When it comes to audiophile quality headphones, the Sennheiser 660S is one of the finer choices to go for. It is a dynamic open-back headphone with exceptional sonic performance and possesses high sound quality. The 660S is very well-regarded and has tons of rave reviews, it is certainly worth the investment of getting a matching amp that will bring out its absolute best.
To find the right amplifier for your Sennheiser 660S, we must first get to know more about this brilliant open-back headphone. By learning more about its strengths and limitations including its characteristics, we can then choose matching headphone amps that are compatible and complement the Sennheiser 660S. We will be preparing and sharing a list of such amps as well.
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Sound Characteristics and Strengths of Sennheiser 660S
The design of the Sennheiser 660S not only makes it look stylish and modern but also helps with the sonic performance. For instance, the steel mesh offers consistent control of air displacement thus reducing air turbulence. There is no doubt in the build quality of the HD660S and even the padding fabrics feel premium. It is comfortable to wear but the overall clamping force is a little too tight for us. How long you can listen to the Sennheiser 660S will greatly depend on the users’ head and ear size. At least there is good stability which is great for casual listening.
With such prestige reputation, we would be eager to wear the Sennheiser 660S outdoors but due to the open-back design, it might not be a wise choice. It does not have good noise isolation properties, and this will allow environmental noises to interrupt your listening experience. The sound leakage is equally poor and it will surely disturb others around you. The frequency response of the Sennheiser 660S is really incredible which ranges from 9Hz-41,500Hz. The impedance of 150 Ohms is good news for us as this means the mighty 660S is not difficult to drive.
More Details at Amazon – Sennheiser HD 660S
The overall bass performance of the Sennheiser 660S is impressive, it is snappy and agile, delivering low frequencies with tautness. It is punchy in the midbass and does start to lack behind when it comes to deep bass reproduction. The low ends delivery may not have the weight and prominence of a closed-back design headphone but it is more clean and clearer sounding. Midrange reproduction is probably Sennheiser 660S greatest strength. It is expressive, very detailed, and incredibly accurate. Vocals sound so natural and distinct, we are able to pick out background vocalists clearly.
Together with the accurate and extended highs, musical instruments sound so realistic and intricate without ever sounding harsh. We can crank up the volume not worrying the overall sound reproduction might go overly bright on us and cause listener fatigue. Stereo imaging is exceptionally precise, providing us with high-resolution imagery of the music performers with fantastic separation and spacing. If we were to nitpick, then it will be the soundstage as it is not spacious enough. The details retrieval is good enough to satisfy critical listeners but is not really the Sennheiser 660S strong point though.
Sennheiser 660S is a transparent and very neutral sounding headphone which depending on the music can sound a little bit bright or warm. There is a tad bit of dark-sounding characteristic as well. Overall, the Sennheiser 660S sound quality is pleasant and more musical than analytical which makes it suitable for almost all types of listeners except for the bass fanatics. The well-balanced music presentation of the 660S also makes it suitable for nearly all music genres. By using this data, we have prepared a list of the best headphone amps that you can choose to match it with your Sennheiser 660S open-back headphone.
Sennheiser 660S Specifications
- Wearing Style: Headband (Over Ear)
- Transducer Principle: Open, Dynamic
- Frequency Response: 9Hz-41,500Hz
- THD: 0.04%
- Connector: 6.35 mm / 4.4 mm Pentaconn
- Impedance: 150 Ohms
- Weight: 260g (0.57lbs)
Best Amps to pair with Sennheiser 660S
The Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear is one of the best amps to partner with your Sennheiser 660S. It is a powerful amplifier with a modest price tag and will drive your 660S with ease. The Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear is capable of producing a clean sound quality and has a neutral sonic characteristic, providing a clearer overall sound reproduction. The transparency of this headphone amp will further improve the accuracy and provide a faithful music presentation of the source with almost zero colorations. If you want to retain the neutrality of your Sennheiser 660S, please check out this amazing headphone amp.
More Info at Amazon – Drop + THX AAA 789 Linear Headphone Amplifier
The Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 is an amazing tube headphone amplifier to pair with the Sennheiser 660S, it adds more musicality to the overall sound reproduction and just lets you enjoy listening to your favorite tunes for hours on end without listeners’ fatigue. It has pleasing sound quality with a touch of warmth and furthermore, you are not losing music details. The Schiit Audio Valhalla 2 stereo imaging capability complements the 660S really well, giving you an even more precise localization of the musicians. You also have a choice to tube roll and alter the sound signature to suit your taste.
More Info at Amazon – Schiit Valhalla 2 Triode OTL Tube Headphone Amp
The iFi Zen DAC is a fantastic musical-sounding headphone amplifier with a modest price tag and will match well with the Sennheiser 660S open-back headphone. As the name suggests, it has a built-in DAC which decodes high-res audio files up to 24bit/384kHz resolution (PCM) and will be an amazing desktop amplifier for your PC/laptop/Mac. It also comes with exceptional sonic performance, capable of delivering a detailed music presentation with easy on the ears sound quality. All in all, the iFi Zen DAC is an enjoyable headphone amplifier to listen to and will help smoothen the hard edges by a little.
More Info at Amazon – iFi Zen DAC – HiFi Desktop Digital Analog Converter
Schiit Audio Asgard 3 with the True Multibit DAC will be an exemplary headphone amplifier choice to go for. The Asgard 3 is powerful enough to drive your Sennheiser 660S and will unlock its full potentials. The first 1 Watt output uses Class A amplification and when it goes above it, the Asgard 3 switches to Class A/B amplifier output giving you high sonic performance and ultra-low noise background. The musicality of the headphone amplifier adds more refinement and warmth to the overall sound reproduction. It is definitely worth your time and effort to have an audition with them.
For listeners who have a tight budget but require a high-quality DAC, you might want to take a look at FiiO K5 Pro. It has a built-in D/A converter (AK4493) that supports up to 32-bit/768kHz and decodes native DSD files. The K5 Pro also has an amp that will efficiently drive the Sennheiser 660S. There are a few features to adjust the sound quality such as the Gain Switches. FiiO K5 Pro is one of the more popular DAC/Amp combo out on the market, thanks to its affordability which will fit most listeners’ budgets, not to mention, it has a good sound quality and a quite neutral sonic characteristic.
More Info at Amazon – FiiO K5 Pro AK4493EQ Deskstop DAC and Amplifier
Chord Mojo is an award-winning DAC/headphone amplifier with an iconic visual design. It is an absolute powerhouse that is more than a worthy match for your Sennheiser 660S. The high-resolution music presentation, impeccable stereo imaging, and alacrity performance will provide you with an incredibly engaging music delivery. Furthermore, the overall sound reproduction is packed with subtle music details and nuances, giving you more clarity and a clearer sonic picture of your favorite tunes. The organizational skill of the Chord Mojo is immaculate, able to remain composed throughout the music passage no matter how complex and sophisticated it is.
More Info at Amazon – Chord Mojo Headphone Amplifier
To Sum It Up
We highly suggest auditioning the listed headphone amplifiers first before seriously considering getting one of them. They are certainly worth the time for you to arrange an audition and hear them out, to see if you like the sound quality they are producing. Feel free to use this list as a reference and use it to look for other headphone amplifier models. To provide a more accurate comparison/reference, we will recommend at least auditioning 1 or more headphone amps from the list.
