The Sennheiser HD 800: The First Listen, The First Review - Page 50

Here are the three other impressions thus far:

Edwood: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/sen...ml#post5272855

Bostonears: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f4/ano...ml#post5262499

Tyll Hertsens: http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f77/my...1/#post5262167

thanks for the link. these are good pics.

So I guess most of the material is a type of plastic? Except for the grills? They sure are big ole headphones but it still seems really exciting and a possible new benchmark. I will be reading and watching carefully. :^)

Hey vcoheda, we registered at the same time. Does that make us headfi brothers? :^)

Is it balanced?

Hey, all three of us have the same join date

My portable Sennheiser PX 200s have angled drivers as they sit on my ears, I think more of them after today!

My 10 year old BOSE quiet comfort headphones have angled drivers, good to see others catch up!

I know, they stole the idea from BOSE. Shame on you Sennheiser

Tyll is a pathfinding 52 year old whose high energy level gives us all hope as we enter old age. Or something like that.

If he says I need a new headphone, I'll do exactly what he says. It may be the Fountain of Youth.

The next Chicago meet someone needs to bring:

- HD800

- K1000

- Stax O2 or Lambda frames

- Grado HP-1/2 or PS1

- JVC DX1000

I will bring my CD1000 which is a significantly cheaper headphone (orders of magnitude).
We need to have a serious shoot out of similarly priced headphones. If it manages to equal the HP-1/2, PS1, or DX1000 I won't be toooooo surprised, but I seriously doubt that it will beat the K1000 or the O2.

I understand that the driver is new, but lets be realistic here about the performance. Even when you see it down at $1000 in 6 mo. its a lingering question. Mind you that many of these headphones were made well over a decade ago and some before the internet was even a global phenom.

BTW: BigTony, angled drivers have been around since the 70's. Notable manufacturers have been using it for years (Sony and Audio Technica use it the most). In fact the Legendary R10 and L3000 use angled drivers.

I am just saying that this might be for the same crowd who really like The Ed. 9, a headphone that I think cannot keep up with its similarly priced counterparts.

Well, it is good to see a new product hit the morket and kudos to sennheiser for getting rid of the veil that annoyed the crap out of many of us. The better treble performance and the soundstage must be impressive to hear right next to the HD650.

Well, I guess I'll see a pair of these in about 7 years. That'll be the point at which they hit the sub-$500 price range used, just considering where HD580, 600s were way back when. Can't wait to hear them. Looks-wise, though, I can't say they turn me on at all. I agree with guys who think less-is-more in headphone looks.

ps. angled drivers equal time-phase aligment, i.e. soundstage. Bose? Say thanks to Spica, Thiel, Vandersteen...

Imaging was far superior to the HD650's. There is no need for cross feed with the HD800.


Doubtful, since the R10's are a collector's item as well. It would be tempting to get rid of both my K1000 and R10's for the HD800 and a major source upgrade. But the K1000's fulfill a specialty role in my listening that the HD800 and R10's cannot, and that is use them with a headset for gaming.
Plus, the HD800's lack the sheer punch of the mid bass of the K1000's. I'll have to give the HD800's some more quality time later on when I have the chance. Sorry folks, I normally do not travel with my R10's. I did bring my Ultimate Ears Triple.Fi's, and the HD800 blew them out of the water, with only lowest bass frequencies being better with the Triple.Fi's. The HD800's transient response is THAT fast.


As I mentioned above, the HD800's have a much better blended left to right soundstage. Much much larger and wider too.


I guess having a college degree if Industrial Design, I can actually make a bit more qualified comment for those that would care. I like the overall styling of the HD800's. It's certainly more on the industrial side, but every detail has been well designed. Overall, a big improvement over the HD600/650/580.


There is a steel mesh covering the ear cup area, which is right up to where the transducer lives. The Metal looks and feels like metal. The silver painted plastic is obviously plastic, but it's well molded and painted. I would prefer all black look. Even gloss black finish. Maybe Sennheiser will offer an all black version, but I doubt it for the forseeable future.

-Ed

About the whole angled driver thing. As pointed out, it's nothing new. Don't know if anyone's pointed it out yet, but it's not even new to Sennheiser, the HD595/555 had angled drivers as well.

It's not a novel new feature, but it's an important feature.

-Ed

Yes, the closest material I can think of is a softer version of ultrasuede.

It's pretty soft, but it does have a little bit of a spongey feel, but not tacky or sticky in any way.

It feels nice. It's a nice compromise between leather and velvet.

Oh, and the HD800's will be the ultimate Vegetarian Headphones, since there is no leather, wood, or microbes sacrificed for their materials.



OK, I'm off to bed. I'm going to stop by Sennheiser again on the last day of CES.

-Ed

It's like watching a combination of the K701 and the SA5000 if you think about it. And both of those are drop dead gorgeous at a fraction of the price.