[Creyze]

Hey everyone, I am currently testing different headphones (AKG K712, HD 660s, 660, DT 880 pro, 990 pro) and I am really into the HD 660s. The only thing that's missing for me is a larger soundstage. I found the 880 and 990 to have the perfect soundstage, while the K712 soundstage was too big for me.

My question is if there are headphones that sound similar to the 660s, but with a larger soundstage like the 880 or 990. They don't have to sound as good as the 660s, just similar with a larger soundstage.

If there aren't, is it possible to increase the soundstage with other equipment?

Thanks in advance!

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Hey everyone, I am currently testing different headphones (AKG K712, HD 660s, 660, DT 880 pro, 990 pro) and I am really into the HD 660s. The only thing that's missing for me is a larger soundstage. I found the 880 and 990 to have the perfect soundstage, while the K712 soundstage was too big for me.

My question is if there are headphones that sound similar to the 660s, but with a larger soundstage like the 880 or 990. They don't have to sound as good as the 660s, just similar with a larger soundstage.

Maybe an Audeze. LCD-2 pre-Fazor was kind of like getting an HD650 with wider and deeper soundstage, but still not as good as the K702.

Maybe the LCD-2F or LCD-3 would be that for the HD660S. Check comparos as to whether the HD660S' tone matches these or the older LCD-2 (LCD-2C now).

If there aren't, is it possible to increase the soundstage with other equipment?

Not by a lot. I use angled pads on my HD600 and it just moves the cymbals back, albeit unlike relying solely on Crossfeed, it didn't push it towards the center. I still use Crossfeed though.

 

[Creyze]

Maybe an Audeze. LCD-2 pre-Fazor was kind of like getting an HD650 with wider and deeper soundstage, but still not as good as the K702.

Maybe the LCD-2F or LCD-3 would be that for the HD660S. Check comparos as to whether the HD660S' tone matches these or the older LCD-2 (LCD-2C now).

Thanks! I will look them up

 

[Sennheiser]

Hey everyone, I am currently testing different headphones (AKG K712, HD 660s, 660, DT 880 pro, 990 pro) and I am really into the HD 660s. The only thing that's missing for me is a larger soundstage. I found the 880 and 990 to have the perfect soundstage, while the K712 soundstage was too big for me.

My question is if there are headphones that sound similar to the 660s, but with a larger soundstage like the 880 or 990. They don't have to sound as good as the 660s, just similar with a larger soundstage.

If there aren't, is it possible to increase the soundstage with other equipment?

Thanks in advance!

We may have just the thing... Meet the new HD 560S!
If you are listening to audio with 7.1 Surround channels on your computer, you could also consider surround processing, such as with our GSX 1000 digital signal processor.

 

[techboy]

Your AMP/DAC plays a huge role in the soundstage. A HD 650 with an OTL amp like DV 336 SE might have a much bigger soundstage than your 660S setup even though 660S might have a bigger Soundstage than 650 when using the same common solid stage or hybrid tube amp.

 

[SennheiserTech]

We may have just the thing... Meet the new HD 560S!
If you are listening to audio with 7.1 Surround channels on your computer, you could also consider surround processing, such as with our GSX 1000 digital signal processor.

The HD560S is a shockingly good headphone, especially for the price. The voicing is fairly similar to the HD600 line except with more of a consumer bass curve (emphasised by comparison) and a sense of more detail (perhaps a little brighter). The soundstage is definitely better than the HD600 series.

 

[dunring]

If soundstage is the most important thing, Rtings does a test and ranks them at:
https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tests/sound-quality/passive-soundstage
Easy way to narrow down the choices.

 

[kman1211]

Audio-Technica ATH-R70x, it's the closest sounding headphone I've heard to the HD 660S. It has a larger soundstage; it does have deeper bass but similar midrange and treble characteristics to the HD 660S. I currently have both the HD 660S and R70x on hand, and the R70x basically sounds like a more spacious HD 660S in direct comparison. They practically have the same tonal and timbral characteristics, dynamics are similar, both have present intimate mids, overall sound balance is very similar, etc.

The HD 560S, HD 600, HD 650, and HD 660S2 sound more different from the HD 660S than the R70x imho, so I can't think of anything else if you basically want the same sound characteristics as the HD 660S but a larger soundstage.

 

[FritzS]

What could you say about HD 490 PRO or HD 490 PRO Plus?
soldertudes comment https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd490-pro/

The Sennheiser HD 490 PRO is an open over-ear headphone intended for professional usage and the TOTL for the Sennheiser Professional range. Just below it is the HD 400 PRO (which is the HD 560S with a different color scheme and extra cable.

HD 490 PRO use a 4 pin mini-XLR, the same as Neumann NDH 30? Are the driver (capsules) from HD 490 PRO and Neumann NDH 30 similar too?

As far as you can tell from the mini pictures, the frequency responses of the NDH 30 and HD 490 PRO are quite similar.
PS: The test reports are in German, translating them online should not be a problem.

NDH 30
https://www.kopfhoerer.de/test/neumann-ndh-30/

HD 490 PRO
https://www.kopfhoerer.de/test/sennheiser-hd-490-pro-plus/

 

[SennheiserTech]

What could you say about HD 490 PRO or HD 490 PRO Plus?
soldertudes comment https://diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com/headphones/measurements/brands-s-se/hd490-pro/


HD 490 PRO use a 4 pin mini-XLR, the same as Neumann NDH 30? Are the driver (capsules) from HD 490 PRO and Neumann NDH 30 similar too?

As far as you can tell from the mini pictures, the frequency responses of the NDH 30 and HD 490 PRO are quite similar.
PS: The test reports are in German, translating them online should not be a problem.

NDH 30
https://www.kopfhoerer.de/test/neumann-ndh-30/

HD 490 PRO
https://www.kopfhoerer.de/test/sennheiser-hd-490-pro-plus/

Interesting that you ask, the PRO Plus gives you a carrying case, extra longer coiled cable, and a spare headband. Otherwise they are identical. The frequency response is similar between the HD 490 PRO and NDH 30 and I have spent many hours listening to both. While there is a sonic similarity in a loose sort of way, I find myself regularly going to the HD 490 PRO over the Neumann's. I applaud both headphones for their overall accuracy and ability to reach deep into the mix in the details, however, this can be a little bit of the NDH 30's downfall as I find myself becoming fatigued over time by the highly analytic presentation. The HD490 PRO by contrast just seems like a more musical pair of headphones. I would refer to them as toe tappers in that they involve you in the musical performance as a whole. In addition, the staging and sense of performance space seems slightly better rendered by the Sennheiser's.