Looks like Drop might be 'dropping' a HD800

[AtomAmp]

Yeah I know, but the question is if the 8XX is better

Got it. That's why I also joined the Drop, to be able to compare them.

 

[oivavoi]

I think you should be fine for a portable setup, I first tried the 800S with my 5K. But I wouldn't run the 800S portably personally.

I honestly think spending the store credit on a 789 is a really good deal and I'd order it instantly if I didn't already have the RME ADI-2 DAC (which is single ended but still has enough power). A transparent, great amp that doesn't need to run 8XX balanced, or a specialised cable that only works with certain amps AND you need an amp? I'd pick the amp every time.

Thanks! That's a good tip. It lacks eq though, but otherwise seems excellent.

 

[edahl]

Thanks! That's a good tip. It lacks eq though, but otherwise seems excellent.

If you're going to use your phone, you can EQ there. On PC use Equalizer APO. If you want EQ in your amp buy the RME ADI-2 DAC FS right now and enjoy it while you wait for the 8XX. You're in Norway right? I got my RME in 6 interest free downpayments from dustinhome.no, which is almost worth doing even if you can pay upfront lol

 

[Jimbob54]

"You want a dip there to avoid being too high energy."

But... what if I like shout. At least to my ears and my music selection, a bit of hotness in the upper mids is preferable.

Then you eq it back up.

 

[Zensō]

Really, I think you buy the HD800, HD800S, or HD8XX primarily for the soundstage and comfort, then adjust the FR to taste. I wouldn’t consider any of these if I wasn’t willing to adjust their FR using EQ. And if I’m willing to adjust the FR using EQ, then it doesn’t matter much which one I pick since their soundstage and comfort are likely to be nearly identical. The only caveat is that the 8XX appears to have less bass distortion, which could be advantageous for bass heads.

 

[Racheski]

Drop tried to get that changed and use HD650 cable but Sennheiser mentioned they could not make this happen with the connectors that are used in the HD800(S). So one is stuck with aftermarket if one does not want to use the terrible cable (which Amir seemed to like).

For some reason I have a feeling this added like 6 months to the dev time of the HD8XX; like one long email chain between Drop and Sennheiser engineers with a lot of, “we will get back to you on that.”

 

[bigjacko]

Even though Drop said the future units will be 1200+, but I think we should still be possible to get it at 1100. Drop sometimes does discount on some products, but of course if high demand the discount will be less or need to wait for a few years for it to happen. If the demand is low then Drop will likely do more discount and try to sell it. We never know, maybe because it is flagship so no discount even demand is low. I would say if you don't need one now, want to wait for review or don't want to wait that long, it is still possible to get it at $1100 in the future.

 

[m_g_s_g]

I first tried the 800S with my 5K. But I wouldn't run the 800S portably personally.

May I ask why?

I’ll soon receive the HD800S I ordered a couple of days ago, and plan to initially drive them with the Qudelix. According to this sheets about the 5K power budget it should work. Impedance (as measured by Amir) and sensitivity (102 dB @1mW?) of the HD800S are not that different from the HD650/HD6XX, that have been working fine for me with the Qudelix.

 

[m_g_s_g]

(Just checked: The HD650 sensitivity seems to be even lower: 100.48 dB/mW SPL)

 

[edahl]

May I ask why?

Just because they're incredibly big and open, not to mention expensive, so moving around with them will be an exception

 

[m_g_s_g]

Just because they're incredibly big and open, not to mention expensive, so moving around with them will be an exception

That’s true. I only plan to move with them around the house. I thought you had identified an issue with the Qudelix.

 

[edahl]

I wish they had a bit more lined up in terms of impressions, plans and so on. Given that purchases have slowed down I'm guessing we'll have more to go on at least within the next couple weeks though, to at least fill their initial quota whatever that happened to become.

 

[edahl]

Somebody posted a comparison between the 800S and the HE1000se. Looks like the changes may pull the 8XX closer to the HE1000se purely in FR terms. Can we conclude anything based on this?

 

[svenz]

Just get Ananda and forget about these.

Looks much less comfortable and heavier, so no thanks. HD800s is about the heaviest I can handle in headphones for long term wear.

 

[svenz]

The changes they made look really great, but I guess we need to wait for the final product to really tell.

On Sennheiser leaving the headphone market. It's sad but not unexpected. But I'd say that's a good reason to buy these before they are no longer able to be purchased. If they are a limited edition stock, it is likely the prices will go way up in the next few years even for used models.

On buying from massdrop - I bought my THX AAA 789 and imported it to UK. I paid over 30% in total duty charges, so it was around $500. And it took ages to arrive. In retrospect I probably should have just put that towards an RME ADI-2, although I really do like the amp still. Especially with heavy EQ, you can really crank up the output which has come in handy a few times.

Mostly the no warranty support is quite risky. In the UK, HD800s have the Orpheus 10 year warranty in comparison. Sennheiser EU support is also really great - my earpads had some deformity, and they sent me brand new replacements for free after I emailed them no questions asked. If I was in the US though and didn't have HD800s already, I'd definitely try to get in on this.

 

[edahl]

The changes they made look really great, but I guess we need to wait for the final product to really tell.

On Sennheiser leaving the headphone market. It's sad but not unexpected. But I'd say that's a good reason to buy these before they are no longer able to be purchased. If they are a limited edition stock, it is likely the prices will go way up in the next few years even for used models.

On buying from massdrop - I bought my THX AAA 789 and imported it to UK. I paid over 30% in total duty charges, so it was around $500. And it took ages to arrive. In retrospect I probably should have just put that towards an RME ADI-2, although I really do like the amp still. Especially with heavy EQ, you can really crank up the output which has come in handy a few times.

Mostly the no warranty support is quite risky. In the UK, HD800s have the Orpheus 10 year warranty in comparison. If I was in the US though and didn't have HD800s already, I'd definitely try to get in on this.

It's not really correct to say they're leaving headphones. Check out head-fi.org for an interview with the Sennheisers.

I second the RME ADI-2 DAC FS, though I'm considering spending my credits on a 789 as well (for balanced).

There's a lot of misinformation about it for some reason, but there is international warranty support so you don't have to worry about that. Drop customer service is very good in my experience.

 

[faheem]

Looks much less comfortable and heavier, so no thanks. HD800s is about the heaviest I can handle in headphones for long term wear.

Ananda isn't heavy. I use the HD650 and Ananda, and can swap between them and the Ananda isn't uncomfortably heavy, by comparison.

 

[Zensō]

Looks much less comfortable and heavier, so no thanks. HD800s is about the heaviest I can handle in headphones for long term wear.

Hifiman build quality is sketchy as well. Sennheisers are much more reliable.

 

[faheem]

Hifiman build quality is sketchy as well. Sennheisers are much more reliable.

Sennheiser quality control, is alot better than Hifiman. The susvara has polarity and channel imbalance issues, have heard of people finding dandruff and loose strands of hair, in their brand new cups.

 

[svenz]

Ananda isn't heavy. I use the HD650 and Ananda, and can swap between them and the Ananda isn't uncomfortably heavy, by comparison.

It's quite subjective, no doubt. The Ananda weighs 150g more than the HD650 at 400g vs 259g, and it looks substantially bulkier so I think it's not a great comparison. I find HD650 supremely comfortable. HD800s, while comfortable, is basically at the edge of what I can tolerate for all day comfort at 340g. I really just dislike bulky/heavy headphones in general, they aren't practical or enjoyable for me.