Sennheiser HD 600 just received a massive $190 discount at Amazon — I'm an audiophile and I swear by these headphones

(Image credit: Sennheiser/ Tom's Guide)

"Critical Listening" is what audiophiles call the kind of listening we do when we sit down to really get in deep with some music. Listening out for things you might otherwise miss — important details, an instrument you've not heard before, what was the artist trying to tell us... you get the drift.

Thanks to a very detail-oriented sound signature, the Sennheiser HD 600 are a favorite option for critical listening shared by many audiophiles, myself included. Now you can join the ranks, thanks to a $195 discount at Amazon, which sees them down to $305.

Open backed for an open mind

Let me get nerdy and technical for a second (because the Sennheiser HD 600 are nerdy and technical). They are open-backed headphones, meaning there's a mesh covering the outer edge of the earcup rather than a hardcover. That does a couple of positive things to your music.

Because the drivers inside are allowed to breathe more, it means there's a more open and spacious soundstage. That gives you greater dynamic range, too, with more differentiation between the loudest and softest parts of a track. For classical music and jazz, there's nothing quite like it, and the HD 600 exemplifies the benefits of the format.

Unfortunately, that also means they suffer from open-backs' biggest drawbacks. While their bass is extremely tight and well-controlled, there's also not all that much of it. It all gets lost as some of it escapes through the open backs of the earcups. Not a pair of headphones for bass heads, these.

Sennheiser HD 600 on table — (Image credit: Future)

Neither are they for those who need something private. Open-backed headphones allow all your music to leak out, so everyone nearby will be able to hear your most embarrassing playlists. Not a pair for the bus, then.

But their effortless detail and incredible mid-range make them perfect for really getting deep into your music. Listening out for the nuance, and all the little bits you might have missed. You'll need an extra amp to really get the most out of them, but if you do, you're in for the most detailed listen you've ever experienced.

Looking for something else? Check out what else is in store for Prime Day.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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