What the Sennheiser HD 620S bring to the table in terms of raw performance and quality is something I would say is worth spending your money on. At the time of writing, these headphones were retailing at around ₹27,990, and for that price tag, they are one of the best pair of headphones that can pull double duty for your production and music listening needs. They shine bright as their sound signature and live up to the legacy that Sennheiser has built over the years.
However, when you factor in the claims made by Sennheiser, things get a little dodgy. They positioned these headphones to be a perfect fit for gamers and audiophiles alike. However, while the latter group get what they would want from a pair of headphones that they can very well use in a production environment, the gamers are left desiring some much-needed rumble of the bass frequencies. The recessed bass on these headphones means that the action-packed scenes in games like Counter-Strike 2 were paler than I expected. Especially the sound of the AK and the AWP were harsher than I am used to, and the folks who are susceptible to headaches because of sibilance might also experience discomfort here.
Coming to the staging. Again, the claims showered on the fire that was burning bright. If Sennheiser had not said that these headphones, with their closed-back design, would be able to mimic their open-back counterparts, there would have been nothing to complain about. However, their claims raised the bar of expectations, which was not met. The sound staging is intimate, which is great for a pair of closed-back headphones, but Sennheiser claimed that they were going for a bigger sound stage, mimicking that of an open-back pair, and they faltered, I must say.
If you can look past the claims and take the headphones for what they are, a great closed-back pair of professional headphones, then the decision of buying the Sennheiser HD 620S is a no-brainer. Read the marketing materials, and you will have to manage your expectations.
After streamlining its primary focus on professional-grade audio products, Sennheiser has launched quite a few headphones that have impressed consumers in India and pushed the boundaries of innovation. The first one that comes to mind is the Sennheiser HD 490 Pro. That pair of headphones still stands as one of the best pairs for daily use that I have come across. With their swappable earpads, the headphones not only appealed to the purists but were also appreciated by everyday users who would want a slightly bass-heavy response from their headphones. The Sennheiser HD 620S comes in right after that launch, with the promise of continuing the same multi-user appeal with them.
In their marketing material for the headphones, Sennheiser pushed the HD 620S as a pair which can emulate the performance of a pair of open-back headphones despite having a closed-back design. Additionally, they also positioned it to be a perfect fit for gamers and audiophiles alike. Floating on these lofty claims, the Sennheiser HD 620S made its way into the Digit Test Centre, and I put it through our test process to see whether or not they lived up to the expectations. Here’s what I found out –
If you have read my review of the last few Sennheiser products, including their consumer-grade products, one thing that you will find me raving about is their build quality. That is the same with the HD 620S. At first glance, they come across as a bulky pair that would cause headaches after a few hours of use. However, when you put it on, it is not the case.
These headphones weigh 670 grams, almost 1.5x more than any other pair that we have tested in the last couple of years. However, thanks to the amazing fit and the quality of the padding that has been used on these headphones, wearing them for extended periods of time is not at all uncomfortable. The earcups create a nice seal, assisting with the isolation of these headphones, and the padding on the headband ensures that they don’t dig into your skull.
When it comes to the build quality, these headphones carry the torch lit by their design team with all the glory. The housing of the earcups and the headband is made of solid plastic, which feels durable. To add to the overall sturdiness of the headphones, we get an aluminium in-lay in the headband. This is where my only gripe with the build of the headphones is – They are a little stiff to adjust. The adjustment mechanism has a fluid flow; however, it takes more force than I expected to make the adjustments.
Apart from that, Sennheiser did a solid job in the build and design department of the HD 620S.
Usually, this is where you will find the features section of our reviews. However, with professional-grade headphones, you don’t get all the fancy bells and whistles that we see on consumer products. Hence, I skipped out on that. One thing that I would like to mention, though, before diving into the performance review of the Sennheiser HD 620S, is the cable that is included with these headphones is great for both professional and day-to-day use. Sennheiser has included its signature locking mechanism on the end of the cable that goes into the cans and a threaded connector on the end that goes into the source, which can be adapted from 3.5mm to a quarter-inch jack with the included adapter.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into the performance.
When it comes to the sound signature, the we get what I call the Sennheiser sound. The lows and the mids come fairly close to our baseline flat response which we recorded using Pink Noise, and the highs are boosted to give the sound a brightness which no manufacturer does better in my opinion. In isolation, this sound is what you would expect from a pair of Sennheiser headphones, and the detailing and the staging is also similar to what I would get from a pair of closed back headphones – intimate and detailed.
The clarity of instruments is what you would expect from a pair that is meant to be carried to a studio and would fit the bill for almos every environment that it is put in. The headphones performance is also consistent and the snug fit of the cans ensures that you are blocking out most of the background noise coming your way.
I would particularly recommend these headphones to the fans of musical genres like classical, older pop, folk, and soul music. The frequency response of the HD 620S out of the box will fit the needs of the fans of these genres. Others might have to play around with the EQ a little.
Overall, in terms of performance, the Sennheiser expertise in building great audio products shines through!
What the Sennheiser HD 620S bring to the table in terms of raw performance and quality is something I would say is worth spending your money on. At the time of writing, these headphones were retailing at around ₹27,990, and for that price tag, they are one of the best pair of headphones that can pull double duty for your production and music listening needs. They shine bright as their sound signature and live up to the legacy that Sennheiser has built over the years.
However, when you factor in the claims made by Sennheiser, things get a little dodgy. They positioned these headphones to be a perfect fit for gamers and audiophiles alike. However, while the latter group get what they would want from a pair of headphones that they can very well use in a production environment, the gamers are left desiring some much-needed rumble of the bass frequencies. The recessed bass on these headphones means that the action-packed scenes in games like Counter-Strike 2 were paler than I expected. Especially the sound of the AK and the AWP were harsher than I am used to, and the folks who are susceptible to headaches because of sibilance might also experience discomfort here.
Coming to the staging. Again, the claims showered on the fire that was burning bright. If Sennheiser had not said that these headphones with their closed-back design would be able to mimic their open-back counterparts, there would have been nothing to complain about. However, their claims, raised the bar of expectations, which was not met. The sound staging is intimate, which is great for a pair of closed-back headphones, but Sennheiser claimed that they were going for a bigger sound stage, mimicking that of an open-back pair, and they faltered, I must say.
If you can look past the claims and take the headphones for what they are, a great closed-back pair of professional headphones, then the decision of buying the Sennheiser HD 620S is a no-brainer. Read the marketing materials, and you will have to manage your expectations.
