Headphones
Sennheiser HD 600
The Sennheiser HD600 remains one of our favorite open-back headphones. This classic full-size design shares excellent ergonomic and sound quality traits with 'big brother' HD650 but offers a slightly more direct, punchy presentation and a smidgeon extra low-end focus. The HD600 sounds truly gorgeous with well-produced jazz, classical and acoustic music and remains a contender for "most nicely balanced bass" in the under-$500 open-back category. User-detachable cable makes it easy to upgrade to Cardas headphone cords or to convert to reference balanced / XLR amp operation.
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Product Features:
- Unbeatably punchy, smooth acoustic performance at this price. A true classic!
- User-detachable headphone cord makes cable upgrades easy
- Comfortable fit with replaceable velour ear pads
- Accurate precisely matched aluminum voice coils ensure excellent transient response
- Free 2-year Sennheiser manufacturer's product warranty
What's In The Box:
- 1/4" stereo plug adaptor
- Storage box
- Sennheiser owners' manual
Applications:
A 'cult classic' headphone if there ever was one, we ranked the Sennheiser HD600 amongst the world's top audiophile cans when we first heard it back in the day. Nowadays, the flagship Sennheiser HD800 is the reigning king of the hill, and the Sennheiser HD650, AKG K702, HiFiMAN HE500, and maybe even the beyerdynamic DT880 could be considered rival headphones for certain tastes. But at a lower price than the HD650 (or the HD800!) and delivering truly world-class audio performance, the HD600 remains a very awesome headphone indeed. At 300 Ohm impedance, the HD600 is maybe a bit more headphone than warranted if only using it with iPad, iPhone / iPod or as a general-use headphone for TV or radio; for those applications you may want to perhaps consider the superbly efficient and affordable Sennheiser HD518 model. And for listeners who are die-hard audiophiles and demand the top headphones for analytical 'high-end' systems, the uber-expensive but worth-every-penny Sennheiser HD800 provides musical improvements in ways critical for reference applications. But if you've got basic high-quality audio sources or a 'starter' audiophile rig and a headphone amp, the HD600 effortlessly delivers satisfying musical reproduction with quick dynamic extension, smooth detail resolution, and a well-layered soundstage image, along with 'bang-for-the-buck' audiophile headphone value in spades. The HD600 sonic signature leans towards a hefty but responsive bass balanced by neatly focused mids and well-rendered but slightly 'laid-back' uppermost highs; It's not quite as buttery-sounding as the HD650, but with a bit more energetic punch compared to its upscale sophisticated big brothers, this is a marvelous headphone for modern jazz, symphonic LPs or well-produced rock music. Naturally, at a very stiff 300 Ohm impedance, a headphone amp is recommended for maximized detail recovery and cleanly transparent resolution.
Featuring quite similar ergonomics as the Sennheiser HD650 model, the HD600 has velour earpads and headband cushions and employs a carbon fiber construction with very sturdy metal open-mesh earcup grilles. The result of this build design eliminates spurious mechanical vibration within the headphone thus giving a clear, highly articulate mid-range tone. The unique dynamic drivers in the HD600 are painstakingly matched to exacting tolerances at the Sennheiser factory in Germany to ensure a perfectly balanced audio image. As a nice plus, the HD600 has an owner-detachable cable measuring [approx] 9.5ft long in a 'Y'-cord type configuration. The cable can be quickly replaced by user with upgraded aftermarket headphone cords delivering audio clarity and performance improvements -- especially if using the HD600 in tandem with your reference audiophile sources. A 2-year manufacturer's product warranty is free with all Sennheiser headphones ONLY when proof-purchased at '100% authorized' Sennheiser dealers like us here at HeadRoom since 1992!
Specifications:
- Manufacturer Warranty: 2 Years
- Headphone Type: Full Size
- Connector Type: 1/8
- Weight: 9.2
- Impedance @ 1kHz: 300 Ohms
- Detachable Cable: Yes
- Cord Length: 10 ft. (3 m)
- Cord Type: Straight Y
- Coupler Size: Large
- Ear Coupler Type: Full-Size
- Driver Type: Dynamic
- Acoustic Seal: Open
- Sensitivity: 102 dB/V
Additional Resources:
- Manufacturer's Website
- http://www.sennheiserusa.com/
- Product Manuals
- HD 600 Manual
- Product Reviews
- Soundstage! John Potis January 2003
- On Hifi Wes Phillips October 2001
- Hardware Pacers Oct. 2004
- Customer Comments
- HardWareGeeks HD600 and micro amp review
- Audioholics Gene DellaSala, Mar 07
Average Rating
Posted by Tech_Life from Dallas on 2013-04-17
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Warm neutral signature, spacious soundstage, comfort
Cons: just wish it had more metal in them and not plastic
I lover the warm neutral signature of the HD600 with its smooth highs that still sound crisp, warm lush mids and clean natural bass response. The soundstage is spacious and cohesive and they have good 3D imaging with good separation though I've heard IEM's that do imaging just a bit better but the HD600 isn't bad at all.
All in all I'm loving the Sennhesier HD600 and now has me wanting to see how the HD650 sounds and if its worth getting but I'll jusy addition them first. If your looking for a balanced headphones with nice detailed neutral signature the HD600 is a fantastic choice imo.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by SupersonicHD from NY on 2012-12-27
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Neutrality; amazing with all kinds of music, remarkable clarity, very comfortable pads
Cons: Laidback, "polite", somewhat "veiled", stock cable sounds dull, NEEDS headphone amp
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful. Did you?
Posted by Headophile from Northern Caledonia on 2011-02-05
Recommend Product: Yes
Pros: Comfortable, comfortable, comfortable
The 600 sounds very smooth and neutral to me. The 650 seems to have deeper bass and the same smooth middrange and treble. But I get more easily fatigued with the 650 (from the fit, I think). I keep going back to the 600's.
I use it with either the Headroom Cosmic or NuForce Icon2.
13 out of 17 people found this review helpful. Did you?
