If you commute a lot on buses and through subways, and for long distances, you probably have a favorite time killer for the route like most people. Some read books, other Netflix or Youtube, I like to listen to music or an audiobook. If you are anything like me and also enjoy music, Podcasts or audiobooks on your commutes then a reliable pair of headphones is definitely on the list of your daily carry.
I spend more or less 2 hours on a train on a daily basis. I also prefer old school wired connectivity and comfort. So, I want to introduce you guys to my latest pair of headphones the Sennheiser HD600. This bad boy has been my daily carry for quite some time. So, here’s my two cents on it in this Sennheiser HD600 review.
Table of Contents
Inside the Box
Let me be very honest here with you guys, unboxing the Sennheiser HD600 is a treat in itself. I mean, the packaging feels like royalty. They come in a giant box and as soon as you open its lid, you are introduced to another beautiful black box that slides out.
The top of the box is a lid that is connected to the bottom part through metal hinges. As you pop open the top you are introduced to the HD600 and its wire resting on a foam base. And that is about it for the unboxing. The contents aren’t much, yes, but the sheer experience of getting to these headphones and holding them in your hands just cannot be described with words.
First Impression and Build Quality
While the construction of the Sennheiser HD600 is mostly plastic, it feels quite sturdy in hands and also looks visually stunning. The plastic body has a unique speckled design resembling a marble surface and seamlessly covers the headband and the rim of the speakers. Quality-wise, the plastic does not seem or feel cheap.
The speakers are covered with a black colored steel mesh grill while the front is padded with memory foam, a standard in over-the-head style of headphones. A welcome change that I noticed here is that the memory foam is hidden under a layer of soft velvety fabric instead of cheap leather. The soft fabric covering only makes the HD600 more comfortable to wear and easy to breathe in. Also, the pads are replaceable and can easily be bought online and swapped if damaged.
The headband also has a thick layer of memory foam that keeps the headphones from sliding and allows it to rest comfortably. Another amazing thing about the HD600 is that most of its parts are available online and can be replaced if damaged or broken. Although I am yet to experience such a thing myself.
Wearing Experience
At just about a fraction short of 260 grams, the HD600 are quite lightweight. And I believe this is what makes them so comfortable to wear. As I said I have to commute 2 hours daily, give or take a few minutes, and the padding on the headband and earcups do not cause any fatigue, making them perfect for long listening sessions. Earcups have a large deep hole in the padding to comfortably accommodate the ears of every size.
The padding on the headband has ridges which keeps them firmly in place while you walk, jog, bend over or even jump. Also, the headband is adjustable and can accommodate just about everyone.
One thing that was instantly noticeable, at least during the first few days of use, was the tight clamping pressure of the headband. While the pressure does not make them very uncomfortable, its presence is hard to ignore. But regular use of the device reduces the force very quickly.
Output Quality
Let’s talk a little about the sound quality on the HD600. Because no matter how good the looks, if the output isn’t what you are expecting, what good is any pair of headphones, right?
Well, a very strange yet amusing thing about the HD600 is that it produces somewhat of a neutral sound, or at least that’s what I think. You see, each song I played had a different quality of output. And believe me, I have listened to hundreds of song on this thing.
While the output is smooth with all notes and vocals clearly audible, it does adds a little bass to the overall sound. But it is only noticeable if you switch between headphones during a track that’s what I do to test the difference between the sound produced on different earphones).
All in all, the Sennheiser HD600 produces the exact same quality as the file you through at it. If you have a high quality audio file, the resulting sound is going to be just as HD. However, if your audio library has crappy quality, the HD600 won’t shy away from letting you know.
Oh! One more thing. They cannot be used for calls as they lack a mic. Then again, they were never meant to be used with phones.
Connectivity
There isn’t much to say about it’s connectivity options as you only get one, wired. The pair comes with a rather cheap but long TRS cable for connectivity with a 3.5 mm connector pin on one end and two 1/4 TRS connectors on the other.
The only good here is that it can connect with most of your devices like laptops, tablets and smartphones; that still have a 3.5 mm audio jack on them.
Price
The price of the Sennheiser HD600 has me divided to an extent. Yes, these are headphones for professional use and are excellent worth for your buck if you are planning to use them in your recording studio. But as a daily driver, you have a lot of other options available at a much lesser price with more modern features like wireless connectivity, etc.
What has me hooked onto these is that I am yet to come across a modern pair of earphones that can compete or even come close to the quality of sound this bad boy is capable of producing. If you do plan to buy these, be prepared to get laughed at for using wired headphones in 2019.
The Naked Truth
After reading this entire Sennheiser HD600 review, you probably have established that this pair isn’t for everyone. And, in all honesty, this is true. But for as long as the HD600 has been around, I believe its target market isn’t everyone.
The Sennheiser has produced HD600 for true music and sound enthusiasts. This pair offers everything you would expect from a device at this price point, sturdy built, good sound quality and a very strong presence.
Looks-wise, the device may not be for everyone, but it is sure to turn some heads in public places. For people who enjoy nostalgic stuff this pair offers a good value for money. It is also a good option for recording artists since it can double as your daily use headphones and studio headphones easily.
So, the big question is, should you buy this pair? Well, after writing this review and mentioning as much detail as I could, I leave that decision to you. Peace.
