It’s hard not to recommend the HD 700’s, as the price has come down considerably as of late, and they are a great set of headphones. But the HD600’s are the Gold Standard here. They are what every headphone strives to be, and should be the benchmark for what headphones should sound like.

If you’re contemplating what your first Sennheiser purchase should be, look no further than the 600. It’s just about the best investment you can make in the world of snobby audiophiles. Lol. Interested in learning why (in great detail)?

CHECK OUT MY OFFICIAL SENNHEISER HD600 REVIEW!!


Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this article on the Sennheiser HD 600 vs. HD 700.

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

Which of these tickles your pickle? 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!

Save

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

You may also like

2 comments

David July 11, 2017 - 4:07 am

Hard to take a review of the HD700 seriously when you call them warm and the recommendation of the Modi/Magni was one of the worst that I’ve heard with the HD700. One thing I agree with you is the stock cable is about as bad as it gets, never got the kinks out of mine but building a new cable is really easy.

Reply
Stu July 11, 2017 - 10:53 pm

Hey David!

That’s your opinion. The Magni is one of the safest amps you can buy due to its extremely low output impedance (less than .1 I believe). It has the ability to power pretty much any headphones fairly efficiently, plus the HD700 isn’t that hard to drive, so you may not need something really expensive. I recommend it because of that. It definitely is a budget setup, but most people that come here aren’t looking to drop a bunch of money at first on an amp. I do think that it’s a brighter set up, however, but as far as powering them, it’s completely fine. What would be your suggestion for a warmer tone? I was thinking maybe the Bottlehead Crack.

As far as the HD700’s sound signature, that’s also your opinion. They’re definitely not bright, but still have a lot of detail and are more laid back than your average can. To me that makes them on the warmer side.

-Stu

Reply

Leave a Reply to David Cancel Reply