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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9ueuds wrote

So a little background story. I started the hobby at the end of last year with a Fiio K5 pro and the regular Sennheiser HD 660S after selling my AirPods Max which were my first really good quality headphones and started getting me into audio. I listen to music from my iPad on apple music and I was really happy with my 660S.

When I first saw the 660S2 leaks I was happy and sad at the same time because I didn’t plan to upgrade anytime soon but the frequency response comparison shared by sennheiser got me excited for the enhanced bass on the S2.

I picked the 660S on the first place because of the charactersitics of it’s sound signature, it is similar to the AirPods Max which staterted everything so it’s safe to say that I really liked the 660S. First actual reviews came in on the S2 and some said it’s a clear upgrade from the 660S others said it’s a sidegrade and too expensive so let me adress these confusing reviews.

Yes, it is expensive and in my opinion you should wait for a discount if you want to buy them. But, here comes the BUT part that is in my opinion lives too much in the shadow of the pricing. These headphones are amazing. There is no way anyone who tries them says that these sound bad because they’re in a way the most unique sounding headphones in this category.

A few words about the presentation. I don’t miss the big box the 660S comes in, the sack feels premium enough and will never use it ever just like the big box. The design is very much like the sound of these which I’ll get into it in a second, the S2 looks sexier and more different than the 660S and I really like them.

Compared to the 660S what are the most noticable changes regarding sound quality?

I don’t agree with the headphone show guy nor with Joshua Valour. The base response is very much a noticable and significant upgrade from the 660S. It just sounds better simple as that. The easiest way to say this is that I listened to Bad guy by Billie Eilish and the S2 made me enjoy the bass throughout the song while the 660S was definitely lacking in my opinion in this region. The treble and high frequencies however are the changes that can cause the most controversy and I agree in this part with the reviews. It is very different from the 660S, every note is sharper and can feel more unpleasent for people who are really sensitive in this area of sound. The mids have been put in the background by the more bass heavy tuning and the changes at the other side of the curve. It doesn’t mean that the mids are bad, because they’re still beautiful you just have to focus on this area by listening than before. The soundstage is also bigger, not by a crazy amount but enough to notice it immediately.

It is like Mercedes (660S) vs BMW (S2) or the same guy in a suit (660S) vs casual every day clothes (S2). I think the S2 is a more consumer oriented product with this tuning, meaning that more genres of music will sound amazing with these than with the 660S. To say it the most simple way I can it is like Beats or Sony took the 660S and made fine tuning and released the S2. It is a more V shaped 660S without being actually V shaped if that makes sense.

I listen to them while writing these words and these are really playful, less elegant but still beautifully detailed headphones. Everyone who buys these without owning any other expensive headphones will be very very happy how these sound and I do recommend them if you’re willing to spend the money.

If you guys have any questions I’m happy to answear them!

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[deleted] t1_j9ugrda wrote

No one argued that the S2 aint better tuned than the S1, I think.

People argue instead that the S2 is a rip off and really bad, compared to the original 600/650.

Also the BMW and merc comparison makes no sense. These are companies that make a wide range of products, different from each other and everything in their own lineup.

An A160 carries the three point star, just like an S class does. Yet you would not compare them.

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Covert_Cuttlefish t1_j9wurl2 wrote

I picked up the S1 for 399CAD, right now they want 799 for the S2.

I cannot imagine it's 2X as good.

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9ui7t7 wrote

By the Merc vs BMW comaprison I was going for the elegancy vs sportiness aspect, otherwise you’re right.

Rip off? If you can afford the product and not unhappy after buying it why would it be a rip off? Sure it’s expensive but you don’t get the same sound from any other 600 series headphones. If you actually like a 6XX or 600 sound signature more than the 660S2, good for you because you don’t have to spend 2x or 3x the money and you’ll be happy. My point was that judging the sound quality by the price of the S2 the way some reviews did is not okay. It would be if they were the same exact headphones just more expensive but that’s not the case.

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[deleted] t1_j9ujfxe wrote

Both companies offer sporty as well as luxury vehicles though.

It's a rip off, because the HD 600/650 perform better at half the price.

If they were the same exact headphone at a higher price that would be bad enough. As it stands, it's a WORSE headphone at a higher price.

In a vacuum the S2 is fine, I guess. But in the real world it's pricing is really uncompetitive.

Doesn't mean you can't like it. All it means is that it is very poor value.

Edit: Lmao, as soon as someone does not partake in the circlejerk, the downvotes come in. Ya'll would be right at home in the CCP, they too cannot take criticism ;)

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HypercolourBlue t1_j9ul161 wrote

Have you actually heard the 660S2?

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[deleted] t1_j9um4y9 wrote

Nope and I am not interested.

I already loathe myself for paying extra to get the 660S instead of the 600.

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OppositeStrength t1_j9uvkng wrote

Why are you so comfortable in criticizing him for buying the S2, when it is better than the S1 which you own and I'm guessing paid more than 600/650 money for, when you by your own logic have the worst of the bunch for the second highest price?

I have the HD650, tested the HD660S1 and just received the HD660S2. To me it is a definite upgrade over the 650 as I vastly prefer its clean, clear and detailed sound, I never quite came around to the warmer sound of the 650 and eq didn't solve that. The 600 might have been the best price to performance for me, and I might even go for them still once I sell my 650, but saying he's wrong for enjoying them doesn't make any sense, especially from your standpoint.

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[deleted] t1_j9uwaq1 wrote

[removed]

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headphones-ModTeam t1_j9wv1de wrote

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9ukkci wrote

It is a very subjective opinion that the 600/650 is better. I think both the 660S and S2 are better sounding headphones for ME and that’s the important part. I won’t use headphones that are worse by my taste just because they’re cheaper. For me both the 660S and S2 worth every penny. If you or anybody thinks differently that’s okay but telling people that these are a rip off is very misleading at the least.

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[deleted] t1_j9ulmvg wrote

I don't think it's misleading at all.

They charge nearly double, but for what? Different tuning?

The build is the same, although you get an extra cable.

That must be ONE expensive cable then :)

From where I stand you could just get the HD 600, boost the bass a bit and reduce the treble, using EQ to get the S2 for half the price.

So yea, I think the S2 is daylight robbery.

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[deleted] t1_j9wv13d wrote

[deleted]

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[deleted] t1_j9x9j8y wrote

A notch at 4k is something that happens, when you fuck up the tuning process.

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9umoef wrote

If you show me where I can EQ, I mean really EQ any headphones on my iPad that would cool. Or should I buy a Mac to use apple music and be able to EQ properly? Then we are talking about 1000$+ of money spending. I see your point but it is not valid in my use case.

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[deleted] t1_j9uobq0 wrote

EQ software is free on windows and android. Your fault for choosing a restrictive ecosystem, I guess.

But a quidelix 5k has EQ and doubles as a DAC amp for 120 bucks.

HD 600 + DAC/amp with PEQ still costs less than the S2.

YIKES.

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ultra_prescriptivist t1_j9upv1r wrote

Wait, are you saying that 1) iPads can't use Apple Music, and 2) there's no app on iOS that lets you apply a parametric EQ?

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9uq93c wrote

1, I did not say that. Apple music is literally open on the picture. 2, If you know one let me know.

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ultra_prescriptivist t1_j9uqoab wrote

Ah, so you meant use Apple Music and EQ together. Gotcha.

I have no idea about Apple stuff, so I was just surprised.

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kaspers126 t1_j9w4qdk wrote

Why is it a worse headphone than the other 6x0 headphones?

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ThUwUsi t1_j9va1x0 wrote

V-shaped tunes 660S seem kinda oxymoronic when the appeal of the 660S is the de-emphasis on the lower end in favour of vocal clarity and prominence. haven’t looked at the graphs but from what you describe it sounds like they just kinda inverted the FR.

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9valq8 wrote

Well, I think the 660S tuned by Beats/Sony describes the sound of the S2 really well. At the same time it has the classic Sennheiser flavor.

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D00M98 t1_j9vtkxr wrote

I cannot comment on S2, since I haven't heard it.

However, Beats and Sony (consumer grade) headphones do not have good reputation and are not known as good match for audiophile sound. So associating S2 with Beats and Sony is not a compliment.

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CrowVsWade t1_j9w52fr wrote

That's a wildly broad statement, at least on Sony. Some of their higher end products are quite good. They may not be trendy in a sub like this, but to write anything off because it's branded Sony is revealing, and not of an honest appraisal of headphones, unless a user's experience level only hits mass market <$300 models.

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D00M98 t1_j9wezbc wrote

Not sure what you are reading. That was exactly my statement: "Sony (consumer grade)".

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CrowVsWade t1_j9wxiyq wrote

Apologies if I misread - it seemed you were suggesting Sony headphones have a deservedly poor rep making any comparison to them unflattering.

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HongKong_Bussy_Lmao t1_j9x7wre wrote

And even then Sony's premium audiophile overears are much less critically acclaimed than their IEMs

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9xbey1 wrote

I don’t understand the downvotes on my comment because it is how it feels like and I didn’t mean it in a bad way. As I said in my longer “review” the S2 feels like the most consumer oriented tuning of the whole 600 lineup at least to me and for people who listen to a wide variety of music like me it’s actually better than the others in this lineup. However for instrumental, acoustic, vocal focused very mid heavy songs I would pick the 660S over the S2 although any song with a slight bass will sound enjoyable on the S2 and this is what I meant by saying Sony/Beats tuning.

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PassiveAgressiveCan t1_j9ughnp wrote

I would still want the box, it’s crazy to think that the 6XX comes in a box but this being 3x as expensive doesn’t get the box.

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AdAlternative9011 OP t1_j9ugthq wrote

As I said, I never used the box so I don’t care about that. If you are used to putting them in the box I can see the disappointment. Otherwise it’s irrelevant IMO.

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PassiveAgressiveCan t1_j9uyiyn wrote

The presentation matters when you are charging more for a minor FR change, the chassis of the headphone hasn’t changed at all so there is no RnD costs there, just seems cheap on their end. Disappointed is all.

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ipiki_ookami t1_j9vsuo0 wrote

I tossed mine in my move, seems like I could have sold it by the way people are lamenting it's omission.

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Adventurous_Pain_689 t1_j9wiul1 wrote

Thanks for the review! I’ve been wondering if I should buy a pair. I’ll stick with my 660s for now.

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