Short answer: the Sennheiser HD 620S. It ranks #112 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $259.19. The Sennheiser HD 599 ranks #114, rated 3.6/5, at $239.95, $19.24 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 620S: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted about 2.6 dB while sub-bass sits within half a dB of target, giving a punchy, well extended low end. The catch: At 150 ohms and 110 dB SPL/V it is more demanding than most headphones here and benefits from a headphone amp rather than a phone.
The case for the Sennheiser HD 599: A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back. The catch: Sub-bass falls about 6 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the extra warmth sits higher up and the deepest rumble is missing.
Buy the Sennheiser HD 620S. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $19.24 with the Sennheiser HD 599 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser HD 620S | Sennheiser HD 599 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $259.19 | $239.95 |
| Ranked | #112 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #114 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation | 2.74 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Dynamic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic | - |
| Impedance | 150 ohms | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/V | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 Vrms) |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 12Hz - 38.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
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How Sennheiser HD 620S compares with other leading options:
- Beyerdynamic DT 700 Pro X vs Sennheiser HD 620S
- Audio-Technica ATH-M60x vs Sennheiser HD 620S
- Sennheiser HD 600 vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Audio-Technica ATH-M60x vs Sennheiser HD 599
- Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro X Limited Edition vs Sennheiser HD 599
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The Two Headphones In Full
Sennheiser HD 620S: $259.19 Amazon eBay
Pros: Bass from 60 to 200 Hz is lifted about 2.6 dB while sub-bass sits within half a dB of target, giving a punchy, well extended low end. The upper mids and presence stay close to the target, so vocals sound natural and clear. The closed back isolates well for private listening.
Cons: At 150 ohms and 110 dB SPL/V it is more demanding than most headphones here and benefits from a headphone amp rather than a phone. Treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 2.6 dB low with a 6.9 dB dip near 9.5 kHz, which softens cymbals and sibilance. The Audio-Technica ATH-M50x holds a higher rating for a much lower price. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Sennheiser HD 620S review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.19 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 42mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 6Hz - 30kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 150 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 110 dB SPL/V |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-1.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.80 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -1.8 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +0.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 112 Hz | -5.7 dB | 1.93 |
| Peak | 8,995 Hz | +3.2 dB | 1.57 |
| Peak | 49 Hz | +0.9 dB | 1.25 |
| Peak | 1,644 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.09 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 615 Hz | -1.9 dB | 1.75 |
| Peak | 234 Hz | +2.0 dB | 3.58 |
| Peak | 2,761 Hz | -2.7 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 843 Hz | +1.6 dB | 4.59 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sennheiser HD 599: $239.95 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 73 and a modest 2.74 dB deviation from the Harman target in oratory1990’s measurement make this a fairly smooth open back. Bass runs about 2 dB above target and the lows through the low mids are about 2.7 dB up, which gives vocals and guitars a full, warm body. At 50 ohms and 106 dB sensitivity it is easy to drive, and at 250 g it is light.
Cons: Sub-bass falls about 6 dB under target below 60 Hz, so the extra warmth sits higher up and the deepest rumble is missing. A 9.6 dB dip near 9.8 kHz and about 3.5 dB less air above 10 kHz take the sparkle off cymbals, while a 3.7 dB peak near 5.7 kHz can add some edge to vocals. The open back leaks sound and offers no isolation.
Full Sennheiser HD 599 review and specifications →
| Released | Sep 2016 (10 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.74 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 12Hz - 38.5kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 50 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 106 dB SPL (1 kHz, 1 Vrms) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-9.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.42 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.6 lbs (250 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 152 Hz | -4.3 dB | 0.59 |
| Peak | 1,751 Hz | +4.4 dB | 1.45 |
| Peak | 4,485 Hz | -1.9 dB | 2.72 |
| Peak | 40 Hz | +1.0 dB | 3.06 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 9,629 Hz | +6.0 dB | 1.71 |
| Peak | 5,771 Hz | -2.8 dB | 5.56 |
| Peak | 3,175 Hz | -2.0 dB | 4.70 |
| Peak | 3,690 Hz | +0.7 dB | 4.38 |
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