New Sennheiser pads measured.

[soundwave76]

Question: The HD660S pads are quite firm and start to hurt my ears with eyeglasses after some time. Can I replace the pads with the HD650 pads, which are softer if I recall correctly? Any other softer pad recommendations?

 

[solderdude]

The current pads for HD650 and HD660S(2) are the same ones.
The older pads are indeed a bit softer.
I would recommend to lower the clamping force for more comfort.

Some people claim just keeping it on a stack of books does the trick but I prefer to bend the metal pieces exactly to the desired pressure.
Totally reversible too and when bent a bit too loose you can bend it back to a bit higher clamping force again.

Do NOT try to bend the plastic headband and ONLY apply force to the metal part. Do this incrementally with a fitting after each bending so you can get the perfect clamping force.
Works for all similar models.

 

[Seamlessly Docked]

Hi, could I ask if, after a few years, the change has ended up being quite noticeable? I want to start out the headphones hobby (?) with neutral headphones and had decided on 600/650 with 600 winning out due their sound as pads wear out, but that was before I learned of this revision.

Unfortunately, I cannot try any of them except one very worn-out (and probably with old pads) HD650. I just want a good reference pair to anchor myself a bit better as I start, but as the first pair, I will also be keeping them forever, somewhat religiously, so I am sorry if I sound a bit fussy.

 

[solderdude]

The new HD600 (probably) has a hair more 'body' (not confirmed but extrapolating from experiments with HD650 and HD58X)

An alternative for HD600 is the much cheaper HD560S but there are differences in 'feel' and comfort.

 

[Seamlessly Docked]

Thank you very much. By having more 'body', does that mean the vocal/mid is a tiny bit more present because the bass is reduced by a tiny bit?

I do not wish to detract the thread, but may I also ask if HD560s sound sibilant more often than HD600/650, mainly on vocal? It is my (should be) preference I use as a tie-breaker under an assumption that they are all relatively neutral sounding. (My source is Apple Music on MacBook Pro M1.)

 

[solderdude]

There is more sample to sample variation in HD560S (tolerances less tight) it seems.
Also the newer versions are less 'bright' compared to earlier ones (< 2022).

HD600/650, over the years, also have changed a little due to drivers and pads but are overall fairly consistent. The HD650 has tighter tolerances than HD600.

The HD600 is shifted in tonality a little bit closer to the older HD650 and the HD650 is a tiny bit 'warmer' than the version of a few years back.
The differences are small but detectable and only valid for fresh pads.
This is why Amir's measurement of the HD600 and HD650 were so similar... pad wear/aging.
The tonality changes a little over time due to pad wear (becomes slightly darker sounding).

For mixing I would recommend HD600 over HD650. It will lead to a bit more low bass and less 'strident' mids in the mix.

 

[Seamlessly Docked]

Thank you so much

 

[zachary80]

There is more sample to sample variation in HD560S (tolerances less tight) it seems.
Also the newer versions are less 'bright' compared to earlier ones (< 2022).

HD600/650, over the years, also have changed a little due to drivers and pads but are overall fairly consistent. The HD650 has tighter tolerances than HD600.

The HD600 is shifted in tonality a little bit closer to the older HD650 and the HD650 is a tiny bit 'warmer' than the version of a few years back.
The differences are small but detectable and only valid for fresh pads.
This is why Amir's measurement of the HD600 and HD650 were so similar... pad wear/aging.
The tonality changes a little over time due to pad wear (becomes slightly darker sounding).

For mixing I would recommend HD600 over HD650. It will lead to a bit more low bass and less 'strident' mids in the mix.

Hey dude, I have a number of headphones but was thinking of getting one of my Sennheisers back in action and selling/gifting the other. I will use them also for mixing, but they are a backup to my primary (LCD2 classic + EQ) for when I don't have EQ (like out of my Maschine+ or other synth direct). I have a 58XJ with fresh pads all-around and a hd650 with the original pads and headband completely worn out (like, the originals since the release of the headphone). I had a 580 when I got the 650, and sound was a toss-up, with slight preference to the 650. Which would you keep or sell/gift? What pads and headband for the 650? At $180-200, does it make sense to get a 560 S and let the 650 be "dark mode" without a pad refresh?

edit: Still curious about the pads and which you would keep, but found other information you've posted and it does not make sense to get a 560 S for me. At that point I would upgrade to a 400 Pro or 490 Pro (if I didn't already have Waves NX and Sonarworks), or even better, rounding out my options with a closed dynamic- a DT 700 Pro or HD620S.

 

[solderdude]

headband padding from Ali-express is just fine and costs almost nothing.
Earpads ... use the original Sennheiser ones. Aftermarket ones can be anything from fine to a horror.

 

[rcstevensonaz]

Seems I waited too long to replace the pads on my HD 600 (purchased about a decade ago) since the original annular earpads with disk for the older "marble trim" HD 600s are permanently out of production.

If sticking with Sennheiser OEM pads, would I be better off replacing my worn pads with the model for the new HD 600s? Or would I be better just staying with my worn pads?

And slightly off topic of this thread, what about Dekoni Audio's Elite Sheepskin Replacement Ear Pads for Sennheiser HD600 Series Headphones? [UPDATE] Based on reading in other threads, the Dekoni pads measure significantly different from the original Sennheiser HD 600 pads and are not recommended.

 

[Oldson]

Seems I waited too long to replace the pads on my HD 600 (purchased about a decade ago) since the original annular earpads with disk for the older "marble trim" HD 600s are permanently out of production.

If sticking with Sennheiser OEM pads, would I be better off replacing my worn pads with the model for the new HD 600s? Or would I be better just staying with my worn pads?

And slightly off topic of this thread, what about Dekoni Audio's Elite Sheepskin Replacement Ear Pads for Sennheiser HD600 Series Headphones? [UPDATE] Based on reading in other threads, the Dekoni pads measure significantly different from the original Sennheiser HD 600 pads and are not recommended.

different pads i know but i have been using Dekoni elite hybrid on my 650.
having just noticed this thread yesterday i decided to put the old originals back on.
despite the fact that my originals are old and only measure 20mm deep, i prefer them especially from a comfort point.

have now ordered some genuine pads from Audio Sanctuary (best price i could find) so will see how these fair, against the Dekoni.
hardly used my 650 in the last 2/3 years (probably since getting the Dekoni pads) but really enjoyed it last night with worn stock pads.
if i like the new pads then i may treat myself to a new cable.
i bought the 650 used and it came with a 3rd party cable, which would be fine but its a tad too short for my needs.

 

[Paweł L]

Just like Solderdude said, best to buy original Sennheiser pads, even though the new 2021 up pads are different from the older ones. They pretty much keep the original sound, just touch less warm. The new production HD6** series headphones use them and they are replacement for older marble HD600 as well. In the worst case scenario, I'd get one from AliExpress rather than the junk from Dekoni which makes the headphones bass heavy and destroys original tuning. The thing with some of the Chinese pads, they don't snap into place like originals. There are many stories about the issue on the Internet. I just ordered new OEM pads in Canada from Long and McQuade Pro Audio/Musical instruments store. I have 58X, 6XX and 600, and I keep the lightly used older style pads as my reference. I bet there are many other Pro Audio suppliers around the world which sell OEM part.
The only DT770 I would buy is the 80ohm version as they measure the best, without the bass hump of the 250ohm. I didn't hear the 620 so I can't comment about the sound.

 

[robertom]

the HD650 is a tiny bit 'warmer' than the version of a few years back.

Frans did you mean the opposite?
Based on your measurements on AudioHeaven of the new OEM 2021 pads, these seem to lead to a reduction of the classic Sennheiser bump in the 100-200Hz range, and actually to a reduction of the entire range up to 1000Hz.
Moreover this perfectly aligns with my subjective impressions: I just repurchased a refurbished unit from the Sennheiser store precisely to see if these new pads made the Sennheisers sound different in the way they measure, and that’s exactly the case. I no longer have my old HD650s (bought in 2018 and sold when the pads were used but still in decent condition), but I knew them well (I also did some mixes on them), and I’m quite sure that these new ones no longer have the bump at 200Hz. They have an overall sense of increased clarity and noticeably more extended high frequencies.
I bet that they can be now safely used for mixing, whereas with my previous pair (with the previous version of the OEM pads), that wasn’t the case: They didn’t translate well.

 

[solderdude]

When HD6** pads get older they slowly sound warmer due to the driver getting closer to the ear.
This effect is often described as being 'burn in of the driver' but is simply pad wear.
When you replace the pads the sound becomes what it is supposed to be again (so a bit less warm).

When you replace worn pads with new (older manufacture) pads and compare those pads with new (current production) pads then, with the newer (current production) pads the headphone, comparatively has a tiny bit more warmth than when one would fit new original pads.

 

[robertom]

When HD6** pads get older they slowly sound warmer due to the driver getting closer to the ear.
This effect is often described as being 'burn in of the driver' but is simply pad wear.
When you replace the pads the sound becomes what it is supposed to be again (so a bit less warm).

When you replace worn pads with new (older manufacture) pads and compare those pads with new (current production) pads then, with the newer (current production) pads the headphone, comparatively has a tiny bit more warmth than when one would fit new original pads.

I can't say for certain how my old HD650 (2018) sounded with fresh old-style pads, because it's a memory from 2018 after all, and I never replaced the pads until I sold it. However, I’d swear it never sounded as good as the new (2025) HD650 I just got (which, of course, comes with the new pads): no excessive 'warmth,' a sense of linearity and clarity throughout the midrange, and more extended highs.
To your knowledge, is it possible that the newly produced HD650 (2021? 2023? 2024? Who knows) has undergone some silent revision beyond the new pads?

 

[solderdude]

over the years not all HD650 appear to have been created equal. Then there also is product tolerances. Due to driver matching it is also likely even HD650 from the same production run have differences.

 

[Paweł L]

Frankly I changed all my pads to newer style, especially on 6XX which already has too much of a low mids/upper bass hump. Too me the change was was drastic, for the good, even with the lightly used old style pads.

 

[robertom]

Frankly I changed all my pads to newer style, especially on 6XX which already has too much of a low mids/upper bass hump. Too me the change was was drastic, for the good, even with the lightly used old style pads.

my impression as well.
Did you try the new 600/650 sennheiser OEM pads on the 58X too? It seems that the pads mounted on this hp by default are not the usual sennheiser OEM for the 6xx series. Moreover I also asked to drop customer service and they said that the default pads of the 58X are not sold separately, the velour ones they have on their website are very similar but not the exact same (this is what I was told from them).
I have a 58X too and the pads are visually shallower than the new HD600/650 OEM, probably more similar to the pre-2021 revision.

 

[Paweł L]

First I got them for 58X and then for 2022 6XX. The 4mm hole felt mod by Solderdude was removed with the new style pads. Somehow the 6XX sounds slightly nicer with the new OEM pads - I very rarely use the 6XX since 58X has more meaty low end and I use them with my portables with Wavelet (Moto cell phone can drive them to satisfactory level, but not the Samsungs). Sure the 6XX sounds more refined but as a daily driver 58X is good enough. I wish 6XX had lower mids and low end of the 58X, that would be a very nice headphone The pads supplied with Drop headphones look alike the newer OEM pads but if they're 100% the same, I don't know. Also I removed the stock foam in front of the 6XX's driver and put thin ladies stockings to boost the upper mids and treble. But I don't recommend doing it to 58X - they just don't sound good with it (I guess the 5kHz peak is over exaggerated without the foam).

 

[robertom]

Yes, I agree that HD650 (6XX) and 58X are essentially on the same level, and I also had your same impressions on the new OEM pads: They sound better on the 6XX than on the 58X, but they are perfectly usable anyway. I suspect that the old style OEM pads (no longer available) were a better fit for the 58X. New pads from drop should sound very similar, only problem being that they are expensive outside USA (shipping and maybe import fees).
However, I think I have what solderdude calls a '58x outlier', see his graphs (no mid-bass hump, essentially)