Headphones

[Mookalafalas]

Sennheiser is releasing a new headphone.  The 660s2.  They promise better bass extension.  It also looks like they worked on taming the shouty mids and offering better treble extension as compared to the previous 6 series headphones.

I'm really happy with my dt1990s, but thought I would let everyone know.  I was disappointed with the original 660s, which didn't do enough especially to justify the original price point ($450-500 if I recall).

These new headphones will be priced at $600. Since the original 660s is now priced at $300, if this is an incremental improvement it really makes for a lousy deal.  The massdrop 6xx headphones are still available and are priced at $240.

  I got the Massdrop Senn 6xx back in October.  I have been very, very happy.

[Holden]

This from a Headfi member

https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/sennheiser-hd-660s2.26337/reviews

In short

Pros: - 20-20 Extension
- Intimate Presentation
- Best Imaging and Layering in the entire HD6-- Lineup
- Best Bass Presentation in the entire HD6-- Lineup
- Fantastic Instrument Tonality and Detail
- Vocal Tracking and Separation is Fantastic
- Most Realistic High Hat Renditions I've Heard to Date*
Cons: - Vocals can be slightly thick in the lower regions
- Upper Vocals not as airy as the HD600

[Mookalafalas]

Followed a method from a wicki by a member of Audio Science Review--- downloaded an EQ app and put in presets for my Sundaras (for listening through PC and my DAC/AMP). First impression is very positive.

[Daverz]

Followed a method from a wicki by a member of Audio Science Review--- downloaded an EQ app and put in presents for my Sundaras (for listening through PC and my DAC/AMP). First impression is very positive.

Spellcheck strikes again.  I think you mean presence?  Unless you're headphones demand a sacrifice before they'll sound good.  According to Room EQ Wizard, the presence region is from 4 kHz to 6 kHz.

[Mookalafalas]

Actually, no, it was "presets". Thanks for pointing it out!

[Holden]

Followed a method from a wicki by a member of Audio Science Review--- downloaded an EQ app and put in presets for my Sundaras (for listening through PC and my DAC/AMP). First impression is very positive.

What app is it? At the moment I'm using Equaliser APO 1.3 but it is has so much you can do with it (that I don't need) that it gets quite confusing. I wish that SoundSource made their program for Windows but you can only get it in OSX. All I need to do for my Anandas is boost the bass slightly for some genres and maybe the Sundara preset will do this for me.

[Mookalafalas]

It is Equaliser APO. I didn't explore it at all. I just followed the wicki and plugged in a few changes recommended by the guy who runs Audio Science Review. Might now have a bit too much bass for me, but I'm otherwise a happy camper.

[DavidW]

You might also want to check out the preset master Oratory1990: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/

[Holden]

Followed a method from a wicki by a member of Audio Science Review--- downloaded an EQ app and put in presets for my Sundaras (for listening through PC and my DAC/AMP). First impression is very positive.

Followed your advice and looked at the ASR Wiki. After a bit of faffing about I solved it by using the AutoEQ button and imported an EQ preset for the Anandas. It's actually very simple. Adding the PEACE GUI made all the difference.

Got the ASR Wiki from here

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/autoeq-magic.14327/

[Mookalafalas]

Cool. They mentioned the PEACE GUI in the bit I used to calibrate my h-phones.
   I'm in the middle of a big project right now, but perhaps later I'll start really experimenting with this. It's quite amazing, isn't it?

[Holden]

Cool. They mentioned the PEACE GUI in the bit I used to calibrate my h-phones.
   I'm in the middle of a big project right now, but perhaps later I'll start really experimenting with this. It's quite amazing, isn't it?

It's a huge step up from the standard EQAPO interface. It was thanks to you that I downloaded it.

[Mookalafalas]

It's a huge step up from the standard EQAPO interface. It was thanks to you that I downloaded it.

 I'd like to take credit, but I don't even know what it is

 Anyway, with the bass boost that the preset gave my Sundaras, Bach organ works sound better than I've every heard them.  That alone is worth some appreciation.

[Holden]

I'd like to take credit, but I don't even know what it is

 Anyway, with the bass boost that the present gave my Sundaras, Bach organ works sound better than I've every heard them.  That alone is worth some appreciation.

That's some of what I've been testing the Ananda's on - some great Bach organ music from a variety of performers including Virgil Fox, E Power Biggs, Gillian Weir, etc. The EQ has just brought the very bottom end to life. There is a Schumann work on one of the Virgil fox discs that uses a 32 foot pipe at one stage. The EQ has brought this out superbly when in the past only my HiFi speakers could do it justice.

Who are your favourite Bach organists?

[Mookalafalas]

To say I have favorites makes me sound much more knowledgable than I am. That said, I was listening to the "Complete Bach on Silbermann Organs", on Aeolus.  I have quite a few sets, but I wander around them fairly randomly. I have Isoire, Alain, Rubsam, and some Suzuki, and then some others I downloaded after hearing them recommended in the Bach Organ thread.

[DavidW]

Out of curiosity, I ended up buying the 660s2.  I expected to return it as I did the 660s1... but no this one is a keeper.  I was going to just listen to a Pettersson symphony and call it a day but I ended up listening for hours.  Chamber, organ, pop, orchestral... and I compared it to my Sennheiser 600.

I have to say that despite the upper mids recession you can see on the FR plot, the 660s2 sounds tonally the same as the 600.  It just has better soundstage, imaging, better bass detail, better bass extension and overall superior detail.  This feels like a worthy successor to the 600.  It doesn't have that warm sound the 6xx has.  I remembered at the time I tried it, the 660s1 sounded like a 6xx but with more detailed bass.  So I would consider the 660s1 to be a subtle upgrade to the 650/6xx and I would consider the 660s2 to be a subtle upgrade to the 600.

Tomorrow I will need to return to the office, at that time I will compare the 660s2 to the dt1990pro.

[DavidW]

The comparison with the dt1990pro (I use the balanced ear pads btw) was considerably more challenging.  The difference between the 600 and the 660s2 was subtle but immediately apparent.  The differences between the 660s2 and the 1990pro were even more subtle.  After listening to orchestral music, chamber, and pop music I think I have it.

Bass: 660s2 has slightly more thump, the 1990 is slightly more detailed.  The extension feels the same.

Mids: 660s2 is smoother and more detailed.  The 1990 is a bit more sibilant.  The 660s2 is more tonally accurate.

Treble: While the dt1990 has slightly wider soundstage, both are impressive.  I can't believe a Sennheiser headphone could finally approach Beyerdynamics for soundstage and imaging (which are the same). 

660s2: Bass: A, Mids: A+, Treble: A
1990: Bass: A, Mids: A, Treble: A+

It looks like a tie but it is not.  The mids are simply better on the 660s2 which is the most important part of the presentation.  The 660s2 is also more comfortable.  They are now my favorite headphone.  But obviously it is a slight preference since it took days for me to make this judgment.

[Todd]

The comparison with the dt1990pro (I use the balanced ear pads btw)

The impact of pads can be significant.  I have the DT1990s, which is my current backup to the T1 gen 3, and I use the balanced pads.  The analytical pads yield too bright a sound.  I do, however, use the DT1990 analytical pads on the T1/3, otherwise it has too much bass.  I should also note that the T1/3 has a notably different overall frequency response than typical Beyers, and with the analytical pads, it can be enjoyed for hours, if one is so inclined.  It is interesting to read about the Sennheiser evolution.  I may reconsider Senns in the future.

[DavidW]

Yes that was a big surprise for me that pads made such a big difference.  I first encountered it when I changed my pads on my dt770 and dismissed it as cognitive bias at the time.  But then I saw the measurements on diyaudioheaven for the 1990 pads.

I've never tried the analytical pads.

[Mookalafalas]

I read a review of some cheap ($50) IEM in Audio Science review and ordered a pair. Amazing. Here's the review:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-red-iem-review.44865/

  They are called truthear x Crinacle Zero Reds. I'm blown away. From what I gather, Crinacle, a young Singaporean guy, guru/hero in certain audiophile headphone circles. It seems he made a similar pair of buds last year, based on a harmon curve, but then he decided he didn't like the curve, made some modifications and came up with these. There is a tiny adaptor you can plug in to increase the bass, but for most stuff I prefer it out. Having gotten used to wireless when I'm out and about, the wire is really irritating, but sound is crazy good, and for a fraction of the price of my other phones. Maybe it's because they are still new and shiny, but right now I think I like them better than my $400 over-the-ear cans.

[Daverz]

I read a review of some cheap ($50) IEM in Audio Science review and ordered a pair. Amazing. Here's the review:
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/truthear-x-crinacle-zero-red-iem-review.44865/

I have the previous version and love them.  Very neutral tonality. Deep bass is particularly good and downright sensual with the right recordings.