Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently released our Test Bench 1.6 update for Headphones! Read the Latency R&D Article to learn more.

Sennheiser HD 660 S Headphones Review

Tested using Methodology v1.5
Review updated May 08, 2019 at 10:14 am
Latest change: Writing modified Mar 08, 2023 at 09:56 am
Sennheiser HD 660 S Picture
7.9
Neutral Sound
3.7
Commute/Travel
5.4
Sports/Fitness
4.3
Office
4.3
Wireless Gaming
6.3
Wired Gaming
1.6
Phone Calls
These headphones were replaced by the Sennheiser HD 660S2

The Sennheiser HD 660 S are good open-back critical listening headphones. They have a good audio reproduction and are comfortable enough for long listening sessions. However, they are quite a bit tighter than other Sennheiser headphones we've tested, like the Sennheiser HD 650. They won’t be great for any other use as their open design doesn’t block any noise and leaks a lot, so they're best used in a quiet listening room where you can really benefit from their sound quality.

Our Verdict

7.9 Neutral Sound

Good for neutral listening. Their bass is very good, consistent, and punchy, the mid-range is well-balanced and clear, and their treble is very good as well. However, their bass lacks a bit of thump and is a bit muddy; they also sound a bit mid-rangy and forward. Also, their treble lacks a bit of detail and might sound slightly veiled. Overall, they are great versatile headphones for a wide variety of music genres but their sub-bass might be lacking a bit for bass-heavy music.

Pros
  • Good audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Well-built design.
Cons
  • High leakage and low isolation, by design.
  • Can be tight on some heads.
3.7 Commute/Travel

Bad for commuting. These headphones are open-back and won’t be suitable for this use case. All the noise of public transit will seep into your audio and people surrounding you will be able to hear what you’re listening to.

Pros
  • Good audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Well-built design.
Cons
  • High leakage and low isolation, by design.
  • Can be tight on some heads.
5.4 Sports/Fitness

Sub-par for sports. While they are stable on the head due to their tight fit, these headphones shouldn’t be used for sports. They aren’t portable and you will also sweat more than usual since they create a tight seal around your ears. Also, their wired design means you’ll have a cable in your way during exercising.

Pros
  • Good audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Well-built design.
Cons
  • High leakage and low isolation, by design.
  • Can be tight on some heads.
4.3 Office

Poor for the office. The open design of the HD 660S means that they won’t block work environment noises and will also leak quite a lot, which will be disturbing to people surrounding you. These headphones can be used if you’re working alone but won’t be suitable for a common office.

Pros
  • Good audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Well-built design.
Cons
  • High leakage and low isolation, by design.
  • Can be tight on some heads.
4.3 Wireless Gaming

Sub-par for gaming. These headphones don’t have a microphone for online games, can’t be customized like most gaming headsets with a software, and can’t be used in loud environments. However, if you have a stand-alone mic and play in a quiet room, these are quite comfortable for long gaming sessions and they have a good sound quality.

6.3 Wired Gaming

Pros
  • Good audio reproduction.
  • Comfortable fit.
  • Well-built design.
Cons
  • High leakage and low isolation, by design.
  • Can be tight on some heads.
1.6 Phone Calls
  • 7.9 Neutral Sound
  • 3.7 Commute/Travel
  • 5.4 Sports/Fitness
  • 4.3 Office
  • 4.3 Wireless Gaming
  • 6.3 Wired Gaming
  • 1.6 Phone Calls
  1. Updated Mar 08, 2023: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Sennheiser HD 660S2 in Compared To Other Headphones.
  2. Updated Jul 07, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
  3. Updated Feb 17, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.4.
  4. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.1.
  5. Updated Nov 21, 2019: Converted to Test Bench 1.3.
  6. Updated Aug 12, 2019: We've updated the Comfort score to better reflect how tight these headphones are.
  7. Updated May 08, 2019: Review published.
  8. Updated May 06, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated May 06, 2019: Early access published.
  10. Updated May 04, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  11. Updated Apr 29, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Compared To Other Headphones

The Sennheiser HD 660S are the previous generation of the Sennheiser HD 660S2 and are good critical listening headphones that stand out by the decent value they offer. They are quite comfortable, but a bit tighter than some other models on the market. They also don't sound as open as other headphones from this manufacturer like the Sennheiser HD 6XX.

See our recommendations for the best audiophile headphones, the best wired headphones, and the best headphones for studio use.

Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO

The Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are both very good open-back audiophile headphones, each with their own different sound signature. The Sennheiser have a warm, smooth sound, but lack body in the bass, and brightness in the treble. The Beyerdynamic have a fuller, brighter sound, but can also be rather piercing, and even a bit cluttered.

HiFiMan Sundara 2020

The HiFiMan Sundara 2020 are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HiFiMan have a more well-balanced sound profile, which some listeners may prefer. They also have a significantly better soundstage performance and more consistent audio delivery. They're also much more comfortable. However, the Sennheiser are much more breathable.

Sennheiser HD 560S

The Sennheiser HD 560S are slightly better for neutral listening than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HD 560S have a better-balanced bass and treble range, a more natural soundstage, and a more comfortable fit. However, the HD 660 S are better-built, deliver a slightly more neutral mid-range, and provide superior stereo imaging performance.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are better headphones for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. They're more comfortable, noticeably better-built, and have a more neutral and flat sound profile. There's also a big difference in soundstage, as the HD 800 S create a wider, more out-of-head audio experience. However, the HD 660 S are way less expensive and may offer better overall value for their performance.

Sennheiser HD 660S2

The Sennheiser HD 660S2 are the next generation of the Sennheiser HD 660 S. While they have the same style, build quality, and comfort, the second generation have a warmer sound that delivers more thump and punch. Their treble range has been adjusted, although vocals and instruments are more veiled, while sibilants become a bit more aggressive due to the dip around 5kH. They also come with a dust pouch so you can store the headphones when not in use.

Sennheiser HD 600

The Sennheiser HD 600 and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are similar headphones overall, but the HD 600 are a better choice for audiophiles who prefer a more neutral sound profile. Their bass and mid-range responses are nearly identical, but the HD 600 have a brighter and more present treble, while the HD 660 S are rather dull. The underemphasized treble of the HD 660 S may be preferable if you find sounds in the higher frequencies particularly piercing or painful, but, for most people, the HD 600 sound better-balanced overall.

Sennheiser HD 650

The Sennheiser HD 650 and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are very similar headphones. Their build is almost identical and their sound profile is practically the same as well. The biggest difference is how they feel once on your head. The HD 650 don’t feel as tight as the HD 660 S do, which could be more comfortable for most people. We also measure a more open-sounding soundstage on the HD 650, but since their design is the same, we expect them to sound very similarly. The HD 660 S come with a 0.17 inch (4.4mm) balanced audio cable, which the HD 650 don’t have.

Sennheiser HD 6XX

The Sennheiser HD 6XX are better for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HD 6XX have a more neutral sound profile and a better passive soundstage performance. However, the HD 660 S have a more stable fit and come with a longer audio cable.

Sennheiser HD 599

The Sennheiser HD 599 and the Sennheiser HD 660 S are similarly performing open-back headphones, but the 599 are a bit better for audiophiles looking for neutral sound. They have a much better passive soundstage performance and more neutral bass and treble responses, which some may prefer. They're also more comfortable and breathable. On the other hand, the 660 S have a much better build quality and a more stable fit on your head.

Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee

The Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee are slightly better critical listening open-back headphones than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. Their low-bass is slightly better and doesn’t roll-off as much as the HD 660 S’. On the other hand, some may find the HD 58X Jubilee to be very tight and not as comfortable as the HD 660 S. However, the HD 58X Jubilee are more affordable and offer better value, but are only available on the Drop website as they are a special collaboration between Sennheiser and Massdrop.

HiFiMan Sundara 2018

The planar magnetic HiFiMan Sundara 2018 are better critical listening headphones than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The HiFiMan are more comfortable to wear for a long period of time and they also have a more accurate sound profile. Their bass roll-off isn’t as pronounced as the Sennheiser, and they won’t sound as forward. Also, they have a noticeably more open-sounding soundstage. Overall, the HiFiMan will offer better value than the Sennheiser.

Focal Elear

The Focal Elear are better open critical listening headphones than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. They aren’t as tight on the head and will be more comfortable for long listening sessions. The Focal are also one of the better-built headphones we’ve reviewed so far. Sound-wise, their treble is more uneven, but they should sound more open due to their better soundstage performance.

Beats Solo Pro Wireless

The Beats Solo Pro Wireless are more versatile headphones than the Sennheiser HD 660 S. The Beats have an impressive ANC feature and a better build quality. They have an integrated mic, good onboard controls, and a more bass-rich sound profile that some listeners may prefer. On the other hand, the Sennheiser are wired headphones with an open-back design. Their soundstage is perceived as more open and spacious, and they have a much more comfortable fit.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type Over-ear
Enclosure Open-Back
Wireless No
Transducer Dynamic

The HD 660S are good looking headphones and have a similar design to that of the HD 650 and HD 600, but with a black matte finish. The large oval cups are padded with microfiber-like fabric, which gives them a premium look. The cups are open and the grill design shows off the drivers. They aren’t very eye-catching like some other similar models, but they look like sleek and high-end headphones.

7.0
Design
Comfort
Weight 0.6 lbs
Clamping Force
1.2 lbs

Update: 08/12/2019 After comparing these headphones with other models, we found them to be very tight and reduced their score accordingly.

The HD 660S are comfortable headphones, but they feel tight on the head due to their high clamping force. They are tighter than the similar HD 650, but on the upside, the microfiber-like fabric used on the cup padding is soft and feels nice on the skin. The cups are very large and will be suitable for most ear sizes and shapes without a problem. The headband design is the same that of the HD 650, which is more comfortable than the HD 600 and distributes the headphones’ weight effectively.

0
Design
Controls
OS Compatibility
No Controls
Ease Of Use No Controls
Feedback No Controls
Call/Music Control No
Volume Control No
Microphone Control No
Channel Mixing
No
Noise Cancelling Control No
Talk-Through
No
Additional Controls No

These headphones do not have any controls.

6.2
Design
Breathability
Avg.Temp.Difference 6.4 °C

The open-back design of the HD 660 S make them decently breathable. They still create a good seal around your ears that will trap some heat under the ear cups, but the grill design will help with airflow. Overall, these still won't be a good option for sports.

5.4
Design
Portability
L 7.7" (19.6 cm)
W 7.1" (18.0 cm)
H 3.6" (9.1 cm)
Volume 197.00 in³ (3,228.24 cm³)
Transmitter Required No

These headphones are fairly large and their footprint is quite big. You can’t fold them into a more compact format and the cups don’t lay flat either, which would have been easier to slide them in a bag. They also don't offer a dedicated case or pouch to carry the headphones in, which is slightly disappointing, but you shouldn’t really be on the go too often with open-back headphones.

0
Design
Case
Type No case
L N/A
W N/A
H N/A
Volume N/A

They don’t come with a case or pouch to carry and protect the headphones.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The HD 660S are well-built headphones, but their build has a few minor flaws. The headband frame is a thin metal sheet that feels somewhat durable, but is not that flexible. The joints where the headband meets the yolks feels fairly fragile and seems to be the weak point of the build. On the upside, the plastic used feels decently solid and they also have detachable cables, which are easily replaceable, making them more durable.

7.5
Design
Stability

These headphones are quite stable on the head because of their tight fit and their large cups. They don’t sway around much, but still aren’t designed to be used for sports. Also, even if their cable is detachable, it needs quite a bit of force to disconnect, meaning the headphones could be yanked off your head if it was hooked on something.

Design
Headshots 1
Design
Headshots 2
Design
Top
Design
In The Box

  • Sennheiser HD 660 S headphones
  • 1/4” audio cable
  • 0.17 inch (4.4mm) balanced audio cable
  • 1/4” to 1/8” adapter
  • Manuals

Sound
Sound
Sound Profile
Bass Amount
-4.39 dB
Treble Amount
-3.29 dB
8.0
Sound
Frequency Response Consistency
Avg. Std. Deviation
0.4 dB

The HD 660S have good frequency response consistency. Due to their open-back and ear pad design, these headphones have near perfect consistency in delivering their bass. The maximum amount of deviation throughout the bass range was less than 1dB. However, they are prone to inconsistencies in the treble range, and depending on the positioning and ear shape, there could be as much as 7dB of variation in the treble response, which will be noticeable.

Sound
Raw Frequency Response
7.0
Sound
Bass Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.08 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
82.34 Hz
Low-Bass
-7.93 dB
Mid-Bass
-2.51 dB
High-Bass
1.35 dB

The bass of the Sennheiser HD 660S is great. LFE (low-frequency extension) is at 42Hz, which is good. Low-bass, responsible for the thump and rumble common to bass-heavy genres, is lacking by more than 4dB. This will be noticeable but subtle, and results in a low amount of thump and rumble. Mid-bass, responsible for the body of bass guitars and punch of kick drums, follows well our neutral target. High-bass, however, is overemphasized by almost 3dB, adding a bit of muddiness to the overall sound.

9.4
Sound
Mid Accuracy
Std. Err.
0.77 dB
Low-Mid
0.8 dB
Mid-Mid
0.13 dB
High-Mid
0.63 dB

The mid-range is great. The response throughout the range is very even and flat, but consistently over out neutral target by about 3dB. This results in a clear and well-balanced reproduction of vocals and lead instruments, but with a bit of excess emphasis on the mid-range that can make them sound slightly forward.

7.1
Sound
Treble Accuracy
Std. Err.
4.24 dB
Low-Treble
-2.45 dB
Mid-Treble
-4.09 dB
High-Treble
-10.04 dB

The Sennheiser HD 660 S have a very good treble performance. Low-treble and mid-treble are fairly flat, but there’s a dip centered around 5kHz which results in a treble that lacks a bit of brightness and brilliance. This will be mostly noticeable on vocals, lead instruments, and cymbals. Consider the Sennheiser HD 560S if you're looking for open-back headphones with a more neutral treble response.

8.1
Sound
Peaks/Dips
Peaks
1.24 dB
Dips
0.92 dB
9.2
Sound
Imaging
Weighted Group Delay
0.2
Weighted Phase Mismatch
2.25
Weighted Amplitude Mismatch
0.17
Weighted Frequency Mismatch
1.23

The imaging performance is excellent. Weighted group delay is at 0.2, which is very good. The GD graph also shows that the entire group delay response is below the audibility threshold and the spikes under 20Hz won’t be audible. This ensure a tight bass and a transparent treble reproduction. Additionally, the L/R drivers of our test unit were very well-matched. This is important for the accurate localization and placement of objects (voices, instruments, video game effects) in the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our unit and yours may perform differently.

6.5
Sound
Passive Soundstage
PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.)
2.89 dB
PRTF Size (Avg.)
2.37 dB
PRTF Distance
1.79 dB
Openness
9.5
Acoustic Space Excitation
8.6

The Sennheiser HD 660 S have a sub-par soundstage. The PRTF graph shows that these headphones don't interact with the pinna that much, and therefore show very little activation. They don't show a dip around the 10kHz area either. This means that although these are open-back headphones and they may feel more open and spacious sounding that closed-back headphones, their soundstage won't be perceived to be large or located outside of the listener's head.

0
Sound
Virtual Soundstage
Head Modeling
No
Speaker Modeling
No
Room Ambience
No
Head Tracking
No
Virtual Surround
No App
8.3
Sound
Weighted Harmonic Distortion
WHD @ 90
0.193
WHD @ 100
0.069
Sound
Test Settings
Firmware
No Firmware
Power
Passive
Connection
Wired
Codec
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
EQ
No EQ
ANC
No ANC
Tip/Pad
Default
Microphone
No Microphone
Isolation
1.3
Isolation
Noise Isolation
Isolation Audio
Overall Attenuation
-3.45 dB
Noise Cancelling No
Bass
0.02 dB
Mid
0.86 dB
Treble
-10.94 dB

The Sennheiser HD 660 S have poor noise isolation due to their open-back design. In the bass range, where the rumble of airplane and bus engines sit, they achieve no isolation. In the mid-range, important for blocking out speech, they also don’t block any noise. In the treble range, occupied by sharp S and T sounds and A/C system noise, they isolate by about 11dB, which is inadequate.

1.7
Isolation
Leakage
Leakage Audio
Overall Leakage @ 1ft
63.28 dB

The leakage is poor. The significant portion of their leakage is spread between 300Hz and 20kHz, which is a very broad range. This means the leakage will be fuller sounding compared to that of closed-back headphones and in-ears. The overall level of the leakage is quite loud too. With the music at 100dB SPL, the leakage averages at 63dB SPL and peaks at 78dB SPL, which is way louder than the noise floor of an average office.

Microphone
Microphone
Microphone Style
Integrated
No
In-Line
No
Boom
No
Detachable Boom
No
Mic No
0
Microphone
Recording Quality
Recorded Speech
N/A
LFE
N/A
FR Std. Dev.
N/A
HFE
N/A
Weighted THD
N/A
Gain
N/A

The Sennheiser HD 660S have no microphone, so the recording quality has not been tested.

0
Microphone
Noise Handling
SpNR
N/A
Noise Gate
No
Speech + Pink Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Handling
N/A
Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample N/A

The noise handling has not been tested since the HD 660 S have no microphone.

Active Features
0
Active Features
Battery
Battery Type
No Battery
Continuous Battery Life
N/A
Additional Charges
N/A
Total Battery Life
N/A
Charge Time
N/A
Power-Saving Feature
No
Audio While Charging
No
Passive Playback
Passive Headphone
Charging Port None

These are passive headphones with no active components and no battery.

0
Active Features
App Support
App Name No App
iOS No
Android No
macOS No
Windows No
Equalizer
No
ANC Control
No
Mic Control No
Room Effects
No
Playback Control
No
Button Mapping No
Surround Support
No

The HD 660S do not have a dedicated, compatible app for added customization.

Connectivity
0
Connectivity
Bluetooth
Bluetooth Version
No Bluetooth
Multi-Device Pairing
No
NFC Pairing
No
Line Of Sight Range
N/A
PC Latency (SBC)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX HD)
N/A
PC Latency (aptX-LL)
N/A
iOS Latency
N/A
Android Latency
N/A

These headphones are not Bluetooth compatible. For a wireless Bluetooth headset with great sound quality, take a look at the Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

Thanks to their wired connection, these headphones practically don’t have any latency, which is great for watching video content or when playing video games.

0
Connectivity
Non-Bluetooth Wireless
Non-BT Line Of Sight Range
N/A
Non-BT Latency
N/A
9.5
Connectivity
Wired
Analog Audio
Yes
USB Audio
No
Detachable Yes
Length 9.80 ft (2.99 m)
Connection
1/4" TRS
Analog/USB Audio Latency
0 ms

The HD 660S are wired headphones that come with a 1/ 4” connector, but also have a 1/8” TRS adapter for you to use on console controllers. However, the cable doesn’t have an in-line microphone so voice chat will not be supported. You can also plug in the included 0.17 inch (4.4mm) balanced cable for audio.

Connectivity
PC Compatibility
Analog
Audio Only
Wired USB
No
Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
PlayStation Compatibility
PS4 Analog
Audio Only
PS4 Wired USB
No
PS4 Non-BT Wireless
No
PS5 Analog
Audio Only
PS5 Wired USB
No
PS5 Non-BT Wireless
No
Connectivity
Xbox Compatibility
Xbox One Analog
Audio Only
Xbox One Wired USB
No
Xbox One Non-BT Wireless
No
Xbox Series X|S Analog
Audio Only
Xbox Series X|S Wired USB
No
Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless
No
0
Connectivity
Base/Dock
Type
No Base/Dock
USB Input
No
Line In
No
Line Out
No
Optical Input
No
RCA Input
No
Dock Charging
No
Power Supply
No Base/Dock

These headphones do not have a dock.