Replacement and Balanced Cables for Sennheiser HD 600, HD 650, HD 660S2 and HD 800 S

Sennheiser HD headphones use a handful of connectors, and many models share them. The HD 580, HD 600, HD 650, HD 660S, HD 660S2, HD 58X and HD 6XX all use the same 2-pin plug on each earcup. The HD 800, HD 800 S and HD 820 share their own connector. The HD 560S, HD 599 and HD 620S family use a 2.5 mm twist-lock jack.

Looking for a specific model? The headphone cable finder lists the connector on 170 headphones.

This guide is for anyone who owns a Sennheiser HD headphone and wants a shorter cable, a balanced plug or a replacement for a damaged one. You will learn which connector your model uses and what comes in the box. We also explain why balanced suits the 300 Ω HD 600 and HD 650, and how to order the right cable first time.

Which connector does your Sennheiser HD headphone use?

An earcup connector is the socket on the headphone where the cable plugs in. Sennheiser uses a few designs across its range. The table below groups the models that share each one, and shows the option to pick in our configurator.

These groups come from Sennheiser's own replacement cable listings. See the HD 650 cable, the HD 800 series cable and the twist-lock cable.

Dual-sided and single-sided models

A dual-sided headphone is one with a connector on each earcup. The HD 600 family, the HD 800 family and the HD 700 all work this way. A single-sided headphone is one where a single cable enters one earcup. The HD 560S and HD 599 group, and the HD 490 PRO, are single-sided.

Models we can't fit

The HD 280 PRO's cable is not plug-detachable, so it can't take a plug-in replacement. The HD 490 PRO uses mini XLR, but sources disagree on its pin count. Contact us to confirm before you order one.

What comes in the box with a Sennheiser HD headphone?

Sennheiser's stock cables are long and built for home use. That suits a listening chair, but not a desk or a portable setup.

• HD 650: a 3 m cable with a 6.35 mm plug and a 3.5 mm adapter.
• HD 660S2: two 1.8 m cables, one with a 6.35 mm plug and one with a 4.4 mm balanced plug.
• HD 800 S: 3 m cables with 6.35 mm and 4.4 mm plugs, with a 4-pin XLR cable sold separately (Sennheiser: HD 800 S).

A replacement cable lets you choose the length and the plug for how you actually listen. You might want a shorter cable for a desk, a 4.4 mm plug for a portable player or dongle, or 4-pin XLR for a balanced desktop amplifier.

Why go balanced with an HD 600 or HD 650?

The HD 600 and HD 650 are 300 Ω headphones. High-impedance headphones need more voltage than most phones and many dongles provide. A balanced output is one where each channel has its own return wire instead of a shared ground. With a bridged amplifier, this roughly doubles the voltage swing.

What the numbers look like

Dongle makers publish the difference. The Moondrop Dawn Pro is rated at 2 Vrms single-ended and 4 Vrms balanced (Moondrop). The iBasso DC04 Pro is rated at 2 Vrms single-ended and 3 Vrms balanced. By contrast, Apple's USB-C to 3.5 mm adapter measured about 0.5 Vrms at most (Reference Audio Analyzer).

Nothing inside the headphone changes

Because Sennheiser's 2-pin design already runs a separate lead to each earcup, a balanced cable only changes the plug end. Nothing inside the headphones needs modifying. The same applies to the HD 800 family. Read more in 3.5 mm, 2.5 mm or 4.4 mm balanced?

The cable itself adds very little resistance, typically under about an ohm. Against a 300 Ω load, that is a tiny share. For a fuller look at what a cable can and can't change, see Do IEM upgrade cables make a difference?

Which player plug should you choose?

The player plug is the end that goes into your amplifier, and it is a separate choice from the earcup connector. Match it to the output on your amplifier, DAC or player.

• 4-pin XLR: balanced, with 4 contacts, for desktop amplifiers.
• Two 3-pin XLR: balanced, for amplifiers with dual XLR outputs.
• 4.4 mm: balanced, with 5 contacts, for portable players and dongles. JEITA added this plug to standard RC-8141C in 2016 (Phile-web).
• 2.5 mm: balanced, with 4 contacts, for players with a 2.5 mm output.
• 3.5 mm: single-ended, with 3 contacts, for most other sources.

Our player plug guide shows each option in detail. If you use both a desktop amplifier and a portable player, tell us; we can suggest a sensible combination.

Cable materials for Sennheiser HD headphones

All Null Audio cables for headphones are built to order in Singapore with the Sennheiser connector and plug you choose. Browse the full range in Cables for Headphones.

Copper: Arete and Epsilon

Arete MKV (from USD 109) uses high-purity UPOCC copper, with 100 strands per cable at 24 AWG. Epsilon MKIII (from USD 129) uses UPOCC copper with 126 strands per wire and 504 per cable. Both are a straightforward step up from a stock cable.

Alloy: Lune

Lune MKVIII (from USD 149) uses a silver/copper fusion alloy with 212 strands per cable. It has been a Null Audio best-seller for 15 consecutive years.

Monocrystalline: Tiburon, Hakone and Thera

Tiburon MKIII (7N copper, from USD 199), Hakone MKIII (silver and copper, from USD 299) and Thera MKIII (7N silver, from USD 399) are cryogenically treated. Each is 1.5 times larger in cross-section than the previous generation. We suggest them for an HD 800 S or HD 660S2 system. For the trade-offs between metals, read Copper vs Silver vs Silver-Plated Copper.

What to check before you order

A few minutes of checking saves a return. Our returns policy allows 14 days from delivery, but custom cables are not eligible for change-of-mind returns. See shipping and returns for details.

• Model name: look under the headband or on the box, and match it to the table above.
• Sockets: check whether there is one socket or two, and whether it twists to lock.
• Source output: note whether your amplifier has 6.35 mm, 4.4 mm or 4-pin XLR outputs.
• Length: measure from your seat to the amplifier, and allow a little slack.

Every cable carries a 1-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. Details are on our warranty page. Shipping is by FedEx worldwide, and free from USD 250.

Get the right cable built

Not sure which model you have, or own something not listed here? Send us the model and a photo of the earcup sockets. We'll confirm the right connector before we build. Null Audio has built cables by hand in Singapore since 2008, and we make cables for all Sennheiser headphones.

In Singapore, you can also visit our studio at 76 Playfair Road to see the cables in person.

Frequently asked questions