My thoughts about HD800S

[scw0w]

Hello guys. I've been using this headphones for a while now and I'm ready to share my opinion.
First of all, finally comfortable headphones! It's almost as comfort as my beloved SHP9500. I'd say if shp9500 10/10 then HD800S 8/10. It's a huge for me because almost all headphones I've tried is uncomfortable. At first they were a bit tight, but I stretched the headband and now everything is great.

Now about packaging. I know Senn isn't known for having fancy packaging or anything like that but OMG it's a $1500 headphone. Why box so bad? Unbelievable...
Build quality is decent. There are no expensive materials or something like that. Just good. No premium feel. 2 pin Sennheiser cable connector is nightmare.

What about sound? OK it's a tricky one. Actually, I don't see a huge difference between HD800 and SHP9500. Sennheiser is definitely better but the difference is marginal. There's a huge "soundstage" here thanks to the speakers being positioned far away from ear, and that creates a unique experience. Absolutely no bass tho (not problem for me).
Is it worth so much money? I don't think so. Will I return them? No. This is my main headphones for now because it's comfy! And yes, Senn is better than Arya Stealth. Much better.

Another thing I noticed is that the stereo separation is much better than on the SHP9500. In fact, because of this, I realized that I have a slight hearing loss on my right ear LOL. On the Philips I have to LISTEN really hard to hear it, but on the Senn it's instantly audible because of superior stereo separation. I just added 2% to the right channel and now everything is OK. Thx you for your attention.

 

[scw0w]

Also, maybe someone knows a better way to balance channels for my ear? I just use “balance” in Windows control panel.
Maybe APO will be better solution for this? And if yes why?

 

[Jiraya369]

because it's comfy

comfort is subjective but yeah, the hd800s is perhaps the comfiest headphone ever if you take out the weight. The hifiman stuff are also comfy for me so that's where i disagree with you. I can wear my HE1K Stealth for half the day without issues. But the HD800S are comfier no doubt, unreal stuff.

no bass tho

you can eq it up but yeah it's what i hated about these headphones when i tried em. Use this to make a sighted graph and adjust to taste later at 1k, 5k and 8k+and also in the bass. I found out through testing that the DF+10 db tilt works best for headphones on this measurement rig to my ears. I also think the 5128 has by far the best representation of treble frequencies to my ears so you can try out this tool. Tune it to neutral then adjust for taste. If you have power on tap you're going to unlock your headphones. Nothing outside of speakers is better than an open back tuned to preferences.

Maybe APO will be better

I use apo cus it feels more precise and nicer, windows one doesn't and that's it lol no huge reason. It just feels good

 

[scw0w]

I can wear my HE1K Stealth for half the day without issues.

Unfortunately, i can't. Even after 30 min my right ear is dying.

you can eq

Its funny but I don't want. I know EQ is a great tool, and I use it, but in this case, for some reason, I don't feel like it. Sound is kinda fine without bass

 

[Jiraya369]

Unfortunately, i can't

yup comfort is subjective

don't want

you should at least try first. we all say "sound is alright without X" till trying. Most blokes are like that with subs and end up buying 4.

 

[staticV3]

Its funny but I don't want. I know EQ is a great tool, and I use it, but in this case, for some reason, I don't feel like it. Sound is kinda fine without bass

It's really easy to try. No need to install Peace.

Oratory's preset is attached below, it's designed to be tweaked to preference:


To do this, click on the green arrow next to the Include block in APO. A new tab will open where you can change each filter.
When you're done, just close the tab. All changes are synced and saved to the txt file as you make them.

 

[scw0w]

you should at least try first

It's really easy to try.

Thx guys but I use an APO all the time. In this case, I kind of prefer a clean, bass-free sound. I don't know how to put it. It's already too muddy in the HD800S due to the earcup design at least for me.

 

[staticV3]

Thx guys but I use an APO all the time. In this case, I kind of prefer a clean, bass-free sound. I don't know how to put it. It's already too muddy in the HD800S due to the earcup design at least for me.

It's not just the bass that benefits from response correction.

If you want to keep it free of bass shelves, try oratory's Optimum Hifi correction: https://www.dropbox.com/s/mjsk60sv9bv4dzi/Sennheiser HD800S (Optimum HiFi Curve).pdf?dl=0

 

[scw0w]

f you want to keep it free of bass shelves

wow...First time i see this. Definitely gonna try. Thank you! What a luck. I thought oratory presets are Harman's only.

 

[staticV3]

wow...First time i see this. Definitely gonna try. Thank you! What a luck. I thought oratory presets are Harman's only.

There's a DF preset as well, though not recommended for general use: https://www.reddit.com/r/oratory1990/wiki/index/list_of_presets/

 

[tokyo_blues]

Actually, I don't see a huge difference between HD800 and SHP9500. Sennheiser is definitely better but the difference is marginal

How's your inner canal hygiene? Any known earwax buildup?

 

[scw0w]

How's your inner canal hygiene? Any known earwax buildup?

It's fine. There's no need to think there's something wrong with my ears. They really don't make a huge difference in sound.

 

[staticV3]

They graph really similarly on the 5128, so this is not all that surprising:


(Philips in green)

More deep bass is the biggest tonal difference I'd expect between them.

 

[tokyo_blues]

They graph really similarly on the 5128, so this is not all that surprising:

View attachment 504911
(Philips in green)

More deep bass is the biggest tonal difference I'd expect between them.

They seem pretty different to me, then again I know nothing of the experimental setup used above so not sure how much to trust these measurements.

 

[staticV3]

then again I know nothing of the experimental setup used above

Bog standard B&K 5128