Massdrop x Sennheiser HD6XX Headphones

[DJ80]

Had these arrived 10 days ago but I wasn't in the country to collect and unbox. Did that today though, finally.

Very competitive cans. They may dethrone my modded Hifiman He400i (those modded to my preference, and actually made better than stock, or so I think).
Here’s my impressions so far (with 0 burn-in and just average gear):

Pros:

• Surprisingly easy to handle, contrary to popular belief. Off my DAP + fiiO E07k right now, with +6dB gain and +4 bass they’re pulling off an impressive feat of sound delivery. They’re actually running louder than the 38ohm Hifiman He400i. Beats me, as these are 300 Ohm.
• Great sound across the range. Bass is surprisingly pretty close to my endgame EMU Ebonys, and closest to them compared to all the open/semi-open and even some closed cans that I have.
• Beautiful mids – just bliss; better than Hifiman for me, for now.
• Balanced sound overall. No fatigue.
• My faith in velour pads delivering pleather/leather level bass and sound is restored.
• Instrument separation and 3D placement is top notch.

Cons:

• Clamping is too tight right now. Maybe it’ll ease up in time.
• Soundstage may not be as wide as the Hifiman, and the 6XX may not be as neutral as they are.

I will update more impressions when I get my more powerful amp, any day now. So far though, I am impressed.

 

[opethian]

CONGRATS GURU G

perfect pair ... HE400i n HD 6xx
best of both worlds ... plannar n dynamics ... now u just need STAX or anyother electrostatics to complete the holy trinity
i think plannar magnetics r always harder to drive no matter how low is their impedance

 

[opethian]

just noticed ur pair has #1281 serial number that sweet ... but why this shade of blue Senn ???

 

[DJ80]

just noticed ur pair has #1281 serial number that sweet ... but why this shade of blue Senn ???

Thanks buddy. Well, STAX is a bit... not on the list. Not cuz I cant get it, but cuz it may not be what I intend it to. And they do say bass is not quite that good on them (except ZReviews, who's reviews are now a bit... unpredictable).
Anyhow, maybe next decade lol.

Yeah, well all of these Massdrop ones are blue.

 

[UzairAhmed]

[MENTION=11778]DJ80[/MENTION] congratulations brother I love the HD650 and this 6xx it was an awesome deal and I am glad you made the purchase they sure worth 200$+ even a second hand 650 is going for 300$ here so yeah not bad at all and as for sacrificing sound stage for bit more bass is worth it because now you have two different sounding headphones so you can enjoy whatever you like
[MENTION=4563]opethian[/MENTION] yeah stax are something worth getting and completing the collection.....but myself and DJ80 have got an eye out for the Hifiman he1000 isn't it still true [MENTION=11778]DJ80[/MENTION] ?

 

[faw88]

Congratulations @DJ80 ! they look great! and I'm sure they sound amazing. . Although you're the first person I've seen saying that these are 'easy to drive'. The 650's are a nightmare when it comes to drivability according to almost everyone. I personally think that 'Running Louder' per say, does not directly translate into drivability of a headphone. It's more to do with the soundstage and the note clarity/scaleability offered at that volume. Heck, My macbook can drive my 400i's to decent volumes but they end up sounding horrible , But thats just my $0.02. I think you'll feel a world of difference running these out of a more powerful setup (post burn-in) they'll really open up.
btw which amp did you order?

 

[mac007]

Congratz Bro
Great purchase.... do massdrop deliver stuff of Pakistan? or u went back to UAE?

 

[DJ80]

Congratz Bro
Great purchase.... do massdrop deliver stuff of Pakistan? or u went back to UAE?

they may deliver but may open, violate and charge tax :fp1:
Got these in the UAE.

One of the best cans a person can ever buy for the price really.
And if this is the only cans you have, even then ur better off.
they're giving my double and triple priced cans a run for the money.

Massdrop should do this again, of this is the only thing they ever do.
[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] well I'm really having no trouble here. They're sounding very pleasing with what I have. If they can sound even better then well sky is the limit. I'm just saying they're the power hungry. Drive ability is surprisingly not as much as I myself thought.
[MENTION=15671]UzairAhmed[/MENTION] hahah buddy don't go there. I'm not gonna buy any more cans now. I've reached a saturation level and am through all sorts of experiments as I've heard it all but STAX.

Maybe next upgrade will be next decade:laugh1:

 

[faw88]

@DJ80 Indeed bro, I've had the experience of listening to an adequately powered 650 (valhalla2+bifrost multibit) recently. Its a BEAST. scales way better than my 400i's. there's a reason sennheiser has been selling these since 2003, they're an absolute classic. the difference is quite easily discernible. Anyways Have fun with your 6xx, Its a really good purchase, value for money is off the charts. I'm hoping I get lucky with the next drop. Congratulations!
Also they look great in this color.

 

[UzairAhmed]

[MENTION=11778]DJ80[/MENTION] hahah good for you bro you have find your peace then you review gears you know better than anyone else how dangerous it could be to be in pursuit of that magical sound or having different sounding cans etc but unfortunately for me and my wallet the hunt is still on lolzz and HD650 was never under my radar but now it is
[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] if you end up getting in the next batch then please order 2


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[faw88]

@DJ80 hahah good for you bro you have find your peace then you review gears you know better than anyone else how dangerous it could be to be in pursuit of that magical sound or having different sounding cans etc but unfortunately for me and my wallet the hunt is still on lolzz and HD650 was never under my radar but now it is
@faw88 if you end up getting in the next batch then please order 2


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[MENTION=15671]UzairAhmed[/MENTION] haha! bro I tried this time as well, their servers were a mess, and the drop was over before I knew it. I'd been waiting since weeks for it. But to be honest I got a bit lazy as well. next time I'll be first in line

 

[faw88]

Although I'm currently looking at the HD800's which are my endgame. So I might not end up getting the 650 and save up for the 800 instead. They've got the EXACT sound I want (extremely analytical). but the only issue is that senns tend to fall drastically in price once they get older, Currently they're going for about $830 ish. the 700's fell fairly quick. So lets see how it goes.

 

[UzairAhmed]

[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] well if the sound is right then you will be happy as for me i want something warmer darker so 650 is a better buy and you're talking about 800 or the 800S that just came out last year? I think they are 1500$ range here in China well everything is expensive here but i bet even in the US they cost more


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[faw88]

[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] well if the sound is right then you will be happy as for me i want something warmer darker so 650 is a better buy and you're talking about 800 or the 800S that just came out last year? I think they are 1500$ range here in China well everything is expensive here but i bet even in the US they cost more


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800 not the 800S. S is around $1500 in the US as well but the 800 is now going for $830 it was introduced at $1600 if i recall correctly. And I've always had my eye on them, 800 with the appropriate mods is one of the best headphones in the world. Especially under $1k.
That being said, the 650/6xx are simply fantastic and they're definitely something I would like to have in my collection one day.

 

[UzairAhmed]

[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] yeah vanilla 800 is really good icing on top is the S version....for now lets focus on the 6xx lolzzz


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[opethian]

[MENTION=38741]faw88[/MENTION] Focal Elear have also earned a great reputation ...

 

[DJ80]

Oh yes. Focal. Personally I think if I had to make a choice id take the Focal Elear over the HD800. It may have more low-end. Drivers sure are something else entirely. Maybe decade, and that too if my gear goes kaput. Though for now I'm in great hands.

I do think though that for modern music the 650 is quite an ordeal. And just an epic buy that drop was as I feel the sound is many times over the price. No one in their right mind should miss it if it ever occurs again.

 

[opethian]

Oh yes. Focal. Personally I think if I had to make a choice id take the Focal Elear over the HD800. It may have more low-end. Drivers sure are something else entirely. Maybe decade, and that too if my gear goes kaput. Though for now I'm in great hands.

I do think though that for modern music the 650 is quite an ordeal. And just an epic buy that drop was as I feel the sound is many times over the price. No one in their right mind should miss it if it ever occurs again.

We have a right mind but no means to avail Massdrop here in Pakistan
May be those among us who can get access could help others build their setups
And I wish to audition more high-end stuff n see (hear) if my ears (34+) r good enough for such kind of spending especially HD 6XX/HD600 ...
Well I have seen many audiophiles picking Elear over HD800 which is quite an achievement for these sub $1000 cans ... Love how they look n I cant even imagine how they would sound like but that's atleast $2000-3000 audio-setup which might not happen even in next 2 decades for me

 

[DJ80]

We have a right mind but no means to avail Massdrop here in Pakistan 
May be those among us who can get access could help others build their setups 
And I wish to audition more high-end stuff n see (hear) if my ears (34+) r good enough for such kind of spending  especially HD 6XX/HD600 ...
Well I have seen many audiophiles picking Elear over HD800 which is quite an achievement for these sub $1000 cans ... Love how they look n I cant even imagine how they would sound like but that's atleast $2000-3000 audio-setup which might not happen even in next 2 decades for me 

Hahaha don't worry. A few things here:

- NOTHING is night and day different. People lie when they say that, and end up spending a lot of money. Sometimes I think my $20 or $40 aint so bad or like 10 times far behind my more expensive stuff, so there. Only marginal increase or improvements.
- You'll have the money, dont worry. 34 years means nothing. Younger people have better/worse gear, and many older folks, again the same (better or worse gear). All in good time. But it is ALWAYS, ALWAYS advisable to audition something first before buying. Been there, done that. Wasted money practicing it too.
- This is a hobby of diminishing returns. Always make up ur mind before buying and then live with what you have. Thirsts can never be quenched so tread carefully. There's always something better out there every other day, so don't lose it hehehe.

Yeah, opportunity sucks in our country to get hands on the good stuff. Well, I was deprived myself at one point. Now I feel privileged. But for how long? Nobody knows.

 

[opethian]

Hahaha don't worry. A few things here:

- NOTHING is night and day different. People lie when they say that, and end up spending a lot of money. Sometimes I think my $20 or $40 aint so bad or like 10 times far behind my more expensive stuff, so there. Only marginal increase or improvements.
- You'll have the money, dont worry. 34 years means nothing. Younger people have better/worse gear, and many older folks, again the same (better or worse gear). All in good time. But it is ALWAYS, ALWAYS advisable to audition something first before buying. Been there, done that. Wasted money practicing it too.
- This is a hobby of diminishing returns. Always make up ur mind before buying and then live with what you have. Thirsts can never be quenched so tread carefully. There's always something better out there every other day, so don't lose it hehehe.

Yeah, opportunity sucks in our country to get hands on the good stuff. Well, I was deprived myself at one point. Now I feel privileged. But for how long? Nobody knows.

Every hobby is of diminishing returns except those which can generate money one way or another
Anyway thanks guys for ur every suggestions and advice. This is one of those hobbies which is very subjective so offcourse auditioning things will make life easier
Hope we gather more audio gear enthusiasts on this forum and progressively help each other