The Sennheiser HD 620S headphones, currently priced at Rs 32,990, were launched in India on August 12 and are claimed to offer high-fidelity surround sound in a closed-back format. They sport custom 42mm dynamic drivers with a 38mm diaphragm and a 1.8m detachable cable with a 3.5mm jack. The wired headphones are equipped with stainless steel-reinforced headband sliders and thickly padded earcups. They are said to provide users with a spacious soundstage within a closed-back design. How do these headphones fare in terms of functionality and performance? We will talk about this in the next review.
Sennheiser HD 620S Headphones Design: Perfect Fit
- Size – 18 x 19.5 x 4.6 cm
- Weight – 670g
- Color – Black
While not a novelty for closed-back headphones, the design of the Sennheiser HD 620S includes some deliberate elements that make them more ergonomic. Closed-back headphones are designed to capture sound inside your head and reject much of the sound from outside. Because there are no reflections inside the headphones, open-back headphones produce a more natural sound. However, the advantage of closed-back headphones is substantially better noise isolation, which we'll discuss later.
The headphones come with metal-reinforced headband sliders.
The design of the Sennheiser HD 620S, especially the shape of the earcups, is reminiscent of the Sennheiser HD 500 series of over-ear headphones. Stainless steel-reinforced headband sliders and thickly padded, adjustable earcups help provide a better fit. The padding is lined with artificial leather on both the cuffs and the top band. You would expect there to be heating issues around this padding, leading to discomfort. However, I didn’t experience any such issues during the testing period.
In contrast, the snug fit of the Sennheiser HD 620S headphones allowed me to wear them for several hours at a time without getting tired. The large earcups also ensure that there is no undue pressure on the ear. Due to their oval shape, the headphones can easily fit around the ears. The indentation in the headband pad also helps to relieve most of the pressure that these over-ear headphones create.
The slider and earcups on the Sennheiser HD 620S can be pulled, pushed, and moved to adjust to the user's needs. If you wear glasses regularly, the fit may be an issue. It will largely depend on the frame and/or shape of your glasses. In my case, the trick was to first put on the glasses and then adjust the earcups.
The padding on each earcup is deep, contributing to the overall ergonomic look.
Sennheiser HD 620S Specifications: Single
- Driver: 42mm dynamic transducers with 38mm diaphragm
- Impedance – 150 ohms
- Frequency response range: 6 Hz to 30,000 Hz
Sennheiser’s latest addition to the prestigious HD 600 series showcases advanced engineering with its custom-tuned 42mm dynamic drivers and precision-crafted 38mm diaphragm. These on-ear headphones are engineered to deliver a wide and detailed frequency response spanning from 6Hz to 30,000Hz, ensuring a rich and immersive listening experience.
With a sound pressure level of 110 dB and a nominal impedance of 150 Ohms, they deliver powerful and clear audio performance. The Sennheiser HD 620S feature a closed-back design that helps to isolate sound and reduce external noise, while the inclusion of a 150 Ohm aluminium voice coil further refines audio quality, making them ideal for both professional and audiophile use. This intelligent combination of components aims to deliver exceptional sound fidelity and a high level of acoustic precision.
Sennheiser HD 620S Headphones Performance: Sound
- Cable length: 1.8 m
- Cable Type: 3.5mm jack; 3.5mm to 6.3mm adapter
As for headphone performance, the overall sound experience of the Sennheiser HD 620S is “good,” but the bass presentation seems to be more focused on warmth than emphasizing note weight or impact. It has a bit more bass punch than an open-back headphone would, but this wouldn’t suit the needs of someone looking for bass-heavy headphones.
The headband pad has an indentation in the middle which helps reduce pressure on the user's head.
Sennheiser’s HD 620S excel at delivering nuanced and engaging midrange performance, making them an excellent choice for audiophiles who value clarity and richness in this key frequency region. The headphones deliver an accurate and well-balanced midrange that brings vocalists and instrumental musicians to life with remarkable clarity.
The HD 620S’s custom-tuned dynamic drivers and diaphragm work together to reproduce mid-range frequencies with remarkable accuracy, ensuring that vocals are clear and instruments have a realistic timbre. This clarity allows for a more immersive listening experience by successfully highlighting the minor subtleties and textures of the music. Whether you’re listening to the warm voice of a singer or the intricate layers of a string quartet, the HD 620S delivers a compelling and captivating performance. We see examples of this clarity in tracks such as Wilderness by Explosions In The Sky, Helplessly Hoping by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young or I Want You (She’s So Heavy) by The Beatles.
However, the Sennheiser HD 620S's treble performance is disappointing. In most cases, the higher ranges sound somewhat dull and airy. On a song like Pharoah Sanders' You've Got To Have Freedom, which is heavily laden with piano and flugelhorn cues, this lack of detail in the higher tones becomes noticeably apparent.
The headphones do not have microphone support.
Also, in terms of noise isolation, the closed physical model reduces disturbances more than open models. However, the isolation is not significant. If you are in a quiet place, you may not suffer from occasional noises. But don't expect to be able to concentrate without distractions if you are sitting in the same room as the TV or someone talking.
Sennheiser HD 620S: Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 620S are a good choice for audiophiles, especially those who want to use them for editing or other professional activities. For a wired, passive noise-isolating headphone, the price of Rs 32,990 may be a bit steep for casual listeners. Compared to the open-back models in the series, these headphones offer more noise cancellation, but the sound is not as open as them. The sound experience, in that regard, is limited by the design of the headphones themselves. Do note that the headphones do not support microphones. You may have to use an external microphone for making calls and other purposes.
There aren’t many other competitors in this specific category of audio products. However, you can check out the Sony WH-1000XM5 (Review), which are wireless earphones with active noise cancellation (ANC) support with touch control features, priced in India at Rs. 34,990.