Sennheiser HD 6XX vs. 650 vs. 600 vs. 58x Jubilee: Comparison & Reviews 2024

Overview of Sennheiser HD 6XX, 650, 600 and 58x Jubilee

| #1  Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 6XX Open Back Professional Headphones

Google Users Rating: 4.8/5

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HD6XX was born out of a collaboration between DROP (previously Massdrop) and Sennheiser as a revision to Sennheiser’s highly acclaimed flagship of six years – HD650 (2003 to 2009). With the development of HD6XX, they made some minor aesthetic changes like a deep midnight blue paint job, black nameplates with silver text and Massdrop logo silk-screened inside the headband but tried to keep the original sound of the HD650 intact. In this revision, the driver structure and sound signature haven’t changed a bit. You’ll get the same smooth, laid-back presentation, with a balanced midrange and natural-sounding bass.

Because the HD 6XX’s open-back design won’t isolate you from outside noise or prevent sound from being heard by those nearby, it may be best-suited for quieter home and office environments. Like all headphones in Sennheiser’s HD 600 line, this new model can be disassembled by hand to its component parts, all of which can be easily replaced. It comes with a six foot long, very flexible, user-replaceable cable terminated with a 3.5mm plug, and there's a 6.5mm adapter plug. Head clamping pressure against my ears was moderate, and the velour covered ear pads are just the right softness. The balance of high-quality audio performance mixed with a price-point makes HD6XX a winner for prospective buyers as it will be tough to find a better value on the dollar.

| #2  Sennheiser HD 650 Stereo Reference Headphones

Google Users Rating: 4.8/5

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The HD 650 from Sennheiser are reference-class stereo headphones designed to deliver a true audiophile experience with an open, natural sound.  They have a wide frequency response, ranging from 10 Hz to 39,500 Hz which ensures that there is no compression compromise when handling high-resolution, high sample rate audio files. The earcups are covered specially silk acoustic design to ensure precision damping, which brings the total harmonic distortion (THD) down to 0.05%, which is extremely low. They are also equipped with high power neodymium magnets that help with the clear rendering of audio. The lightweight aluminium voice coils ensure a very fast transient response, ensuring that the headphones act as quickly as possible to any changes in voltage produced by the amplifiers.

The open-back design ensures a natural sound which is balanced and transparent with amazing, full enhanced bass and incredibly smooth trebles that are enough to satisfy any audiophile. The open back also helps reduce listening fatigue as the sound can be sent outwards, away from the listener as well rather than just building a lot of pressure within the earcup. In addition, The HD 650 utilizes a 9.8' detachable cable made from a highly conductive OFC copper with low handling noise and low structure-borne sound sensitivity. Great care was taken to ensure the headphones are comfortable with their elliptical design, which naturally adapts to the shape of the ear.

| #3  Sennheiser HD 600 Audiophile Dynamic Hi-Fi or Professional Stereo Headphone

Google Users Rating: 4.8/5

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 Despite their age, Sennheiser HD 600 are still considered an indisputable classic among the audiophile community.  It delivers a natural listening experience that is free-from enhancements, allowing you to hear music in its purest form. The Sennheiser HD 600 utilizes two-layer diaphragm technology to radically reduce surface born resonance. A powerful neodymium ferrous magnet is optimized to control the motion of the diaphragm, which provides deeper bass without the loss of definition. Complementing the diaphragm and driver magnets are triple wound aluminum voice coils, which are housed in an acoustically transparent ear cup, maximizing the benefits of the open design.

This design suits listening to music in quiet surroundings, such as a studio, which is why this product is ideal for monitoring. The open design gives a sense of space to the music, which in turn makes it feel more natural. In terms of comfort, the HD 600 are likely the most comfortable headphones you'll ever wear. The ear cups and headband are made out of soft foam material, and the clamping force isn't terribly strong where it may feel like the headphone is squeezing your head. You won't have to worry about your ears getting warm since it's an open-back headphone, adding to the comfort.

| #4  Massdrop x Sennheiser HD 58X Jubilee Headphones

Google Users Rating: 4.7/5

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The HD58X is the result of a collaboration between DROP (formerly Massdrop) and Sennheiser. It features the all too familiar Sennheiser 600-series chassis, with a visual design that pays homage to Sennheiser’s original HD 580 Jubilee. It features a glossy black headband and gray metal grilles. For hours and hours of listening comfort, the elliptical cups are shaped to follow the anatomy of the ear, the headband is generously padded, and the ear pads are covered in soft velour and easily replaceable. The detachable 6-foot cable is made of highly conductive OFC copper with sturdy para-aramid reinforcement and a very low handling noise.

 The HD 58X Jubilee uses Sennheiser’s new 150-ohm drivers, which require less amplification than previous driver platforms while retaining the same magnet strength and driver size. This makes the new headphone easier to drive from sources like your mobile phone or digital audio player. The sound is clear, fast, dynamic, and lively: reminiscent in some ways of the HD 600 and in others of the HD 650. It places an emphasis on clean, extended bass, with a solid transient response and a smooth but clear upper midrange.

Comparisons Table: Sennheiser HD 6XX vs. 650 vs. 600 vs. 58x Jubilee

Design

All the four headphones are based on the Sennheiser HD600 series that first came to life in the form of the Sennheiser HD580 (released in 1995). There were very few major changes in the design of these headphones because Sennheiser pretty much nailed it the first time around. And what this means is that almost all headphones in the HD600 family look identical.

The Sennheiser HD650 have a two-tone, dark gray and black color scheme with a glossy coating. The large open ear cups have a suede-like finish on the padding that gives these headphones a premium appeal. They do not look as eye-catching as the HD 600 because of their slightly bland color scheme, but the style will work for some.

The Sennheiser HD 600 look very similar to Sennheiser HD 650, with a few differences in the headband design. These headphones have large open ear cups with a suede-like finish on the padding that gives them a premium appeal. They have a cool blue patterned finish that makes them stand out from the other models in the Sennheiser HD series.

The Sennheiser HD 6XX  are 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.

The Sennheiser HD 58X have very large cups that have open-back grill backplates. They also have  more of a glossy finish, which unfortunately looks a bit cheaper and is fingerprint-prone. The padding of the cups is made of a very similar microfiber-like fabric, which gives them a premium look. They are fairly low-profile due to their color scheme, but their sleek design is still very eye-catching.

Comfort

 All the four headphones have large ear cups that fully encompass most ears. They're also covered in a suede-like fabric that feels good on the skin and adds to their comfort level. But the headbands of  Sennheiser HD 600, the Sennheiser HD 58X and  the Sennheiser HD 6XX exerts a little too much pressure on the head compared to the Sennheiser HD 650, which can get uncomfortable during long listening sessions.

Sound Quality

Smooth, clean, and accurate are three words that can perfectly describe the audio performance offered by the fantastic HD 650 headphones. The texture of the bass feels pretty solid, the fluid midrange is great and quite straightforward. Overall the sound is quite dynamic and punchy without being too aggressive.

The HD 600 provides exceptionally natural, spatial, and accurate sound. All frequencies are beautifully balanced and the sound does not overpower each other. Overall these headphones sound wide, open, and very detailed.

The HD6XX follows the exact sound signature of the Sennheiser HD650. It is a neutral pair with more focus on the upper mids and treble. It has more focus on clarity and accuracy.

The HD58X has more focus on the low end and in the lower mids. It is a more fun-sounding headphone with less focus on accuracy.

Bottom Line

Sennheiser HD 6XX vs. 650 vs. 600 vs. 58x Jubilee: Which Should You Choose?

The Sennheiser HD650, HD 600 ,HD 58X and HD 6XX are all phenomenal headphones. The deciding factor here will be with your budget and preferred music genre.  You will not regret getting one over the other as these are both solid options in the high-end headphone market. Robust materials and excellent sound quality make these the best ones out there that you can get.

The HD 600 and HD 650 are virtually identical on all fronts with just a few key differences to separate one from the other. The HD 600 is more neutral sounding and does not put any digital effects on the audio, while the HD 650 adds a touch of brightness and bass. If you enjoy listening to songs with a heavier emphasis on bass, then the HD 650 will be able to accommodate your taste. For those who want a more balanced listening experience, the HD 600 is the one for you.

If you're looking for a set of Sennheiser headphones at a better price-to-performance, the HD 6XX  and HD 58X are more suitable for you.Based on the design of the legendary Sennheiser HD 650 and HD 580 Jubilee, the HD 6XX and HD 58X are a steal at half the price, but  provide an incredibly similar performance. They are great headphones carrying all the glory of Sennheiser without depreciating the quality and displeasing the users.

The discrepancy between the HD 58X and the HD 6XX is the 150-ohm driver in the HD58XX. Dissimilar to the HD 6XX, it does not demand additional amplification to work. Besides that, the audio quality of the two headphones differs. The HD 58X is more in your face, with twitchy, crisp, noisy, and transparent audio, while the HD 6XX is more comfortable and calmer.

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