The Sennheiser HD 6XX are open-back wired headphones. They're a collaboration between Massdrop and Sennheiser, and can only be purchased on the Drop website. They have a neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different audio content, and their open, spacious soundstage can help create a more immersive listening experience. However, like most open-backs, they aren't very portable, have terrible noise isolation, and leak a bit of sound. However, if you're an audiophile who loves listening to audio in the studio, they're a solid choice.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are disappointing for mixed usage. These open-back headphones have a neutral sound profile and an open, spacious soundstage that helps create a more immersive sound. However, their open-back design can't block out background noises typically found in an office or during your commute, and they leak a lot of sound. They also don't have a microphone for making phone calls or communicating with other gamers.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are impressive for neutral sound. They have a very neutral, balanced sound profile, so vocals and lead instruments are clear, present, and detailed. They have a decent passive soundstage, and their open-back design helps create an open and spacious soundstage. However, like most open-back headphones, they're lacking some low-bass.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are bad for commute and travel. These decently comfortable headphones are passive, so you don't have to worry about them running out of battery. However, due to their open-back design, they leak a lot of noise, which can annoy those around you. They also can't block out background noises like bus and plane engines or voices from other passengers.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are inadequate for sports and fitness. They're stable enough for casual listening sessions, but they aren't designed for sports use, and they may fall off your head during more intense physical exercise. They're decently comfortable, but these bulky over-ears aren't very easy to bring on-the-go.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are poor for office use. They're decently comfortable, and thanks to their wired connection, you don't have to worry about them running out of battery. However, due to their open-back design, they don't block out background noises typically found in an office, like chatter from other coworkers. Also, they leak a lot of noise, which can be distracting for people around you.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are wired-only headphones, so they aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are okay for wired gaming. You can plug them into your PC or Xbox One and PS4 controller, but they don't have a microphone, so you can only receive audio. Thanks to their wired connection, they have low latency, and they're decently comfortable. However, they lack low-bass, so you may not feel the deep thump and rumble in action-packed scenes.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX don't have a microphone, so they aren't suitable for phone calls.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are open-back headphones with the same design as the Sennheiser HD 650, but with a few minor differences. They're available in a midnight blue color scheme, unlike the gray-and-black Sennheiser HD 650. They have large, oblong ear cups with a metal grille on the outside to help protect the drivers.
These headphones are decently comfortable. They're lightweight, and the ear cups are well-padded, so they feel soft and comfortable against your skin. However, they clamp a bit tighter than the Sennheiser HD 650, which can feel a bit fatiguing after long listening sessions.
These headphones don't have any controls.
These headphones have poor portability. Like most over-ears, they have a big and bulky design, so they may not fit easily into your bag. They also don't fold into a more compact format, and they don't come with a case to protect them when you're on-the-go.
These headphones don't come with a case or pouch.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX have a good build quality. They feel very similar to the Sennheiser HD 650. They're mostly made of plastic, with a metal headband and metal grilles covering the ear cups. However, there isn't a lot of padding on the headband.
They're decently stable. They clamp tight on your head, and they should stay on your ears during casual listening sessions. However, they aren't designed for sports and may fall off your head during more intense physical activity. Also, the wire could potentially snag on something, which could pull the headphones off of your ears.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX have a very neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different types of audio content. Like most open-back headphones, they're lacking some low-bass, which can be disappointing for fans of bass-heavy music genres like EDM and hip-hop.
These headphones have very good treble accuracy. Vocals and lead instruments are present and detailed, but the dip in the mid-treble can make sibilants like cymbals dull and lispy. However, their treble delivery can vary across listeners, so your experience may differ.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX have very good peaks and dips performance. Due to the dip in the low-bass, you don't feel the deep thumps, but the peak in the high-bass adds a boomy quality to the mix. The slight dip in the mid-mids may nudge vocals and lead instruments towards the back of the mix, while the peak in the low-treble can make those same instruments harsh and painful. The mid-treble is uneven, so sibilants like S and T sounds can be alternately dull or piercing.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX have excellent imaging. Their weighted group delay falls below the audibility threshold, resulting in tight bass and transparent treble. Also, the L/R drivers of our test unit are well-matched in amplitude, phase, and frequency response. As a result, objects like voices, instruments, and footsteps are accurately placed and localized within the stereo image. However, these results are only valid for our test unit, so your experience may vary.
They have a decent passive soundstage. The soundstage is natural and speaker-like, but it isn't perceived as being very large or located outside of the listener's head. Due to their open-back design, they have a more open and spacious soundstage than headphones with a closed-back design.
These headphones don't have any virtual soundstage features.
These are the settings we used to test these headphones. Our results are only valid when using these settings.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX have terrible noise isolation due to their open-back design. They don't block out any sounds in the bass and mid-ranges, so you can hear the deep thump and rumble of bus or plane engines or chatter from people talking around you. While they perform a bit better in the treble range, you may still hear sounds like the hum of nearby AC units.
Due to their open-back design, they have awful leakage. They leak a lot of sound, and it's audible even in noisier settings like an office. It may be distracting for people around you. Also, the leakage is fuller-sounding compared to that of closed-back headphones and in-ears.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX don't have a microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX don't have a microphone, so the recording quality isn't tested.
There's no microphone, so the noise handling isn't tested.
These passive headphones don't have a battery.
They don't have a companion app.
These wired-only headphones don't support a Bluetooth connection.
These wired-only headphones don't support any wireless connectivity.
You can plug these headphones into your PC or PS4 controller, but you can only receive audio since they don't have a microphone.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are available in 'Midnight Blue', and you can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another variant, let us know in the discussions so we can update the review.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are wired-only open-back headphones designed for neutral sound. Their sound profile is very neutral and balanced, but like most open-backs, they're lacking some low-bass. They're well-built, but they may not be comfortable for all listeners over longer listening sessions. Like the Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee, they're also only available on the Drop website. While they're often compared to the Sennheiser HD 650, they have a more consistent audio delivery and a better soundstage performance. See also our recommendations for the best headphones, the best open-back headphones, and the best headphones for audiophiles.
The Beyerdynamic DT 990 PRO and the Sennheiser HD 6XX are both open-back headphones, but the Sennheiser are a bit better for neutral sound. The Sennheiser have a more consistent audio delivery and a better soundstage. Also, their sound profile is more balanced and neutral. However, the Beyerdynamic are more comfortable and better-built, and they also come with a pouch to help protect the headphones.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are better open-back headphones for neutral sound than the Sennheiser HD 650. The HD 6XX have a more consistent audio delivery and a better soundstage performance. Also, while both headphones are lacking a touch of low-bass, the HD 6XX have better bass accuracy. However, the HD 650 are more comfortable.
The Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee and the Sennheiser HD 6XX are open-back headphones with a similar overall performance, so depending on your listening habits, you may prefer one over the other. The Jubilee have a more stable fit. However, the 6XX have a more consistent audio delivery across different users.
The Sennheiser HD 600 and the Sennheiser HD 6XX are open-back headphones with similar overall performances, and they're both great for neutral sound. The HD 6XX have a more consistent audio delivery across different listeners. However, the HD 600 are more stable.
The Sennheiser HD 6XX are a bit better open-back headphones for neutral sound than the Beyerdynamic DT 1990 PRO. The Sennheiser have a more consistent audio delivery across listeners, and their sound profile is more balanced and neutral. However, the Beyerdynamic are better-built, more comfortable, and their soundstage is better. Also, they come with a case, unlike the Sennheiser.
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