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Do you want to listen to your music when you are traveling and can’t bring your studio monitors with you? Perhaps the Sennheiser HD 660 S headphones will be the solution? Read on for our review and whether the HD660S headphones’ claims of a compact design and top-grade sound quality stack up.
Let’s check this high-end but affordable studio headphones and see if it fit your needs and ears.
What Headphones Should You Get
There are a lot of studio headphones in the market and it might be daunting to choose the right one for you. Let’s check out some of the main things you have to know to get the right one for you.
Types and Cups
- Circumaural – Great for isolating the sound from external noise and they are heavier compared to the others but very comfortable to use because of its thick padding
- Supra-Aural – Great for traveling but they can be uncomfortable because the cups are pressing your ears
Design
- Closed Back Headphones – Used for recording tracks
- Open Back Headphones – Used for mixing
With these in mind, we hope you can get the best one for your needs.
Sennheiser HD 660 S
Sennheiser HD 650 has been around for 16yrs and has been the flagship of the German audio company, Sennheiser. We enjoyed it a lot with its reasonable price and great quality.
Sennheiser HD 660 S vs 650 S
HD 660 S looks almost the same as the 650 S. They both have the open-back design and adjustable headbands with 2 comfortable ear bads. Which is great because they retain the great economic headphone design in 660 S. Aesthetic-wise, the main difference of 660 S from 650 S is its matte black and anthracite finish.
The main difference of 660 S and 650 S is its transducer. Sennheiser created 660 S using a new transducer for a lower harmonic distortion to produce a more natural uncolored sound. Also, the most significant improvement is the lowering of the impedance down to 150 ohms. Which means, now you have a better shot at powering your 660 S without needing a dedicated headphone amplifier compared to your 650 S. Also, 660 S is more versatile because you can plug it in in your smartphones if they have a headphone jack.
All in all, Sennheiser HD 660 S looks a lot like 650 S, aesthetic-wise, but 660 S is made even better, feature-wise, than your 650 S.
Specs
Features
The Sennheiser HD 660 S has a lower impedance which delivers reference-class sound when connected to high-resolution mobile players, making sure it gives a much greater versatility. This studio headphone lets you experience sophisticated audiophile sound in more listening situations.
Compared to the legendary HD 650, the 660 S has a new transducer design giving the user a more improved performance. HD 660 S has an extremely lightweight aluminium voice coils with diaphragms precision made from stainless steel fabric. As a result, this headphone has an exceptional transient frequency response and better diaphragm control movement which reduced distortion.
HD 660 S features an open-back design with great wearing comfort. These kinds of headphones are great for listening to music at home or in a closed place and when you want to watch a movie alone. Because of its design, HD 660 S is quite useless when you are in the outdoors.
When you get HD 660 S, you will also receive two para-aramid reinforced detachable cables for high conductivity OFC copper to ensure great signal integrity with very low handling noise. One cable is 6.35mm stereo plug while the other one is a new 4.4mm Pentaconn balanced stereo plug.
The sad part of using the Sennheiser HD 660 S, you will need to pair it with a digital audio player or headphone amplifier to be able to enjoy balanced connectivity and better performance.
Pros and Cons of Sennheiser HD 660 S
Sennheiser HD 660 S: User Reviews
Sennheiser has been a leading maker of the best studio headphones and Sennheiser HD 660 S is not an exception. That is why there are a lot of people buying them for their own home or professional studios.
We also found this video review of the Sennheiser HD 660 S made by InnerFidelity. Go and feel free to check it out.
Sennheiser HD 660 S Competitors
There are a lot of competitors in the market for Sennheiser HD 660 S. We listed a few of them to help you choose which might be the best studio headphones for you.
Audio Technica ATH-M50X
SpecsAudio Technica ATH-M50x professional headphones have a closed-back design to prevent sound from escaping and leaking into your microphone.
What’s in the box when you buy this studio headphones? In the box, you will find a soft carrying pouch, a 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter, and 3 different kinds of audio cables. Two cables are 6ft, one is straight cable and the other one is coiled. The 3rd one is a standard 3ft straight cable for your phones. All of these 3 cables are Audio-Technica connectors. So when you break or lose them, you will need to purchase another one from Audio Technica.
For a more detailed review of the ATH-M50x, check out the best studio headphones under $100. In this list, we also included these professional headphones on our list of worth-it headphones for 2019.
Sony MDR7506
SpecsSony MDR7506 is a staple within the music industry. These headphones have a low impedance with closed ear design that eliminates headphone bleed when overdubbing. It cuts the background noise providing plenty of volumes.
With MDR7506 foldable design, this headphone is convenient if you are always on the go and easy to store. It has a coiled cable that allows you to stretch and spring back. It has an around-the-ear design which makes it ideal for MIDI workstations, camcorders, etc.
It also has a thick, widely spaced earcups that reduce ear fatigue and locks the sounds in. Which means you do not have to worry about your monitor mix bleeding when you do your recording. It has extraordinary acoustic isolation as well!
This headphone produces great sound yet has a reasonable price. There are also a lot of great reviews and recommendations about Sony MDR7506 on the internet.
If you are looking for great headphones to help you make your music, this Sony MDR7506 might be the one for you!
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro
SpecsBeyerdynamic DT 990 Pro is open dynamic headphones that offer natural and balanced sound. It comes in all black color with the logo in a different color.
It comes with soft and adjustable earpads with low headband pressure ensures a comfortable fit during extended use. The earpads can be easily replaced as well!
This headphone lessens ear fatigue and features a pleasant sound with stunning bass. Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro gives off a three-dimensional sound which produces various instruments and makes it sound like one.
DT 990 Pro comes with a single-sided coiled cable that can be extended, if needed, and fitted with a gold-vaporized stereo jack plug and an adapter. But this cable is pretty heavy which can be problematic if you are plugging it in smartphones or portable players.
Also, the cable at the bottom left earcup isn’t interchangeable. So, if it frays or breaks, you have to buy a new one.
Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro has an open back design, which is not great for commuters but if you are someone who wants to make great music, this headphone can be the one you are looking for.
Meet Sennheiser
Sennheiser is a famous German company that specializes in audio products like headphones, microphones, and more. Founded by Prof. Dr. Fritz Sennheiser 1945 after World War II. They started with their microphones in 1946, the DM1, and improved every time they produce new studio equipment. Sennheiser has been continuously setting trends and making high-quality products in the audio industry.
They pride themselves with making premium products, great sound quality, and undistorted listening experience for their customers enjoy.
Verdict: Sennheiser HD 660 S
Overall, Sennheiser HD 660 S is a better and updated version of its predecessor, 650 S. It retains the smoothness but gives off a more lively sound quality. All in all, HD 600 S is great if you are looking for comfortable studio headphones for creating music and/or if you need to watch a movie without interrupting others.
It also doesn’t hurt that these studio headphones are from Sennheiser! If you have the money to get yourself a great headphone on the road or at home, HD 660 S can be the one for you. A huge plus is it is great for gaming!
