Sennheiser’s influence in audio tech cannot be overstated. The German outfit barely has any misses in its catalogue which is versatile enough to cater to every kind of listener. The newly released Sennheiser HD 660S2 is a successor to the HD 660S. The latter has enjoyed a good amount of success among audiophiles and music enthusiasts. The HD 660S2 tries to build upon the legacy of its predecessor while adding its own flair to the audio output. But is it worth paying Rs 54,990 for the upgrade? Find out in our Sennheiser HD 660S2 review.
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Sennheiser HD 660S2 review: Design
Sennheiser HD 660S2 ships inside a regular cardboard Sennheiser box. Inside, you will find the headphones, a 6.3mm cable (1.8 metres in length), a 4.4mm cable (1.8 metres), a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter, a carry pouch, and some reading material. A hard case instead of the carry pouch would have been a nice addition, given you are paying Rs 54,990 for this pair of headphones.
Sennheiser hasn’t made any radical changes to the design of the HD 660S2. At a cursory glance, you may not even register all the minor details. The headphones retain the open-back design, with the plastic mesh grille giving a peek inside the earcups. Having an open-back design also means that the surrounding noise will seep inside the earcups and the audio output from the drivers will be audible to anyone within a close distance. The open-back design is essential if you’re trying to create a more open soundstage with the help of decent airflow.
The earcups on the HD 660S2 are massive and have ample padding around them. They fit perfectly around the ears and do not offer any strain at all. You can easily wear them for multiple hours without feeling any kind of fatigue. The headband also has a good amount of padding and can easily be extended to provide perfect clamping. Underneath either earcup, you will find the two-pin connector to plug the cable.
Each earcup sports the Sennheiser logo which is now highlighted in bronze. The model number also gets a bronze finish – perhaps the most noticeable change of them all. The main purpose of the HD 660S2 is to provide a high-end listening experience, which is exactly what you are paying for. As for the design, if it isn’t broken, there’s absolutely no need to fix it.
Sennheiser HD 660S2: Performance
Talking about the specs, the HD 660S2 is equipped with 38mm dynamic transducers with an impedance of 300Ω. The headphones offer a frequency response between 8-41,500Hz. To properly utilize the HD 660S2 you should pair them with a DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) and use a music platform that offers High Res streaming (Apple Music).
Of course, with premium headphones geared towards audiophiles, the idea is to stay as close to the neutral sound as possible. While you won’t get true neutrality anywhere, Sennheiser’s subtle signature adds a nice texture to the soundstage. This signature is ever present on the HD 660S2. What audiophiles may not enjoy is the slight beefing of the low end and the effect that it has on the higher frequencies.
Make no mistake, we thoroughly enjoyed the listening experience Sennheiser HD 660S2 has to offer. The soundstage is very expansive and the dynamic drivers being so close to the ear opens it up all the more. If you’re making the step up from regular headphones, you will immediately experience the difference a premium pair of headphones can make. The minor details in the mix that usually get lost in the background are well represented on the soundstage here. You will notice new elements in songs you’ve heard countless times before.
The richness of the audio output was simply astounding while listening to hyper-pop artists like Sophie and Charli XCX. The low-end being slightly reinforced works wonders here, adding a little more thump to the music. The sound profile on offer here cannot be replicated on any ordinary pair of headphones. The punchiness of the output while listening to rock outfits like Led Zeppelin and UFO was also pretty satisfying to the ear.
The flair that Sennheiser HD 660S2 brings to the soundstage is undoubtedly more fun, but some may consider it straying from neutrality. The slight bump in the bass tends to minimise the edge on certain tracks that thrive because of the focus on higher frequencies. The lack of crispiness in the vocals can be observed in some instances. While this isn’t a glaring issue, it’s something that wasn’t a part of the HD 660S’ soundstage.
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Verdict
If you ignore the Rs 54,990 price tag for a moment, the Sennheiser HD 660S2 is a solid piece of audio equipment. It nails the soundstage without compromising on the signature Sennheiser profile. We enjoyed the beefier bass and the thumpiness it brought to the soundstage. However, if you’re hyper-fixated on a truly neutral listening experience, there are other (affordable) options in Sennheiser’s catalogue for you.
Sennheiser HD 660S2: Pros
- Excellent soundstage
- Comfortable fit
- Comes with multiple cable options in the box
Sennheiser HD 660S2: Cons
- Does not come with a hard case
- Price might pinch some
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