Sennheiser HD800 Appreciation Thread - Page 378  

 

 

WOW - what I do this time?

 

 

I believe some of my problems with the HD800 being fatiguing were from my source. Something I didn't quite realize at the time.

So yes, a worry was if the Mjolnir made the HD800 sound abrasive.

Nice! Having owned both of these cans for over a year side-by-side, I went with the HD800s. For my $, they were the better cans.

 

 

I hear they're even better with an anti-matter / matter annihilation source. 

IMHO, if you find the HD800s just this side of analytical or slightly fatiguing, try a pair of ATH W3000ANVs. I have both and that's my feeling at this point.

I own the HD800 and Anedio D1 as well and just the two of them is an exceptional combination. It's hyper-detailed and ultra-clear and yet doesn't feel strained and has quite a lot of musicality.

 

The combo is quite amazing for analytical listening and low to medium level listening is very enjoyable.

 

The only problem is that if you listen at high levels it can become a bit fatiguing.

 

I have a theory about it and I'd say that it's not really that either the D1 or D800 is "harsh" - instead I'd say it's down to this:

 

1. The D1 Saber Chip (like many modern chips) plays with quite a lot of PRAT and slam, which I like btw

2. The HD800 is a detail monster and the membranes are very light and responsive

 

This makes it so that you can hear everything and you get a lot of PRAT but you also get a lot of "high frequency PRAT" as I would call it.

 

I think this is important since I believe low and midrange PRAT (up to say 4k or so) is very enjoyable and adds musicality, but that high frequency PRAT is what becomes tiring in the long run.

 

So in summary: HD800 + Anedio D1 = Amazing one box + headphone solution for low to medium listening levels (and actually good value too!). But for prolonged high level listening you probably want something that smooths off the highs a bit (or EQ them down but that's a bit of a shame).

 

When I add the Burson HA-160 in the signal chain it does this exact very thing, the worst highs are taken off the overall presentation is a little smoother and warmer, you can listen at higher levels without it feeling tiring. Only problem is that the HA-160 isn't quite up to the standard of the D1 or HD800 - you lose some accuracy and pin-point precision. The highs are smoother but there is also the slightest veil that is added. It still sounds very good but if you compare it's quite noticable.

Edited by TwoEars - 10/12/12 at 9:37pm

One area that the HD800 just can't match the HE6 is bass extension, force and speaker/subwoofer-like presentation. I find that unique to the HE6 when well driven. The LCD-2 sounded like an average headphone in comparison (and everything else I've heard).

 

In terms of morphing with changing amps/sources, the HD800s wins hands down. Yes, the HE6 becomes better with more power and quality, but it doesn't change its signature as radically as the HD800 from setup to setup. I still find the HD800 to be the better of the two in terms of imaging, soundstaging, speed and microdetail. It's not a night and day difference and I think the HE6 sounds more speaker-like and does some aspects of bass better as I mentioned before. Plus, it's more forgiving than the HD800, not scrutinizing and punishing recordings/sources as much. I also find the HE6 keep sounding better and better at higher volumes without getting fatiguing. This is another quality I've not found in any other headphone. (I'm normally a low-volume listener, but the HE6 just makes you want to turn the dial...)

 

I don't know which I'd choose if I could only own one. Probably the HD800, but comfort would play a role in that.

Sphinx as cursed both rawrster and myself...rawr bought his 6's having already owned 800, and I bought his 800 having already owned the 6's Choosing which to listen to becomes a curse unto its own....though for the moment I'm still favoring my 6's....though I admit the amp may have a lot to do with it.

IMO just from my <24 hour experience, expectation bias is working as expectedly biased. The HD800 and the HE-6 prefer two different things in amps when coupled to my ears. I'm really liking the HD800 on the PM6004 for the very reasons I disliked the HE-6 on the 6004. It's a shocklingly tubey and smooth sounding SS amp that's very warmed over.....for HE-6 it felt a little too undetailed at times...too smoothed, but on HD800 it has just the right amount of detail without coming across as etched. Much like what people prefer about their tube amps for 800.

In terms of MJ and the 6's....I find that even Lyr (half the power) only needs to go up to 1:00 max for more than adequate volume. I think there's more to the power equation on HE-6 than meets the eye though. Lyr has plenty of bass with them it doesn't underpower them in that way, but my verdict from running HE-6 on lyr was that it's in fact not a very detailed amp. After using it with HD800 I take that back, it's a surprisingly well detailed amp. Not as detailed as the 6004, mind you, but detailed, sure. Much more than the 6's made it seem. Both HE-6 and HD800 are similarly detailed cans, so the power equation is the striking difference there. IMO, the 6004 sounds as tight and competent with 800 so far as 7025 does with HE-6.

Dunno but he's got a great name for a band: "Preproman and the Monoblock Crusaders"!


That's indeed true but it's not HD800 specific...some sources can fatigue me with pretty much any can....it's just more obvious on HD800


Thanks! What were you amping the 6's with

So far I'm still leaning toward the HE-6 as my favorite.....but that's with little experience, and that's of course with a system tuned out for HE-6, namely the big balanced power amp. But it's a tough comparison...they're similar yet slightly different. 800 is WAY more comfortable, that's for sure! It's an interesting competition though. One thing is certain though: The HE-6 I can gladly listen to without an EQ. The HD800 to be pleasing to me SERIOUSLY needs the EQ in the loop, otherwise it would be a non-starter. But of course those two are both among the few cans that handle EQ exceptionally well....so the ability to EQ it is a feature for both of them....
Edited by IEMCrazy - 10/13/12 at 8:26am

 

 

Good post Shah,

 

Of course the last sentence will always be about ones preference.

 

True. For me personally, it's mainly the weight of headphones that determines comfort, along with headband design. Clamping force and pads I almost never have issues with, regardless of the headphone.

 

 

Your right.  In that case the HD-800s win hands down.  The HE-6s are heavy as hell and not as comfy.  

No doubt overkill, but my infrequent desire for additional heft and body has been solved. Zana Deux (as preamp) feeding a Beta 22 and the HD800 thumps like an incensed gorilla. 

I was also surprised when the bass via HE6 (driven by a Marantz 2285) extended deeper and was more articulate than my LCD's. This has recently changed though, as the addition of a CSP2+ has wrought surprising, substantial changes to the LCD. I don't find the HE6 very forgiving, but they don't punish like the HD800's. I'm learning for the first that the HD800's can actually really rattle in the low end, but don't find them as articulate as either of the two above. Also, and this is sometimes important, the HD800's demand more focus than either of the two above. The HE6 are lovely, whether I'm in an discerning, evaluative mood or not. My Marantz has started to fizz a little in the left channel (deoxit has not helped so far), so the HD800 will be getting more head time. 

Doesn't anyone find the HE6s bright like I did, at least with a regular headphone amp (I never tried a speaker amp)?

I just couldn't take them and sold them.

Not bright at all.  what headphone amp?

HE6s were  bright and fatiguing on :RSA B52, Pinnacle, Rudistor RP010, Headroom Max. 

I guess all those recommendations for a high-powered speaker amp were true.

Edited by rgs9200m - 10/13/12 at 11:35am