The Sennheiser HD620S: Is this $350 closed-back headphone a worthy contender? This review dives deep into the performance and value of the HD620S, examining its build quality, comfort, and sound signature. We'll explore whether its strengths in comfort, detail retrieval, and soundstage justify its price point, comparing it to both higher-end and budget-friendly alternatives in the competitive closed-back headphone market. Expect a thorough analysis of its strengths and weaknesses, providing a clear picture of whether the HD620S is the right choice for your listening needs.This in-depth review will assess the HD620S's sound characteristics, including its bass response, mid-range clarity, and treble presentation. We'll analyze its tonal balance, noting any deviations from neutrality and discussing how these characteristics affect the overall listening experience. Furthermore, we'll place the HD620S within the context of its market competition, comparing its performance and value proposition to similar headphones across different price ranges to determine if it truly delivers on its promise.
Pros And Cons
- Generally sturdy plastic build, doesn't feel cheap
- Comfortable, angled drivers don't touch ears
- Fairly easy to drive (150 ohms impedance, 105 dB sensitivity)
- Good soundstage compared to competitors
- Slight edge in detail retrieval compared to competitors
- Superior build quality compared to some competitors (e.g., SR840)
- Primarily plastic build (except headband)
- Can get warm on ears due to closed-back design
- Boxy sound with a slightly emphasized 500 Hz range, possibly muddy
- Mid-range and vocal presentation not the most natural
- Bass is slightly mid-bass dominant
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Build Quality and Comfort
The Sennheiser HD620S boasts a sturdy build, primarily constructed from plastic, except for the headband. Despite the plastic, it feels surprisingly dense and doesn't come across as cheap. The single-ended 3.5mm cable (with a 1/4-inch adapter) connects to the left earcup. The headphones are remarkably comfortable, a standout feature thanks to angled drivers that prevent earcups from touching the ears.
The angled drivers create a slightly recessed fit, contributing to the exceptional comfort. Even in a warm climate, the comfort would likely be outstanding if the headphones were open-back. The headband includes a notch for pressure relief, enhancing the overall wearing experience.
Audio Performance: Strengths and Weaknesses
The HD620S exhibits a somewhat Harman-target sound signature, though it's not perfectly neutral. There's a noticeable dip in the lower mids, a common characteristic in closed-back headphones that is often caused by back-wave resonance in the earcups. This can create a sense of clarity and separation, but it can also impact the mid-range's naturalness.
The bass is slightly mid-bass dominant, another common trait for closed-backs. While I generally prefer a more even bass response with less mid-bass emphasis, this characteristic here does balance out the treble to some degree. The mid-range, while fairly accurate, isn't the most natural I've heard, and the presence of a boxy sound due to a somewhat emphasized 500 Hz range could be interpreted as muddiness by some listeners.
Comparison with Competitors
The HD620S occupies a unique space in the market. There isn't a lot of direct competition around the $350 price point. Higher-priced rivals include the Beyerdynamic 1770, Focal Clear MG, and Shure SRH1540, while lower-priced options offer compromises in sound quality, build, or comfort.
Compared to options in the under $200 bracket (AKG K371, Beyerdynamic DT770, Audio-Technica M50x, and Shure SR840), the HD620S shines with a superior build and soundstage, and better detail retrieval. However, some prefer the tonal balance of the AKG K371 or the Shure SR840, despite build quality differences.
Conclusion: Is the HD620S Worth It?
The Sennheiser HD620S presents a good value proposition within a limited market segment. It sits in a sweet spot between sub-$200 and over-$500 closed-back headphones, offering a more refined experience than budget options. While the sound isn't entirely free from tonal irregularities (a slight 500Hz emphasis and mid-bass boost), these are generally common to closed-back headphones.
Overall, it offers a better soundstage, detail retrieval and build quality than many rivals in its price bracket. However, those who strongly prefer open-back designs or have a specific tonal preference might find other options more suitable. If you need a solid closed-back headphone under $400, the HD620S is definitely worth considering.