Sennheiser HD800S Review (Headphone)

[Robbo99999]

I found a used hd800 (non s version) for about 500 euro, is a good choice?

With EQ, fresh headband and earpad padding and no paint flaking of the sides... sure.
Otherwise be prepared to buy new earpads and headband padding.

You'd think an EQ'd HD800 would be as good as an EQ'd HD800s. You might use Oratory's EQ as a starting point. You might see a bit less unit to unit variation with an HD800s as they have always used the same pads whereas the HD800 started off with the old woven fabric pads and nowadays you can't buy genuine exact replacements of those and instead the genuine pad for the HD800 is in fact the HD800s pad, and they are going to measure a little different. Oratory's EQ for HD800 has used units of both woven & the modern HD800s pad, it's either 50:50 woven to modern or 75:25 woven to modern for his breakdown, he's measured 4 units if I recall and at least one of the units was with the modern HD800s pad. He said the different HD800 units still didn't differ much, but those different pads are gonna mean the variance is likely more than what you'd see with the HD800s headphone. I've got an HD800 refurbished properly with the HD800s pads courtesy of solderdude, and it sounds good with the latest HD800 Oratory EQ, the only thing missing a bit is the bass impact & detail is not fully there vs some other headphones, but you'd think that one point would be the same for both HD800 & HD800s, nice headphone though, I do like it.

 

[Mort]

I don't get this headphone. Partner has one so I trot it out once in a while. I'm always disappointed.

 

[JOCoin]

I must have an unusual HRTF as I greatly prefer stock FR for 99% of my music collection. I'd be interested to know how many other owners/ASR members prefer stock FR over Harman. I also prefer Armin's eq over harman as it sounds closer to stock but with more bass. To my ears harman collapses the "headstage" that these are so praised for.

 

[Robbo99999]

I must have an unusual HRTF as I greatly prefer stock FR for 99% of my music collection. I'd be interested to know how many other owners/ASR members prefer stock FR over Harman. I also prefer Armin's eq over harman as it sounds closer to stock but with more bass. To my ears harman collapses the "headstage" that these are so praised for.

I've only ever very briefly listened to my HD800 without EQ and the first thing I noticed was this crazy S sound on everything, but after about 5 seconds of listening my brain tunes that out (I no longer here it) and the worst anomaly of the headphone is no longer audible - psychoacoustics and some crazy fast brain burn in right there. HD800s doesn't have such a crazy treble peak though so yours would be less extreme. Once the crazy S sound disappeared I don't think I particularly liked it though, can't remember the specifics but it didn't seem good.

 

[liyin]

I do agree when EQed to Harman a chunk of soundstage and separation is gone, but I do the opposite.
Instead of going for Optimum curve with no bass, I just EQ the low end and leave everything from 1k as is - maybe just fix the 5,5k peak.

Is it correct? No, but it gives me more spacious presentation with low end, atleast to my ears.
It seems to me that HD800s' weird frequency response contributes, in no small way, to it's soundstage/spaciousness effect.

Spoiler: eq

View attachment 322445

that Amir and Oratory for Optimum Hi-Fi's each have their own characteristics, if I have to choose one to keep, I will keep the Amir, thank you so much for these 2 reference files, forgive my greed ----- and HD800 better than this one to share? Also what are your thoughts on this https://accuratesound.ca/product/sennheiser-hd800-filterset/? I hope to get feedback from all of you! ~Have a great day!

 

[Chagall]

that Amir and Oratory for Optimum Hi-Fi's each have their own characteristics, if I have to choose one to keep, I will keep the Amir, thank you so much for these 2 reference files, forgive my greed ----- and HD800 better than this one to share? Also what are your thoughts on this https://accuratesound.ca/product/sennheiser-hd800-filterset/? I hope to get feedback from all of you! ~Have a great day!

Personally, I wouldn’t pay for a software EQ filter when you can get one and tweak it for free with EQ APO (on Windows). Also, more and more DACs include EQ features - granted, usually over USB. Even something like SoundID, which offers profiles for many headphones, doesn’t seem like a great value to me.

You can always tailor EQ to your own preferences - it doesn’t have to match Amir’s or Oratory’s settings (not Optimum, but Harman target). In fact, I’d encourage you to tweak it until it sounds best to you.

 

[patoulol]

No problem at all, even 120ohm output R is no problem at all.

As you can see the impact of 120ohm versus 0ohm is negligible.
The rule of thumb is not a rule that is applicable for this headphone, it can be for some low impedance headphones.
The purple trace is 32ohm (so 1:10) and as can be seen has no impact on the sound.

I would be more worried about the max. output voltage (2,5V = 113dB peak SPL ≈ average SPL which is much lower) and clipping issues when playing at louder volumes. You do not need to worry about output impedance with the HD800(S)

can I ask you the same question with a DX1 Topping? will it be ok for an HS800S equalized strongly in the bass? Thank you

 

[solderdude]

The DX1 in high-gain mode will be able to reach 11Vpp (in 300ohm) = 4V.
When I look at the peak meters when using an EQ'ed HD800 at uncomfortable high SPL I rarely exceed 10V peaks (30Vpp) so you can drive it somewhat loud with the DX1.
I have peaks in music reaching 125dB at that point (can't stand those peak levels for more than 30 seconds or so with very dynamic recordings).
At comfortable loud levels I rarely exceed 2V peaks.
At all day listening levels I rarely exceed 0.5V peaks.

 

[patoulol]

The DX1 in high-gain mode will be able to reach 11V (in 300ohm).
When I look at the peak meters when using an EQ'ed HD800 at uncomfortable high SPL I rarely exceed 10V peaks so you can drive it pretty loud with the DX1.
I have peaks in music reaching 125dB at that point (can't stand those peak levels for more than 30 seconds or so with very dynamic recordings).
At comfortable loud levels I rarely exceed 2V peaks.
At all day listening levels I rarely exceed 0.5V peaks.

thank you,

I don't listen "loud" to preserve my hearing

Why do people buy DX3 Pro+ ? I DX1 is sufficient though in 99% of cases

 

[solderdude]

Because it is more expensive or (think) they need more power or see (inconsequential) higher specs or have very insensitive headphones or like the looks better or want to play a bit louder than mildly loud (4Vrms peaks) ?

When one occasionally wants to play (for very short moments) very loud without loss of sound quality the DX3 pro will get you there, the DX1 won't.

 

[patoulol]

Because it is more expensive or (think) they need more power or see (inconsequential) higher specs or have very insensitive headphones or like the looks better ?

yes the screen is "attractive"

 

[patoulol]

Because it is more expensive or (think) they need more power or see (inconsequential) higher specs or have very insensitive headphones or like the looks better or want to play a bit louder than mildly loud (4Vrms peaks) ?

When one occasionally wants to play (for very short moments) very loud without loss of sound quality the DX3 pro will get you there, the DX1 won't.

I just saw your message editing

I didn't understand, the DX1 won't pass the ridges?

 

[solderdude]

Topping (playing the numbers game) lists peak-peak voltages ... I missed that the first time... Most specs will show rms values but 4V is not as impressive looking as 11V.
The DX3 pro+ will be needed if (occasionally) want to play really loud.
When you only want to reach somewhat loud levels (you can endure for an entire song) the DX1 will do and will get you to 117dB SPL peaks.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Woot! is currently selling new samples of the Sennheiser HD 800 S headphone with a 2-year Sennheiser warranty for $1,299.99:

https://electronics.woot.com/offers/new-sennheiser-hd-800-s-over-the-ear-audiophile-reference-headphones?

 

[KD-3.7]

This is ridiculous.
I still listen to real life with the same ears I use to listen to my hifi.
I have seen this sort of comment before about compensating for age related hearing loss and there is not even a tiny glimmer of logic to it.
My reference is the outside world and the many, many more concerts I have been to since I was young and, hence, a much keener knowledge of what real acoustic music, as opposed to music from speakers, actually sounds like.
Any relationship with my age is more knowledge and experience. When I was young and had pretty well only heard music over speakers, and almost exclusively pop music at that, I am sure I would have liked the preference curve Harman have assembled from a lot of listeners.
Now I am very much more knowledgeable and experienced I definitely do not.
Talking preference back in the day nearly everybody I knew had the "loudness" contour on and/or the bass turned up. "Preference" IME has little to do with accurate reproduction.

This is far from ridiculous, i'm 25 and can hear up to 20 khz with ease meaning even at low volumes (45dB) i can hear around 19.5/20 khz there are many headphones i cannot bear to listen to because of the high frequencies, when using the tone control and if the heaphone goes above harman in the highs, it's always better with a bass boost 3dB and high frequency reduction.
The other day, an audio dealer told me it was impossible to hear so high i told him to fire a frequency sweep to prove my point and he straight up refused !! what a joke, anyway, concerts are no reference points either, it's too damn loud and far from accurate or reference. Some people who go to concerts regularly have their hearing so diminished it does not even go past 12 khz!!! Audio used to be a grandpa hobby and now that there is a much younger wave of audiophiles it creates a discrapency between the two groups. Ain't nothing nonsensical about that !

 

[Frank Dernie]

This is far from ridiculous, i'm 25 and can hear up to 20 khz with ease meaning even at low volumes (45dB) i can hear around 19.5/20 khz there are many headphones i cannot bear to listen to because of the high frequencies, when using the tone control and if the heaphone goes above harman in the highs, it's always better with a bass boost 3dB and high frequency reduction.
The other day, an audio dealer told me it was impossible to hear so high i told him to fire a frequency sweep to prove my point and he straight up refused !! what a joke, anyway, concerts are no reference points either, it's too damn loud and far from accurate or reference. Some people who go to concerts regularly have their hearing so diminished it does not even go past 12 khz!!! Audio used to be a grandpa hobby and now that there is a much younger wave of audiophiles it creates a discrapency between the two groups. Ain't nothing nonsensical about that !

 

[Pearljam5000]

I can only hear up to 12Khz
Is there any point in buying high end gear at all?

 

[Mort]

I can only hear up to 12Khz
Is there any point in buying high end gear at all?

It's all about that bass.

 

[Robbo99999]

I can only hear up to 12Khz
Is there any point in buying high end gear at all?

Well, you'd be less worried about how your stuff measures above 12kHz, so I guess that's a bonus! (Look for good measurements up to 12kHz - more related to speakers because we're less sure at those high frequencies in headphones).

 

[Somafunk]

DMS has made a wee filter to sit in the HD800 enclosure to tame the 6kHz peak, may be of use to some who eschew using eq