OFFICIAL: Massdrop Sennheiser HD6XX

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Nov 1, 2016.

  1. Xen

    Xen Friend

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    Last one sold about 5 minutes ago. Drop was "successful."
     
  2. gixxerwimp

    gixxerwimp Professional tricycle rider

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    Those who missed it can jump on the... HD 700!

    [​IMG]

    $399.99 UNLOCKED
     
  3. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    $300 too much
     
  4. DigMe

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    Well I guess that would depend on how much it is worth to someone to impress HFer's.
     
  5. Xen

    Xen Friend

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    There was at least 1 Massdropper who wrote that they canceled their HD6XX (@$249) order and joined the "much better" HD700 (@$399). :rolleyes:

    I wonder if they canceled the cancel and resubscribed to the HD6XX (@$199)...
     
  6. Big Al Knine

    Big Al Knine Acquaintance

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    I believe they did.
     
  7. Big Al Knine

    Big Al Knine Acquaintance

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    Btw, I must confess that at one point, for a Fraction of a second I contemplated buying the HD700 for $399. Just out of curiously mostly. Figured it would make a good modding toy.

    But then I listened to my neighbors Fostex THX00 And realized that if I was gonna spent $399 on headphones, there are a lot other options out there that would be better toys.

    I need some good closed backs right now. So my next pair has to be closed back. My HD600/650's got my open back needs covered. Plus I am still saving for my stax.

    Must. Have. Stax.
     
  8. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    i succumbed to the curiosity and got some HD700s a while ago. They were, interesting. Twin peaks, and not in a good way. Just not for me, or anyone that cares about the sound.
     
  9. Big Al Knine

    Big Al Knine Acquaintance

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    Well that's all I need to know really.
     
  10. Woot-Zee

    Woot-Zee New

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    Finally, I got a pair...
    I couldn't get from the first batch, website was blocked. :D
    I really like the color, I think is better than HD650 (on looks) :)
     
  11. AllanMarcus

    AllanMarcus Friend

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    I bought in too. I prefer grey to dark dark blue, so come December, if anyone wants to trade a new HD650 for a HD6xx (cable swap optional), ping me then :)
     
  12. Headroll

    Headroll New

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    Massdrop has another run of the 6XX's starting Monday July 10th and will continue until July 30 or until the available units sell out. 10,000 additional serialized units as part of the second run. Furthermore, Massdrop is working to get another 3,500 units

    A total of 10,000 units will be available, and as this is a continuation of the second run order that started in June, the drop counter will start at 11,500 and run to 21,500.
     
  13. tgx78

    tgx78 MOT: TGXear

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    lol. Looking forward to next year, there will be so many used HD6XX to choose from.
     
  14. Xen

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    So basically, either Sennheiser makes a pretty nice profit/unit even at the $199 price point by more than tripling the number of units available or they need to sell that many more units to make the same profit as the original number of units at the $250 price point.

    Still, if you can wait for the shipping, $199 is a great price.
     
  15. jdmasters

    jdmasters New

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    I just like how they are going to get in the extra 10k before the Dec 18th date.
     
  16. Big Al Knine

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    I don't think the amount is a problem. The reason they mentioned a limitation originally was because of parts and materials sourcing. But then they made it sound like they feel confident now that the suppliers will have enough materials over the course of the 6month lead time, for them to fulfill their orders.

    Remember that all those units are not shipping to Asia, since their distributors there did not want the competition. So they are still making more 650's to be sold in the Asian markets at full price.

    So they can make them and we know they can sell them. It is just a question of how many did Massdrop had to buy/sell to make their custom order worth it and the hassle it creates for the Asian distributors that like to give their customers a large markup.
     
  17. Renekton

    Renekton Acquaintance

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    TL;DR: The supplied HD6XX cables detract from listening pleasure compared to slapping on an HD600 cable. IMHO.

    Edit: I shall use an outtake from this post as a TL;DR 2: Stock 6XX cable = rather thick + bit muddy + pretty boomy sound. HD600 cable = clear AS FOCK and speedy.

    Gear: oldish gaming PC - JriverMC 20 - WASAPI - wyrd - modi1 - magni1 - HD598, HD600, HD6XX;

    Disclaimer: It is, of course, a subtle difference. I exaggerate to help convey my feelings and also to help illustrate the actual sonic difference.

    So I've been listening to my 2016 amazon.com HD600 and my new HD6XX. I really wanted to like the 6XX, but it was just too boomy, so I almost always preferred the amazing HD600.

    A week ago I lied down in bed for a listening session and needed a longer cable to reach my bed, but wanted a darker sound. I chose to put the 3 metre (or so) HD600 cable on the 6XX. I listened for half an hour with closed eyes and I thought, wow, great transparency, but at first I didn't pay much mind to it and decided it was just because of the lower listening volume. Then I went to the PC to change playlists and ended up staying there and listening to my library at normal and high volumes, not believing what I am hearing: Did I accidentally take the HD600? Nope, but it's cable brought the same fast, tactile, transparent bass to the 6XX. That, combined with the smooth 650 mids and highs was a revelation. I was stunned. I was hearing all my music anew. Well, electronic music wasn't too different, but flacs of rock and metal... WOW: for the first time ever have I experienced such fine layering, effortless drum separation, clear detail and just fast everything. I mean, HD600 with its own cable is a bit grainy and not too well layered, while HD6XX with its stock cable has a wide stage, but is boomy, midbassy and a bit muddy. 6XX with 600 cable is best of both worlds. Actually no, it's a new league. You get the benefits of HD650 (a bit more extended subbass, wide stage, great layering, little grain, great microdetail) without having to put up with mud and smear from the schiatty cable (yes, I just used smear as a noun). Note, HD600 is still more exciting and ecstatic (read: brighter + mid forward)

    So this is the HD650 (well, 6XX. Whatever). Like, at first I thought a boomy midbass fest was what the 650 was supposed to be. Turns out the supplied cable just sucks. And I wasn't even a cable believer. Cables are fringe and unimportant, I thought. Yet a cable was f'ing up my otherwise great (relatively) audio system. I haven't even gone for my beloved HD600 since - 6XX is now just so fast, tactile, transparent and detailed, while being fun (read: involving and very clear, yet NOT attention demanding like the HD600) and smooth.

    I'd call it about a 5% difference (definitely more noticeable than, say, WASAPI vs direct sound). It's not a side grade kind of coloring - it's a pure gains difference.

    Trivia: Just to make sure I didn't dream it I swapped the cables back and forth on the next day a few times and listened (on that same day I recalled that sir Abhishek had to say a bit about the issue, since I was following this thread before I received my 6XX. So I started planning my post and decided I will find and quote him). The difference was smaller than I initially perceived, but it was obvious. Stock 6XX cable = rather thick + bit muddy + pretty boomy sound. HD600 cable = clear AS FOCK and speedy.

    Even my mom heard it. I didn't tell her what the difference is exactly. Result - her own words after hearing the 6XX with both cables (hotswapped; particular song used; volume unchanged): "Wow, the boominess is gone" (with the HD600 cable) (she said it in Bulgarian, but nothing is lost or distorted in translation).

    This discovery is a big step for me in this hobby for 2 reasons:
    1. WOW, I didn't know the HD650 were THAT good. I can't wait to add a Jotunheim.
    2. Damn. I knew every little piece in the system matters, but having just a single cable change so much is daunting and nervosa inducing :D
     
  18. AllanMarcus

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    Interesting.

    I just noticed the HD 600 cable is $42
    https://en-us.sennheiser.com/cable-3-m-35-mm

    And the hd 650 cable is $11
    https://en-us.sennheiser.com/accessories--hd-650--cable

    And sennheiser doesn't say they can be used on the other headphone (but I assume they can be). I do notice the tips are different, as is the plug. Has anyone compared to see if they use the same wire? Or what else might be different?

    I realize both are different from the hd6xx cable.
     
  19. k4rstar

    k4rstar Britney fan club president

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    They can be used interchangeably as the headphone-side connectors are the same. I talked with @Psalmanazar about this recently but unfortunately he's indisposed and can't share his thoughts. These screencaps will have to do:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    The 650 cable is better sounding than the 600 cable which is in turn better than the 6xx cable. I would just grab the 650 cable regardless of which variant headphone you have (including the HD580) as it's the best sounding and best built. According to the anecdote above it's not just a matter of more shielding/insulation but a different wire too.
     
  20. DigMe

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    Marvey has also previously said that the 650 cable is surprisingly good quality and the 6XX cable not so much.

    The $11 includes shipping, BTW, if I recall correctly.
     

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