Sennheiser HD800 Appreciation Thread - Page 435  

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Hi Everyone

Just received a new set of balanced HD800 cables from Tam Audio.

http://tamaudio.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123

Nice people to deal with and they will terminate in XLR or whatever to your choice.  Just tell them clearly whether you want 4 pin XLR, 3 pin male or 3 pin female or even unbalanced (with the option to rewire for balanced later) and they will do that at no extra charge.

Up to now I've been using the much heavier Warren cabling (cost $450 some time ago) and the Tam Audio cabling is delightfully light and I do even think the audio quality could be superior.  Piano is sounding like piano, .... everything is coming through superbly.

Here is the setup here :

Meridian Sooloos -> balanced digital out -> M2 Tech Vaughan DAC -> Headroom Blockhead balanced amplifier -> Sennheiser HD800 with TAM cabling.

An audio friend visited his morning and he was VERY impressed.  Opinion generally is that the Sennheiser HD800 cabling is very good but can be improved.  Anyone interested in upgrading cabling should look at this TAM Audio product (BTW no discount or reward is being given for this post - I paid the full $250).  Even if you are still only unbalanced, get these and you can later change the plugs to balanced - a simple soldering job anyone capable of handling a soldering iron with silver solder can do.

Highly recommended.

John

Listening to the HD800 with the Objective 2 & ODAC now.. and it's still very very good.  Not quite as dynamic, effortless, and spacious as the G109.. but surprisingly serviceable.  Low gain on the O2 (2.3x) is more than enough and I'm impressed by the separation and clarity.  Treble isn't sharp or raspy at all, either.  The serial # on my HD800 is 13738.. so a fairly new pair, I suppose.

I haven't had a chance to really give the HD800 a rest since it arrived.. I'm just drawn to listen to it at every available moment.. hell, I even listened to the Superbowl with it today.. lol.  Stock cable is really nice as far as build goes.. it's too long for me to use daily though.. so I'm going to get a custom cable made.. not interested in starting a cable debate.. but any preferences or favorites for OCC Copper or Silver with the HD800?  Looking for something affordable in up to $170.

Originally Posted by drez 

In that price range I guess double helix or Norse Audio are worth a shot. They make good quality cables.

Yep.. that's what I figured.. I've got a Norse Audio Skuld 4 cable for my HE-400 and love it.  Excellent craftsmanship and the presentation was terrific. Trevor has terrific customer service too.  Might give DHC a shot just to try something new.. thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tassie Devil 

Hi Everyone

 

Just received a new set of balanced HD800 cables from Tam Audio.

http://tamaudio.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=123

 

Nice people to deal with and they will terminate in XLR or whatever to your choice.  Just tell them clearly whether you want 4 pin XLR, 3 pin male or 3 pin female or even unbalanced (with the option to rewire for balanced later) and they will do that at no extra charge.

 

Up to now I've been using the much heavier Warren cabling (cost $450 some time ago) and the Tam Audio cabling is delightfully light and I do even think the audio quality could be superior.  Piano is sounding like piano, .... everything is coming through superbly.

 

Here is the setup here :

 

Meridian Sooloos -> balanced digital out -> M2 Tech Vaughan DAC -> Headroom Blockhead balanced amplifier -> Sennheiser HD800 with TAM cabling.

 

An audio friend visited his morning and he was VERY impressed.  Opinion generally is that the Sennheiser HD800 cabling is very good but can be improved.  Anyone interested in upgrading cabling should look at this TAM Audio product (BTW no discount or reward is being given for this post - I paid the full $250).  Even if you are still only unbalanced, get these and you can later change the plugs to balanced - a simple soldering job anyone capable of handling a soldering iron with silver solder can do.

 

Highly recommended.

 

John

Or,you can send the stock cable here:

http://btg-audio.webs.com/webstore.htm

He will re-terminate the stock 10' cable for less than half the price

I just got mine back from Brian,he does excellent work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikek200 

Or,you can send the stock cable here:

http://btg-audio.webs.com/webstore.htm

 

He will re-terminate the stock 10' cable for less than half the price

I just got mine back from Brian,he does excellent work.

I could re-teminate it myself for the cost of the plugs, but that is not the point.  Surely we are looking for better cabling?

John

Surely.  The best things in life aren't free (nor cheap).  On that note, I know of the perfect cable for the HD800s.  Just ask me to find out which one it is (there's a nominal fee of $40).

Originally Posted by sphinxvc 

Surely.  The best things in life aren't free (nor cheap).  On that note, I know of the perfect cable for the HD800s.  Just ask me to find out which one it is (there's a nominal fee of $40).

Is there a Nigerian bank account I can send the payment to?

Just recieved my frequency chart from senn :) don't really see 6k bump I think?

Nice.

Quote:

Originally Posted by senson 

Just recieved my frequency chart from senn :) don't really see 6k bump I think?

*Paid lots of money for a high-end statement headphone* 

*Listens, hears brightness. Gets graph, shows peak.* 

*Sennheiser fixes the "issue"* 

*I, and other earlier buyers are not offered a replacement* 


I like you, Sennheiser. My Momentum has become one of my most beloved items. But this is not cool,  IMHO. 
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lan647 

 

*Paid lots of money for a high-end statement headphone* 

*Listens, hears brightness. Gets graph, shows peak.* 

*Sennheiser fixes the "issue"* 

*I, and other earlier buyers are not offered a replacement* 


I like you, Sennheiser. My Momentum has become one of my most beloved items. But this is not cool,  IMHO. 
 

Those graphs are as useful as a world map drawn by a 5 y.o.

Too simplified. Too much smoothing.

And regarding the "fixed" issue. Just buy some felt tape and do a correct fix.

Resonances in a chamber will still be resonances in a chamber unless they're dampened away. Either by (1) modifying the driver or (2) dampening the chamber. The first is highly unlikely considering the costs linked to changing the driver. The latter, just remove the dust cover, therefore, nope, not that either.

Ergo. Replacement?

/V

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frank I 

What I find amazing about the HD800 is what it can resolve. When I want to hear what really on a complex recording I switch from my At3000 to the HD800. The complexity of the recording plus details in the recordings and more import the gear coming from the hD800 is really iMO not equaled by any other headphone I have owned or heard. I cant think of a better headphone to really use to see what a piece of gear can do. I am so glad that I drank the Koolaid  on my second tine around with the HD800. It is really let me hear how good the V200 is as an amplifier and the complexity of Patricia Barber new album SMASH. The music can be complex and the HD800 resolves every nuance in the recording and the V200 let me hear it all.

Oh yea, especially with "Spring Song", track 6.  It really highlights the stand up bass, and the HD800's reveal so much detail there.  These phones can go DEEP when the material demands it....

At this point, the HD800's are the only over-the-ear cans I own.  Any second set I had previously would just sit on the stand collecting dust!

It's worth trying those same tracks with the D7000 as well. It has better resolving power. The HD800 is however better in its dynamic range.