Sennheiser HD 620S Review – Headfonia Reviews

In this article we review the brand new Sennheiser HD 620S headphone. It is selling for $349,95 USD.

 

Disclaimer: The Sennheiser HD 620S was sent to us by the local Sennheiser press agency in exchange for this review. Sennheiser is not related to Headfonia in any way.

Sennheiser

Sennheiser has been around forever and they’re one of the most respected companies in audio. In the past, Sennheiser has impressed us with a lot of top-quality products like the HD800, the HD 800S and many 5XX and 6xx series headphones. Sennheiser has also upped their IEM game and they have successfully launched the IE 200, IE 300, IE 600 and IE 900 inear monitors. It’s really nice to see Sennheiser’s renewed energy after the Sonova takeover. At an after show event, we also got to see that Sennheiser has many more things coming. They however only want to bring out products that really make a difference or offer a big improvement on what they already offer, so don’t expect quick updates. But who knows, we just might get to see the real HD 800 successor over the next years.

We’ve of course featured and reviewed many Sennheiser products on multiple occasions and you can find all of our Sennheiser reviews here: https://www.headfonia.com/?s=sennheiser

In today’s review we’ll be taking a closer look at the new HD 620S, their new full sized, closed-back headphone. The HD 620S is the first closed-back audiophile labelled headphone since the HD 820 came out in 2018. As we all know the latter received mixed feedback, so everyone now is watching this new release, us included.

We discovered the HD 620S a few weeks ago at the High-End show in Munich, and while it was up for pre-order up to now, it’s only today that the embargo is lifted. Let’s take a closer look at the HD 620S and see what it is all about. I wanted to keep this article short but while writing it, I just felt like I had to share all of it with you, so here were are now with an 8-page review for your reading pleasure. 

Sennheiser HD 620S

If you look at the closed-back Sennheiser HD 620S, you immediately notice that it isn’t using the 6-series frame. Here we have a 6-series sound level with a 5-series chassis. According to Sennheiser it brings the best of both headphone families to a closed chassis, but I guess they basically got the best closed-back results with the 5-series frame.

The HD 620S is using Sennheiser’s reference-grade 42 mm angled (dynamic) transducers with a 38 mm diaphragm (speaker-like imaging with natural detail retrieval and expansive soundstage) and ultra-light 150-ohm aluminum voice coil (enhanced clarity and accuracy in audio reproduction). According to Sennheiser it delivers exceptional impulse response, expanding the stereo image to an almost panoramic soundstage.

Who says closed-back headphones can’t sound that open? The closed-back HD 620S is for audio enthusiasts seeking a distraction-free listening experience without compromising on natural, airy and detailed sound. Featuring a remarkably open baffle and angled transducers, it replicates the spatial imaging of loudspeakers while keeping listening sessions secluded.

For Sennheiser, the HD 620S is all about being free of distractions while getting an immersive sound experience. To achieve this the HD 620S comes with steel-reinforced ear cup covers and artificial leather earpads with internal venting for long-term durability and all-day comfort. We’ll get back to that later in this article.

The HD 660S2’s dedicated webpage can be found here. It can also be directly bought from Sennheiser there.

Specifications

Article number (SKU) HD 620S: 700401

Cable length: 1.8 m

Ear coupling: Around ear

Ear pad material: Artificial leather on Polyurethane basis

Frequency response: 6 Hz – 30 kHz

Nominal impedance: 150 Ohm ()

Package dimensions: 237x191x96mm (LxBxH)

Package weight: 670 g

Sound pressure level (SPL): 110 dB / 1 V RMS

Storage temperature: -15°C to 65°C

THD, total harmonic distortion: <0,05 % (1kHz/90 db SPL)

Transducer principle (headphones): dynamic, closed

The Box, Accessories & Price

The box, as you can see in the pictures, is quite simple but it does provide optimal protection to the headphone. It actually was packed so well inside the box that it annoyed me getting it out. All joking aside, the box does serve its main purpose and that’s getting the headphone safely to you.

Accessory wise there isn’t a whole lot to report on. The HD 620S comes with a removable 1.8m long cable, terminated with a 3.5mm plug. You get the 6.3mm adapter together with the cable, as well as a soft carrying pouch. There some documentation on the inside but that’s it really. If I understood correctly, Sennheiser will later on offer the HD 620S with a balanced 4.4mm connector. Of course if you have a balanced cable already which fits the 5-series locking mechanism (click & turn), you can listen to it balanced mode already.

The HD 620S’ price is set at just under €350 Euro and $350 USD, putting it in between the HD 569 and the HD 600. It’s a very accessible price point, even for regular non-audiophile consumers.

Design, Isolation, Build Quality & Comfort

Design wise, the HD 620S of course is using the 5-series frame so it really looks like a 5-series headphone. Sennheiser calls it “a timeless appeal” and it does offer some additional and nice features such as the stainless-steel reinforced ear cup covers and headband sliders. To me personally it isn’t especially fancy looking when compared to a beautiful headphone such as the HD 800, but it is a nice design for everyday use. I do have to admit that I like the stained ear cups and the 3 left side dots incorporation in the design. The HD 620S is also a better built headphone than the HD 560S.

The HD 620S without cable on my kitchen scale weighs exactly 320g. The headband nicely distributes the weight over your head and the top cushioning is very soft and comfy. The ear cups are spacious and they don’t touch my ears, so that’s always a comfortable plus. The pads are made from artificial leather and they feel soft on the skin. With their internal venting they really offer a comfortable feeling. The clamping force with this headband design is quite strong, even for smaller heads. The advantage is that it stays perfectly in place but some of you might need to stretch the headband out a little to get the best fit and comfort. The one-sided cable entry on the left cup also helps with comfort and the 1.8m cable length means it won’t bother you while wearing the headphone. The cable is also short enough not for me to roll over it with my office chair. Or am I the only one this happens to with overly long stock cables?

As this is a closed-back headphone, isolation is very important here. Of course this is a passive noise canceling headphone, so don’t expect it to block out all sound. I am using the HD 620S while my wife is watching TV and as soon as I pause the music, I can perfectly hear what is being said on the TV, which is about 3m away from me. She on the other hand does not hear what I am listening to and I can’t hear any outside sound when playing music, even at low listening volumes.

Looking at the build quality, I have to say that my production sample looks and feels a whole lot better than the very used sample that we got to try in Munich. I have to correct myself here, as I in the show report said that the HD 620S felt kind of flimsy and loose at the connections. My sample here doesn’t show any of these weaknesses and I can only say the build quality is excellent. The steel reinforced cups and slider also help to elevate the perceived build quality. The ear pads are easily removable (click system) and replaceable, and that is always a plus in my book. I do wonder how the HD 620S would sound with velour/suede pads. Hey wait a minute, the HD 560S has suede pads…

The review continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below.

Page 1: Sennheiser, Sennheiser HD 620S, Specifications, Box & Accessories & Price, Design & Isolation & Comfort & Build Quality

Page 2: Sound Part 1, Synergy

Page 3: Sound Part 2, Synergy, Comparison, Conclusion, Summary