Head-Fi.org › Head Gear › Headphones › Over-Ear › Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones › Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones Reviews

Member Reviews: Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones

reeltime

Expensive Cans Enjoy Expensive Power

Posted
By reeltime

Pros: 21st Century Design. Detail Kings. Soundstage Kings. Comfort Kings.

Cons: Price. Needs Expensive Amplification.

Not that there haven't been a hundred thousand things written on this most-controversial headphone-- but what the heck are we here for if not to give our opinion, right?  So sit back with a cup of coffee, while I'll tell the story of my HD 800 experience.   It's funny-- there's a growing Apple-Microsoft type environment growing in the Head-Fi community.  It's between HD 800 owners and fans, and Audeze owners and fans.  If you read any forum with the omni-present headline "Which Headphone Should I Buy?" the two sides make themselves known in subtle ways.  "Well if you're looking for comfort, you can't go wrong with the HD 800," writes one post.  "Way...
(read more)
Comments (8)
Was This Helpful? 
DefQon

When amped properly, sounds excellent!

Posted
By DefQon

Pros: natural bass, build quality, comfort, fast and detail, alike high end stats.

Cons: peaky treble, highs can be slightly bright on some tracks, paint chipping, may be expensive for some

The HD800's has been around a long time so I'm going to wrap up this review in a few paragraphs.    Having owned 3 HD800's at one stage, Serials 51**, 136** and Purrins 103**.    Going through all 3 before selling the first two and keeping only Purrins HD800 I bought off him, the early serial based HD800's are to my ears a bit more bass light and more warmer then my original serial 136** and purrins 103**.   I ended up selling mine and the early serial based HD800 and was thinking of selling purrins one due to moving onto speakers but I thought maybe I should keep it because its got the magical touch from purrin due to all the CSD plots he does...
(read more)
Post Comment
Was This Helpful? 
Nordwestlicht

The HD800 - My Favorite Headphones

Posted
By Nordwestlicht

Pros: OVERALL SOUND QUALITY & SIGNATURE, WEARING COMFORT, OPENESS, BUILD QUALITY, MADE IN GERMANY, ALCANTARA, ETC.

Cons: PAINTING, PRICE OF SPARE PARTS, SOMETIMES PIERCING HIGHS

ACHTUNG! This is a completly subjective -or let's say in some aspects probably "subjective-neutral"- review.       The HD800 A condensed account after nearly two years of daily use     My setup:   Denon DVD-3910 SACD/DVD-A/HDCD/CD/MP3-Player -> Sommer Cable SC-Classique -> Meier Audio Corda Cantate.2 -> Sennheiser HD800       BAD:   - relatively high prices for spare parts (a pair of ear pads costs about 75 EUR)   - relatively damageable silver paint   - not comfortable for (very) small heads   - sometimes piercing highs in bad recordings  ...
(read more)
Comments (43)
Was This Helpful? 
Snake Eyes

...

Posted
By Snake Eyes

Pros: They look like something out of TRON

Sold me Edition 9's because of these because they deliver a bigger sound stage and all that compared to the Edition 9's. Maybe it's because the Edition 9's are closed headphones. Whatever they're my 2nd favourite headphone after the SR-009.
Comments (6)
Was This Helpful? 
Lan647

A very overrated headphone

Posted
By Lan647

Pros: Massive soundstage. Very high-resolution sound with low resonance. Very comfortable. Quality construction.

Cons: Not natural sounding; the tonality is bright with a lack of proper body and weight to the sound. Paint job fragile. Overpriced.

  I purchased this headphone for full retail price a couple of years ago, and in the beginning, I felt very positive about it. But things change, and as I got to try many other high end offering by other manufacturers, as I got to try this headphone with different amps, sources, cables and so forth, I have come to the conclusion that this headphone is perhaps the most overhyped piece of audio gear in the head-fi industry. The truth hurts, but you learn from your mistakes.    As controversial as it may be, I felt the need to change my positive review and write what I feel about the HD 800s.   To start with the positive, build quality and ergonomics here...
(read more)
Comments (3)
Was This Helpful? 
DannyRox23

AWESOME!

Posted
By DannyRox23

Pros: Sound Quality... everything.

Cons: Pinch on the jaw.

All I have to say is that their awesome pair of headphones. Great sound stage, vocals are a bit too strong, you can feel the bass other than hearing it, and great for movies. Comfort is 4.5 because there is a bit of a pinch on the end of the jaw part, but you get use to it so... yeah. Still, overall, 5.0 rating.
Comments (2)
Was This Helpful? 
Windsor

Sennheiser HD 800 - A King of Headphones

Posted
By Windsor

Pros: extreme detail retrieval capabilities; vast soundstage; very comfortable.

Cons: possibly the price; some may prefer a more coloured sounding headphone.

Intro: my first encounter with the HD 800     A few months after discovering the world of high-end headphones I auditioned two of Sennheiser’s HD series, the HD 600 and the HD 800, side-by-side in a local hi-fi store. From the first moment I listened with the HD 800, I was amazed at how deeply I was able to peer into my favorite recordings and hear new details like never before. Though the HD 800 initially sounded a little bit bright to me in relation to what I would describe as ‘natural,’ I found its pristine sound reproduction to be a revelation, and for about an hour I listened in awe with the two HD series headphones.   Following that initial listening...
(read more)
Comments (10)
Was This Helpful? 
ManAtWork

Can any better than HD800 in future?

Posted
By ManAtWork
I was addicted when I heard it from a audiophile show in Hong Kong, the sound was completely different with other headphones. It sounds gorgeous, easy, natural, same as the approach of high end audiophile equipment. It is pricey, although not the highest in market nowadays. But it worth every cent you paid, if you have a set of good equipment to pair with it. Many people complained its sound like lack of weight in bass, but my experience is due to not yet burnt in and the balance of whole the system. It took me around 12 months to burn in. Therefore, if anyone wants to go for it, you need to have sufficient knowledge, experience, suitable equipment and patience.  
Comments (1)
Was This Helpful? 

Where to Buy It

Amazon.comSennheiser HD800 Over-Ear Circum-Aural Dynamic Premiere Headphone at Amazon.com$1,420.90See It »
Head-Fi.org › Head Gear › Headphones › Over-Ear › Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones › Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones Reviews