In this article we review the Sennheiser HD 660S2 headphone. It is selling for $599,95 USD.
Disclaimer: The Sennheiser HD 660S2 was sent to us by the local Sennheiser press agency in exchange for this review. Sennheiser is not related to Headfonia in any way.
Sennheiser
Sennheiser has been around since like forever and they’re one of the most respected companies in audio. In the past, Sennheiser has impressed us with a lot of top-quality products like the HD800, the HD 800S and many 5XX and 6xx series headphones. Sennheiser has also upped their IEM game and they have successfully launched the IE 200, IE 300, IE 600 and IE 900 inear monitors.
We’ve of course featured and reviewed Sennheiser products on multiple occasions and you can find all of our Sennheiser reviews here.
In today’s review we’ll be taking a closer look at the HD660 S2, their new full sized, open headphone. The HD 660S2 is the successor of the HD 660S that was launched back in 2018 already, and it’s a direct competitor to the iconic HD 600 and HD 650 as well. Before continuing with the HD 660S2 review, I suggest reading up on the original HD 660S first. You can find that review here:
I’m also glad to see that Sennheiser after a few years will finally be present again at the High-End Munich show. The Sonova takeover surely has something to do with that. I for one look forward to visiting the new Sennheiser booth in Munich next week.
HD 660S2
The HD 660S2’s dedicated webpage can be found here. The press release is over here. It can also be directly bought from Sennheiser there. You can check out the HD 660S2 video here.
The new Sennheiser HD 660S2 features a 38mm transducer and it has ultra-light aluminum voice coil with 300Ohm impedance for excellent impulse response (150Ohm before). Of course, the HD 660S2 still is an open back design headphone and it features Sennheiser’s uniquely powerful vented magnet system for minimized distortion.
“Dive deeper into legendary sound”
For the HD660 S2, Sennheiser revised the coil of the S2, and it now matches the 300-ohm impedance of the legendary HD 600 & HD 650. This new coil also provides higher magnetic force and electrical dampening for cleaner impulse response. The surround – according to Sennheiser – is now more compliant too, dropping the resonant frequency to 70 Hz. Considerable effort also went into optimizing the airflow around the transducer. There’s more sensitivity over the entire frequency spectrum because the magnet´s air gap works more efficiently now. Taken together, these measures result in even greater precision, speed, and resolution — with double the sound pressure at the lowest frequencies.
The biggest impact of all this is on the lower frequencies, and the HD 660S2 now shows more extended sub bass. Sennheiser states that this extension on the low-end changes everything: “by creating more space for the sound, against a deeper backdrop, the highs feel more brilliant, the soundstage deeper, and the emotions stronger”.
Specifications
Transducer principle: dynamic, open
Transducer size: 38 mm
Frequency response: 8 – 41,500 Hz
Impedance: 300 Ω
Sound pressure level (SPL): 104 dB (1 kHz, 1 Vrms)
Total harmonic distortion (THD): <0.04% (1 kHz, 100 dB)
Ear coupling: Over-Ear
Weight: 260g
Adapter: 6.3 mm (1⁄4 inch) to 3.5 mm
Connector: 6.3 mm (1⁄4 inch) jack plug, 4.4 mm balanced plug
Cable length: 1.8m
Country of origin: Ireland
Magnetic field: 4.5mT
The Box, Accessories & Price
The HD 660 S2 is officially selling for $600 USD, but it can be found online for $500 USD. The price of the original HD 660S has now dropped to just over $300 USD. The box the HD 660S2 comes in is very basic, especially for the price it is selling for. In fact, it’s very much like the HD 560S box. Is it important? No, as it’s just a box. Yes, at the whole package needs to be good.
On the inside of the box, we have multiple things:
- The HD 660 S2 headphone
- A 3.5 mm adapter
- A soft carry pouch
- One 6.3 mm cable (1.8 m – much shorter than with the HD 660S)
- One 4.4 mm cable (1.8 m – much shorter than with the HD 660S)
- One 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter
- Quality certificate
- Quick guide
All-in-all the package is very complete, especially with the double cable option and the 3.5m adapter. With such a complete set of accessories ze immediately forget about the less impressive box. A lot of amplifiers only feature an XLR balanced connection, so you might need to get an adapter for that. I am using the adapters from Venture Electronics.
The article continues on the second page. Click here or use the jump system below.
Page 1: Sennheiser, HD 660 S2, Specifications, Box & Accessories
Page 2: Design, Build Quality, Comfort, Sound pt. 1
Page 3: Sound pt. 2, Comparisons
Page 4: Synergy, Conclusion
Max
“I do find the HD 650 to have better layering, a more natural vocal presentation, and more impressive sub rumble than the HD 660S2 […]”
Do we need to say more? I don’t think.
I must admit I was curious to listen to this new implementation of the classical oval-shape driver by Sennheiser, but it was a real disappointment. Too much expensive but, overall, terrible sound performances if compared to the old (but gold) HD 650. The latter has one of the best presentations ever created: there’s much better in definition, much better in soundstage, much better in dynamic, but there’s nothing better in timber than HD 650. That’s why everybody buy it (again), once realizing this.
Benjamin
Hello,
what is the value of this Sennheiser HD 660 S2 compared to the Sennheiser HD 700?
Thanks
Benjamin
Lieven
It’s been a very long time since i heard the HD700. I’m not comfortable comparing it to the HD 660S2 from memory, sorry.
Steven Sylvester
Very Good review.How do you think the HD 660 S2 would be with the
FIIO Q7 DAC/AMP?
thanking you in advance
Lieven
Personally I would recommend an otl tube amp or a warmer/fuller solid state amp
Amandeep Singh
Is the JDS Labs Atom 2 Amp and DAC a good pairing?
Steven Sylvester
Hi LIEVEN
I was taken by your super review of the FIIO Q7,so had decided to go for that Dac amp,Possibly I need to look at other partnering Headphones?I was not going to go down the tube amp route but if you could possibly give me a couple of alternatives would be very much obliged
Lieven
It depends on your budget. You already have a dac?
Steven Sylvester
Hello.
I do not have anything as yet,I play my HD music files through my laptop.I only need desktop mode,not portability.my budget is approximately $1500
I really do thank you,for the help and advice
Regards Steve
Lieven
You can go for a combo like the Hugo (DAC & AMP) or the ERCO (https://www.headfonia.com/ferrum-audio-erco-review/) or
Or one of these DACs: https://www.headfonia.com/best-dac/ – I would recommended the Pegasus
And one of these amps: https://www.headfonia.com/best-amplifiers/ – I would recommend the Crack & HA-3A as tube amps and the Ch-Amp as solid state amp
Steven Sylvester
Hi LIEVEN
Many thanks for the help,suggestions and advice.all very much appreciated.I will have no option but to buy via Mail-Order,as there are no good shops or wide ranging choice’s in Norway.
May have to go for the Fiio as I can buy Fiio here in Norway,plenty to think about? once again many thanks for your time
all the best Steve
Yusuf Şeker
Hi, I have FiiO BTR15
This is a problem?