Sennheiser HD800S Review (Headphone)

[Mr Swing King]

I ordered both the HD800s and the Audeze LCD-X (2021) for a personal comparison and finally kept the Audeze LCD-X. Even equalized, the HD-800s did not provide the almost tactile punch and bass texture of the Audeze - in my (subjective) opinion and experience.

The weight is no issue for me. However, the Audeze must be equalized, otherwise it is quite boring sounding.

Bass can be very seal dependant and the HD800S is notoriously hard to get a good seal on. I’ve always struggled myself, so it isn’t particular surprising to me that you ended up prefering the Audeze.
You can get that same ‘tactile’ bass out of a Hifiman if you equalise it though…which was my point earlier. There is no inherant punchy magic in Audeze drivers.

 

[staticV3]

Bass can be very seal dependant and the HD800S is notoriously hard to get a good seal on.

The HD800S is among the most consistent headphones on various human heads: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table/151337

 

[Mr Swing King]

I have always struggled to get a good seal no matter how I place it. My buddy is the same. I guess we have strange heads

 

[DEF]

The HD800S is among the most consistent headphones on various human heads: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table/151337

I would not trust rtings.com

 

[staticV3]

I would not trust rtings.com

Wdym? Are you suspecting that they fake their measurements?

 

[DEF]

Wdym? Are you suspecting that they fake their measurements?

No, their rating formula and their protocol to test is not to my liking.
It's a way to claim something while being 'somewhat' correct, and yet have missed the goal.
It's a bit like userbenchmark.com, but instead it provides some valuable info about some characteristics.
But I would absolutely not rely on it when it comes to a proper evaluation.

For instance, they would rate a product really poorly, because of color accuracy, but then state that after the calibration it's almost a 10.
They miss entirely, that some products are purposefully not made color accurate, because they have entirely different purposes.
I really think, it's >not valuable enough<

 

[Robbo99999]

Bass can be very seal dependant and the HD800S is notoriously hard to get a good seal on. I’ve always struggled myself, so it isn’t particular surprising to me that you ended up prefering the Audeze.
You can get that same ‘tactile’ bass out of a Hifiman if you equalise it though…which was my point earlier. There is no inherant punchy magic in Audeze drivers.

The HD800S is among the most consistent headphones on various human heads: https://www.rtings.com/headphones/tools/table/151337

I have always struggled to get a good seal no matter how I place it. My buddy is the same. I guess we have strange heads

It's true from solderdude's measurements on his website that breaking the seal can make a difference to the bass of HD800s, following is perfect seal vs thin arm glasses vs thick arm glasses vs lifting bottom of pads slightly:

I own the HD800 which is same earcup design, and I just need to be careful it doesn't overlap the bottom rear of my jaw line - for me it's not difficult to place to avoid that (and still is a perfectly natural comfortable placement of the headphone on my head, no weird extreme placement); I think that would be the main contributing factor to people not getting their best bass experience from HD800s/HD800 (potential overlap at bottom rear of jaw), but even then for me HD800 does not deliver punchy bass when EQ'd in comparison to say EQ'd Hifiman HE400SE or EQ'd HD560s, so I think there is something of a lacking potential in HD800s/HD800 for punchy/impactful/detailed bass - it's not too bad but I've experienced better.

 

[solderdude]

(potential overlap at bottom rear of jaw)

Yep, also can happen with the egg-shaped hifiman devices.
With the hifiman a slightly less perfect seal actually lightly increases bass.
Don't forget copious amounts of hair between pad and head (not a problem for me )

 

[Dazerdoreal]

I recently tried out a 800S at a hifi shop. Unfortunately I was only able to listen to it for one song, but I really liked what I listened to. In expectation of mid-treble peaks I chose a rather sibilant song but it did not turn out to be a problem. So, my head seems to be ready for the 800S. It is a lot of money though.

 

[RJO]

Got mine last week and have been enjoying it immensely. I'm now using it with a Fiio KA15 portable DAC/Amp, which I received yesterday, and it drove both my HD800s and Dan Clark Aeon Noire with ease..I'm quite shocked!

Suffice to say, I think this little piece of dongle will give a lot of more expensive desktop amps a run for their money. I'm quite impressed, plus it has an efficient PEQ feature to boot. YMMV

 

[IXOYE]

I think everyone should have HD800s in their collection, they are special.

 

[Chagall]

Sound quality wise I think Hype 2 iems are more special. No 6k peak or treble cut among other things like lack of deep bass on 800s
View attachment 406621

Tonality quirks can all be corrected with EQ, but nothing can make iems or other headphones have the sound presentation of HD800(s). Agree with @IXOYE

 

[DEF]

Tonality quirks can all be corrected with EQ, but nothing can make iems or other headphones have the sound presentation of HD800(s). Agree with @IXOYE

But HRTF cannot. It's absolutely outside of measurements.
It's basically: Does this headphone couple well to my head? If no, the results can be really bad.
For example, Focal Utopia couples really well to my head, but on my head, it does add sub-bass where there was none in the recording.
Utopias sound fantastic, but with the fit they are not really "according to measurement".

 

[Westsounds]

I'm not a huge fan of wearing any headphones, but, the HD800S is like being in the perfect environment for listening to the entire recording like you've never heard it before. It does mean perhaps you have to search around for something that compliments them sonicly but once it's there I've never heard any speakers or other headphones for that matter come anywhere near as close.

 

[Chagall]

But HRTF cannot. It's absolutely outside of measurements.
It's basically: Does this headphone couple well to my head? If no, the results can be really bad.
For example, Focal Utopia couples really well to my head, but on my head, it does add sub-bass where there was none in the recording.
Utopias sound fantastic, but with the fit they are not really "according to measurement".

Sure, but no one was talking about coupling issues and it's not like they don't exist with IEMs.
But when you mention it, HD800(s) is one of those headphones that is quite consistent across different heads.

 

[DEF]

Sure, but no one was talking about coupling issues and it's not like they don't exist with IEMs.
But when you mention it, HD800(s) is one of those headphones that is quite consistent across different heads.

Wish that was the case for me. Still prefer DT 770 Pro although these don't resolve as fine - you can't hear as many details.
But much less fatiguing for me.

 

[Westsounds]

this is a nightmare to deal with. a headphone that only sounds good on certain songs. delt with it before.

It doesn't, it sounds good (amazing) with everything! I've experienced recordings like I never have with this headphone. Even low quality compression and not so good recordings. What it is highly dependant on it being well matched equipment wise. Get that to your preference and there's nothing like them.

 

[Oldson]

got the hd800s on home trial atm.
had the original version years ago but sold it before i got into eq.

quite impressed so far.
currently listening to Amirm's preferred settings , but the poor Midgard is almost maxed out on high gain! (750mw at 300).
this surprised me somewhat.
i also have tried my NJC ref amp, no idea on spec for that but it has far more headroom, as does my (dont shoot) Icon HP8.

i know the Dekoni pads didnt get good feedback on here, but has anyone tried the ZMF lambskin pads?

 

[staticV3]

currently listening to Amirm's preferred settings , but the poor Midgard is almost maxed out on high gain! (750mw at 300).

See here:

Sennheiser HD800S Review (Headphone)

This must be a joke. Dynamic driver just sucks VS Planar. Especially when you listen to very fast music like House and Trance and Electronica. I beg to differ. It depends of your taste and the headphones. In my opinion, you cannot say that planars drivers are better than dynamics "per se".

www.audiosciencereview.com

oratory's EQ preset will play louder and closer to Harman to boot.

 

[Oldson]

See here:

Sennheiser HD800S Review (Headphone)

This must be a joke. Dynamic driver just sucks VS Planar. Especially when you listen to very fast music like House and Trance and Electronica. I beg to differ. It depends of your taste and the headphones. In my opinion, you cannot say that planars drivers are better than dynamics "per se".

www.audiosciencereview.com

oratory's EQ preset will play louder and closer to Harman to boot.

just loaded the oratory, not sure which i prefer.