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Sennheiser HDB 630

I see a lot of people saying the HDB630 are marginally closer to Harman-ish than the Bathys. However, I'm not sure if they're much better than the Dynamic preset on the Bathys, which is tuned closer to Harman. I think this is on a 711 (?) / not 5128 rig, but should be close enough:

Bathys are arguably closer for some of the range, though I'd take the HDB 630 for the lower cost, parametric EQ, and flatter mids. I really hope someone will do some post-EQ measurements on the HDB 630 and have an ideal EQ profile as Crin did for the WH1000 XM6. Just received a set of HDB 630, and both are very good and close enough to neutral. If anything, I find the HDB 630 maybe a hair polite/relaxed in the treble (very mild) and a hair warm, and maybe also getting a mild treble spike? (One hour opinion, not final, could be hallucinating.)

https://kuulokenurkka.squig.link/?s...athys_(Dynamic_Preset)_**,HDB_630_(ANC_ON)_**
1764467596460.png
 
no_stream said:
I see a lot of people saying the HDB630 are marginally closer to Harman-ish than the Bathys. However, I'm not sure if they're much better than the Dynamic preset on the Bathys, which is tuned closer to Harman. I think this is on a 711 (?) / not 5128 rig, but should be close enough:

Bathys are arguably closer for some of the range, though I'd take the HDB 630 for the lower cost, parametric EQ, and flatter mids. I really hope someone will do some post-EQ measurements on the HDB 630 and have an ideal EQ profile as Crin did for the WH1000 XM6. Just received a set of HDB 630, and both are very good and close enough to neutral. If anything, I find the HDB 630 maybe a hair polite/relaxed in the treble (very mild) and a hair warm, and maybe also getting a mild treble spike? (One hour opinion, not final, could be hallucinating.)

https://kuulokenurkka.squig.link/?s...athys_(Dynamic_Preset)_**,HDB_630_(ANC_ON)_**
View attachment 494075
Click to expand...
I suggest you try these settings, from 20Hz to 10kHz, with smoothing "3". If you have any suggestions, you can change a little. But from experience, it doesn't make much sense to go above 10kHz.
1764616413876.png
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Has anyone had a chance to compare the HDB 630 to the HD 620S yet?

I currently own the HD 620s and am trying to decide between (1) buying the HDB 630 as a direct upgrade and trying to solo them for home / office / travel use or (2) keeping my HD 620s for home use and picking up a pair of new Bose QC 2 for travel since they have better ANC / smaller size / lighter weight / improved comfort vs the HDB 630.
 
silver-matter said:
Has anyone had a chance to compare the HDB 630 to the HD 620S yet?

I currently own the HD 620s and am trying to decide between (1) buying the HDB 630 as a direct upgrade and trying to solo them for home / office / travel use or (2) keeping my HD 620s for home use and picking up a pair of new Bose QC 2 for travel since they have better ANC / smaller size / lighter weight / improved comfort vs the HDB 630.
Click to expand...
To some extent, it seems like the QC Ultra 2 might be the better choice. The mids are not fucked, the pinna gain region looks decent; and the three band EQ looks to be of the right Q and frequency to calm get the QC Ultra 2 to a neutral balance. And more importantly, the headphones plays and records test tones on your head so that it actually adapts its DSP to your head, so the frequency response is in a sense "guaranteed" at least in the bass and the mids. Add that to better portability and ANC, it makes a strong argument for itself.

Headphones.com recently reviewed the QC Ultra 2 and the measurements once they've EQ'ed down treble and bass look very good.

Of course, the Sennheisers are also very good on their own, and offer more precise control over the sound they produce should you be adept at EQing things. There are also ancillaries like looks, brand reputation...
 
kharan said:
To some extent, it seems like the QC Ultra 2 might be the better choice. The mids are not fucked, the pinna gain region looks decent; and the three band EQ looks to be of the right Q and frequency to calm get the QC Ultra 2 to a neutral balance. And more importantly, the headphones plays and records test tones on your head so that it actually adapts its DSP to your head, so the frequency response is in a sense "guaranteed" at least in the bass and the mids. Add that to better portability and ANC, it makes a strong argument for itself.

Headphones.com recently reviewed the QC Ultra 2 and the measurements once they've EQ'ed down treble and bass look very good.

Of course, the Sennheisers are also very good on their own, and offer more precise control over the sound they produce should you be adept at EQing things. There are also ancillaries like looks, brand reputation...
Click to expand...
Good points. I watched the headphones.com review of the QC Ultra 2 as well and was planning to try their -5 bass / -5 treble EQ preset to tame the V‑shape. Being able to get decent results from EQ is what made me consider the QC Ultra 2 in the first place. I liked the idea of the XM6 with EQ too, but I borrowed a pair for a few days and the comfort was a dealbreaker for me.

For what it’s worth, I almost always use my HD 620S on a PC with Equalizer APO and the HD 620S Oratory1990 preset. With those tweaks they already sound pretty good, the comfort doesn’t bother me (even though it does for some people), and the passive isolation is better than a lot of other closed‑backs without ANC (like the DT 770 Pro).

So I’m thinking I’d really enjoy the HDB 630’s ANC compared to the passive HD 620S, but I probably wouldn’t get a huge benefit from its built‑in EQ. I also suspect the SQ gap between an EQ’d HD 620S and an EQ’d HDB 630 would be smaller than if I compared both in stock tuning (where the HDB is clearly ahead), or an HD 620S in stock and an HDB 630 with EQ.

I also don’t plan to wear the HDB 630 or QC Ultra 2 while walking around town, on the subway, or at the gym. My office and home office both have pretty loud HVAC noise though, so being able to cut that constant background roar would be really nice.
 
silver-matter said:
Good points. I watched the headphones.com review of the QC Ultra 2 as well and was planning to try their -5 bass / -5 treble EQ preset to tame the V‑shape. Being able to get decent results from EQ is what made me consider the QC Ultra 2 in the first place. I liked the idea of the XM6 with EQ too, but I borrowed a pair for a few days and the comfort was a dealbreaker for me.

For what it’s worth, I almost always use my HD 620S on a PC with Equalizer APO and the HD 620S Oratory1990 preset. With those tweaks they already sound pretty good, the comfort doesn’t bother me (even though it does for some people), and the passive isolation is better than a lot of other closed‑backs without ANC (like the DT 770 Pro).

So I’m thinking I’d really enjoy the HDB 630’s ANC compared to the passive HD 620S, but I probably wouldn’t get a huge benefit from its built‑in EQ. I also suspect the SQ gap between an EQ’d HD 620S and an EQ’d HDB 630 would be smaller than if I compared both in stock tuning (where the HDB is clearly ahead), or an HD 620S in stock and an HDB 630 with EQ.

I also don’t plan to wear the HDB 630 or QC Ultra 2 while walking around town, on the subway, or at the gym. My office and home office both have pretty loud HVAC noise though, so being able to cut that constant background roar would be really nice.
Click to expand...
For what it's worth, Rtings also has a review of the QC Ultra 2, and their measurements differ quite a bit from headphones.com's. And I don't think it's even a measurement difference since the entire treble range is below that of headphones.com by several decibels. So I don't really know what to think about that. Different firmware? Different setting? So if you get that, get it from a place with good return policy or try in store first.

Aside from taht, I do enjoy my HDB 630 a lot.
 
How do you all set your Noise Control? I'm using my 630's indoors in a quiet room and really not concerned with ANC or transparency, but notice a low frequency sound when set to OFF with no source sound. There is absolute quiet when set on either ADAPTIVE or CUSTOM. Appreciate any detailed settings for best sound and no low frequency noise. Thanks!
 
Pelikanyo said:
How do you all set your Noise Control? I'm using my 630's indoors in a quiet room and really not concerned with ANC or transparency, but notice a low frequency sound when set to OFF with no source sound. There is absolute quiet when set on either ADAPTIVE or CUSTOM. Appreciate any detailed settings for best sound and no low frequency noise. Thanks!
Click to expand...
When I’m out and about ANC Custom/Max noise cancellation with wind filtering enabled and set to automatic intensity. When I’m home, I turn to open-back mode.

That last part’s a joke—I actually switch to my HD 6XXs at home and only use the HDB 630s on-the-go.
 
I've been playing with the HDB 630 EQ referencing the graphs from squiglink and by ear. There is a dip around 2400 Hz that once fixed seems to give a more natural timbre for me. I also hear a bit of metallic zing, strangely from tenor range of male vocal. It seems to come from a peak at around 11000 Hz (I believe resolve and rting also commented on this treble peak). Thankfully a simple peak filter makes it almost perfect for me. I will just keep buying this line of Sennheiser headphones if this one breaks.
 
www.rtings.com

Sennheiser HDB 630 Review

The Sennheiser HDB 630 are premium closed-back, over-ear headphones that blend audiophile-grade sound with modern wireless convenience. They feature active noise...
www.rtings.com www.rtings.com
 
hoping to demo the 630 soon.
currently have the Bathys on home trial, but finding them a bit of a mixed bag.
comfort is good, anc i am not sure about as this is the only anc headphone i have ever tried. it works for the most part, but not blown away.
sound wise, with a bit of eq is ok, or by using the preset dynamic mode.
problem is, if using in dac mode there is no eq.
this last problem , i believe , does not exist with the HDB630 as the eq is stored in the headphones. please correct me if i am wrong?
i think this would better suit my needs and would not require using the app on all devices.

also going to try the B&W px8 s2
 
Oldson said:
hoping to demo the 630 soon.
currently have the Bathys on home trial, but finding them a bit of a mixed bag.
comfort is good, anc i am not sure about as this is the only anc headphone i have ever tried. it works for the most part, but not blown away.
sound wise, with a bit of eq is ok, or by using the preset dynamic mode.
problem is, if using in dac mode there is no eq.
this last problem , i believe , does not exist with the HDB630 as the eq is stored in the headphones. please correct me if i am wrong?
i think this would better suit my needs and would not require using the app on all devices.

also going to try the B&W px8 s2
Click to expand...
The EQ profile is, in fact, stored in the headphones’ DSP, and works even when fed from devices with most the app.
 
after home trialling the Bathys and PX8s2, i decided they were not for me.

bought the 630 in the end and to my ear i much prefer these over the other 2.
other than cost, the main thing that swung it in favour of the Senn's was the ability to store the eq on the headphones themselves.
having said that, so far, i have found i am not using the eq at all.
happy with them , so far.
 
tried them last night via analogue from my RME dac .
was surprised how much power they need, very nearly tipping in to the "hi-power" mode.
website shows "nominal impedance active 480ohm" , dont know whether this is a typo?
cant find any spec on sensitivity.
chances are i wont use them like this often though, was just curiosity really.
having said that, they are more comfortable than my HD620
 
Oldson said:
tried them last night via analogue from my RME dac .
was surprised how much power they need, very nearly tipping in to the "hi-power" mode.
website shows "nominal impedance active 480ohm" , dont know whether this is a typo?
cant find any spec on sensitivity.
chances are i wont use them like this often though, was just curiosity really.
having said that, they are more comfortable than my HD620
Click to expand...
HDB 630 don’t have a sensitivity rating because the analog input does not directly feed the amps in the cans. All analog input passes through an ADC, goes through DSP, then another DAC, then the integrated amp, before sound comes out.
 
Oldson said:
tried them last night via analogue from my RME dac .
was surprised how much power they need, very nearly tipping in to the "hi-power" mode.
website shows "nominal impedance active 480ohm" , dont know whether this is a typo?
cant find any spec on sensitivity.
chances are i wont use them like this often though, was just curiosity really.
having said that, they are more comfortable than my HD620
Click to expand...
It's not analogue, it's converts line level analogue signal to digital before using its internal DSP and then it reconverts to analogue to feed its internal amps.

So I think it would perform best with line level signal as an input if you use the 3.5 mm connector. Consumer line level is often 1V.


EDIT: seems like someone posted seconds before me :p
 
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