The Sennheiser HD 660S2 has been on my radar as a suggestion for anybody trying to step up from the HD 650, and at $419.81 it’s now $260 off its $679.95 record value. That’s a 38% lower on what’s arguably Sennheiser’s most completed open-back headphone on this vary, and it brings it right into a value bracket that’s very onerous to argue with.
What you’re getting
The HD 660S2 is a direct evolution of the HD 650 lineage, however essentially the most significant change is the bass extension. Sennheiser redesigned the transducers to achieve decrease frequencies with extra authority, addressing the one space the place the HD 650 left some listeners wanting extra. The result’s an open-back headphone that retains the nice and cozy, pure midrange the 650 is thought for whereas including real weight on the low finish.
Like its predecessor, the HD 660S2 is a 300-ohm design, so that you’ll get essentially the most out of it with a devoted headphone amplifier or DAC. That stated, it scales nicely with higher supply tools over time, making it a headphone price investing round reasonably than one you’ll exchange. The open-back building delivers a large, pure soundstage that closed-back designs persistently battle to duplicate, and the imaging is exact sufficient to make it a great tool for mixing and significant listening in addition to informal use.
Construct high quality follows the identical template because the broader HD 600 household: light-weight, replaceable ear pads, a removable cable, and a scarf that distributes stress evenly for lengthy listening periods. It’s not a flashy design, however it’s constructed to final and straightforward to service if one thing wears out.
Why it’s price it
At $679.95, the HD 660S2 sits on the higher finish of what most individuals would contemplate accessible audiophile territory. At $419.81, it lands in a bracket the place the competitors will get significantly thinner. The Beyerdynamic T1 and Audeze LCD-1 each occupy related territory, however neither gives the identical mixture of bass extension, pure tuning, and repairability that the 660S2 brings to the desk. If you happen to already personal an amp or DAC, this can be a simple improve choice.
The underside line
The Sennheiser HD 660S2 at $419.81 is a uncommon deal on a headphone that represents the perfect of what Sennheiser does. The prolonged bass response, refined acoustic tuning, and open-back soundstage add as much as a listening expertise that justifies each cent, and the $260 low cost makes it one of many extra persuasive audiophile headphone offers obtainable proper now.
