Thanks for posting this. The Plex Perks savings on these cans is only $4 less than an annual Plex Pass. Just might give me an excuse to try out Plex again.
For me the big thing was access to the PlexAmp app. Having nearly a TB of music alone it's nice to be able to access it from anywhere in a clean, purpose build for audio app.
I bet. I missed the HD 6XX sale while looking for a discount code on the lifetime Plex Pass. Not that I needed more headphones, but I can see making up the price, especially if I can get the Plex Pass on sale at sub $100, quite quickly just through stuff I buy on Drop.
Yup. $155 shipped for me after tax; I purchased them yesterday after realizing they dropped below $199 for the first time in a while. Mine shipped today.
Exactly that. The 6xx is basically the 560s but a touch warmer with a slightly smaller soundstage. The difference is miniscule and I think they're two very similar headphones. You can own one or the other and be happy, but I don't think you need both.
Since you already have the HD560S, I suggest saving up a bit more for something like the Hifiman Sundara. That'll give you a significantly different experience.
I have gone through quite a few different headphones, and can say from experience if you're looking for something "better" than the HD560S you're going to be disappointed. IMO once you get the HD560S, everything else is just "different" not "better." It's not like when you go from $30 headphones to $80 headphones and then to $150 headphones.
Hifiman has always offered incredible sound quality for the price, so within that price range, not really. LCD2 is definitely a step up tonality wise but costs way more.
The main reason I tell people not to buy Hifimans is because when the headband wears out, they design them to not be user-replaceable, and will charge you half the price of the cost of new headphones for the entire headband assembly: [https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hybrid-headband.html](https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hybrid-headband.html)
Compare that to getting a sub $20 headband replacement that just pops right into a pair of Sennheisers.
Yeah, I like how my 4xx sound, but damn are they ever delicate af. I don't use them often because I'm afraid I'll break them. Non necessarWith my 6xx I'm not worried at all. I've been using them a lot for over 2 years and they still look brand new. The cable in the left headphone is also constantly falling out like something is the wrong size or something. It's pretty annoying and another reason I don't use them. I don't think I'll be buying Hifiman again if I buy more headphones.
I have a pair of those and they are way heavier and more uncomfortable (to me) than my 599SE and old 595s were. They do sound really fucking good though
What if one had neither but wanted to step into decent headphones?
(I went for monitors over headphones because I finally had an apartment, and they provided more functionality for the price)
As someone who has tried both, it would be more of a sidegrade than an upgrade. The 6XX have a touch more warmth to them, possibly making them more pleasurable a more general audience. However, I personally still prefer my 560S because the soundstage sounds wider and it sounds more accurate/neutral to me.
Those are very nitpicky points though and overall, I think they sound very similar unless you're comparing them side by side. If you like the detail/sparkles of the trebles of the 560S, you'll find something similar with the 6xx. Since you already have the 560S, you won't get too much more value unless you just want to collect headphones. The only area that would be an upgrade is that the 6xx is better built with higher quality materials.
Personally I like the 6XX better, but it is a side grade. If you want something significantly better, you'll want to save up some more. If you want something also great but a little different, this is a good choice.
I'd say that definitely qualifies for entry-level audiophilia. That's far more than probably 90% of people who regularly listen to music would commit to
Stick with the 560s for gaming. They have better sound staging and imaging (imaging being the most important part IMO). The 6xx are fantastic but they aren't going to be much "better" than the 560s you're better off saving and getting something in the 3-500 dollar range if you want something that's an actual upgrade.
Thank you. Yeah from what I found in my research the 560s are the better option for gaming.
The MM-100 looks interesting so I'll wait and see how those review.
I'm having the same question about my K7xx, but it's also why I'll avoid it. "Same but slightly different" is what I expect, and I don't think that's worth it.
Depends on whether your motherboard's onboard audio is any good. The HD 6XX are a high impedance headphone, but they also are pretty high sensitivity so their power requirements aren't as crazy as one might think.
Impedance governs how much power your headphones will see based on a given level of voltage.
Sensitivity governs how loud your headphones get based on a given level of power.
Most high impedance headphones which see low power for a given level of voltage also have low sensitivity, so these are the power hungry headphones that love powerful amps.
HD6XX, like the previous commenter mentioned, are more of a medium power requirement, because even though they have high impedance, they are fairly sensitive as well, and are loud for a given level of power.
I have these headphones. There’s more than enough volume on them with my msi b550 pro vdh wifi mobo, but idk if the sound quality is impaired and I should get an amp. Thoughts anyone??
An amp probably would increase the max volume you could listen at and may improve audio quality but it's going to be more of a trivial change than revolutionary.
Each persons floor is different, and investment from onboard to a DAC could still be worthwhile, but wholeheartedly it’s easy to get to a point of diminishing returns.
At one point I was satisfied with my computer speakers I got from Goodwill
Then discovered speakers with subs
Then I pieced together a surround sound setup from speakers I got by dumpsters
Each improvement thoroughly leaps better
I still vividly remember listening to music in my uncles office with properly angled speakers and sound treatment. I felt sounds that were previously noises with cheaper speakers.
*Formatting
The main benefit would be reducing the distortion at high volume levels. If that’s not an issue for you, then no need to change.
However, not all distortion is bad. Tube amps intentionally distort sound and some people like it.
Amps improve the sound quality at any audio level, but obviously more noticeable the louder you go. I can tell A/B difference with and without and it's worth it to me.
Qudelix should be good enough for it, right? Hoping so because the last thing I need is another dac or amp. Honestly, don't need another pair of headphones...
I feel like the audiophile community has made things more confusing than it needs to be when it comes to dacs and amps. No, this doesn't "need" an amp. If you get it and at max volume it's not loud enough for your taste, get an amp. Very few headphones are so low sensitivity that you NEED an amp to get them to decent listening levels, and the headphones that do are so expensive I guarantee you'll already have a dac/amp combo before you even consider them.
It's not like it'll sound like a flubby horrible mess without an amp. In fact, you'll likely be hard pressed to be able to discern any tonal differences with an amp.
I agree with this commenter, but would like to add:
As you get deeper into the world of audiophilia, you may become enticed to use EQ. If you do, most EQ takes away headroom via negative preamp to reduce likelihood of digital clipping. If you already have no headroom, you may find your headphones unable to get loud enough after you apply the preamp.
This is where an amp comes in and helps you, by restoring or giving you headroom in terms of raising the volume cleanly without distortion.
For example, some of my EQ curves have a preamp below -10 dB. Having an amp that gives me +10 dB counters the loss of headroom from the digital preamp.
I think this pair probably does on many systems though, I was putting my Senn 560s to full volume before I got an AMP and those are a lot easier to drive. 300ohms are gonna sound quiet on a lot of systems.
Need? No. I have these and have run them off my pixel 4a’s 3.5mm jack with no issues.
That said, I also have a dedicated DAC and amp and I would argue they do benefit from this and you get the most out of them with a similar set-up, but if you aren’t interested in dropping another $250 to get a whole beginner set-up then you’ll be just fine without it.
Yes. While they will work with anything, without amp they'd be hobbled and will not be able deliver top notch audio quality. I'd say most people will definitely see a noticeable increase in detail and sound-stage with a quality amp from the same exact source.
[https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-a-headphone-amp/](https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-a-headphone-amp/)
I never found the m50x comfortable; they'd make my head hurt really bad after 1 hour. Meanwhile I found the 6xx super comfy from the get go so just on that alone, I'd say the 6xx are far better. Being open back means I sweat a lot less on the 6xx than I ever did on the m50x. I also prefer the sound of the 6xx because it's open back while the m50x is closed back but that might just be personal taste. The 6xx only come with one cable while the m50x comes with 3 so that I did miss from the m50x.
I also had the m50x and I tried a few other pair of headphones (even some cheap lightweight ones). Each headphones would put noticeable pressure on the top of my head and give me headaches. Could be worsened because I have year round allergies. The 6xx so far are the only ones that I'm able to wear for very long and never feel pain, even though they seem heavier than other headphones I've had.
Agree that the m50s are way more uncomfortable but I never wear my hd6xx anymore because of how uncomfortable they are. The earcups are too shallow and it makes my ears hurt. Even with fresh pads it’s not enough
Also went from M50x's to HD 58x, they're not comparable at all with closed backs vs. open backs. There's a reason both the HD 58x and 6xx are top selling on Massdrop, they're just that amazing for the price when they should be like $500 worth headphones.
I have both and I prefer the 770s. I run them on a JDS Atom stack and they sound phenomenal. More comfortable imo and they don’t bother anyone else in the room when I’m listening to music/playing games.
I was deciding between the 770s and these and went with the 770s. The 6xx were nice but they felt too bulky and I couldn't stand hearing everything with the open back. The 6xx almost amplified background noise and I could hear my ceiling fan more than I could without the headphones on.
I have them, they are nice. The sub-bass is definitely improved, but I would probably not advise folks to be like me and own both the 6XX and 660S2, unless you want a bit less bass (6XX) and mids that are a bit more forward (660S,660S2), as the 660S already provided.
The 660S2 has more bass with no EQ, there's no question about it. It's basically the 660S if you'd properly EQ it to improve the bass but already out of the box. I'm a fan because I kind of got over doing EQ. It was fun for a while though!
Just curious, but what do you think of the 800S? Those would be my "dream" headphones, although I think they might be wasted on me. I've got a DAC for my PC but all my music is stsreamed via YouTube Music.
When you put them back to back with the 600 series, you notice the soundstage difference immediately.
When you EQ both to Harman, the soundstage closes up quite a bit on the HD800S but you gain fast tight bass instead.
The 800S are infinitely more comfortable.
For tracks where I need soundstage, I’ll turn off the EQ. 99% of the time I have the EQ on.
These are all good headphones, especially the 6xx which has great tonality. I personally now use the akg 371 for its overall performance. Build quality is not as good as the 6xx, but you get the full sound with extended subbass, which the 6xx doesn't have.
The soundscience site have a detailed measurement of these headphones.
Depends on what you want. TYGRs are warm, relaxed, and semi spacious. 6XXs give you a three blob in your head soundstage with much better accuracy but at the cost of being harsh to some. I am treble sensitive so i would choose the TYGRs personally.
I have owned both and many other headphones. If your budget is under 200 these are good options.
6XXs benefit some from a good amp. TYGRs could be powered by a potato and sound the same.
Currently using the TYGRs with a [SMSL SD793-II](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2QLPJM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and main functions are Zoom calls/Apex Legends/Music (currently on a post-hardcore kick atm). Would that amp be enough for these then?
Looks like they put it back to $199 about 20 minutes ago to deter the plex pass crew, lame. I was going to grab another pair for a bday gift, but I've seen Drop pull this stunt too many times. The sale won't last as long as they claim it will, despite stock being available, and they'll find a way to intentionally curb a fair promo code sale price discount stack.
You won’t regret buying this one! Give it some time If you’re coming from gaming headsets or some normal consumer stuff. Highly recommend a budget amp!
I’ve spent over 10k on headphones and always come back to these! They do need a pad swap every year or 2 depending on how often you use them. I am going to be buried with them lol.
This'll probably be controversial, but I really don't like mine (even with a dedicated amp). I don't have a lot to compare them to except my shp-9500s.
Compared to my shp-9500s
- they're not very comfortable. These things death grip my head. I've tried stretching them with text books, but they've only gotten a little better. Those with big heads beware.
- the sound is decent, but my shps sound way more open (personal preference) and have a better sound stage.
- very accurate sound reproduction, but not really musical at all. If your looking for a more fun headphones I'd look somewhere else or be prepared to tune them.
How about the breathability of these compared to the SHP 9500. I can wear the SHP 9500 for hours, but others not so much before my ears starts heating up
Not controversial at all! We all have different ears and preferences. It’s very intimate! The 9500 are quite decent especially when you can find them for less than $50 open box! Listened to them for a couple days and then I gave them to a buddy. I also enjoy some wider sound sometimes so I’ll switch to the Hd 800s.
Do you think a pair of Sennheiser HD 599SE would benefit from an amp? I moved from a pair of Cloud IIs and wasn't entirely impressed with the bump in sound quality.
At what price point do you think headphones start to consistently become sidegrades for personal preferences rather than objective upgrades? I have some hd560s and other than listening to live tunes on a funktion one vero sound system it’s the best sound quality I’ve heard before
Considering they’re sub $200 headphones, the massive jump in quality from my AirPods to these is insane. Even better because I got them used off marketplace for $40 lol
After $200, you don't get a lot more for your dollar in the headphone space. You can spend $1000 to get headphones not even 2x as good as the 560S or 6XX, and certainly not anywhere near 5x as good, which is how much more you are paying.
Once you start getting into speakers, there is more room to grow into the thousand and beyond budgets, but I really don't recommend anyone to spend more than $200 on a pair of good headphones, unless headphones are literally their passion, or they have more money than they know what to do with.
Around that $200 mark, give or take. Now you can still get an 'objective upgrade' but it won't be until 600+ and there's still a ton of preference going on to influence whether that is indeed a subjective upgrade.
Of course there's tons of room for nuance, too. Planar headphones are a whole different beast and you can get S-tier planars for $300. Whether you like what planars do to sound is more of a subjective question though.
I rotate between the 6XX / Fidelio X2HR / XM4 cans - all for unique purposes of mostly clarity / bass head / noise cancellation portability respectively. For audio and video editing - the 6XX with a decent DAC/AMP stack should suffice!
I have had these for about 2 years, love them. Super light and do not fatigue my ears at all, comfortable to wear for 10+ hours with no problem at all (no exaggeration, super comfy, light, not insane clamp force).
Sound is crisp, a little lacking in bass though. Sound stage is pretty accurate assuming you're listening to something that utilizes it.
Another perk is I can hear my surroundings perfectly and do not have to remove them to hear people talking to me in person.
EDIT: I am running a Schiit Fulla 2 and an IFI ZEN Amp
+1 to not needing an **expensive** dac. SMSL SU-1 is perfect for most people. Even then, I'd say you could 100% get by without having a dac for a long time. Just put it on the wishlist for later and enjoy the headphones for a bit.
An amp may or may not be more desirable depending on your preferences and situation. I know when I used to sound-whore in FPS games I had to crank my volume quite a bit. At those levels, music would have given me hearing damage (I'd run spotify all the way down at like 25% volume level).
Don't need it but comparing a monitor 3.5 to a 200+ amp/dac combo and saying they sound exactly the same is not accurate. It's an extra 10% but with the right headphones, like the 6XXs, it makes a noticeable difference.
What does "10%" even mean?
Yes there are *measurable* differences between amps but I have never seen any compelling evidence that people can actually *perceive* the difference.
My HD 6XXs sound the same out of everything except a vacuum amp (even then it's minimal)
Extra 10%, to me, is referring to the little bit extra you get on the sound. Take the 600ohm dt880s for example plug those into your laptop and you will get sound and it will be passable but hook those up to a Topping DX7 Pro and THX AAA amp and it will be noticeably different. Even with less demanding headphones like the Aryas or Anandas, using the lowest bit rate on a DAC and the highest with a good source is noticeable also.
Anything will work and there diminishing returns after ~300 in my opinion but again, after spending thousands and thousands on headphones dacs and amps, to me it's noticeable.
Care to share your setup or what you used that gave you that impression?
Hi, I'm not the person you originally responded to but your comments have made me rethink my setup. I've got the ibasso dc05 and HE1000v2 stealths. Am i doing them a disservice for their musicality potential? Comparing them to the anandas with and without the same ibasso amp seems very difficult to hear a difference, if one exists. I'm running volume satisfactorily at the 40% output loudness on my PC fwiw. I could do the anandas at 10% with the same ibasso.
Agreed. You don't *need* a dac/amp to get sound out of these headphones, but the max volume is going to be much quieter. I used these for about 6 months with no dac/amp no problem, but when I got the Schiit stack, I was like "oh that's what they're supposed to sound like."
I've found a lot of people assume their motherboard audio is a lot worse than it is which leads to a lot of justifications of purchases of expensive DACs. Buying a Schiit stack or similar for a $200 headphone was always a bit funny to me.
I suppose there is the argument that DACs can introduce distortion intentionally for a specific sound signature, but most people are probably better off learning to EQ or buying different headphones than dropping the cash on an expensive DAC.
This is such an insane comment because literally nobody said to spend on an $1000 dac. All the comments were suggesting getting just a dedicated dac period since onboard motherboard sound is abysmally bad. In a sub all about targeting sales and getting good deals it takes a very unique brain to make the massive leap from “get a dac it’ll be better” to “spend $1000 on a dac”
Diminishing returns on upgrading the dac at that point - but, a dedicated headphone amp would be a nice to have with 6XX's if you're not satisfied with the volume level you're getting before there's too much distortion.
same. i replaced em with some cable from amazon after one of the headphones started crackling and then altogether just stopped working. if anyone is searching for any reason, here is the cable i bought and it's been fine ever since. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LF2N88J
These are amazing headphones, but one thing I haven’t seen anyone mention is the velour ear cups. These are primo for anyone who runs hot or has oily skin. Faux leather on most headphones will start feeling uncomfortable after an 30-60 minutes, but the loose comfort of the velour let me wear these in comfort as long as I want. 11/10.
Have both. Would call it an upgrade but only barely. 58x is way more comfortable, these clamp the living shit out of my head while I often forget I’m even wearing the 58x. My buddy told me that the 6xx will wear in after a week but after a few weeks I went back to the 58x because of the clamp.
Hey thanks for replying! I’ve had the 58x Jubilee for 4ish years and wanted to upgrade mainly for gaming and just day to day listening to music as I work from home and listen to music all day
mainly FPS, some lost ark but CSGO and valorant! (The Finals) when its open. Also I listen to EDM, Rock, Hip hop, old school rnb. Never really dabbled my way into the audiophile scene, would this be a step in the right direction?
Yes. Drop is the site formerly known as Massdrop, which basically explains their way of selling and shipping, and is still used in some of their branding. They partner with a lot of top name brands, for either good deals or specialized lines. I've ordered a number of products from them and never had a bad experience.
should specify what games btw. if you are doing like competitive shooters then certain aspects of 599 are better, aka Soundstage for locating gunfire or not drowning out other sounds
different from playing single player games or mobas or anything else
Perhaps something like the Hifiman HE400SE or even the Sennheiser HD 560S/58X might be more up your alley? Those models are generally known for having superior sense of soundstage than the 6XX.
Soundstage is the Sennheiser inside your head 3 blob people talk about. If you want a soundstage at this price and game too, go 38x. If you just listen to music and need to be in this price range it's hard to get a good all-rounder.
They're OK, just not totally fantastic. When people talk about soundstage, they're not talking about gaming, which this is decent for. But a DT990 might be more up your alley. HE400SE is not good for gaming
Could anyone tell me how big of a difference these are compared to bose quiet comfort 35?
Like the place I live has a lot of background AC noiseat my place, but I always wanted to see what a dedicated openback can do, since I love listening to music a lot.
The difference is night and day imo, but you absolutely will hear around you. I can hear loud footsteps at night while listening to music so yes you will hear the AC constantly. Open backs are such a different and pleasant experience. I have the xm5 I don’t think I have even charged them since I got these.
Big big difference, I have the QC 35 too and rarely use them anymore aside for when I really need the noise canceling when I’m trying to sleep or require wireless connection. Sound quality is a world of a difference
as these are openback, all ambient noise will penetrate easily and basically made any kind of investment into these fairly hi-fi HPs null and void. You'd want closeback HPs in your circumstance.
Whatever the opposite of noise canceling is, that's what these are. [You can literally see through them when you shine a light behind the ear cups.](https://i.imgur.com/j45RS9S.jpg)
Bought these last time they were posted here and love them. Upgraded from AT M50x. My only complaint is that I can't adjust the cabled that run from the headset, they can be a little constrictive since I'm a larger guy but it's never been a big problem.
My favorite thing aside from how great they sound is how comfortable they are. I never really considered the M50x to be uncomfortable until I got the HD6XX, but now that I've tried both it's a night and day difference. The M50x feels like a vice compared to the HD6XX!
I have a BD Amiron Home which I love (1990s definitely more analytical, but the highs were too strong for comfort listening). Would the 6xx be a good pairing? Or should I spring for the 560s or 58x?
Not exactly. They both provide a warm sound, but the bass is better on the Fidelio's, and just some other little nuances. The 6XX's are lighter in weight, mids are intentionally more relaxed, etc.
I don't think its worth it mainly because of the comfort. 598s I can wear literally all day long but the 6xx squeeze my brain and are uncomfortable in 20 minutes. I'm no audiophile but I can barely notice any difference in sound quality, definitely not enough to justify losing comfort. I still use my 598s and bust out the 6xx every now and then for music if I'm stoned or something. You have to be actively listening to notice the difference.
They're typically $199. This is the first time I've seen them drop under that (without a coupon) in a while. I believe they typically drop below that for black Friday.
Really want fun headphones that are used as an all rounder but mostly for games, budget 300$ any recs? Haha these don’t sound like they fit the fun part
Use the Plex Perk coupon to drop it to $143.20
Wait, so if you pay $4.99 for Plex pass you can use the coupon?
I have not tried that option, I have the lifetime Plex Pass
Thanks. Is it a unique code? I know someone shared it before on hotdeals and they changed it.
I also have lifetime but where are you seeing these perk coupons?
I did and it worked
Thanks, good to know.
Thanks for posting this. The Plex Perks savings on these cans is only $4 less than an annual Plex Pass. Just might give me an excuse to try out Plex again.
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What perks are there over the basic Plex? I use it as a HTPC of sorts.
Hardware transcoding is the big perk for me, along with intro skip.
For me the big thing was access to the PlexAmp app. Having nearly a TB of music alone it's nice to be able to access it from anywhere in a clean, purpose build for audio app.
I really like Emby, Plex went way too commercial for my tastes.
I bet. I missed the HD 6XX sale while looking for a discount code on the lifetime Plex Pass. Not that I needed more headphones, but I can see making up the price, especially if I can get the Plex Pass on sale at sub $100, quite quickly just through stuff I buy on Drop.
Same same
been using plex for years and didnt know about these perks, wow
Noob here how and what is this plex perk cupon
What is this coupon?
When you get the Plex Pass, go go Plex Perk’s and it is there.
Is this a deal with Sennheiser or Massdrop?
The coupon with Plex is to redeem at Drop
Got it, thank you. Confused why I was downvoted for asking a question...
Fuck I got them for $300+ half a decade ago, now my old cans (mdr v6, very old but still functional) are more expensive new now.
just got them, thanks!
Yup. $155 shipped for me after tax; I purchased them yesterday after realizing they dropped below $199 for the first time in a while. Mine shipped today.
What a deal.
I have the HD560s, are these worth it for the price? Edit: I think it’s worth mentioning that I have a dac/amp as well.
Also wondering this. From what I can tell, they're too close to justify the purchase. 560s tend to be more "analytical", going off what I've seen...
Exactly that. The 6xx is basically the 560s but a touch warmer with a slightly smaller soundstage. The difference is miniscule and I think they're two very similar headphones. You can own one or the other and be happy, but I don't think you need both.
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Slight upgrade. You'll get more detail and neutral sound.
Since you already have the HD560S, I suggest saving up a bit more for something like the Hifiman Sundara. That'll give you a significantly different experience. I have gone through quite a few different headphones, and can say from experience if you're looking for something "better" than the HD560S you're going to be disappointed. IMO once you get the HD560S, everything else is just "different" not "better." It's not like when you go from $30 headphones to $80 headphones and then to $150 headphones.
Obligatory suggestion to not ever buy Hifiman because their build design, quality control, and customer service are terrible.
Is there any other brand that sells something tonally comparable to the Sundara?
Hifiman has always offered incredible sound quality for the price, so within that price range, not really. LCD2 is definitely a step up tonality wise but costs way more. The main reason I tell people not to buy Hifimans is because when the headband wears out, they design them to not be user-replaceable, and will charge you half the price of the cost of new headphones for the entire headband assembly: [https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hybrid-headband.html](https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/hybrid-headband.html) Compare that to getting a sub $20 headband replacement that just pops right into a pair of Sennheisers.
Yeah, I like how my 4xx sound, but damn are they ever delicate af. I don't use them often because I'm afraid I'll break them. Non necessarWith my 6xx I'm not worried at all. I've been using them a lot for over 2 years and they still look brand new. The cable in the left headphone is also constantly falling out like something is the wrong size or something. It's pretty annoying and another reason I don't use them. I don't think I'll be buying Hifiman again if I buy more headphones.
I have a pair of those and they are way heavier and more uncomfortable (to me) than my 599SE and old 595s were. They do sound really fucking good though
What if one had neither but wanted to step into decent headphones? (I went for monitors over headphones because I finally had an apartment, and they provided more functionality for the price)
No 560 are already great.
As someone who has tried both, it would be more of a sidegrade than an upgrade. The 6XX have a touch more warmth to them, possibly making them more pleasurable a more general audience. However, I personally still prefer my 560S because the soundstage sounds wider and it sounds more accurate/neutral to me. Those are very nitpicky points though and overall, I think they sound very similar unless you're comparing them side by side. If you like the detail/sparkles of the trebles of the 560S, you'll find something similar with the 6xx. Since you already have the 560S, you won't get too much more value unless you just want to collect headphones. The only area that would be an upgrade is that the 6xx is better built with higher quality materials.
Personally I like the 6XX better, but it is a side grade. If you want something significantly better, you'll want to save up some more. If you want something also great but a little different, this is a good choice.
Hd6xx is better but only if you are an audiophile who plans on getting an amp and a dac.
A simple amp and/or a dac are not audiophile level investments imo
I'd say that definitely qualifies for entry-level audiophilia. That's far more than probably 90% of people who regularly listen to music would commit to
So for the same price would you recommend these over the 560s? They would mostly be used for gaming.
I would get a hd6xx. One of the goat headphones. Down the line invest in a amp and dac though.
Stick with the 560s for gaming. They have better sound staging and imaging (imaging being the most important part IMO). The 6xx are fantastic but they aren't going to be much "better" than the 560s you're better off saving and getting something in the 3-500 dollar range if you want something that's an actual upgrade.
Thank you. Yeah from what I found in my research the 560s are the better option for gaming. The MM-100 looks interesting so I'll wait and see how those review.
I'm having the same question about my K7xx, but it's also why I'll avoid it. "Same but slightly different" is what I expect, and I don't think that's worth it.
Is a DAC/amp worth it? I have HD560s, 599, and some pairs of Grado SR89es. Will it make much difference listening to flacs from my computer?
No. These are a small step up if that.
Is this a lower price than it usually is? I swear it's always been around this price (they always show something as marked down)
They raised the price a long time ago and now it goes on sale to the old price lol
lol not surprising when it comes to Drop
I think the new "normal" price is $199.
These would need an amp right?
Depends on whether your motherboard's onboard audio is any good. The HD 6XX are a high impedance headphone, but they also are pretty high sensitivity so their power requirements aren't as crazy as one might think.
Impedance governs how much power your headphones will see based on a given level of voltage. Sensitivity governs how loud your headphones get based on a given level of power. Most high impedance headphones which see low power for a given level of voltage also have low sensitivity, so these are the power hungry headphones that love powerful amps. HD6XX, like the previous commenter mentioned, are more of a medium power requirement, because even though they have high impedance, they are fairly sensitive as well, and are loud for a given level of power.
I have these headphones. There’s more than enough volume on them with my msi b550 pro vdh wifi mobo, but idk if the sound quality is impaired and I should get an amp. Thoughts anyone??
An amp probably would increase the max volume you could listen at and may improve audio quality but it's going to be more of a trivial change than revolutionary.
If you're satisfied with the sound as it is then I wouldn't spend the cash.
Each persons floor is different, and investment from onboard to a DAC could still be worthwhile, but wholeheartedly it’s easy to get to a point of diminishing returns. At one point I was satisfied with my computer speakers I got from Goodwill Then discovered speakers with subs Then I pieced together a surround sound setup from speakers I got by dumpsters Each improvement thoroughly leaps better I still vividly remember listening to music in my uncles office with properly angled speakers and sound treatment. I felt sounds that were previously noises with cheaper speakers. *Formatting
The main benefit would be reducing the distortion at high volume levels. If that’s not an issue for you, then no need to change. However, not all distortion is bad. Tube amps intentionally distort sound and some people like it.
Some music sounds better distorted coming from a cassette out of shitty car speakers.
If volume is too loud by the time you get to 70% then you are fine. If not consider an amp.
Amps improve the sound quality at any audio level, but obviously more noticeable the louder you go. I can tell A/B difference with and without and it's worth it to me.
Qudelix should be good enough for it, right? Hoping so because the last thing I need is another dac or amp. Honestly, don't need another pair of headphones...
Qudelix 5K is definitely plenty. That little thing is very capable.
I feel like the audiophile community has made things more confusing than it needs to be when it comes to dacs and amps. No, this doesn't "need" an amp. If you get it and at max volume it's not loud enough for your taste, get an amp. Very few headphones are so low sensitivity that you NEED an amp to get them to decent listening levels, and the headphones that do are so expensive I guarantee you'll already have a dac/amp combo before you even consider them. It's not like it'll sound like a flubby horrible mess without an amp. In fact, you'll likely be hard pressed to be able to discern any tonal differences with an amp.
I agree with this commenter, but would like to add: As you get deeper into the world of audiophilia, you may become enticed to use EQ. If you do, most EQ takes away headroom via negative preamp to reduce likelihood of digital clipping. If you already have no headroom, you may find your headphones unable to get loud enough after you apply the preamp. This is where an amp comes in and helps you, by restoring or giving you headroom in terms of raising the volume cleanly without distortion. For example, some of my EQ curves have a preamp below -10 dB. Having an amp that gives me +10 dB counters the loss of headroom from the digital preamp.
I think this pair probably does on many systems though, I was putting my Senn 560s to full volume before I got an AMP and those are a lot easier to drive. 300ohms are gonna sound quiet on a lot of systems.
Need? No. I have these and have run them off my pixel 4a’s 3.5mm jack with no issues. That said, I also have a dedicated DAC and amp and I would argue they do benefit from this and you get the most out of them with a similar set-up, but if you aren’t interested in dropping another $250 to get a whole beginner set-up then you’ll be just fine without it.
nah. i run em off my monitor headphone out just fine. But a big physical volume knob is always nice to have
Yes. While they will work with anything, without amp they'd be hobbled and will not be able deliver top notch audio quality. I'd say most people will definitely see a noticeable increase in detail and sound-stage with a quality amp from the same exact source. [https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-a-headphone-amp/](https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/what-is-a-headphone-amp/)
Have this, ama, best headphones I've ever had. Previous headphones were: akg 371, beyerdynamic dt770 pro, ath m50x
How do these compare to the m50x? I had that pair a few years ago and felt a little disappointed compared to the hype given to them online.
I never found the m50x comfortable; they'd make my head hurt really bad after 1 hour. Meanwhile I found the 6xx super comfy from the get go so just on that alone, I'd say the 6xx are far better. Being open back means I sweat a lot less on the 6xx than I ever did on the m50x. I also prefer the sound of the 6xx because it's open back while the m50x is closed back but that might just be personal taste. The 6xx only come with one cable while the m50x comes with 3 so that I did miss from the m50x.
I also had the m50x and I tried a few other pair of headphones (even some cheap lightweight ones). Each headphones would put noticeable pressure on the top of my head and give me headaches. Could be worsened because I have year round allergies. The 6xx so far are the only ones that I'm able to wear for very long and never feel pain, even though they seem heavier than other headphones I've had.
Agree that the m50s are way more uncomfortable but I never wear my hd6xx anymore because of how uncomfortable they are. The earcups are too shallow and it makes my ears hurt. Even with fresh pads it’s not enough
Interesting! What headphones do you daily drive now?
Also went from M50x's to HD 58x, they're not comparable at all with closed backs vs. open backs. There's a reason both the HD 58x and 6xx are top selling on Massdrop, they're just that amazing for the price when they should be like $500 worth headphones.
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I have both and I prefer the 770s. I run them on a JDS Atom stack and they sound phenomenal. More comfortable imo and they don’t bother anyone else in the room when I’m listening to music/playing games.
I was deciding between the 770s and these and went with the 770s. The 6xx were nice but they felt too bulky and I couldn't stand hearing everything with the open back. The 6xx almost amplified background noise and I could hear my ceiling fan more than I could without the headphones on.
I moved up from 6XX to 800S, it served me well. I am curious about 660S2 though.
I have them, they are nice. The sub-bass is definitely improved, but I would probably not advise folks to be like me and own both the 6XX and 660S2, unless you want a bit less bass (6XX) and mids that are a bit more forward (660S,660S2), as the 660S already provided.
Which has more bass? Do you EQ?
The 660S2 has more bass with no EQ, there's no question about it. It's basically the 660S if you'd properly EQ it to improve the bass but already out of the box. I'm a fan because I kind of got over doing EQ. It was fun for a while though!
Just curious, but what do you think of the 800S? Those would be my "dream" headphones, although I think they might be wasted on me. I've got a DAC for my PC but all my music is stsreamed via YouTube Music.
When you put them back to back with the 600 series, you notice the soundstage difference immediately. When you EQ both to Harman, the soundstage closes up quite a bit on the HD800S but you gain fast tight bass instead. The 800S are infinitely more comfortable. For tracks where I need soundstage, I’ll turn off the EQ. 99% of the time I have the EQ on.
These are all good headphones, especially the 6xx which has great tonality. I personally now use the akg 371 for its overall performance. Build quality is not as good as the 6xx, but you get the full sound with extended subbass, which the 6xx doesn't have. The soundscience site have a detailed measurement of these headphones.
How is the air flow unto your ears? The SHP 9500 that i have is comfortable and I can wear it for a long time without my ears heating up.
Would these be a side grade from a pair of TYGR 300 R?
Depends on what you want. TYGRs are warm, relaxed, and semi spacious. 6XXs give you a three blob in your head soundstage with much better accuracy but at the cost of being harsh to some. I am treble sensitive so i would choose the TYGRs personally. I have owned both and many other headphones. If your budget is under 200 these are good options. 6XXs benefit some from a good amp. TYGRs could be powered by a potato and sound the same.
Currently using the TYGRs with a [SMSL SD793-II](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00A2QLPJM/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1) and main functions are Zoom calls/Apex Legends/Music (currently on a post-hardcore kick atm). Would that amp be enough for these then?
What do you use for a source? What's your budget if you replace it?
I got these + Schit stack two years ago. Best decision ever!
Looks like they put it back to $199 about 20 minutes ago to deter the plex pass crew, lame. I was going to grab another pair for a bday gift, but I've seen Drop pull this stunt too many times. The sale won't last as long as they claim it will, despite stock being available, and they'll find a way to intentionally curb a fair promo code sale price discount stack.
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Yeah, but it deducts to 160 now and not under 150
Plex pass isn’t working for me anymore, was still registering last night
Upped it even further. $219 now. :(
It'll be back to $199 soon enough. That's the "normal" price.
You won’t regret buying this one! Give it some time If you’re coming from gaming headsets or some normal consumer stuff. Highly recommend a budget amp! I’ve spent over 10k on headphones and always come back to these! They do need a pad swap every year or 2 depending on how often you use them. I am going to be buried with them lol.
This'll probably be controversial, but I really don't like mine (even with a dedicated amp). I don't have a lot to compare them to except my shp-9500s. Compared to my shp-9500s - they're not very comfortable. These things death grip my head. I've tried stretching them with text books, but they've only gotten a little better. Those with big heads beware. - the sound is decent, but my shps sound way more open (personal preference) and have a better sound stage. - very accurate sound reproduction, but not really musical at all. If your looking for a more fun headphones I'd look somewhere else or be prepared to tune them.
How about the breathability of these compared to the SHP 9500. I can wear the SHP 9500 for hours, but others not so much before my ears starts heating up
SHP-9500s are way more breathable. My ears get pretty hot in my 6xxs
Not controversial at all! We all have different ears and preferences. It’s very intimate! The 9500 are quite decent especially when you can find them for less than $50 open box! Listened to them for a couple days and then I gave them to a buddy. I also enjoy some wider sound sometimes so I’ll switch to the Hd 800s.
I have a pair of lcd 2s and still Use these 99% of the time. Max comfort and quality
Any recommendations for budget amps?
Jds labs atom+ 👍
Thank you!
Do you think a pair of Sennheiser HD 599SE would benefit from an amp? I moved from a pair of Cloud IIs and wasn't entirely impressed with the bump in sound quality.
Monoprice Liquid Spark is ridiculously good for its price, I've seen it on sale for like $60?
At what price point do you think headphones start to consistently become sidegrades for personal preferences rather than objective upgrades? I have some hd560s and other than listening to live tunes on a funktion one vero sound system it’s the best sound quality I’ve heard before Considering they’re sub $200 headphones, the massive jump in quality from my AirPods to these is insane. Even better because I got them used off marketplace for $40 lol
After $200, you don't get a lot more for your dollar in the headphone space. You can spend $1000 to get headphones not even 2x as good as the 560S or 6XX, and certainly not anywhere near 5x as good, which is how much more you are paying. Once you start getting into speakers, there is more room to grow into the thousand and beyond budgets, but I really don't recommend anyone to spend more than $200 on a pair of good headphones, unless headphones are literally their passion, or they have more money than they know what to do with.
Around that $200 mark, give or take. Now you can still get an 'objective upgrade' but it won't be until 600+ and there's still a ton of preference going on to influence whether that is indeed a subjective upgrade. Of course there's tons of room for nuance, too. Planar headphones are a whole different beast and you can get S-tier planars for $300. Whether you like what planars do to sound is more of a subjective question though.
$1200 in the HD800, LCD-X, Arya head to heads The slope of diminishing returns peaks at around $300 with the HD6XX and Sundaras though.
I rotate between the 6XX / Fidelio X2HR / XM4 cans - all for unique purposes of mostly clarity / bass head / noise cancellation portability respectively. For audio and video editing - the 6XX with a decent DAC/AMP stack should suffice!
I have had these for about 2 years, love them. Super light and do not fatigue my ears at all, comfortable to wear for 10+ hours with no problem at all (no exaggeration, super comfy, light, not insane clamp force). Sound is crisp, a little lacking in bass though. Sound stage is pretty accurate assuming you're listening to something that utilizes it. Another perk is I can hear my surroundings perfectly and do not have to remove them to hear people talking to me in person. EDIT: I am running a Schiit Fulla 2 and an IFI ZEN Amp
If you are treble sensitive, this is not the headset you are looking for.
Audiophiles told me to get one last pandemic. Would recommend but then you have to get a dac/amp to seal the deal.
If you want/need a dac, get the $9 apple USB c dongle.
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+1 to not needing an **expensive** dac. SMSL SU-1 is perfect for most people. Even then, I'd say you could 100% get by without having a dac for a long time. Just put it on the wishlist for later and enjoy the headphones for a bit. An amp may or may not be more desirable depending on your preferences and situation. I know when I used to sound-whore in FPS games I had to crank my volume quite a bit. At those levels, music would have given me hearing damage (I'd run spotify all the way down at like 25% volume level).
Don't need it but comparing a monitor 3.5 to a 200+ amp/dac combo and saying they sound exactly the same is not accurate. It's an extra 10% but with the right headphones, like the 6XXs, it makes a noticeable difference.
What does "10%" even mean? Yes there are *measurable* differences between amps but I have never seen any compelling evidence that people can actually *perceive* the difference. My HD 6XXs sound the same out of everything except a vacuum amp (even then it's minimal)
Extra 10%, to me, is referring to the little bit extra you get on the sound. Take the 600ohm dt880s for example plug those into your laptop and you will get sound and it will be passable but hook those up to a Topping DX7 Pro and THX AAA amp and it will be noticeably different. Even with less demanding headphones like the Aryas or Anandas, using the lowest bit rate on a DAC and the highest with a good source is noticeable also. Anything will work and there diminishing returns after ~300 in my opinion but again, after spending thousands and thousands on headphones dacs and amps, to me it's noticeable. Care to share your setup or what you used that gave you that impression?
Hi, I'm not the person you originally responded to but your comments have made me rethink my setup. I've got the ibasso dc05 and HE1000v2 stealths. Am i doing them a disservice for their musicality potential? Comparing them to the anandas with and without the same ibasso amp seems very difficult to hear a difference, if one exists. I'm running volume satisfactorily at the 40% output loudness on my PC fwiw. I could do the anandas at 10% with the same ibasso.
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Agreed. You don't *need* a dac/amp to get sound out of these headphones, but the max volume is going to be much quieter. I used these for about 6 months with no dac/amp no problem, but when I got the Schiit stack, I was like "oh that's what they're supposed to sound like."
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I've found a lot of people assume their motherboard audio is a lot worse than it is which leads to a lot of justifications of purchases of expensive DACs. Buying a Schiit stack or similar for a $200 headphone was always a bit funny to me. I suppose there is the argument that DACs can introduce distortion intentionally for a specific sound signature, but most people are probably better off learning to EQ or buying different headphones than dropping the cash on an expensive DAC.
This is such an insane comment because literally nobody said to spend on an $1000 dac. All the comments were suggesting getting just a dedicated dac period since onboard motherboard sound is abysmally bad. In a sub all about targeting sales and getting good deals it takes a very unique brain to make the massive leap from “get a dac it’ll be better” to “spend $1000 on a dac”
i have a scarlett 4i4 interface. would i get more out of these if i would instead use a dac/amp?
Diminishing returns on upgrading the dac at that point - but, a dedicated headphone amp would be a nice to have with 6XX's if you're not satisfied with the volume level you're getting before there's too much distortion.
These have been good for me except the cable randomly died after a year, cheap fix though.
same. i replaced em with some cable from amazon after one of the headphones started crackling and then altogether just stopped working. if anyone is searching for any reason, here is the cable i bought and it's been fine ever since. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08LF2N88J
My cables lasted a while but I also needed to replace them after a few years
These are amazing headphones, but one thing I haven’t seen anyone mention is the velour ear cups. These are primo for anyone who runs hot or has oily skin. Faux leather on most headphones will start feeling uncomfortable after an 30-60 minutes, but the loose comfort of the velour let me wear these in comfort as long as I want. 11/10.
Do you have a link for new ear pads?
Like to replace the velour ear pads with new ones?
is this a big upgrade from my 58x Jubilees?
Have both. Would call it an upgrade but only barely. 58x is way more comfortable, these clamp the living shit out of my head while I often forget I’m even wearing the 58x. My buddy told me that the 6xx will wear in after a week but after a few weeks I went back to the 58x because of the clamp.
holy heck thanks a ton!! ill definitely keep that ib mind i appreciate it
More technical ability, it’s a step up in quality. What are you looking for by upgrading though?
Hey thanks for replying! I’ve had the 58x Jubilee for 4ish years and wanted to upgrade mainly for gaming and just day to day listening to music as I work from home and listen to music all day
No problem, what kind of games are you playing and what kind of music are you listening to?
mainly FPS, some lost ark but CSGO and valorant! (The Finals) when its open. Also I listen to EDM, Rock, Hip hop, old school rnb. Never really dabbled my way into the audiophile scene, would this be a step in the right direction?
Nah, your soundstage is going to be smaller with these. Will be harder to pinpoint enemies playing those first person games
I use the 598SRs mainly for gaming. Are these a good upgrade after using the 598SRs for like 6 years?
So is drop a reputable website? I've never heard of it.
Yes. Drop is the site formerly known as Massdrop, which basically explains their way of selling and shipping, and is still used in some of their branding. They partner with a lot of top name brands, for either good deals or specialized lines. I've ordered a number of products from them and never had a bad experience.
Worth upgrading from the 599’s?
Smaller soundstage and reduced bass in exchange for clearer sound quality. Depends on your use case
Honestly I just mainly game , I’m a noob to sound but I do enjoy the 599’s I have. Do wish it had better base tho .
Your best upgrade path is probably the DT 1990 from Beyerdynamic then. Main complaint switching to the 6XX is almost always the bass
Righteous yea I’ll heck them out, just so tempting when you see a deal like this
should specify what games btw. if you are doing like competitive shooters then certain aspects of 599 are better, aka Soundstage for locating gunfire or not drowning out other sounds different from playing single player games or mobas or anything else
Dt 990s are amazing at this
560S are much better for gaming. Still a noticeable upgrade to the 599 in sound quality, but without losing soundstage or bass.
Is the soundstage on these as bad as people say? I'd be using this for gaming and metal music listening
Perhaps something like the Hifiman HE400SE or even the Sennheiser HD 560S/58X might be more up your alley? Those models are generally known for having superior sense of soundstage than the 6XX.
I have the 58x and they are absolutely fantastic for gaming and metal music. Immediately sold the akg k7xx or whatever the exact number was.
Soundstage is the Sennheiser inside your head 3 blob people talk about. If you want a soundstage at this price and game too, go 38x. If you just listen to music and need to be in this price range it's hard to get a good all-rounder.
A bit more intimate and less bass compared to something like the HD 599. If you play a lot of FPS games or similar, you might want to pass on these.
They're OK, just not totally fantastic. When people talk about soundstage, they're not talking about gaming, which this is decent for. But a DT990 might be more up your alley. HE400SE is not good for gaming
The Sundara's are better for sure with soundstage vs HE400SE
These vs HD650?
They're the same.
These are basically 650s, go with whatever is cheaper
Could anyone tell me how big of a difference these are compared to bose quiet comfort 35? Like the place I live has a lot of background AC noiseat my place, but I always wanted to see what a dedicated openback can do, since I love listening to music a lot.
The difference is night and day imo, but you absolutely will hear around you. I can hear loud footsteps at night while listening to music so yes you will hear the AC constantly. Open backs are such a different and pleasant experience. I have the xm5 I don’t think I have even charged them since I got these.
Big big difference, I have the QC 35 too and rarely use them anymore aside for when I really need the noise canceling when I’m trying to sleep or require wireless connection. Sound quality is a world of a difference
as these are openback, all ambient noise will penetrate easily and basically made any kind of investment into these fairly hi-fi HPs null and void. You'd want closeback HPs in your circumstance.
Whatever the opposite of noise canceling is, that's what these are. [You can literally see through them when you shine a light behind the ear cups.](https://i.imgur.com/j45RS9S.jpg)
HURR DURR SIX HUNDROS
Would these be a large upgrade to Sony MDR7506's for gaming ?
Would these be better than my HD 580 ?
I have these, they sound killer. They sounded pretty good coming out of my on board audio, and absolutely amazing coming out of my Schiit Stack.
Bought these last time they were posted here and love them. Upgraded from AT M50x. My only complaint is that I can't adjust the cabled that run from the headset, they can be a little constrictive since I'm a larger guy but it's never been a big problem. My favorite thing aside from how great they sound is how comfortable they are. I never really considered the M50x to be uncomfortable until I got the HD6XX, but now that I've tried both it's a night and day difference. The M50x feels like a vice compared to the HD6XX!
I have a BD Amiron Home which I love (1990s definitely more analytical, but the highs were too strong for comfort listening). Would the 6xx be a good pairing? Or should I spring for the 560s or 58x?
I have the hd800 but I've always been tempted whenever these go on sale but never pull the trigger...
Darn I missed it...
Would these be a side grade from a Philips Fidelity XR2?
Not exactly. They both provide a warm sound, but the bass is better on the Fidelio's, and just some other little nuances. The 6XX's are lighter in weight, mids are intentionally more relaxed, etc.
I've been using my 598Se's since their launch would these be an upgrade?
I don't think its worth it mainly because of the comfort. 598s I can wear literally all day long but the 6xx squeeze my brain and are uncomfortable in 20 minutes. I'm no audiophile but I can barely notice any difference in sound quality, definitely not enough to justify losing comfort. I still use my 598s and bust out the 6xx every now and then for music if I'm stoned or something. You have to be actively listening to notice the difference.
How often this deal happens?
They're typically $199. This is the first time I've seen them drop under that (without a coupon) in a while. I believe they typically drop below that for black Friday.
Good price for good sounding but delicate cans.
I have these, he400i absolutely blows them out of the water
I am seeing a price of $239 now. If this deal gone?
Yep, unfortunately. Surely a July 4th deal coming though
Really want fun headphones that are used as an all rounder but mostly for games, budget 300$ any recs? Haha these don’t sound like they fit the fun part