There is too much wireless in our lives. So much so that wired products seem archaic sometimes and we prefer to go wireless even when a cord connection is available. But wires are not just about nostalgia, they still have an edge on stability and quality. The new Sennheiser HD 620S tries to reinforce that for a young audience unaware of this quality of wires.
The Sennheiser HD 620S is a robust-looking over-the-ear headphone that offers only a wired option. It has a closed-back design but tries to create the audio profile of an open headphone. It is lightweight, especially considering the size of these headphones, and comes with a very sturdy chassis that can last for years. I loved the comfort of the ear cups with its cushions on the headband which meant I could use these for hours without realising I had them on.
But with wired headphones, there is a peculiar problem these days — that of having to find a source. Since none of the smartphones in my house have a 3.5mm port, I turned to the MacBook as my source, streaming high-res files from Apple Music. To use this with one of the new phones you will need to get an adapter. But if you do have a music system at home, this also gives you a 6.3mm adapter.
I started with a high-res version of Santana’s Evil Ways and the drums moving from left to right in the start felt as if I was listening to the song on a speaker. In fact, despite being a closed-design headphone the HD 620S offers the kind of spatial profile that makes it feel open and more natural.
But it was with Perşembe’nin Düzleri (Canlı) that I was blown away. The ensemble of string instruments and vocals showcased the range of these headphones as well as their ability to transport you to unseen worlds. The audio profile is so balanced that you start questioning what you were listening to all this while. This is when I realised I had been spending too much time on in-ear TWS models recently.
Also, I have over the past few years become too used to noise-cancelling products and missed that a good headphone can create a personal space for you without the need for negating ambient sounds around you. With the HD 620S, you are aware of what’s happening around you, but then the music soon pulls you in and you lose interest in everything else. Soon you sink into your own bean bag of audio bliss.
The HD 620S can push the bass too, but not to the extent that it kills the song itself as some headphones are prone to. I tried some techno beats to reconfirm and was not disappointed. And listening to an audiophile version of Spanish Harlem I knew this was right up there with the best headphones I have used.