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ComedianAcceptable32 t1_ixzmkjb wrote

Reply to comment by StanGenchev in Sennheiser HD600 Sound Quality? by I_Dont_Have_A_Name13

This is good advice here. I don't really get all of the assumption that the HD600 are hard to drive. I've used them on many sources, ranging from a 2022 MacBook Pro (which has high impedance headphone support) to random dongle that came with my Lenovo tablet. They sound fine and approximately the same on all of them, modulo difference in the DAC source itself. Unless I want to do some crazy +10dB EQ, or play it above ~90dB does the source matter (they sound good from the MacBook and obvious clipping on anything else).

I understand not wanting to spend more on headphones and amps, and I am in that same boat. With the HD600 you honestly don't need to.

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StanGenchev t1_ixzo6cp wrote

>I don't really get all of the assumption that the HD600 are hard to drive.

Because they were ...once upon a time.

The HD 600 was released all the way back in 1997 and at that time, many computers didn't have any built-in audio. Those which did, usually had something that was awful and was barely enough to power off-the-shelf 16/32 ohm, 100+ db/mW headphones. Back in those days, you really needed an external audio card or at least an amp in order to get the HD 600 to a decent volume level without any distortion and ground noise from the spinning hard drives. Audio has come a long way since then but the idea that the HD 600 are "hard to drive, you need a powerful amp" has stuck around and many are unfortunately just repeating it over and over.

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ComedianAcceptable32 t1_ixznapq wrote

Oh and for reference, I also have Airpod Pros, 1st gen. The HD600 should sound pretty similar to me, though more accurate. Better bass and treble extension than the Airpods, but not a huge difference. If you find they sound quite a bit different, you should check any sound effects being applied, and also try a different source.

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