Sennheiser HD660S2 $637.95 Pre-Order

I still am not a fan of the Velcro pads. I prefer the leather ones.

djemzine wrote: ↑ I still am not a fan of the Velcro pads. I prefer the leather ones.

3rd party leather and hybrid pads are available....I have them on my HD800S and HD630VB.
May change the sound slightly, or a lot, YMMV.

In my mind ( and in hindsight), if I already have a budget close to $700 for headphones (i.e. you can save up, and willing to spend...That is, having disposable income is not an issue), I might as well continue saving up more and get closer to having a near-end-game headphone (whatever that maybe for each individual).

I've been buying headphones for 20+ years...looking back, and man, do I regret wasting money on something that I know I'll have an itch for the next one-up just 1 month later.

The promise of more bass than my 6XX's make these very tempting but I think I'll wait for the inevitable ~$450 sale eventually

someaveragejdoe wrote: ↑ In my mind ( and in hindsight), if I already have a budget close to $700 for headphones (i.e. you can save up, and willing to spend...That is, having disposable income is not an issue), I might as well continue saving up more and get closer to having a near-end-game headphone (whatever that maybe for each individual).

I've been buying headphones for 20+ years...looking back, and man, do I regret wasting money on something that I know I'll have an itch for the next one-up just 1 month later.

Even this strategy has a problem, unfortunately. The human mind likes to equalize experiences of happiness back down to a baseline, so even if you just save up and buy one hypothetical "endgame" headphone from the start, the continual use of that said headphone will eventually reach a point wherein the "magic" is gone after your mind has equalized that experience as the new baseline for sound.

There's a term for this: Hedonic Treadmill ("the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes").

This is why in basically any hobby, the cycle of "upgrade to the next best thing" always exists.

So if you hypothetically have $1,000 to spend, there is a case to be made to buy 2-3 different sounding headphones that you can cycle between, which will help to extend the happiness derived from whatever the "best" headphone out of that group is.

metabrah wrote: ↑ Even this strategy has a problem, unfortunately. ...

Noted. But the frequency of new headphones popping up in that market sector is relatively less. So even if you want something 'better'...you'll be like "Nothing new worth while at the moment". Your likelihood of actually coming across another objectively better headphone AND able to purchase it is diminished by how high you aimed for the headphones you already have.

For example: Spending $4k on a single headphone for the next 6 years, IMO, is better than buying $600 headphones every year for 6 years.

Of course though, it does depend on other factors such as, whether you plan to sell old headphones, and whether you've reached the end of your ability to hear / perceive the differences (and appreciate it at a cost).

I guess we have different approaches to headphones:
1. Stick with one, knowing / thinking it's technically really good.
2. Cycle between a few, keep the fun factor, mentally speaking.

For me, I regret the option 2 path that I was on.

someaveragejdoe wrote: ↑ In my mind ( and in hindsight), if I already have a budget close to $700 for headphones (i.e. you can save up, and willing to spend...That is, having disposable income is not an issue), I might as well continue saving up more and get closer to having a near-end-game headphone (whatever that maybe for each individual).

I've been buying headphones for 20+ years...looking back, and man, do I regret wasting money on something that I know I'll have an itch for the next one-up just 1 month later.

endgame is a myth, even if you own a kilobuck headphone you will get the itch to own another one later

I would absolutely love to have these, but my wife would kill me! She would wonder how these are that much better than the other headphones I currently own (especially my other wired Sennheiser ones). Unless you are an audiophile, it's hard to understand. It is a slippery slope of a hobby, but it takes discipline to stop and take the time to enjoy the gear you currently have.

Thanks for posting OP, looks like a great pre-order price!

These are awesome for listening to TikTok vids. In for 3!

johncraven wrote: ↑ endgame is a myth, even if you own a kilobuck headphone you will get the itch to own another one later

Hence, "near" endgame.

Guess my approach is the difference between having an itch and able to scratch it with ease, vs, having an itch and not able to scratch it easily.

I donno, I would still keep my 6XX since the 660S2 would be twice the cost.

I think I'd rather save up the money for an eventual 8XX or 800s.

I dunno about this one.

metabrah wrote: ↑ Even this strategy has a problem, unfortunately. The human mind likes to equalize experiences of happiness back down to a baseline, so even if you just save up and buy one hypothetical "endgame" headphone from the start, the continual use of that said headphone will eventually reach a point wherein the "magic" is gone after your mind has equalized that experience as the new baseline for sound.

There's a term for this: Hedonic Treadmill ("the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes").

This is why in basically any hobby, the cycle of "upgrade to the next best thing" always exists.

So if you hypothetically have $1,000 to spend, there is a case to be made to buy 2-3 different sounding headphones that you can cycle between, which will help to extend the happiness derived from whatever the "best" headphone out of that group is.

I need to get you to talk to my girlfriends so they understand I am not an unfaithful fellow. Tried explaining but am not very good with words.

ericgm wrote: ↑ The promise of more bass than my 6XX's make these very tempting but I think I'll wait for the inevitable ~$450 sale eventually

That's what has me intrigued..my current HD660S are my Chill phones...my HD800S and AKG K872 for more analytical serious listening.
So some added base would be nice.
Remember though it took more than 5 years for the 660 to come down, although there were a few sales from the original $679...and Sennheiser's recent $349 deal on refurbs (like new) with a 2 year warranty was nice.

But even at $720 after tax it works out less than $2 (cheaper than that coffee) a day for year for a phone that may easily last 5-10 years. : )

All comes down to priorities, and music is one of the bigger ones in my life.

warpdrive wrote: ↑ I dunno about this one.

Possibly all a bit premature but folks will defend their beloved HD600 and HD650, I've owned both multiple times but they just were never my cup of tea, for my preferences they're just too "vocals-centric, and after the HD660S could never go back...the "S2" should be interesting...we will see.

If these are only 90% perfect, the $638 vs $800 Canadian seems to round up the deal.

Thanks O.P.

metabrah wrote: ↑ Even this strategy has a problem, unfortunately. The human mind likes to equalize experiences of happiness back down to a baseline, so even if you just save up and buy one hypothetical "endgame" headphone from the start, the continual use of that said headphone will eventually reach a point wherein the "magic" is gone after your mind has equalized that experience as the new baseline for sound.

There's a term for this: Hedonic Treadmill ("the observed tendency of humans to quickly return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events or life changes").

This is why in basically any hobby, the cycle of "upgrade to the next best thing" always exists.

So if you hypothetically have $1,000 to spend, there is a case to be made to buy 2-3 different sounding headphones that you can cycle between, which will help to extend the happiness derived from whatever the "best" headphone out of that group is.

I used to be like that and then I got my HD600. I did try one more pair after but sold it shortly after. Maybe I'm weird but my HD600's still put a smile on my face like the day I got em. It's been a decade and I haven't (seriously) shopped for a new pair of headphone since!

..but I wonder how these HD660V2's compare..

Wired headphones in 2023 lol

Can put a man on the moon but can't make a wireless headphone sound the same as one with wires ...

Something no bueno here

Deal dead?