B&O Beoplay H6

Disclaimer: The B&O Beoplay H6 was sent to me as a review sample and it will go back to B&O, in fact it already has been returned.

B&O You Say?

When I first read the Press Release about the B&O Beoplay H6 (and H3), the first thing that crossed my mind was “ probably another fashion headphone…” but it had to be more coming from B&O, no? I’ve always been a fan of the B&O design since I was a kid but until now I was a B&O virgin. I have never listened to any B&O gear and have never heard the B&O house sound, if they even have one (headphones). Somewhere in my mind I’ve always had the idea that B&O sound was good and this was my chance to find out.

The Headphone

So yes, a fashion headphone is maybe what I expected and when just checking out just the “looks”, this of course is a very stylish headphone. Design headphones are popular these days, unfortunately lots of companies forget to tune the drivers properly as well. In this case, luckily, I can already say that’s not the case, after having listened to the H6 it was clear this was more than just a fashion statement.

The 230gr light H6, which is available in 2 colors, is a really nice looking headphone. I quite like this closed headphone, it’s not too “show-off”, has a sharp design, pretty logo and not too many colors. It’s classy. Materials used are real leather (headband), lamb skin (pads) and aluminum. Finish is extraordinary on the headphone and the box is nice but you’re only getting a pouch and a useless (?) flight adapter as extras. Personally I prefer the lighter color scheme. When I announced this review on our Facebook page the first reactions were about the design before someone asked for the sound quality, so I guess looks nowadays matter to a lot of people. The over ear pads are not the biggest and your ears will always touch the pads or the driver padding. But strangely enough you can wear them for hours without them bugging or hurting you, they’re quite comfortable.

Wait, do I really like everything about this unit then so far? Well no, not really. I have one big issue with the 1.2m cable, well make that 2. First of all this is a double connect cable using the “Monster Music Link”. That means you can connect one H6 to another one and listen to just one source. While I can see where that idea comes from I can’t imagine doing this or seeing this on the streets. I guess it’s a nice extra to have but what really frustrates me about the cable is that it has a mic control, making it impossible to use with all of my desktop amps at home. Of course the good people from B&O don’t expect you to do this but to a reviewer this really sucks. On top of that the connectors are so small I could find another cable that fit. The only cool cable related thing is that you can disconnect the cable and you can choose if you want left or right ear entry, quite handy.

Only the basic technicalities of the H6 are known: it has 30Ohm slightly angled 40mm drivers with a frequency range of 20 to 22.000Hz and a bass port.

Do I Like The B&O H6 Sound?

It is clear the version I received was not new, as you will probably notice in the pictures the headphone already had some signs of use. However our colleagues who had the unit before us (no I will not say who it was) mustn’t have listened to it a lot because the H6 sound changed considerably after a few days.

Because of the cable issue I couldn’t connect the H6 to a decent full sized desktop amp, as a result the sound part will exist out of three parts: general sound of the H6, different portable setup impressions and some comparisons to the COP, Momentum and the DT770AE.

Overall Sound

Bass on the H6 is prominent, especially the lower bass. Upper bass could be more present (like in the Momentum). Bass goes really deep and it has a good punch with good detail. The headphone’s bass and mids are tilting to the warmer side of the spectrum and are smooth sounding. The mids section however is lighter and the voicing is thinner which quite surprises me. It’s very obvious with female voices like Melody Gardot, Lisa Ekdahl, Lana Del Ray, Dani Klein etc but it’s noticeable with all music. So you get smooth, musical yet thinner mids with a lighter voicing. It is a very special combination and it doesn’t make the H6 easy to describe in sound. Treble is pretty good to be honest, sure it is not at the level of Beyerdynamic in example but it is pretty detailed and extended.

Sound stage is medium to good but it is fairly centric sounding or “between the head”. Left-right separation is good on the other hand, something I always appreciate in a headphone. Detail retrieval is good from low to highs, I’ve heard a lot of headphones with less detail (the fun COP in example). The H6 isn’t a slow sounding headphone, speed and attack are good and the overall sound is very clear.

Portable impressions on the next page

4.6/5 - (35 votes)
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Lieven is living in Europe and he's the leader of the gang. He's running Headfonia as a side project next to his full time day job in Digital Marketing & Consultancy. He's a big fan of tube amps and custom inear monitors and has published hundreds of product reviews over the years.

155 Comments

  • Reply August 22, 2013

    Carl A

    Thanks for the review, enjoyed reading it.
    I’m seriously thinking about getting the H6, but reading your thoughts leaves me very hesitant. Your last sentence carries a hint as to the complex reasons why I desire one, especially when I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be using it as a portable when I go out(which was the impetus for getting my recent(and subsequently returned)KEF M500, namely that the complete package I find to be lovely; design, materials, feel, fit etc. The sound though ..?
    I would be using it at home, would not have the funds(possibly can get together enough just for the ‘phone(and at £329 they area good £70 or so more than the Momentums for example(which I very much dislike and consider vastly overpriced))to go for the portable set-up you reference as giving the best sound quality, so would possibly be looking at playing from my MacBook Pro.
    Which leads me to my only question I suppose, and also the only point that was lacking for me in the review – other options with the laptop as source. You only mention the one option with laptop, with the E10. Was that the only combination you tried? Whilst that’s good from a perspective of not costing much more, it’s not exactly a very good quality comparison when compared to your best set-up, the hugely more expensive iPod/CLAS/C5.

    I’m just wondering how much better a laptop + significant other would have fared in the sound quality versus the iPod/CLAS/C5. However if the E10 was the only laptop set-up you tried then fair enough, I’ll have to go off that.
    I know, this doesn’t make sense – home listening + cost against other far less expensive options that are much easier to drive/partner. But there just is something very special about the H6 that really speaks to me. Yep, it’s a case of heart speaking to me about important, mysterious, feelings-based intangibles against the head telling me in clear, easily-understood bullet points that it doesn’t make sense, get a COP or a …. or a ….
    We’ll see! Thanks again for the review. Nice little piece of writing.
    Be well.

    • Reply August 23, 2013

      Mike

      I haven’t heard the H6 but I’m loving the Aedle VK-1. You may want to check it out.
      http://www.aedle.net/

      Full bodied mids and bass, smooth vocals, relaxed treble, some bump on the mid bass, very clean sound and very black background. Built quality is also extremely good. Perhaps my favourite portable now, over the ESW-11, Sony 1R, Momentum, COP.
      Another one I’m digging a lot is the Vmoda M100 which I thought is the best mainstream music portable headphone around. Fast punchy bass, clean, black background, lively, fast, engaging but not harsh.

      • Reply August 23, 2013

        Carl A

        Really appreciate your feedback Mike.
        Followed the link not recognising the name and then was surprised as I had previously visited their website but quite a while ago now, possibly last year. Remember loving their looks but not knowing anything else.
        Firstly, as you like them so much, are we likely to see a review anytime soon on Headfonia?
        I had a quick scan for info; not much out there, apart from a brief thread on Head-Fi which has a few positive comments, but nothing exactly glowing.
        However, your two sentence description above certainly is!

        Would be nice to see them get a detailed write-up, wondering –
        : How comfortable, as earpads look a little shallow & headband quite narrow,
        : Cable length – long enough for relaxed use at desk w/computer,
        : Do they compact down or fold flat? How practical for outdoor use,
        Anyway, you thinking they’re your favourite portable seems like pretty big news to me, so I’m very interested, but when one cannot see, and try on, headphones in person(that cost quite a bit), it can feel a little like a shot in the dark.

        Like I said, it certainly helps knowing you are so positive in your feelings about them. A review would be good but I appreciate that with your shop and everything, time is more limited than ever, so thanks again for responding to my H6 comment with these thoughts and for now your few words above are enticing enough!
        Be well.

        • Reply August 23, 2013

          dalethorn

          The good thing about the H6 is the entire spectrum is in balance – there are no “relaxed” treble for example.

          • Reply August 23, 2013

            L.

            It is in balance and it is not if you look at the lighter mids vs full bodied bass

            • Reply August 23, 2013

              dalethorn

              I should have clarified – unlike the DT770LE and DT1350 with the very hollow mids they have, the light mids of the H6 are close enough to ideal that no EQ is needed for my listening.

      • Reply August 26, 2013

        Michael

        Great list, Mike! Which of them you’d recommend for jazz (I use Cowon D2+ and consider upgrading to X3)?

        • Reply August 26, 2013

          Mike

          ESW-9, Momentum, ESW-11, Aedle are all good for Jazz in their own ways.

    • Reply August 23, 2013

      L.

      Hi Carl, thanks! And thank you as well for the good comment. I’m afraid I could only get it to work with the E10 with my laptop as it would put out sound with the big amps. Sorry

  • Reply September 26, 2013

    dalethorn

    Updating my impressions after 2 months with the H6: The only headphones I have currently that play properly without EQ are the Beyer COP and B&O H6, and the Senn IE800 IEM. Headphones I have had that play without EQ were the Sennheiser HD600, HD650, HD800, Shure 1840, and Soundmagic HP100. I don’t know about AKG or Denons, to name those I don’t have experience with. The HD800 was somewhat “airy” in the sense of having great highs, but mixing those in the large earcups made the sound somewhat fuzzy, as though there were a tiny bit of smear that wasn’t perceived as such. The IE800 cuts through that with better clarity, but lacks the big soundstage (soundstage being partly or mostly created by effects that also create smear). The Soundmagic at the lower price point was nearly neutral, but the mids coloration gave it a slightly unmusical sound. The Shure 1840 is still the best bet for treble, but not so good for bass. The HD600 and 650 were very good, but even more fuzzy than the HD800, and somewhat bland. The COP is lower in sound quality than the H6, and much warmer/darker, but still I have no complaints about the sound at all, and it needs no EQ. So going back to the H6, it has a very good sound, even at $400 it’s good, and it has less warts than all of these other headphones. If there were an open-back headphone that sounds exactly like the H6, except with a bit more air, soundstage, sense of space etc., I would buy that immediately. I’ve never heard anything that has the quality of upper freq. harmonic detail that the HD800 has, so of everything below the HD800 in that aspect, the H6 is as good as anything else, making it a bargain of sorts at $400.

    • Reply October 14, 2013

      George Lai

      Hello Dale. What is the internal dimensions of the ear cavity? Bigger than Momentum I hope?

      • Reply October 15, 2013

        dalethorn

        49.2 x 46.0 mm, and I measured toward the bottom of the earpads closer to the drivers, since the openings there are a couple of mm smaller than at the top of the earpads. I measured the Momentum when I had it, but forgot where I wrote that down. Anyway the Momentum earpads are very oval, and cover only the top 2/3 of my ears. The H6 pads completely enclose my ears. Even though the H6 openings are smaller than the Beyer COP for example, and the H6 pads touch the outer rims of my ears somewhat, there’s no sense at all of any pressure or squeezing, not even the least bit, and other headphones like (several, actually) do pinch a little.

        • Reply October 15, 2013

          George Lai

          Hello Dale, thanks very much for the detailed answer to both this and the swivel mechanism above. You are very helpful, as always. Cheers, George

    • Reply October 14, 2013

      George Lai

      The other thing is how do they fold? I can’t see that in the pictures above nor their website. Thanks.

      • Reply October 15, 2013

        dalethorn

        The H6 headband is a single piece that doesn’t fold, but has a well-made swivel mechanism for the earcups, so the earcups can rotate horizontally from about 10 degrees back of parallel to each other, to 90 degrees forward – i.e. “fold flat”. The headband max. adjustment is about 37 mm up and down for the earcups, and when fit comfortably on my head, there’s another 20-22 mm remaining that I don’t use when listening, but I do use outdoors when not listening – i.e. earcups pulled down and folded flat so I can carry the H6 all day around my neck in comfort.

    • Reply May 28, 2014

      Nickjan Glas

      As I ve bought one (the green one) based on Lieven’s expertise and review and your advise if I remember correctly, I can say the review and your update are quite spot on. Including the cable, as it is impossible to replace it with a high end one, because the earcups are in the way. I don’t own any other headphoones and only have the meridian explorer to pair it with, I did notice some typical B&O characteristics.
      Compared to the beyerdynamic dt 770 and B&W P7, I chose this one because the detail retrieval (paired with a meridian explorer dac/amp) outshone the others, with a more subtle/tight though sometimes less present bass.
      I wouldnt directly recommend it for the poor pop songs of nowadays, but as for classical, concert and jazz like it surpasses all my expectations, The better the recording, the more shiny it gets. I do own some other B&O items and this is typically B&O. For the critics sometimes a reason to say B&O is only about looks rather than sound. In my opinion it is just very important to match high quality music to B&O as the detail retrieval exposes all the flaws and for a bigger base you ll need a dedicated subwoofer. (which the critics usually don’t take into consideration). In relation to this slightly off topic comment, the bass in the H6 is certainly present and good, just not as prominent as in the other headphones.
      I would like the soundstage to be better sometimes and the bass to be more allround (sometimes it seems to get cut of), but I imagine that will only be at higher price ranges or at the expense of detail retrieval.
      The H6 is very good without any dac/amp, but it gets great with the meridian. I ll also be looking for a desktop setup (maybe musical fidelity m1 series) to see if that can even further improve on the soundstage. All in all a delight to listen to and it seems to get more enjoyable over time.

      • Reply May 29, 2014

        L.

        Thanks for posting. I am glad you like the headphone and that our review was spot on 😉

      • Reply May 29, 2014

        dalethorn

        The brown H6 is nice and the Agave Green even better. Now there’s a special blue edition. The kind of amp you are looking for will definitely bring out more detail and better sound.

        • Reply May 29, 2014

          Nickjan Glas

          Since the CanJam will be close by this year, I ll be going there and feast on the sounds.

          • Reply May 29, 2014

            L.

            come say hi!

            • Reply May 29, 2014

              Nickjan Glas

              I will, you will be there with a headfonia stand or another name?

              • Reply May 29, 2014

                L.

                I will be there with my press badge and maybe a HFN shirt. If you want to know how I look like check the Philips article on here and on Innerfidelity 😀

                • Reply May 29, 2014

                  George Lai

                  You mean the icon is not a real picture?

                  • Reply May 29, 2014

                    L.

                    Apart from the blue eyes, semi beard and baseball cap, not really.

                    • May 29, 2014

                      Nickjan Glas

                      Found it, I ll keep an eye out.

  • Reply September 26, 2013

    Mike

    I recently had the chance to listen to the Beoplay H6 and my one word summary is that it’s a really nice headphone and I really want one for myself.

    Let’s talk about it more.

    Comfort is superb. Better than the Vmoda M100, Sony 1R, Fidelio L2, and a bunch of other headphones that size in the market. The 1R has been said to be the benchmark for comfort and I agree, but the H6 has bested it. The L2 is in my opinion more comfortable than the 1R but still the H6 is better.

    The H6 fit is similar to the 1R, but the H6 comes with a much nicer leather pads (is it lambskin?) compared to the 1R’s synthetic leather. In short, best comfort I’ve tried on headphones that size. If your ears are very big, they will touch the inside of the H6 though just like the 1R. In this sense the L2 has more depth for the ears.

    Sound. Definitely a huge jump over the 1R and more in the class of the Fidelio L2 and the Aedle VK1. This is a hifi tuned headphone similar to how the L2, Aedle, and ESW-11 headphones are. So it’s a different headphone than the Vmoda which still is the best headphone for mainstream and low quality recordings.

    Between the L2, Aedle, and H6, I think the L2 has the best tuning. Distortion free from top to bottom. The Aedle is also very good and for me is the most suited to my preference due to having the strongest bass slam and the darkest treble. The L2’s bass doesn’t slam hard enough for me, and likewise the H6. The H6 is very clean and clear sounding but has some issues in the mids. Not the L2 which has by far the best midrange in the class now. There is a slight peak in the mid treble of the H6 which would make it a bad choice for mainstream recording, and even with good audiophile recording is noticeable. The L2 is definitely more linear than both the H6 and the Aedle.

    I like the way the H6 can sound so clean and clear while also being relatively laid back in the low treble and mids. Usually when you say laid back you get a dark HD650ish sound, not so with the H6.

    Overall it’s a really nice headphone with superb comfort, great build quality and a clean and clear sound executed very well. I really want to get one to add to my collection.

    • Reply September 27, 2013

      dalethorn

      That’s a good summary – makes me want to get the L2. But I forget now, did the L2 surpass Philips’ own X1 headphone?

      • Reply September 27, 2013

        Mike

        I think yes. I’m very impressed by the driver quality.

  • Reply October 11, 2013

    dalethorn

    On my youtube page, the H6 has gotten 7300 views in 2 months. For comparison, the Beyer COP has gotten 610 views in the same time frame, with equal tagging for searches. The Sol Republic Master Tracks – a decent headphone – has gotten 644 views in those 2 months. I don’t have any idea why so much attention is going to the H6, but if it’s something B&O is doing, there must be a lesson there for everyone else.

    • Reply October 13, 2013

      MassiveTurboLag

      It’s the B&O letters on the cup.

      • Reply October 13, 2013

        dalethorn

        Doubtful – my B&O Form2 (a great sound with a small bass boost) has B&O on the cups, but gets nearly no views.

        • Reply October 13, 2013

          MassiveTurboLag

          Well the Form2 looks like a woman’s hair band, the H6 look delicious.

          • Reply October 13, 2013

            dalethorn

            Only in photos. On my large man-head, the black Form2 looks like a high-tech small headphone.

            • Reply October 13, 2013

              MassiveTurboLag

              I see. I have to start using the phrase “my large man-head” more often. It gives way to so many interpretations.

              • Reply October 13, 2013

                dalethorn

                That was pretty funny! Well, I ordered it preparing for the worst, and came away seeing that it wasn’t bad at all. Basically, anyone wearing a headphone in public wouldn’t look any worse with a Form2 (in black of course).

                • Reply October 13, 2013

                  MassiveTurboLag

                  Black would be the way to go but I think my large man-head can pull off the pink or the yellow one.

                  • Reply October 14, 2013

                    dalethorn

                    You don’t need a Form2 to get your color choice – there are modders here who can apply a pink coating to your manly T1 or HD650, so you can try something different.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      MassiveTurboLag

                      Damn, now you got my man-head all excited to try all those estrogen inducing colours.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      dalethorn

                      I assume you’re posting these things to help the readers here make good choices? Because I don’t waste people’s time here with clowning. I said one of your posts was funny because it was, but now you’re crossing the line into something that isn’t funny.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      MassiveTurboLag

                      Oh jeez this conversation couldn’t possibly have had any impact on one’s decisions. It was for shits and giggles.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      dalethorn

                      This is not my site – I’m a guest here, so I don’t post “shits and giggles”.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      MassiveTurboLag

                      Could have fooled me there for a second.

                    • October 14, 2013

                      L.

                      Let’s stop here then 😉

    • Reply October 14, 2013

      Mike

      Interesting insight.

      Well in terms of brand name, B&O is usually perceived as a more boutique, higher end name than Beyer and Sol. Maybe that has something to do with it.
      Or maybe B&O shared your youtube track while Beyer and SOL don’t.

      • Reply October 14, 2013

        dalethorn

        It might be because Apple had them in the store early on. Apple makes a big difference in promoting headphones (they actually have the H6 on display for listening), but too bad that half of all the headphones on display are Beats, and half of the remainder are Bose. I never had an interest in B&O before this, and visiting their stores in U.S. cities, the staff never seemed friendly – they reminded me of car salesmen. The products were mostly weird, but their little speakers had potential I thought. If B&W flops with the P7, that will give B&O an advantage – I really need to get ahold of a P7.

    • Reply February 20, 2014

      Bilal

      I tried over 10 different pairs and at that time I had no clue who B&O was or cared to spend 400$ for a pair. I ended up buying them simply because i loved how they would leave me sitting there in the store listening to them for a long time. I only learned about the company after i got them. and to be honest in terms of style or looks they were my least favourite of the bunch on display. They got me addicted!

  • Reply October 13, 2013

    dalethorn

    The new green H6 looks amazing!!

    • Reply September 19, 2014

      Nickjan Glas

      little late, but based on your recommendations among others; I got the H6 (and yes, it is the green one) last year. thanks again.

  • Reply December 28, 2013

    Piotr Skoneczny

    Guys, I would be extremely grateful if you could advise me on the Amp/DAC choice. Just to give you a clear image of what I need: the music I mostly listen to is experimental electronic with a pretty large amount of bass tones (e.g. James Blake, How to Dress Well), alternative pop, rock, indie and folk (e.g. Florence and the Machine, Beirut, Jessie Ware, Radiohead) and pretty light trip-hop (e.g. Lamb, Portishead) with a nice amount of high tones and trebles. Yeasterday I have finally decided to buy BO H6 (I will not lie – design was important as well, I will need it in the office, so sound isolation was important too as people around can’t be disrupted because of me – that’s basically why I finally didn’t choose to buy B&W P7). And now: First question: do you think it was a good choice? And second, more important thing: could you advise me on what Amp/DAC should I get? I’ve heared that C5 DAC/Amp works great, but can you somehow compare it to FiiO E07k or E17? What would be the best choice? I know that C5 probably is better but by how much? You know – difference in price between E07k and C5 Dac/amp is pretty big… As you know I need for sure some bass boost as H6 are not especially bass heavy. I would be EXTREMELY grateful for any comments. I think there are no better experts on the Internet in this matter:) Many thanks!

    • Reply January 8, 2014

      Fabian Blache III

      The H6 is a great pair of headphones. I listen to my Son’s often. One of my favorites headphones period. Size, weight, sonic signature are all primo. Price is a bit steep. We have paired them with the ALO National and the ALO Rx Mk3-B+. Both parings are notable and proved better than the Fiio Mont Blanc we have on hand.

    • Reply January 8, 2014

      dalethorn

      The H6 is a great headphone, yes. But to make mine even more perfect than it was, I pushed down the midrange emphasis centered around 1045 hz by a few db. Now it sounds exceptional.

  • Reply February 20, 2014

    Bilal

    I’ve read this review over 3 times and each time I appreciate it more. I was completely unaware of dacs or amplification at the headphone level. Being a new owner of the H6’s, this article got me curious. I went off on a 2 week searching and reading/leaning spree in search for a Dac and Amp combo to go with my iphone 5s. I finally settled on the Fostex hp-p1 will be arriving soon and can’t wait! ..anyways the point of this was just to say thank you for writing one of the best reviews i have read!

    • Reply February 20, 2014

      L.

      Thank you Bilal. It’s nice to see our work get appreciated!

  • Reply May 2, 2014

    tand

    Lievens why dont you consider the 770AE and COp as portables?
    How does this compare with P5?

    • Reply May 2, 2014

      L.

      Cause they are huge and do not fold.
      I never was a fan of the P5 and I find all 3 headphones better

    • Reply May 3, 2014

      dalethorn

      DT1350? T51p?

      • Reply May 3, 2014

        L.

        T51p. Best portable to me!

  • Reply June 18, 2014

    spike_goldman

    So I don’t understand the problem with using a microphone cable with a desktop amp. I use all sorts of headphones with headphone cables and desktop amps and haven’t had a problem. What’s the issue here?

    • Reply June 18, 2014

      L.

      Some amps have problems with the plug type. The plug is divided in parts as I hope you knpw and some amps cant handle that. I have had it happen quite numerous times actually

      • Reply June 18, 2014

        spike_goldman

        Thanks for the reply. So a 1/4″ adapter doesn’t solve that problem?

        • Reply June 18, 2014

          L.

          That could be a hit or miss. You will have to try

          • Reply June 18, 2014

            spike_goldman

            I really wanted to know if you tried the 1/4″ adapter and did that work? I don’t own these headphones – yet. I heard them yesterday and thought they sounded fantastic.

            • Reply June 18, 2014

              L.

              How else do you think I tried connecting them to my desktop amps? 😉

  • Reply June 19, 2014

    Mark Blow

    Have just bought the limited edition blue colour over here in Doha. Have just started listening to Gregory Porter through them and getting distortion in my left ear. plugged in my sony mdr-1 and don’t get that at all. anyone else had this problem? Taking them back tomorrow.but being in the middle east they’re a pain in the arse for accepting returns

    • Reply June 20, 2014

      dalethorn

      Make sure the cable is securely plugged into the earcup. Also, if you can, check carefully inside the earcup for anything like a hair poking into the driver. It’s really rare that a quality headphone like the H6 would have a distortion right off like that. If you still get distortion, and I don’t remember what the earcup connection is like – if you could substitute another cable to see if that’s the problem…

      • Reply June 20, 2014

        L.

        Yes, do try what Dale suggested. I hope you get it sorted out!

  • Reply July 8, 2014

    S.Yu

    Hello, have you listened to the es10 from Audio Technica before? They’re in the same price range and I’m trying to decide on one, but I have access to neither without first paying for one first.

    • Reply July 8, 2014

      L.

      I have not, sorry

    • Reply July 8, 2014

      dalethorn

      I’ve had the ESW9a ($220), ESW11ltd ($700), ES700 ($150), but not the ES10 as yet. What made me hold off on the ES10 is the fairly large amount of coloration on these others. Less so on the ESW9a, but moreso on the other two. I haven’t found any reviews that reveal what the ES10 sounds like compared to other headphones, so I hope to find out more as time goes on.

      • Reply July 8, 2014

        S.Yu

        Lol it’s been recently discontinued, if you want to find out better snatch one yourself.
        I’ve seen one person comparing its sound to the newer art monitor models with the x in the end, saying it has similar signature.
        But I’ve 3 people gave 3 completely different remarks about it, so it either has a v shaped response curve with excess detail and recessed mids, or has no particular signature and does fine with any kind of music but excelling at none, or has good vocal with slightly blurred details…

        • Reply July 8, 2014

          dalethorn

          I use Audioforge to EQ the AT’s I have, and with that I think they sound great, especially the wood earcup headphones. So I would really like to have the ES10, but it was about $300, so I added it to my list after the KEF M500, the NAD HP50, and a few others that I’ll probably never get.

  • Reply August 28, 2014

    paul may

    Plugging into a desktop amp seems a bit hit and miss, but I just plugged into my Marantz amp and it worked just fine. Finding an extension so I can sit on the sofa rather than crouch in front of the amp to listen is proving more of a problem. Does anyone have an extension that works?

    • Reply August 28, 2014

      L.

      I would suggest making one youself. There also is a good maker on ebay called “heels6” I bought my extension cord from him.

    • Reply August 28, 2014

      dalethorn

      Headphone extension cords are less of a problem with desktop gear that also powers speakers. Just get a good quality cord, with very low capacitance I think. But if the place you plug into is a discrete headphone amp not linked to the power amp that drives the speakers, you need a cord made for best headphone fidelity.

    • Reply September 19, 2014

      Nickjan Glas

      Today I did some testing with the H6 in this regard and reading this, I thought I’ll give my impressions.

      first up was with laptop; jriver 20, audioquest forest usb; meridian explorer line out; audioquest forest interconnect to Marantz pm7004 with and without grado extension cord. (quite a big amount of connecting there).
      The difference between with/without extension cable or (directly to the Marantz with a cd player) I couldn’t notice. Although there was lots of power I found the sound to be in the background. Everything was there, but it was like sitting at the bar with a band behind you and you are having a serious conversation about politics, with some guy you don’t know. It works, but not what you expect of it.

      After that I hooked it up to the explorer headphone out, directly from the pc and that was much clearer, more detailed, bringing live to the party. Since it is at the moment my only dedicated headphone dac/amp, I can’t say anything useful comperatively wise.

      For the fun of it I then hooked up the H6 directly to my beosound 9000. Boy that was great. Although it looses (some) in detail and maybe tightness. (still have a lot to test/learn in this respect), compared to the explorer (to my taste) the soundstage widened and the bass impact is mindblowing. I guess that is the effect like when Lieven listened to the x3 and c5 combo.

      Although it may be expected that the beosound can deliver high quality even in the headphone out, the difference in bass and overall impact surprised me. For a dedicated desktop dac/amp, I will want more detail retrieval and separation than the 9000 delivers, but this performance boost to the H6 is addictive.

      In conclusion, I wouldn’t recommend staying with a Marantz like stereo receiver or alike, but selling it and getting a dedicated dac/amp. selling the receiver will give enough budget for a great improvement. For myself I know I will want to add some serious desktop dac/amp quality. (according to the reviews here, resonence will get my full attention).

      hopefully some useful comment and if you have any for me, I welcome it. love to learn more.

      • Reply September 20, 2014

        dalethorn

        What you just described is extremely helpful, as a caution to anyone who might be on a severe budget and who is depending on a system like the first one you described for best possible sound. It’s good that you had the extra components and were willing to experiment to find the differences. A great lesson!

        • Reply September 20, 2014

          Nickjan Glas

          Thank you. Hope to experiment more in the future. But first tomorrow headphone valhalla: canjam ( I ve high expectations)

        • Reply September 30, 2014

          Nickjan Glas

          did some more lsitening and what I mainly noticed is that the bass was pushed to the background extremely. when adjusting the equalizer I could hear the bass, but it was very blurry and annoying.
          so in short, just sold my Marantz and now have a 300 euro starting budget for a desktop headphone amp. happy!

  • Reply October 9, 2014

    Biergourmet

    How does this one compare to a Beyerdynamic T70p?

  • Reply October 23, 2014

    Christopher David Mitchell

    Although I already hate myself for asking a pure design question, here goes. Would you say the size of the H6 is okay for commuting and sitting in a studio at work? It’s a toss up between these or the Aedle VK-1’s and I want something that won’t be too big when moving around a lot. Only leaning toward these because of the over-ear not on-ear aspect.

    • Reply October 24, 2014

      dalethorn

      The H6 is one of the “over” ear types that actually goes around average size ears, unlike the Senn Momentum. So the H6 is actually very comfortable as well as stable on the head. The VK-1 with its real leather pads takes some time to break in for wear, was never comfortable for me, and the slanted-outward earcups weren’t designed to sit properly on my average head and ears.

      • Reply October 24, 2014

        Christopher David Mitchell

        So would you personally recommend these over the VK-1’s? From what I’ve read, they’re both very similar in terms of performance, but the look of the VK-1’s is making this a hard decision. As long as the H6’s aren’t big to the point of looking silly whilst commuting (?), I can imagine i’ll eventually go with those.

        • Reply October 24, 2014

          Headfonia_L.

          my vote goes to the H6. Certainly sound wise and comfort wise

          • Reply October 24, 2014

            Christopher David Mitchell

            That settles it then, thanks for your help!

        • Reply October 24, 2014

          Albert_T

          The H6 is certainly the more comfortable headphone but I find the bass to lack impact. It sounds really big and has a lot of body, but it just doesn’t feel tight enough. The VK-1 is darker sounding in general and I find it to be more detailed than the H6, and it has tighter bass.
          I own both these headphones and while the VK-1 is sort of lacking in comfort, it really looks and feels special! Sound wise, I think they are both very good. H6 has bigger and boomier bass, VK-1 is more reference like.
          I should point out that the H6’s cable has slight microphonics and it can become a bother, plus it has an inline mic… The VK-1 cable is of better quality and it works perfectly with the H6 btw!

          • Reply October 24, 2014

            dalethorn

            I concur on the physical description, but for reference, the H6 has much slimmer bass than the B&W P7, which is a good example of fat bass. For heavy bass try the v-moda M100. The H6 is fairly close to neutral, and the only sonic flaw I hear is the upper mids emphasis.

            • Reply October 24, 2014

              Albert_T

              Sorry, I might not have expressed myself properly and wouldn’t want you to interpret what i wrote in a wrong way. My previous comment is simply a comparison between the H6 and VK-1. The bass in the H6 is in no way excessively boomy. It has just that extra bass compared to the VK-1. But as previously stated, both are very good sounding and are very enjoyable!

              I have not heard the P7 but I agree with you on the heavy bass of the M100. Which is quite fun to listen to but i find it tiring for long sessions.

              • Reply October 24, 2014

                Christopher David Mitchell

                So hard to decide, if the VK-1’s didn’t look so god damn nice, I’d have bought the H6’s by now. The VK-1’s do seem special, but I think in the long run I’d be annoyed at myself for buying them purely because they look better. As the VK-1’s aren’t on a limited run, I at least will be able to purchase a pair in the future.

                • Reply October 24, 2014

                  dalethorn

                  Those slanted-outward earcups didn’t fit me, so make sure (unless you have a small head) that you can bend them inward at the bottom. They don’t have flexible joints there.

        • Reply October 24, 2014

          dalethorn

          The H6 is not big, and it’s also pretty slim – ideal for portable use.

  • Reply November 27, 2014

    Alejandra

    Hi!.. Between sennheiser 600 vs bang olufsen H6 which is better? Thanks!

    • Reply November 28, 2014

      Headfonia_L.

      That is open vs closed. A king vs a prince.

      The HD600 is a classic and it will always be so, the H6 in 15 years will be out of our memory.

      The H6 is very good for a closed headphone and I love its sound but it’s not an HD600 and it never will be.

      Again, you really shouldn’t compare both

  • Reply February 2, 2015

    Yumurz

    Hello, if I had the choice between these and the Soundmagic HP100’s, which would you recommend.

    Specifically bass (sub-bass, and emphasis) and clarity on each phone compared, I’n looking for some similar to a DUNU DN1K in a portable/fullsize can…but maybe more “clean”, I found the H6 for a great price, hence why I’m asking. Thanks.

    • Reply February 2, 2015

      dalethorn

      The sound is very different – the 100 with slightly recessed mids and H6 the opposite. The H6 is much better for walking around – much less bulky. Bass is different, but comparable between them.

      • Reply February 2, 2015

        Yumurz

        When you say bass is “different”, could you expand on how? Thanks for the rest of the information though! I’m also assuming the HP150 is virtually the same as the HP100.

        • Reply February 3, 2015

          dalethorn

          The HP100 is noted for a strong solid low bass, similar to the ATH M50 series. But the HP100 also has a broad recess in the mids, so it amplifies that impression. The H6 bass is more subtle, because it has a slight mids emphasis (the opposite of the HP100), but after listening for a long time I’m convinced the H6 bass is as good as the HP100, even though you would get contasting impressions on a first listen.

          • Reply February 3, 2015

            Yumurz

            Alright, thanks so much!

          • Reply February 4, 2015

            Yumurz

            One last question, how does the soundstage compare between the two (HP150)? Well, two, there domes refurb HP100’s for half the price of the HP150 and H6’s, given this, even though I’m loving the style of the H6 and I’m fairly certain build quality will be higher, as someone who enjoy good bass (especially sub-bass); driven out of either a Schiit Modi+Magni stack, or my phone (Oneplus One, pretty decent EQ quality I’ve found), which would you recommend?

            Ordering whichever on Friday! Once again thanks for your help!

            • Reply February 4, 2015

              dalethorn

              Sorry – I missed the HP150 – very different from HP100. HP100 is near neutral and hi-fi, while HP150 is a dark sound (best estimate is the curve on my website):

              http://dalethorn.com/Photos/Audioforge/Soundmagic_Hp150.jpg

              • Reply February 5, 2015

                Yumurz

                So the HP150 is not High Fidelity? Soundmagic said that any sound differences should be minute due to the material change, but now I’m not sure… does it have more similarities in the mid and treble ranges than differences with the HP100’s? Think I’m set on that for the same price as the H6’s.

                Thanks!

                • Reply February 5, 2015

                  dalethorn

                  The thing that surprised me with the HP-150 was the cavernous sound (like a fake-y kind of spaciousness) that was due to the recess around 150-200 hz. But if you’re OK with that recess and the moderate peak around 4 khz, you might like it – I liked it.

                  BTW, if you could get the 100 and 150 side by side – very different sound.

                  • Reply February 6, 2015

                    Yumurz

                    Bass at the expense of realistic spaciousness, decisions decisions! I felt a tiny but of that kind of recess in the Fidelio X1’s but I imagine it’s effect will be different in a closed type can! Hopefully I can deal with it.

                    Once again thank you very much!

                    • February 6, 2015

                      dalethorn

                      The DN1000 is fullsize? It looks like an IEM to me…

                    • February 6, 2015

                      Yumurz

                      It is an IEM, I was saying I wanted that sound signature IN a fullsize can hahaha!

                    • February 6, 2015

                      dalethorn

                      Yes, me too.

                    • February 6, 2015

                      Yumurz

                      I meant that I wanted that sound signature in a fullsize can! Also just realised you’re Dalethorn2 from YouTube, love you’re videos!

  • Reply February 25, 2015

    simon hancox

    I bought some of these from here http://www.eerdy.com/categories/Headphones they’re amazing, bit pricey but well worthit.

    • Reply February 25, 2015

      dalethorn

      The H6 has many good things, especially a good fit that’s stable and stays that way, due to the good quality build. But their new H2 is not so good. The headband is some soft material that stretches out and loses its clamp, and the bass gets lost too. I’ve tried every way possible to fix it, but it just won’t return to the original state.

  • Reply March 9, 2015

    Steven Mah

    Need advice on Fiio E12 + laptop/Android combo for a H6? I’m considering selling my Beats Studio and go for a H6 now (yes, I’m fashion-conscious ‘general public’). Beats is a bassier headphones in comparison, and to my untrained ears, H6 may sound dissappointing/flat without a decent amp.

    • Reply March 9, 2015

      Headfonia_L.

      We all like the H6 here and we think the H6 has good bass but probably not for bassheads. Adding in the E12 will give you a bass boost but you won’t get the bass you long for and it even might sound a bit distorted. Maybe a DT770 is more for you

      • Reply March 10, 2015

        Steven Mah

        I like Bang and Olufsen for the viability of also being a fashion piece (please don’t start flaming, just different needs…). I would like to still work around the H6, by complementing it with a good portable amp. In your review you regarded Fiio’s products highly, would E12 be inferior to E10/E11? Or maybe the DAC/AMP Fiio E18?

        • Reply March 10, 2015

          Headfonia_L.

          I won’t start flaming at all, I was just giving you my opinion. The E12 is superior to the E11/E10. Why not take a look at the C5 from JDSLabs?

          • Reply March 13, 2015

            Steven Mah

            The recently updated Fiio E17K Alpen 2? It’s half the price compared to JDS C5D.

            • Reply March 14, 2015

              Headfonia_L.

              it’s ok, the C5D just is the better sounding unit

        • Reply March 10, 2015

          dalethorn

          Which DAC would you use between the laptop computer and the E12?

          • Reply March 13, 2015

            Steven Mah

            I am now reconsidering to get a combination DAC+Amp unit instead. (See below reply)

            • Reply March 14, 2015

              dalethorn

              The E17k for half the price – yes a good deal. I believe L’s view is that the C5D is better enough to justify the price. I haven’t tried the C5D, but if its amp is as good as its DAC, then that would overcome the E17k’s biggest limitation (amp not as good as DAC) and I would recommend the C5D instead.

            • Reply March 14, 2015

              Headfonia_L.

              just get a Theorem. End setup. Bam, finished 😀

        • Reply March 13, 2015

          Haryanto Suryonoto

          Bower & Wilkins P7 or P5 Series 2 will give you quite decent style and sound simultaneously 🙂

          • Reply March 13, 2015

            dalethorn

            Style and sound, yes. But the B&W’s are nowhere near the comfort of the H6.

            • Reply March 14, 2015

              Haryanto Suryonoto

              Agree. H6 feels so light and give less burden and clamp.

  • Reply March 15, 2015

    Juan Luis Quiroz Guevara

    What do you think of this combo? X1 + jds c5 + dt 770 32ohm … The c5 is a good amp for the DT770 ?

    • Reply March 16, 2015

      Headfonia_L.

      The C5 is a good amp for the DT770 but with BB on you will get quite the amount of bass.

      That’s a nice combo you suggested

      • Reply March 16, 2015

        Juan Luis Quiroz Guevara

        Had also thought about cayin c5 … Between jds and cayin, who achieved better tight and control bass with “BB of” for the DT770 32ohm ?

        • Reply March 16, 2015

          Headfonia_L.

          I’m not sure Nathan has listened to the JDSLabs C5 before. And I haven’t heard the Cayin yet.

  • Reply April 3, 2015

    Rob

    Hello! I listened to the H6 today, and I fell in love with the sound and comfort of the headphone. What a beauty too! But now is my problem; It is kind of pricey. How would you compare the H6 vs the AKG K545 or K845BT, soundwise? Thank you!

    • Reply April 3, 2015

      dalethorn

      I’d suggest going to Amazon dot com and look up the K545, click to display by latest review first, then read down the list. It won’t take long.

      • Reply April 3, 2015

        Rob

        I actually did. But I was just looking for an a b comparison of H6 and the AKG K545.

        • Reply April 3, 2015

          dalethorn

          It seems unlikely you’ll get a direct comparison, but still — I have a new AKG K553 coming from Massdrop in a couple of weeks, and it looks very similar. I assume it will sound much the same as the K550 and 551. There’s a lot of discussion here about the 550 if I remember correctly, so when I get the 553 (special Massdrop edition), I’ll do my own comparison. In the meantime, my suspicion is H6==warmer and K545==cooler.

          • Reply April 4, 2015

            Rob

            I thought I knew what “Cooler” and “Warmer” means. I thought it meant more bass. It is apparent I am a total noob, regarding warmer or cooler. Could you elaborate on this aspect?

            • Reply April 4, 2015

              dalethorn

              Upper bass to lower midrange mostly. Take most hi-fi’s, especially phones that have simple equalizers, and boost the sound around 100-300 hz, and with a little experimenting you’ll feel your way through it.

            • Reply June 3, 2015

              dalethorn

              This is old, but worth a reply. My tests of the K553 show a nearly ideal response, with good solid bass and a very even smooth treble. Mids are fine. The H6 bass isn’t bad, but if you get a really good fit, it will have a little bit of mid-upper bass emphasis. The problem with the H6 is it’s treble is quite uneven, especially the fairly strong 9 khz peak and 4.5 khz recess. If the measurement sites were to normalize their choppy treble curves, you would see that readily.

  • Reply June 2, 2015

    Nickjan Glas

    For those with cable issues; I ordered two different ones to try out. One suggested by Albert_T (the Aedle VK-1 aramid fibre cable) and one new custom cable made by ‘sounds heavenly’. I ll post my findings, when I have them.

  • Reply April 3, 2016

    Nickjan Glas

    Hello everybody. A quick update on my cable post of some months ago for the H6. Soundsheavenly now has a custom made headphone cable to replace the factory one at 20 pounds (+/- 25 euro). It is a 2meter cable, so slightly longer than the factory cable. It is also probably possible to have the length custom made.

    I ll be testing it against the aedle vk-1 cable with my set up soon; so impressions will follow.

    • Reply April 3, 2016

      dalethorn

      Does the new cable use the original jack in the earcup, or is it wired a new way?

      • Reply April 4, 2016

        Nickjan Glas

        I just did some listening for first impressions. When comparing the cables, the ‘soundsheavenly’ one is about 10-20%thicker and the plug is slightly thicker, but not much (as this is limited by the headphone socket off course). The plug also fits a tad more tightly into the socket of both the H6 and amp (corda quickstep) I am using compared to the ‘aedle’ and ‘B&O’ cable. The cable itself is a bit sturdy and less flexible than the other ones. Overall it is qualitatively better build.

        Sound wise my first impression is that the sound is a tat more articulated and the separate sounds more identifiable. (but I ll have to listen some more for good comparison). It is quite noticeable that the higher frequencies are especially more articulated compared to the other cables.

        • Reply April 5, 2016

          dalethorn

          It seems that they made the plugs so they would be very snug in their sockets. Hopefully that snug fit won’t accelerate wear on those sockets. I get some of my headphones with screw-on 1/4 inch (6.35 mm) adapters, and the times I’ve tested those the connections often were loose. The good news with H6’s is having sockets on both earcups.

          • Reply April 11, 2016

            Nickjan Glas

            I hope it doesn’t either, but the difference is marginal (it doesnt require excessive force or friction) and just gives it a slightly sturdier feel.

            I just received Bear McCreary’s battlestar galactica ost, so thats up for listening this week. unfortuantely my pc was down last week, so had to go without for a bit.

            • Reply April 12, 2016

              dalethorn

              I see season 1 to 3 CD’s, but if I wanted to try just one, which would be best?

              • Reply May 3, 2016

                Nickjan Glas

                Hey, I have been listening to all albums now for a couple of weeks and season 2 is as an album my favorite out of 1-3. It has a nice mix of songs and the length of each individual number is also good. Also a plus for me is the colonial anthem, which is included on this album.

                Season one is least favorite, but still good. Some of the numbers are a bit short.

                The 3rd season has a lot more spiritual (India inspired) songs, which corresponds with the religious aspect of that season of course. It does have some beautiful classical tracks on it, but as an album it just comes in second.

  • Reply December 10, 2016

    Peter

    Does anyone have a suggestion for a portable dac amp paired with the H6 2nd generation headphones
    Usually played through an iPhone 6s Plus
    Fiio ?????

    • Reply December 10, 2016

      dale thorn

      DragonFly – like the other guy said, but it’s awkward to move around with. The Oppo HA-2 isn’t quite as good sonically, but it’s flat and can be strapped to the phone, making it easier to handle.

  • Reply December 10, 2016

    Musikverein

    Transparent, musical, balanced, very mobile and a superior sound/$ ratio > Dragonfly Black. Or Red if you run another high impedance phone with it too.

  • Reply June 6, 2017

    Jon

    Dale, thanks so much for the detailed reviews! I have read the one for the H6 and the Shore SRH-840. I currently have the SRH-840 and was wondering how the H6 compare to them. I also don’t have a headphone amp and play mainly from my Macbook Pro and iPhone 7. Purchasing a small headphone amp might be in the horizon. Thanks again!

    • Reply June 6, 2017

      dale thorn

      The SRH-840 is a good quality headphone with a fairly neutral response. The H6 is not as neutral, having a moderate recess around 4.5 khz and a peak at 9 khz. Many users like the extra sparkle or intensity that peak adds in the upper treble, but for me the combination of the peak and the recess one octave lower, makes the soundstage more “constricted” or something similar. B&O did reduce the H6 price to $300 USD, but it’s still not competitive unless you consider the slim build, like the B&W P5 (another fashion headphone). I’ve purchased 2 of the B&O H4’s recently, which are also $300, and they can be used wired or Bluetooth. They sound very comparable to the H6, but they aren’t the slim-line look that the H6 has. Another portable headphone I like that looks good is the ATH ESW9a, or a newer model ESW990h. The most neutral sound I’ve experienced below $200 is the AKG K553, which is around-ear I believe, and a good quality build.

      • Reply June 7, 2017

        Jon

        Thanks Dale. I received the H6 today and have been comparing them with the Shure SRH840. So far I’m not sure which one I like best. I am listening straight from my macbook pro. I will get either a Dacmagic xs v2 or a Dragonfly Black in a few days and then will compare both with the amp. So far I notice that the SRH840 have a more prominent bass which is interesting because I never through of them as bass heavy. The H6 provide more clarity in vocals and highs which can be good at times. Thanks again fro your help!

  • Reply March 12, 2018

    Jonathan

    Hi Lieven, I have been using the H6 Gen. 2 for almost a year now and love them! I was wondering if you think it’s worth modding the headphones so that they can be connected to an amp via a balanced connection instead of a single ended connection? They would have to replace the sockets on the headphones to make this possible. I have been using the Sony XBA-N3 IEM via balanced connection with the Sony NW-ZX300 and they sound great so I wonder if the H6 would also improve though the balance connection. Thanks!

    • Reply March 12, 2018

      Lieven

      I don’t think anyone has tried that yet really. Will it improve, most likely (more power), but I have no idea how it will sound.
      Me personally, I wouldn’t go trough the trouble for the H6. It’s a nice headphone as it is.

      • Reply March 13, 2018

        Jonathan

        Thanks Lieven! I’ll update you guys if I end up sending it for the mod.

  • Reply February 25, 2020

    Andreas

    Some time has passed, but I recently bought a mint beoplay H6 (1st gen) and really like the sound. I still have the 2nd gen but disliked the bass on some songs, to much slam in the upper (mid?) bass region.

    Now, the amp recommendations are from 2013… Does anyone have an amp or maybe better dac/amp that plays well with the original H6? (I have an Earstudio 100, but honestly don’t hear any difference to my phone or laptop – just bought it for convenience, i.e. bluetooth, built in EQ and crossfeed ;-)).

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