I’ve long been a fan of great sound. But I hesitate to call myself an “audiophile” simply because I’m not a wealthy man. And yet even I can dabble in solid audio because so many affordable products continue to up the ante — including my favorite personal headphones. Behold the Sennheiser HD660S2 open-back cans. An audiophile of means might scoff at spending only several hundred bucks, but the joke’s on them. Thanks to Amazon, this Prime Day Sennheiser deal gets you these great wired, open-back cans for a mere $375 (as of Wednesday evening; the fluctuating price went up about $14 as of Thursday morning).
That’s not nothing, obviously. But it’s a lot more affordable than the $1,000 or more that many audiophile cans command.
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Prime Day: Sennheiser Consumer Audio HD660S2 open-back headphones
These wired audiophile stereo headphones offer deep sub bass, optimized surround sound, transducer airflow, vented magnet system and voice coil.
- Great sound
- Wide sound stage
- Comfortable fit
- Somewhat expensive
- Proprietary Sennheiser connectors (other cables won't work)
My headphones obsession has dovetailed nicely with my computer setup’s development in recent years. My M4 Pro MacBook setup has seen many changes. That includes the recent addition of an audio interface and condenser microphone, on top of the previously added Edifier studio-monitor speakers.
And then I found a good deal on a lightly used Sennheiser HD660S2 open-back set. So I added them to my headphones stable, which also includes Beats Studio Pro (closed back). I knew “open back” would likely mean a broader soundstage and the wired aspect might guarantee some old-school quality, so I was excited.
Decoding impedance
I’d dragged my feet on setting up the audio interface and mic. But I really wanted to see if the audio interface would function well as a headphone amp, so I got it going for the new (to me) headphones. You only really need one for high-impedance headphones, because most small devices don’t bring enough voltage to headphone jacks to make them sound their best. My new-to-me Sennies rate at 300 Ohms (Ω) impedance, whereas my Beats Studio Pro cans go with just 38Ω.
Most consumer headphones, like those from Beats, offer low-to-medium impedence (16 – 100 Ohms Ω) for easy use with a variety of devices. High-impedance headphones are typically designed for professional use or audiophile listening. They have distinct characteristics, like more detail in the sound and good compatibility with professional equipment. But to reach their full potential, these headphones — like Beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro (250Ω) and my own Sennheiser HD660S2 (300Ω) — benefit from a separate headphone amplifier. You can buy desktop versions (standalone or in audio interfaces) to fit into a computer setup or portable versions.
Headphone amp joins the party
So I got myself an affordable and portable Fosi Audio DS2 microphone amp and DAC dongle to run between the Sennheisers and my iPhone, iPad Air or audio interface, which worked great. Better than great, even. I’ve even gotten back into having listening sessions just for the pure enjoyment of music. I pull out the Sennies when I really want to hear as much detail as possible in new tunes I’ve come across, usually on Apple Music. Than can mean low-end bass sustain in the deepest piano notes, mid-range vocal harmonies or high-end shimmer of cymbals. I find the more subtly complex the music, the more I want to use these headphones.
Sadly, after a while the Fosi amp connection became iffy. So I might have to invest in another one. But even that mild hassle is exciting, because maybe whatever I choose will make these headphones even better.
Deals galore
Curious to learn more? Read more about closed-back vs. open-back headphones and how to gauge impedance. And read my roundup of great Prime Day headphones deals. And don’t forget to check out Cult of Mac‘s guide to the best Prime Day Apple deals.
So the list price for these cans is $679.95. But for Prime Day you can get them for $374.95, a savings of $305 (or 45%).
Buy from: Amazon
These wired audiophile stereo headphones offer deep sub bass, optimized surround sound, transducer airflow, vented magnet system and voice coil.
- Great sound
- Wide sound stage
- Comfortable fit
- Somewhat expensive
- Proprietary Sennheiser connectors (other cables won't work)
