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A comparison between the Sennheiser HD800 and the Sony R10 - Page 2

post #16 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by CDBacklash View Post
I heard a K1000 a while ago and was blown away by them. So I cant suggest that this is entirely true...
It's certainly not true all the time, but I'm willing to put money down that if you'd been able to listen to them for a few days or even weeks, you'd be even more blown away.
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post #17 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:34am
I'll PM you re that in about 4 years when I have the cash .
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post #18 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by IPodPJ View Post
My girlfriend kept insisting my Denons had too much treble and not enough midrange. I just thought it was her untrained ears.
That mirrored my impression of a Markl modded D7000 and I thought I was crazy.
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post #19 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by moonboy403 View Post
That mirrored my impression of a Markl modded D7000 and I thought I was crazy.
No, you're not crazy. I heard the LA7000 at CanJam and well, "if you don't have anything nice to say, you probably shouldn't say it." They just weren't for me at all (but I respect the work that Mark puts into them and they certainly are beautiful headphones). I thought the Markl mod (sans earpad mod) to the D5K is much superior to the LA7000. I also feel my mod improves on the Markl mod greatly but still they are no competition for the HD800. I will continue to work on the mod and get them as close to a little brother as possible, but the Fostex driver in the Denons can't hold a candle to the HD800 transducer. Sennheiser truly did their homework. But the stock cable can be improved and I also feel Sennheiser should offer an XLR-terminated version.

You don't get an ounce of fatigue from the 800s at all. And unlike most headphones, they actually stay in place on your head, and are still comfortable!! They keep putting a bigger smile on my face with every passing minute. (It's okay, you can say I'm over-dramatic. )
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post #20 of 196
6/5/09 at 1:29pm
Thanks a lot for the first impressions.
I have heard neither of them, but its still nice to hear that the HD800 are a strong competitor against the renowned R10.
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post #21 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:36pm
I had a chance to listen to R10 during Detroit super mini-meet in April. It was a big WOW moment for me. I listened to Patricia Barber's Companion with a setup Meridian 508 --> B-52 --> R10 (balanced). It was soooo beautiful. Unfortunately I couldn't make a one to one comparison between R10 and HD 800 on that day.

I'm curiously looking to read your review, DavidMahler.
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post #22 of 196
6/5/09 at 3:48pm
my guess is that they both will excel at sound stage and detail but that the 800 will have much better bass while the R10 will have better tone. i haven't tried the 800 with classical yet, which the R10 is perfect for, but i don't think that will be its forte.
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post #23 of 196
6/5/09 at 4:06pm
Thread Starter 
I actually think the HD800 is perfect for classical.

As far as the bass goes, I think the HD800 has a tighter bass (keep in mind I'm using the bass heavy R10), we're talking about 2 headphones that are both so grand and so great that there is no clear winner. And in fact I'm tempted to say they sound astonishingly similar!
I've been talking headphones with you for years. Now I can help you with your purchase:) Sales Specialist & Headphone Guru @ Headphones.com
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post #24 of 196
6/5/09 at 4:09pm
^^ good for classical. really. i guess i'll find out soon enough.
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post #25 of 196
6/5/09 at 8:23pm
HD800 is MUCH better than R10 in classical, where the coloration of R10 plays a negative role, versus pop female vocal where R10 really shines.


.
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post #26 of 196
6/5/09 at 8:50pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ast View Post
HD800 is MUCH better than R10 in classical, where the coloration of R10 plays a negative role, versus pop female vocal where R10 really shines..
Not true at all in my setup and I think many at CanJam who heard the SDS-XLR/R10 combo would agree. The tone of the R10 is beyond the HD800 and classical is the realm of the R10. But the HD800 is no slouch there either.

DavidMahler, that MSB Platinum interests me a lot. Would you say it has an analog sound as they claim? And do they use Opamps anywhere?
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post #27 of 196
6/5/09 at 10:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by boomana View Post
If you were used to the Denons, the K1000s are definitely going to sound different and maybe even wrong to you. It's a good idea never to jump to conclusions, especially about the best cans out there. Most don't reveal themselves immediately. Mid-fi cans tend to "hit" you with their sound, and if that's what you're used to, the first time you hear really high-end cans, you'll be taken aback by how non-wow they come across, but stick around for a few tracks, and the wow will sink in. If you've got a great recording, and a good source and amp, you'll get it. That doesn't mean other cans aren't equally enjoyable; they certainly can be, but it's a different way of hearing things, and though not so upfront, ultimately more satisfying.
I agree with the wow.. Some are pedestrian sounding.. Meaning.. They don't try so hard to wow you, that the focus on the musical is lost. The K1000 'wowed' me in the sense that it sounded right with nice tone and balance, neutral timbre, and the spacing of the instruments.. No one attribute was forced to stand out. I have a feeling the HP2 will be the same way.. I joined the darkside of neutrality/uncolored/transparc y.
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post #28 of 196
6/5/09 at 10:54pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by blubliss View Post
Not true at all in my setup and I think many at CanJam who heard the SDS-XLR/R10 combo would agree. The tone of the R10 is beyond the HD800 and classical is the realm of the R10. But the HD800 is no slouch there either.

DavidMahler, that MSB Platinum interests me a lot. Would you say it has an analog sound as they claim? And do they use Opamps anywhere?
I love my MSB Platinum DAC III, and yes it is a very natural/analog sounding source......however I have never heard it with a great amp....so I don't want to oversell it or undersell it. I only had my SDS XLR for like a week, but it was busted in a channel and when I sent it back I never received it fixed and basically Mikhail cut off ties with me.

I suspect the MSB Platinum DAC III is about as good a DAC as there is, although there are some which sell for thousands more. The Platinum retails for around $7000 I believe. One day I intend to have the B-52 or Apache, as I find Ray to be trustworthy from dealing with him in the past. Unfortunately I will never have my R10s balanced. I had them balanced for a while from a cable which Mikhail made. I hated the cable so much that I had someone qualified re-solder the original stock cable back on to the R10s. I believe after doing this, that no one should open them again at the risk of ruining the headphone.

The whole singlepower fiasco is actually the most hurtful thing which ever happened to me.

Anyway..my impressions between the 2 headphones should be coming later tonight
I've been talking headphones with you for years. Now I can help you with your purchase:) Sales Specialist & Headphone Guru @ Headphones.com
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post #29 of 196
6/5/09 at 11:00pm
the B52 is a pretty big step up from the Apache. i owned both. i would say the price difference is well worth it.
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post #30 of 196
6/5/09 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by moonboy403 View Post
That mirrored my impression of a Markl modded D7000 and I thought I was crazy.
nope I'm starting to feel that way about my D7000 as well.... more to come!
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