Sennheiser HD600 Review (Headphone)

[Sha1rholder]

Have you measured the impedance curve of it?

 

[thewas]

Nice comparison (with measurements) of the HD600 series models:

 

[Deckard01]

Has anyone tested the ZMF Suede pads? Do they worth for replace my HD600 or buy stock ones? Thanks

 

[MRC01]

I always get the OEM pads for mine. Others are cheaper, but the ones I've read about alter the frequency response. As the OEM pads wear, I find they squish a bit and the sound gets warmer, and new pads always sound a bit brighter. For me, slightly worn pads are a good thing since the HD600 sounds a touch too bright for my taste. So slightly warmer sounding pads would be a good thing as long as the difference is subtle; I don't want big FR variations from stock.

 

[Dazerdoreal]

The ZMF pads are, in fact, more expensive. and they dont seem to alter the frequency response too much.
But I would be interested in personal experiences as well.

 

[Mr Swing King]

^I disagree…though not with regards to ZMF pads being more expensive
Either you end up with an enormous wallop of bass and low mids or you get a depression in the uppermids and treble. What on paper looks like a small depression is actually very noticeable and schews the overall balance of the tuning. This is because our hearing is at it’s most acute around 1-3k - exactly where the ZMF pads change the presentation.
This is also one of the main reasons why the newer Sennheisers like the HD58X, HD660 and HD660S2 sound so different compared to the classic line-up; small changes done to that particular area end up making a huge difference sonically.

 

[Hal Rockwell]

Has anyone tested the ZMF Suede pads? Do they worth for replace my HD600 or buy stock ones? Thanks

Take the time to read it. It's copied from my headphone blog.

A famous audio reviewer once said, “You can’t pad roll the HD6xx series of headphones. Until now!”. Well, “now” has yet to come. The famous audio reviewer goes by the name DMS, and this quote is taken from his video review of the new replacement pads for the HD6xx series of headphones manufactured and sold by ZMF. This “review” looks more like an endorsement video sponsored by ZMF than an actual review.

Disclaimer: This is my first encounter with ZMF. I have never purchased anything from them or contacted them before. I have no experience with any of their products except the ones mentioned in this piece.

I’m a massive fan of the HD6xx series and consider it my endgame headphones. I own the HD600, HD650, and HD660S2 and plan on purchasing the HD620s in the foreseeable future. My HD600 and HD650 are aged and require a pad swap. Before ordering the original pads from Sennheiser, I looked for alternatives that don’t alter the sound signature but hold up better to wear and tear. I stumbled upon the ZMF HD6xx+ Sub Pads. I watched the two video reviews linked on the product page and decided to go for the suede variant since it was the option closest to the original, according to DMS and Zach Mehrbach, the owner of ZMF. I ordered two sets on July 28th and received the package on August 22nd.

Upon receiving it, I immediately installed a set on my HD600 and started listening. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to realize that my already bass light headphones lacked even more bass. I measured all my HD6xx series headphones with original and ZMF pads to realize that ZMF pads drop the bass by 2db!

(miniDSP E.A.R.S performed the measurements.)

I immediately contacted ZMF and provided them with my measurements, and this is the reply I received from ZMF on August 26th:

“Hey Eli,

Thanks for reaching out!

Your order #21194 shows that you purchased the Suede Perf variant of the ZMF HD6xx pads. The "suede" material pads (it is not real suede but rather a vegan polyester blend) tend to have this exact effect on sonics, where it makes the headphone sound slightly brighter by dampening the bass frequency response a bit. This is due to the material choice and amount/size of the perforations as typically, the more perforated an earpad is the more bass frequencies it lets out. If you are looking for a bass "boost" you would want to get a lambskin leather pad, as these tend to give the bass frequency response a bit of a boost.

A ton of things go into developing our earpads, as earpads play a massive roll in the sonics of a headphone. Please visit our pad info page at https://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmfpads for more information on our pads, and the materials we use to make them.

Thanks again for reaching out and please let us know if you have any other questions - we are happy to help!”.

At 69.99 USD, those pads are anything but cheap, and I’m not even mentioning the shipping and customs fees I paid to get them. Now, I’m stuck with two useless sets to me and probably to anyone else. I wasn’t going to give up! So I emailed ZMF again on August 30th:

“Hi again,

I watched both videos again and there's no mention of the bass deficiency I'm experiencing with those pads.

There's also no logic in creating a pad that cuts on bass on an already bass-light headphone such as HD600 and HD650.

I want to return the pads for a full refund.

How can this be arranged?”

I did this only to receive ZMF’s negative response on September 3rd:

“Hi Eli-

Thanks for the email. Sorry for the delay due to the labor day holiday here in the United States.

While we are unable to process returns on used Earpads due to hygienic reasons, we do state this directly on the product page. We are always happy to help folks decide on the best choices from our store to suit their sonic preferences and to give support prior to ordering to assure you are making a choice that best aligns with what you're looking for.

The earpads were not created to be bass light. We have 3 options of substitute pads for our HD6XX series some of which present the sonics closer to the stock sound.

We can help make a recommendation if you would like.”

I went looking all over ZMF’s site for any statement related to the inability to process returns due to hygienic reasons, only to find no mention of it. Come on, Guys! You make a living by selling headphones—an item that touches the human body from inception until it fails and is discarded—and you use hygiene as an excuse not to accept refunds when one of the pairs I purchased wasn’t even taken out of its package?!

The following message is the last mail in the correspondence, after which ZMF stopped replying:

“Hi,

I went through your site again and found no mention of any hygienic issues preventing me from returning the pads.

I have two weeks to assess my purchase for correctness to the specifications, which the pads I purchased are not!

One pair wasn't even taken out of its package.

I don't need any help choosing any audio gear if the graphs and specs presented to me are correct.

I insist on returning the pads!”

ZMF left me no choice but to turn to PayPal for resolution. No matter what the outcome, I must warn potential buyers that those pads don’t even comply with ZMF’s and DMS’s measurements and statements.

So the HD6xx series remains unfit for pad rolling unless you’re completely dissatisfied with how they sound, in which case I fail to understand how you got stuck with those headphones in the first place.

Since those pads are useless to me, I’m willing to send pairs to two reviewers who will have access to a pair of HD6xx series headphones and a measuring rig to test my claims. Please feel free to PM me if you’re up for the job.

September 30th Update: So, I guess I got lucky and was refunded by PayPal because ZMF did not respond to my claim. I guess they were too busy with CanJam SoCal. You, on the other hand, might not be so lucky…

 

[Chagall]

Take the time to read it. It's copied from my headphone blog.

A famous audio reviewer once said, “You can’t pad roll the HD6xx series of headphones. Until now!”. Well, “now” has yet to come. The famous audio reviewer goes by the name DMS, and this quote is taken from his video review of the new replacement pads for the HD6xx series of headphones manufactured and sold by ZMF. This “review” looks more like an endorsement video sponsored by ZMF than an actual review.

Disclaimer: This is my first encounter with ZMF. I have never purchased anything from them or contacted them before. I have no experience with any of their products except the ones mentioned in this piece.

I’m a massive fan of the HD6xx series and consider it my endgame headphones. I own the HD600, HD650, and HD660S2 and plan on purchasing the HD620s in the foreseeable future. My HD600 and HD650 are aged and require a pad swap. Before ordering the original pads from Sennheiser, I looked for alternatives that don’t alter the sound signature but hold up better to wear and tear. I stumbled upon the ZMF HD6xx+ Sub Pads. I watched the two video reviews linked on the product page and decided to go for the suede variant since it was the option closest to the original, according to DMS and Zach Mehrbach, the owner of ZMF. I ordered two sets on July 28th and received the package on August 22nd.

Upon receiving it, I immediately installed a set on my HD600 and started listening. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to realize that my already bass light headphones lacked even more bass. I measured all my HD6xx series headphones with original and ZMF pads to realize that ZMF pads drop the bass by 2db!

(miniDSP E.A.R.S performed the measurements.)

I immediately contacted ZMF and provided them with my measurements, and this is the reply I received from ZMF on August 26th:

“Hey Eli,

Thanks for reaching out!

Your order #21194 shows that you purchased the Suede Perf variant of the ZMF HD6xx pads. The "suede" material pads (it is not real suede but rather a vegan polyester blend) tend to have this exact effect on sonics, where it makes the headphone sound slightly brighter by dampening the bass frequency response a bit. This is due to the material choice and amount/size of the perforations as typically, the more perforated an earpad is the more bass frequencies it lets out. If you are looking for a bass "boost" you would want to get a lambskin leather pad, as these tend to give the bass frequency response a bit of a boost.

A ton of things go into developing our earpads, as earpads play a massive roll in the sonics of a headphone. Please visit our pad info page at https://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmfpads for more information on our pads, and the materials we use to make them.

Thanks again for reaching out and please let us know if you have any other questions - we are happy to help!”.

At 69.99 USD, those pads are anything but cheap, and I’m not even mentioning the shipping and customs fees I paid to get them. Now, I’m stuck with two useless sets to me and probably to anyone else. I wasn’t going to give up! So I emailed ZMF again on August 30th:

“Hi again,

I watched both videos again and there's no mention of the bass deficiency I'm experiencing with those pads.

There's also no logic in creating a pad that cuts on bass on an already bass-light headphone such as HD600 and HD650.

I want to return the pads for a full refund.

How can this be arranged?”

I did this only to receive ZMF’s negative response on September 3rd:

“Hi Eli-

Thanks for the email. Sorry for the delay due to the labor day holiday here in the United States.

While we are unable to process returns on used Earpads due to hygienic reasons, we do state this directly on the product page. We are always happy to help folks decide on the best choices from our store to suit their sonic preferences and to give support prior to ordering to assure you are making a choice that best aligns with what you're looking for.

The earpads were not created to be bass light. We have 3 options of substitute pads for our HD6XX series some of which present the sonics closer to the stock sound.

We can help make a recommendation if you would like.”

I went looking all over ZMF’s site for any statement related to the inability to process returns due to hygienic reasons, only to find no mention of it. Come on, Guys! You make a living by selling headphones—an item that touches the human body from inception until it fails and is discarded—and you use hygiene as an excuse not to accept refunds when one of the pairs I purchased wasn’t even taken out of its package?!

The following message is the last mail in the correspondence, after which ZMF stopped replying:

“Hi,

I went through your site again and found no mention of any hygienic issues preventing me from returning the pads.

I have two weeks to assess my purchase for correctness to the specifications, which the pads I purchased are not!

One pair wasn't even taken out of its package.

I don't need any help choosing any audio gear if the graphs and specs presented to me are correct.

I insist on returning the pads!”

ZMF left me no choice but to turn to PayPal for resolution. No matter what the outcome, I must warn potential buyers that those pads don’t even comply with ZMF’s and DMS’s measurements and statements.

So the HD6xx series remains unfit for pad rolling unless you’re completely dissatisfied with how they sound, in which case I fail to understand how you got stuck with those headphones in the first place.

Since those pads are useless to me, I’m willing to send pairs to two reviewers who will have access to a pair of HD6xx series headphones and a measuring rig to test my claims. Please feel free to PM me if you’re up for the job.

September 30th Update: So, I guess I got lucky and was refunded by PayPal because ZMF did not respond to my claim. I guess they were too busy with CanJam SoCal. You, on the other hand, might not be so lucky…

To be fair, this is clearly stated on the product page (although it might be recently updated, I don't know):

Only OG pads for Sennheiser. Never understood why people pad roll in general - changing the FR is unavoidable.

 

[Heinrich]

Take the time to read it. It's copied from my headphone blog.

"All pad sales are final. No returns, refunds, or exchanges."

I'm not into defending ZMF, but the above is clearly stated. Actually, it may make You feel a bit better if I tell You that I had the same experience with el cheapo AliXPress pads. A bass loss on a close to medium scale. I ascribe it to the bigger volume of the ear cabs with no more flattend out ol' pads. Please watch the volume being reduced by the pinna in the first place, so that a greater height may in relation affect the left over space more than eyeballing would suggest. Equalizer comes to the rescue.
With my el cheapo solution the top end was catastrophically altered also, which You won't appreciate, me thinks. Hand stiched pads at ZMF, where on earth is it done? They should display a tip-box ...

 

[Hal Rockwell]

All sales are final unless it's a costumer deceit. I purchased the pads based on the graphs ZMF presented and the pads don't confirm with them. So why do I have to lose my money?

 

[Robbo99999]

Take the time to read it. It's copied from my headphone blog.

A famous audio reviewer once said, “You can’t pad roll the HD6xx series of headphones. Until now!”. Well, “now” has yet to come. The famous audio reviewer goes by the name DMS, and this quote is taken from his video review of the new replacement pads for the HD6xx series of headphones manufactured and sold by ZMF. This “review” looks more like an endorsement video sponsored by ZMF than an actual review.

Disclaimer: This is my first encounter with ZMF. I have never purchased anything from them or contacted them before. I have no experience with any of their products except the ones mentioned in this piece.

I’m a massive fan of the HD6xx series and consider it my endgame headphones. I own the HD600, HD650, and HD660S2 and plan on purchasing the HD620s in the foreseeable future. My HD600 and HD650 are aged and require a pad swap. Before ordering the original pads from Sennheiser, I looked for alternatives that don’t alter the sound signature but hold up better to wear and tear. I stumbled upon the ZMF HD6xx+ Sub Pads. I watched the two video reviews linked on the product page and decided to go for the suede variant since it was the option closest to the original, according to DMS and Zach Mehrbach, the owner of ZMF. I ordered two sets on July 28th and received the package on August 22nd.

Upon receiving it, I immediately installed a set on my HD600 and started listening. It didn’t take me more than a few minutes to realize that my already bass light headphones lacked even more bass. I measured all my HD6xx series headphones with original and ZMF pads to realize that ZMF pads drop the bass by 2db!

(miniDSP E.A.R.S performed the measurements.)

I immediately contacted ZMF and provided them with my measurements, and this is the reply I received from ZMF on August 26th:

“Hey Eli,

Thanks for reaching out!

Your order #21194 shows that you purchased the Suede Perf variant of the ZMF HD6xx pads. The "suede" material pads (it is not real suede but rather a vegan polyester blend) tend to have this exact effect on sonics, where it makes the headphone sound slightly brighter by dampening the bass frequency response a bit. This is due to the material choice and amount/size of the perforations as typically, the more perforated an earpad is the more bass frequencies it lets out. If you are looking for a bass "boost" you would want to get a lambskin leather pad, as these tend to give the bass frequency response a bit of a boost.

A ton of things go into developing our earpads, as earpads play a massive roll in the sonics of a headphone. Please visit our pad info page at https://www.zmfheadphones.com/zmfpads for more information on our pads, and the materials we use to make them.

Thanks again for reaching out and please let us know if you have any other questions - we are happy to help!”.

At 69.99 USD, those pads are anything but cheap, and I’m not even mentioning the shipping and customs fees I paid to get them. Now, I’m stuck with two useless sets to me and probably to anyone else. I wasn’t going to give up! So I emailed ZMF again on August 30th:

“Hi again,

I watched both videos again and there's no mention of the bass deficiency I'm experiencing with those pads.

There's also no logic in creating a pad that cuts on bass on an already bass-light headphone such as HD600 and HD650.

I want to return the pads for a full refund.

How can this be arranged?”

I did this only to receive ZMF’s negative response on September 3rd:

“Hi Eli-

Thanks for the email. Sorry for the delay due to the labor day holiday here in the United States.

While we are unable to process returns on used Earpads due to hygienic reasons, we do state this directly on the product page. We are always happy to help folks decide on the best choices from our store to suit their sonic preferences and to give support prior to ordering to assure you are making a choice that best aligns with what you're looking for.

The earpads were not created to be bass light. We have 3 options of substitute pads for our HD6XX series some of which present the sonics closer to the stock sound.

We can help make a recommendation if you would like.”

I went looking all over ZMF’s site for any statement related to the inability to process returns due to hygienic reasons, only to find no mention of it. Come on, Guys! You make a living by selling headphones—an item that touches the human body from inception until it fails and is discarded—and you use hygiene as an excuse not to accept refunds when one of the pairs I purchased wasn’t even taken out of its package?!

The following message is the last mail in the correspondence, after which ZMF stopped replying:

“Hi,

I went through your site again and found no mention of any hygienic issues preventing me from returning the pads.

I have two weeks to assess my purchase for correctness to the specifications, which the pads I purchased are not!

One pair wasn't even taken out of its package.

I don't need any help choosing any audio gear if the graphs and specs presented to me are correct.

I insist on returning the pads!”

ZMF left me no choice but to turn to PayPal for resolution. No matter what the outcome, I must warn potential buyers that those pads don’t even comply with ZMF’s and DMS’s measurements and statements.

So the HD6xx series remains unfit for pad rolling unless you’re completely dissatisfied with how they sound, in which case I fail to understand how you got stuck with those headphones in the first place.

Since those pads are useless to me, I’m willing to send pairs to two reviewers who will have access to a pair of HD6xx series headphones and a measuring rig to test my claims. Please feel free to PM me if you’re up for the job.

September 30th Update: So, I guess I got lucky and was refunded by PayPal because ZMF did not respond to my claim. I guess they were too busy with CanJam SoCal. You, on the other hand, might not be so lucky…

Another reason not to rely on pads as a means of trying to change the sonic signature, best is stock pads and using EQ in most cases.

 

[Heinrich]

All sales are final unless it's a costumer deceit. I purchased the pads based on the graphs ZMF presented and the pads don't confirm with them. So why do I have to lose my money?

First, if the pads feel good, and there is no return, and You received a full refund finally, won't You give them a try?
Second, did You compare new original pads with new aftermarket pads, as ZMF did when show-casing their product?

I've read many reports on a muffling bass lift with compressed, flattened, worn-out pads. That's why I opted to order some China made replacements. The increase in clarity was even for me immediately perceptible. And it remained like that, anecdotally, after full equalization, admittedly to my liking, though.

In case You can't bear the outspoken abysmal quality of the ZMF, please consider to send them to me (Europe).

 

[Hal Rockwell]

First, if the pads feel good, and there is no return, and You received a full refund finally, won't You give them a try?
Second, did You compare new original pads with new aftermarket pads, as ZMF did when show-casing their product?

I've read many reports on a muffling bass lift with compressed, flattened, worn-out pads. That's why I opted to order some China made replacements. The increase in clarity was even for me immediately perceptible. And it remained like that, anecdotally, after full equalization, admittedly to my liking, though.

In case You can't bear the outspoken abysmal quality of the ZMF, please consider to send them to me (Europe).

I gave them a try. They're unbearable! Usually, old HD6x0 series pads roll off in bass and treble as they age, but the ones I used for measurement were a week old pads taken from my new HD660S2. Quality wise those pads feel premium, though smaller than the original which leaves an annoying gap between the outer rim of the pad and the baffle.

 

[Heinrich]

I gave them a try. They're unbearable! Usually, old HD6x0 series pads roll off in bass and treble as they age, but the ones I used for measurement were a week old pads taken from my new HD660S2. Quality wise those pads feel premium, though smaller than the original which leaves an annoying gap between the outer rim of the pad and the baffle.

I didn't take note, sorry.

 

[isostasy]

Here are the measurements from the above mentioned videos.

ZMF says he uses a B&K 5128, but not sure what compensation. Also note he mentions his HD650 is modified: "you can see I did some modifications this was years ago when I got this headphone and I forget what the modification is called but you put a little dynamat on the back of the driver and cut this little quarter piece out of the foam on the pad so do keep that in mind when looking at my measurements".

DMS doesn't say, but the watermark is "IEC 60318-4". Again, compensation not specified. Why he chose not to show any information above 10kHz is also not mentioned. Bear in mind this isn't the first time DMS has claimed a pad maker has managed to create an alternative which sounded close to stock.

Kuulokenurkka with GRAS clone setup (I've compensated this to HD600 stock pad so you can actually clearly see the differences).

@Hal Rockwell I'd say you may have been caught out by the alignment in the measurements. If you watch the video closely he bumps the gain by +2dB to take the suede measurement. If the measurements were aligned at 400-500Hz rather than the resulting 200Hz, the bass loss would be much more obvious. Similarly with the measurements from DMS. Not suggesting any intent to mislead of course.


Suede

Perf lambskin

 

[Hal Rockwell]

Here are the measurements from the above mentioned videos.

ZMF says he uses a B&K 5128, but not sure what compensation. Also note he mentions his HD650 is modified: "you can see I did some modifications this was years ago when I got this headphone and I forget what the modification is called but you put a little dynamat on the back of the driver and cut this little quarter piece out of the foam on the pad so do keep that in mind when looking at my measurements".

DMS doesn't say, but the watermark is "IEC 60318-4". Again, compensation not specified. Why he chose not to show any information above 10kHz is also not mentioned. Bear in mind this isn't the first time DMS has claimed a pad maker has managed to create an alternative which sounded close to stock.

Kuulokenurkka with GRAS clone setup (I've compensated this to HD600 stock pad so you can actually clearly see the differences).

@Hal Rockwell I'd say you may have been caught out by the alignment in the measurements. If you watch the video closely he bumps the gain by +2dB to take the suede measurement. If the measurements were aligned at 400-500Hz rather than the resulting 200Hz, the bass loss would be much more obvious. Similarly with the measurements from DMS. Not suggesting any intent to mislead of course.


Suede

View attachment 416855

View attachment 416860

Perf lambskin

View attachment 416856

View attachment 416857

View attachment 416863

Looks like an intent to mislead to me.

 

[Yorkshire Mouth]

To be fair, this is clearly stated on the product page (although it might be recently updated, I don't know):

View attachment 416831

Only OG pads for Sennheiser. Never understood why people pad roll in general - changing the FR is unavoidable.

How much are Sennheiser's own replacements? EDIT: Ah, they appear to be between £30 and £40 in the UK, depending on who you buy them from and when.

£33 here at the moment:

Replacement Velour Ear Pads + Inner Discs for HD545, HD565, HD580, HD600, HD650, HD660, HD660s, HDI850, HD265, by Sennheiser | Audio Sanctuary

Official replacement velour earpads + inner foam discs, by Sennheiser. Sold in pairs (x2 pads + x2 discs). Black finish only. Part 050635. Fits HD545, HD565, HD580, HD600, HD650, HD660, HDI850, HD265. Available from Audio Sanctuary, London.

www.audiosanctuary.co.uk

Amazon Price Tracker suggests they're usually £35-£40:

https://uk.camelcamelcamel.com/product/B002B4OKYU

 

[solderdude]

€ 39,- per pair (includes foam inserts) from Thomann and also from Sennheiser directly (in E.U.).

The (new) original pads are of lesser build quality it seems.

 

[Chagall]

The (new) original pads are of lesser build quality it seems.

Yes, if there is any benefit to ZMF or Dekoni pads it's durability IMO. OG pads last 2 years or so with my use.

 

[Heinrich]

Looks like an intent to mislead to me.

I'm into the busineess of refurbishing my, more pedestrian though, HD58X including the pads myself. Look, if the calibration is the same between the different pads, who cares? The differences should be visible from one to the other anyway.

Regarding the level settings, ZMF seems to put the emphasis quite reasonably on bass to the lower mids and in consequence the treble, and foremost the 2khz trough is seen to be altered. With my HD58X it love to have more treble than stock. Maybe because i've bigger ears, and so the center of the driver doesn't energize my ear canal directly, but from above ... huge difference to people with smaller ears, as far as my measurement method holds. Let alone my subjective impression that pushes me to raise the 3k+treble gently by one to two dB above the 10dB tilt considered optimal.

ZMF say, the suede pads result in a sound that is not identical to the former (!) originals, but close, whatever that means. Finally the data is there to decide. Modulo differences resulting from the individual seating on the head, and unquestionable preference of course.

When it comes to preference, my stance is that listening to any of the 6oo-Series, the 58x included, without equalizer isn't optimal to begin with.