Sennheiser HD 660S2 Wired Audiophile Stereo Headphones with Deep Sub Bass, Optimized Surround, Transducer Airflow, Vented Magnet System and Voice Coil – Black

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The timbre and tonality are extremely similar on both. I like that because I like the 600 timbre. With 600 I am thinking “wow how did they make such good sound at this price range.” With S2 I am thinking “this is so good, I am enjoying this a lot, I am not feeling I am missing anything.” With S2 I am not thinking about grabbing a 4K HP to get to the next level. I am enjoying S2 for what it is. An enjoyable engaging HP to listen to. I am not feeling any FOMO when they are on my head. That to me is incredible. Like I have said with S2 a pain of glass has been taken away vs. 600. The landscape is the same as with the 600 (tonality and timbre) but I see the landscape in a clearer and more expansive way. Below you will find some useful information about the design principles and the technological innovations of the HD660S2 as provided in the Sennheiser product brochure. The bass on the 109 PRO will just slightly bleed into the mids but it can't be said that it is overlapping the rest of the frequencies or clouding the mid-range. The surround is now more compliant, too, dropping the resonant frequency to 70 Hz. Considerable effort Not much more is changed about the midrange on the 660S2. It appears that Sennheiser didn’t put as much focus into tuning up some of the frequency response here, but that isn’t much of a complaint for me. The low-mid warmth is still persistent on the 660S2, as is the flatness and neutrality of the fundamental mid-bands. Highs

Sennheiser HD 660S2 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and Sennheiser HD 660S2 - Reviews | Headphone Reviews and

The upper-treble is a matter of taste. I find them both well-tuned in this regard, with the HD 660S2 perhaps being a tad more resolving. However, the lower-treble is where I much prefer the HD 650. The added lower frequencies will please those who want the full range of available detail when savoring their sounds, but the changes to the tuning could in turn alienate those that have come to love the more mid-focused sounds of earlier editions of these beloved headphones.

I do not get the same level of engagement with S as I do with S2. S is very good, S2 is so much more engaging though. The timbre and how the notes end are what makes it more engaging for me. The acting of the notes is at a better level. I am enjoying the acting and the story rather than thinking about the acting. Sennheiser goes a slightly different route this time, with the upper-mids being less pronounced than the predecessors. It makes a refreshing change to see the launch of a set of headphones that are focused entirely on sound quality, rather than the latest flashy wireless standards and features. As the former Home Cinema Editor for TechRadar, I have years of experience testing and evaluating the quality of audio devices, from headphones and soundbars to Bluetooth speakers.

Sennheiser HD 660S2 Wired Audiophile Stereo Headphones with

Voices get always highlighted and projected in front of the listener who additionally feels very closely positioned to the performers, a type of tuning that might work very well for a lot of people but others might find it fatiguing and tiring in the long run. Despite the usual sneer directed at plastic for not having a “premium” enough feel in hand, the HD 6xx series of headphones tend to last for a long time. My HD 650, for example, have been going strong for over seven years. The familiar design of the 6XX series re-appears on the HD 660S2. Let’s get into tonality starting with treble. The HD660S2’s bring out a smooth and realistic presentation. I can’t say for sure but they could be on the same volume as the Sundaras regarding treble, but they peak in the absolute perfect place in comparison. Sundara’s treble is somewhat grating for me and peaks in the weirdest places that seem to alter speech. Listening to that guy on AfterPrisonShow with the Sundaras is a real problem, I can’t stand listening to him with the Sundaras as the lower treble peak on the headphones emphasize the way he pronounces “S” sounds through his molars. I’ve sold the Sundaras a long time ago and my goodness just typing about that headphone brings me grief again. The 660S2’s treble regarding speech on S pronunciations are smooth in comparison, there is no grain and sibilance. At just 260g, the HD 660S2 aren’t exactly heavy (Beyerdynamic’s Amiron headphones are 340g) and they don’t weigh us down during testing. Out of the box, it’s worth noting the clamping weight is a little on the firm side, but there isn’t too much pressure and over time we’d expect this to relax a little. Unlike the mids, there is definitely a considerable change to the tuning of the highs on the 660S2. I felt that this version had significantly more bite to its treble. High-end coloration is a bigger factor in the sound signature of the 660S2. You’ll hear more sizzle and crispness from its timbre but don’t risk harshness. No piercing tones are perceived, but they don’t shy away from bright features either. SummaryUnfortunately, the price is higher than I consider “apt.” The MSRP is exaggerated for a product that is a slight upgrade over the last model – primarily offering improvement in the bass for existing HD 600 and HD 650 owners. Many critical listeners demand a neutral sound from high-end cans, and the somewhat tame bass performance oftheHD 660 S2’s predecessors was a common gripe. The 109 PRO is more fresh and youthful sounding with an abundance of energy and plenty of luminosity but is sometimes touching brightness territory.

Sennheiser HD 660S2 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum Sennheiser HD 660S2 | Audio Science Review (ASR) Forum

So we are talking about a relatively narrow and claustrophobic soundscape with a strong center image but with a very sharp, precise imaging and good depth layering so as not to sound congested or one dimensional. As the performance was very good already, it is rather difficult to muster a holistic improvement. Sennheiser HD 660S2 Sound The 660S2 is more resolving and refined with a treble texture of higher quality that responds better in upstream gear and offers finer micro detail retrieval. The S2 is a touch warm and cozy sounding but not dark or veiled, it is way more cleaner and transparent than the HD650 and considerably faster, you can hear every last note and feel the rhythmic pace of the bass line. I am a fan of keeping all 6XX series HPs with the same frame and cups. Other companies like ZMF and DCA and Audeze for example do a lot of sharing of chassis and cups. The lightness of the 6XX series HPs is wonderful. The clamp can be tight for some, but it does loosen up over time or can be loosened through bending of the strap.Then the bass is even less neutral than the HD660S with a linear but well emphasized response up to the lower mid-range. To get the earpieces positioned evenly you need to manipulate the left and right sliders – they’re a little stiff, but once you’ve got them in the right place you’re unlikely to find yourself playing around with the positioning. Given that the HD 660S2 are meant to be neutral, reference-tuned headphones, the sub-bass not having a +10dB shelf makes absolute sense. The slam factor is an area that can be improved, as bass notes do not have a lot of physicality to them. Midrange The 660S2 is drawing me to everything. In a similar way the ZMF Caldera does. Nothing is missing in my opinion. Nothing is too much. The timbre is there. The musicality is there. It is detailed. The bass is there. There is not an annoying V shape. 80% of the music is in the mid-range and the mid-range of the 660S2 is exactly what it should be. The bass and treble act as accoutrements. The top and bottom frequencies are super well integrated with the mids. They add color to the mids. Not too much and not too little. And Sennheiser, acting as a skilful and inspired composer, has managed to create a little gem variation that, in my opinion, has managed to surpass the original theme.