Sennheiser HD600 Over-Ear Open Dynamic Hi-Fi Professional Stereo Headphones (Black)

Granted, all this comes at a pretty hefty price for a headphone. But the lightweight HD600 represents one hefty value. It so far outshines other headphones in sound quality, build quality, and comfort that despite its price it's still a strong value.

Of course, with a headphone like this and a name like Sennheiser, it's the sound you're really after. With stand-alone loudspeakers, the goal is generally to provide balanced sound across as much of the audible sound spectrum as possible (roughly 20 to 20,000 Hz). High-frequency reproduction is easier than low, simply because low-frequency reproduction requires a speaker to move so much air. Speakers capable of rendering deep bass usually use large speaker cones--8 inches or more in diameter--to help move the necessary volume of air.

Headphones, of course, are restricted in the sizes of the drivers they can use. Being so much closer to your ears, the amount of air they need to move to convey bass frequencies is much smaller, but still a challenge for what are basically tiny speaker cones. And anyone who's listened to a lot of headphones can tell you, there's almost always a tradeoff in what a headphone driver is capable of. Some produce balanced overall sound with little in the way of bass; others aim for bass at the expense of natural-sounding midrange and coloration-free treble.

The Sennheiser HD600, we're here to tell you, manages--through its extremely high-grade parts and exquisite engineering--to bring home truly full-range sound with remarkable timbral balance. Rich, deep, effortless bass grounds the listening experience while the headphone's airy midrange and treble help render everything from acoustic bass to soprano saxophone and electric guitars with a haunting degree of realism.

The HD600 doesn't offer the lush midrange favored by tube-amplifier enthusiasts--tube fans may find the headphone somewhat bright and maybe even strident in tone. But the rest of us will revel in the expanse of crystalline detail and snare-snappy dynamics.

The exceptionally natural quality of the HD600's overall sound bears reiteration, since so many headphones with "fat" or even "slamming" bass response deliver the low-end goods with a degree of emphasis that, while pleasing to bass aficionados, grossly distorts the frequency balance, limiting the range of music and recordings that will sound good on those headphones.

How does Sennheiser do it? Through computer-optimized magnets--critical to driver operation--that minimize harmonic and intermodulation distortion, granting the HD600 its uncanny clarity and spaciousness. Furthermore, the headphone's advanced diaphragm design eliminates standing waves in the diaphragm material, preventing unwanted emphasis at otherwise resonant frequencies.

As good as this headphone is, however, we don't recommend it to those seeking a stellar headphone for portable use. While this unit is capable of amazing sound, its best performance requires more amplifier power than most portable devices can muster. The HD600 owes its strength in part to its large drivers, which just can't be moved as easily as those in smaller headphones.

Furthermore, the HD600's open-ear design means that sounds pass easily into and out of these headphones, which would in all likelihood prove irritating to you and to those around you in libraries, on buses, and even at the office. These are only our suggestions, however; the fact is your MP3s will probably never sound better than when you're playing them over this headset.

We'll just leave you with one last suggestion, then: if you're after the best-sounding, most comfortable audiophile headphones you can buy at anything resembling a real-world price, look no further than Sennheiser's HD600. --Michael Mikesell

Pros:

• Natural timbral balance
• Extremely detailed presentation
• Excellent bass extension
• Produces a spacious, wider-than-your-head soundstage
• Terrifically comfortable

Cons:

• Slightly bright treble for some tastes

Features of the HD600 include a sophisticated design, elegantly finished in black and gray with high-quality open metal-mesh earpiece covers for an extremely transparent sound. Computer-optimized magnet systems minimize harmonic and intermodulation distortion, while extremely lightweight aluminum voice coils ensure excellent transient response. Neodymium ferrous magnet systems ensure optimum sensitivity and an excellent dynamic response. The result is an exceptionally natural, spatial, and accurate sound.

The HD600 comes with a 3-meter detachable, dual-sided oxygen-free copper cable with very low handling noise, and a 0.125-inch stereo minijack plug with a 0.25-inch stereo jack plug adapter.

Sennheiser headphones come with a two-year warranty on parts and labor.

Consider it this way: Let's call a CD 10 dollars. Let's say you get a certain amount of pleasure from a new CD: new sounds, new music, a new experience to last you a few weeks before it gradually inches its way into the dusty corners of your collection.

Now, let's say you have about 100 CDs.

These headphones are now worth about ... because you have never heard any of those CDs before. These are headphones that revolutionize all the music YOU ALREADY OWN!

But be warned: remember how when CDs first came out there were all those pretentious warnings about how the superior quality of the recording may expose flaws in the master that you could never make out before? I always thought there might be some audiophile somewhere who could hear some "flaw".

But with these headphones you can hear a good studio from a cheap one. I can hear the buzz of unshielded electronics in the second rate studio on some indy cds. Some of my beautiful old classical music suddenly sounds muffled and dead, flattened by an unflattering production job that my speakers could not convey.

The clarity is unreal. Guitar strings are made of gold and they ring clear as crystal; layers of techno pile atop each other in multicolor, multidimensional textures that knock you breathless; the exotic reverberant groan of a cello solo that you have heard a thousand times will bring tears to your cheeks.

And all of this at a fraction of the volume you might play music on your speakers with: these headphones are brilliant and clear and perfect at low volumes. Given their open air construction these things may well preserve your hearing for an additional decade.

I cannot recommend these highly enough.


The Best Dynamic Headphone in the World   October 5, 2000
Chad A. Lauterbach (Los Angeles, CA USA)
74 out of 82 found this review helpful

This is the best dynamic headphone in the world, and is rivalved only by the Grado RS-1 headphone. Many studio engineers and audiophile's use these as their REFERENCE headphone...they are a steal for such a high quality headphone. The Grado RS-1 [costs more], and is definately less comfortable than the Sennheisers. These headphones have an extremely detailed, open, airy sound, that nears electrostatic sound. They are also unique in that they suit all types of music very well, they have great punch for rock music, but can perform clasical pieces with all the fullness and detail they were designed.

It should be noted these headphone have an impedance of 300 ohms. Most headphone are 16-32 ohms. What this means is to get the full potential out of them you will need some type of amplifier. Headphone.com offers a couple inexpensive sollutions to this problem, as does audioadvisor.com. Althought they are not true audiophile components, they will greatly enhance your experience with these headphones. If you are planning on travelling with them, you can almost bet you won't be content with their sound when powered only by a portable CD player. I use a Audio Valve RKV Mark II Headphone Amplifier at home, and the headphone.com Airhead on the road. Buy these headphones if you are looking for true audiophile sound, or just the best dynamic headphone, but be aware of their limitations without am amplifier.


The best is also a surprising value   November 24, 2000
B. Gabel (Southeastern PA USA)
25 out of 25 found this review helpful

Plenty of superlatives have been heaped upon the HD-600s - and for good reason. They almost hint at perfection, and even while that outworldly ideal will always prove elusive, the HD-600s are an livable earth-bound solution. Their most remarkable sonic characteristics are balanced, natural tonality and the presence of remarkable detail and transparency. The sounds coming from these 'phones are of such natural rightness, you sometimes forget you are listening to a reproduced event. Of course, since the HD-600s are so transparent, you'll hear source tape flaws you never noticed before and these can ruin the magical illusion. But don't blame the Sennheisers for revealing the truth.

Prior to owning the HD-600s, I used the fantastic HD-580s for about one year. One thing that surprises me (well, actually, it doesn't) is how quickly audiophiles pronounce the HD-600s leagues better than the HD-580s. I listened to each set profusely under careful conditions and came to the realization that the HD-580s offer about 95% of the performance of the HD-600s. The most notable difference is that the HD-600s remove a very thin veil of "sonic haze" from the music. But they both share the same character and personality and I would expect them to generate very similar test lab results. In my experience, many audiophiles will consider that extra 5% "a tremendous improvement". As to avoid being hypocritical, I did enjoy the HD-600s more and decided to keep them over the HD-580s, but take all superlatives and Grand Statements with a grain of salt, as you should in audiophiledom. If the HD-600s are priced out of your league, the discontinued and discounted HD-580s are a can't miss baragin.

But even at [price], the HD-600s are a surprising value. A pedestrian pair of bookshelf loudspeakers will set you back [price] and they don't even come close to producing the heavenly sounds of the Sennheisers. And if you aren't a headphone person, time spent with these Sennheisers might change your mind. They did with me!

I also connect my Sennheisers directly to my Panasonic portable on the go. Sure, an outboard amp would be nice, but who wants all that bulk and weight? Aside from more limited volume, most portables I've used are more than capable of driving the HD-600s with clarity, neutrality and practically no distortion. So don't worry about getting an amp right away...you might find the extra equipment unnecessary.

The Sennheisers are my favorite piece of audio equipment. Their sonic performance and portability allow musical contentment late at night, at work, outside, wherever. They are the best [price] I've ever spent on audio.


You will start smiling!   April 15, 2001
24 out of 25 found this review helpful

I just bought the Sennheiser HD600's and was able to compare it directly with the Sennheiser HD580's and an old pair of Sony MDR-V6's.

One of the best CDs to use in listening is the Buena Vista Social Club CD. Ry Cooder, et al. did an excellent job miking and mastering, capturing the natural sounds of voices and instruments.

The Sennheiser HD580s were rated as a "B" component by Stereophile Magazine, and the HD600s receive their top "A" rating. The HD580s (discontinued) sounded wonderful -- very spacious and detailed; however, the higher frequencies seemed a bit too high, making cymbals sound a bit harsh. Since the HD580s use basically the same components as the HD600s, I was expecting the two headphones to sound very similar. But when I put on the HD600s, I was floored. The headphones seemed to disappear and I was listening to the instruments directly. The HD600s had all of the spacial qualities of the HD580, but the sound was warmer, closer, and more realistic. For example, the piano on Track 4: Pueblo Nuevo sounded pretty darned good on the HD580s, but it seemed like I was really in the same room as Ruben Gonzales when I listened with the HD600s. The HD600's presentation of the piano timber was spot on. Track 12: Murmullo was incredible -- you can hear every detail, every nuance, every whisper, of Ibrahim Ferrer's voice. Once in a great moon, a new product will bring a smile to my face...the HD600s did that.

After listening to the Sennheisers, I wanted to throw away the Sonys. You will also be tempted to throw out all of your CDs that aren't recorded and mastered well, because you'll hear all of the imperfections. If you don't have enough money for the HD600s, then do a little overtime to earn the bucks...the delayed gratification will be worth it, guaranteed.