There aren’t a lot of headphone product lines with the same reverence as the Sennheiser HD series, This product line has been around for a long time, with models like the HD600, and 650 being staples in studios. They’re great headphones and also great tools for mixing, but there has yet to be a good closed-back alternative until now. The new HD 620S looks to fill that void, but does it still reach the quality established by the other headphones in this series?
What You Get
- HD620 S headphone
- 1.8-meter cable terminating in 1/8 inch jack
- 1/8 inch to 1/4 inch adapter
- Quick start guide
- Carrying pouch
Look & Feel
If you’re familiar with Sennheiser’s HD series closed-back headphones, the 620S will sport a similar design. Its biggest upgrade is its ear pads, and with the changes made to the driver configuration, the inside of the cups is deeper. This helps the fit a lot, and I feel like I can wear them longer than the other HD series closed-back headphones. I wish there was a bit more to the 620S aesthetically, but it’s hard to complain too much for the price and level of comfort it offers.
Design
The 620S changes Sennheiser’s dynamic driver quite a bit. Its 42mm transducer uses an aluminum voice coil that gives the driver its 150 Ohm impedance. This configuration aims to reproduce quicker transients with enhanced dynamics that should benefit many genres of music and other mediums. One of the biggest changes is the angled baffle which helps regulate the free movement of air. It’s trying to mimic the design of open-back headphones and their loudspeaker-like presentation.
Soundstage
You can hear what a difference the angled drivers make almost immediately. It’s quite shocking to hear a closed-back headphone in this price range sound so open and precise. It gets to that holographic level effortlessly, wrapping the mix around you and engulfing your head in sound. In comparison to the HD 600 and 650, the soundstage surprisingly appears less intimate. Various soundscapes are granted more non-linearity than most closed-back headphones, and even rivals some open-back headphones too.
The spatial imaging just captures this immersive bubble of sound that feels accurate to the studio environment. Its layering and separation provide near-perfect channel synchronization, while elements stack comfortably up and down, back to front. You are placed directly at the center of the mix, while the sounds pan around you in their exact positions. Their movement is replicated with exceptional grace, with instruments and effects conveying proper proportions for realistic scale. I’m shocked at how engaging this soundstage comes across compared to most closed-back headphones.
Low End
The HD 620 does its job as a professional-grade studio headphone by maintaining a clean and balanced bass. You’re not going to feel any theatrical qualities in this bass, but its tone is still full and satisfying to listen to. It possesses enough detail and natural energy that you don’t mind the more reserved and plainer timbre. Those looking for a solid bass reference will find the HD 620 very useful, but it might not provide the impact you might want out of your headphones. However, some nice drive to certain mid-bass sections still makes the response consistently engaging.
Mids
With the more reserved nature of the bass, the mids come alive very clearly. The frequencies have more gain to them phishing them forward in the sound signature, but still exhibit great balance. It retains a neutral timbre, but the instruments and vocals show more expression. Everything has enough space to showcase certain sounds’ full shape and size, even showing lush details. The amount of space it displays gives the 620S a ton of dynamic range.
Highs
Those who are experienced with Sennheiser’s other HD series headphones might be surprised by the treble response. There’s a ton of detail here, featuring a lot more sizzle and crispness than you might be used to hearing from this product line. It’s way more vibrant than any of the other HD series headphones, with ticks and rings that tail off very naturally. Nothing ever appears too bright though, as the 620S still has great control over its highs. It’s a great way to satisfy listeners who like the other HD 600 series headphones but could do without the darker timbre of the highs.
Summary
I’m shocked by how constantly engaging the HD 620S sounds compared to almost every closed-back headphone Sennheiser has released previously. The way they’ve shaped their new sound signature through the driver has created one of the best closed-back headphones available, especially for the price. It has premium headphone sensibilities, which is impressive for a mid-budget studio headphone. With its quality, I can see the HD 620S sustaining a life cycle similar to the rest of the HD 600 series.
The Sennheiser HD 620S is available at Audio46.
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