Many audiophiles remain unconvinced that wireless headphones can deliver the same audio quality and richness as wired headphones. While the world has moved to wireless devices, this one segment is trying its best to stay put. Sennheiser is trying to convert them again with the HDB 630 wireless audiophile headphones.
Sennheiser HDB 630 accepts that this is a segment that holds its beliefs and headphones collected over the years close to its heart. Which is why these headphones try every approach, giving users all the options they might want — a direct Bluetooth connection, a Bluetooth dongle for a more stable link from your phone or laptop, a USB-C cable, and an analogue cable with a 3.5mm jack, just in case.
The HDB 630 has a simple design that is the trademark of Sennheiser. It is both stylish and practical. The earcups are soft and welcoming; you can wear them for hours without any discomfort. There is just one power button on the device that also helps you pair the headphones. LED lights show the pairing as well as the power status. On the right earcup, you can tap to play/pause, take a call, adjust volume or switch off noise cancelling.
The Sennheiser SmartControlPlus app lets you adjust noise-cancelling levels. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
The noise cancellation is pretty good, but it is here more for you to enjoy the music and not so much to cut off all ambient noises. The Sennheiser SmartControlPlus app lets you adjust noise-cancelling levels and I found that being on the adaptive setting works well for me. Another interesting feature on the app is crossfade, which merges the left and right channels to offer a centralised audio track. I really loved this neutral experience and ended up in a high crossfade mode.
But what can really help convince the audiophile in you is the audio quality. Frankly, I have never been this impressed by power-on music that plays in any headphone. That suggests the HDB 630 means business.
Also, when I started playing for the first time, connecting the BTD 700 USB-C dongle with Qualcomm aptx HD to the MacBook Pro, and then selecting this Bluetooth link, I felt the music was playing on some high-end speakers in the room. The experience is so natural and open that you can enjoy Pari Intervallo early in the morning without any distractions and the clarity the piano rendition needs.
However, between the regular Bluetooth link and the dongle, I could not figure out much of a difference. But if that extra piece of tech gives you peace of mind, then why not? As I moved from one Bach composition to the other, streaming from one of Apple Music’s hi-fi playlists, I could not help but marvel at the range this headphone offers. You hear every detail from the rare vocals in Kantane Zum 24 to the violins in the background and the cello that dominates the backdrop. A melange of highs, mids and lows with all getting their due time under the limelight.
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The girl from Ipanema had me tapping my feet, even as the classic showcased the bass capabilities of the Sennheiser HD 630, especially after I had toggled the Bass Boost on in the app all the way to the top.
On a full charge, the Sennheiser HDB 630 gives up to 60 hours of playback easily. (Image: Nandagopal Rajan/The Indian Express)
One aspect I was truly impressed by was how easily the headphones switched between the MacBook Pro and my iPhone. As the iPhone stream Ehsaas, the headphone became a more mellow wrap around my head, and then as the playlist flipped over to Kamakshi Khanna’s Sabar, it balanced the extra bassy beats with her husky vocals perfectly well.
But it was the details of each song I listened to that convinced me these headphones were in a different league altogether. The depth of Shreya Ghoshal and Swanand Kirkire’s vocals in Re Mann, along with the strings that were almost pulling on my heart, underlined to me the value of a headphone like this for those who respect their music.
On a full charge, the Sennheiser HDB 630 gives up to 60 hours of playback easily. The BTD 700 dongle comes in the box, along with multiple cable options.
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At Rs 44,900, the Sennheiser HDB 630 is among the best audiophile-grade headphones you can buy at the moment. I give it extra points for being versatile enough to understand the different needs of this segment and catering to all of those, too. No, this is not for those who can’t differentiate loud volumes from hi-res playback, so there is no point spending extra bucks if you don’t consider yourself an audiophile. But those who do will love this one.
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