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post #226 of 240
5/3/10 at 4:48am
What flavor is the complimentary Kool Aid that comes with the HD800?
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post #227 of 240
5/3/10 at 5:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaycalgary View Post
What flavor is the complimentary Kool Aid that comes with the HD800?
Ever bothered to listen to a pair?

Is it inconceivable that someone might actually enjoy a quality product?

Or is it that you can only genuinely enjoy something that is free or low cost, otherwise you are only hearing the price tag?

If price is the only qualifier by which an opinion is honest, then someone who got a free HD-800 could actually enjoy it while someone who paid for a HD-800 would be too biased to have a valid opinion. Right?
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post #228 of 240
5/3/10 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
Ever bothered to listen to a pair?

Is it inconceivable that someone might actually enjoy a quality product?

Or is it that you can only genuinely enjoy something that is free or low cost, otherwise you are only hearing the price tag?

If price is the only qualifier by which an opinion is honest, then someone who got a free HD-800 could actually enjoy it while someone who paid for a HD-800 would be too biased to have a valid opinion. Right?
Nope, the best Sennheiser he's listened to are the HD 555.

Quote:
Originally Posted by troll View Post
Well MacedonianHero you seem to support them like those "Apple Computer" people. Why has there been at least 2 HD800 in the for sale section that are either nicked or tarnished from what I have seen? Once the paint starts wearing off what do you think they will look like? I don't know why you don't think I can't afford them? I am taking a course for my apprenticeship at the moment but before that I was working 24 days on and 4 off in the oil sands up here in Alberta. A full week was $1850. One job in early 2008 was $2650 for a week. It's not the money its the value for the money and a company that looks to be stealing its innovation from another. Look at the Qualia and the HD800 or SA5000 side by side. Sennheiser has been around a long time have they ever had a headphone similar to the HD800? It doesn't matter how new or green friendly HD800 plastic is its still low class and cheap for the money and probably won't look very good after a few years with use. Even plastic with the same color that goes 100% through will hold up with time. A couple other things that disgust about Sennheiser is look at the HE60 doesn't look like they hold up well. Also how the HD600 use to be worshiped and now its considered veiled and middle of the road. Senneheiser is a hype machine and I believe other brands that have as good or even better headphones are talked down so they are a level below. The most expensive Sennheiser I have heard is the HD555 and I thought it was very veiled and even Ksc75 was better.
It's hard to wade through all that but just skip to the last sentence.

Oh the ironing.
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post #229 of 240
5/3/10 at 9:22am
None of the above it is just a disturbing thread. Its nice to hear the good with the bad but strange how people react in this thread.
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post #230 of 240
5/3/10 at 11:03am
I have experienced heavy sibilance at the start. Fortunately it has massively reduced after ~150 hours. And with added reflection damping it has completely disappeared.

It will be highly interesting to participate in Der Germane's experience with a new pair.
.
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post #231 of 240
5/3/10 at 11:05am
With my pretty much new, 10 hours out of the box HD800, I found great differences in levels of sibilance with HD800 pending on which driver tubes I used on my WA6 (stock). With my post-1960 RCA 6DE7 I hear LOADS of sibilance and pretty much becomes unlistenable after a while. However, when switching in my pre-1960 vintage RCA 6DE7, it disappears unless it's already in the original recording. I've noticed before that the newer RCA's had a boosted upper treble, but this is the first headphone where the difference has been THIS huge (to the degree of making something listenable vs unlistenable). I've stuck with my vintage, and I'm expecting the HD800 to smooth out somewhat with more burn in too, so I'm not too worried. I guess it's just a testament to how accurate the HD800's are.

I've noticed differences with sources as well. With my CD's (with my PS3 as transport with optical out going through DA100, which is a very smooth source), I hear no added on sibilance at all. When using my laptop -> USB -> DA100 it's more noticeable. My laptop -> Hiface -> coax to DA100 is less harsh than USB, though slightly more than the CD setup still.
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post #232 of 240
5/3/10 at 12:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Der Germane View Post
Very interesting, Roger.

Well, I've just decided to get another pair of HD800s (maybe with a higher S/N - a new one), to compare them. If the new HD800 is sibilant, too, like my HD800 was in the beginning, I will have to admit that burning in has definitely an effect on the HD800's sound. I'm curious about it.
It will be very interesting to see (well... read) your impressions.

Practically I had that opportunity, since I had the opportunity to audition a friends pair (along with a K1000 and a Q010) for two weeks, he let me do that so I was sure about investing in a high end can. Bottom line after the comparison I was thrilled about buying the HD800, but when I received them I was like "what the heck???" when I heard them and notice the sibilance (I will never forget the "sss" of James Labrie in 6 O'Clock by Dream Theater).

That was definitely not my experience with my friends pair (which BTW is like 3000 less in the serial number), so I really hoped that it was a burn in issue and not a variation in sound due to being a different pair. After a hundred hours or so (5 or 6 days) I found all traces of sibilance* gone away and I was all (crap... I forgot... no HD800 smile...).

*little footnote: They are merciless and sibilant if there is sibilance in the record, unlike my HD650 which I've never heard any sibilance, even in the worst sibilant records.
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post #233 of 240
5/3/10 at 1:04pm
I have heard sibilance on 800s before, but with my current setup, even bad recordings are bearable. Nice and smooth, but not veiled.
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post #234 of 240
5/3/10 at 1:49pm
I agree with Shahrose. I noticed a littl ebit of sibliance when I was using the stock cable (SPC) but after changing it to the DHC Complement (OCC) it want away totally.
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post #235 of 240
5/3/10 at 2:47pm
I tried HD800 straight out of my Sony Walkman and with 160 kbps files. I heard little to no sibilance - just wonderfully natural, detailed and extended treble.
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post #236 of 240
5/3/10 at 5:19pm
I have only noticed sibilance with my HD800 and Corda Opera amp when listening to CDs of very old recording. Even with old recording, not much sibilance. I bought the HD800s used, so I cannot report on them when new.

I've always assumed most sibilance was from the amp or source, rather than headphones.
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post #237 of 240
5/3/10 at 6:24pm
With the sibilance it will be there if you go looking for it ><

There are a few songs with high frequencies where the shrillness comes through, otoh I can't name any! To be perfectly honest, for the most part most of the stuff I listen to doesn't go that high.
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post #238 of 240
5/3/10 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Uncle Erik View Post
Ever bothered to listen to a pair?

Is it inconceivable that someone might actually enjoy a quality product?

Or is it that you can only genuinely enjoy something that is free or low cost, otherwise you are only hearing the price tag?

If price is the only qualifier by which an opinion is honest, then someone who got a free HD-800 could actually enjoy it while someone who paid for a HD-800 would be too biased to have a valid opinion. Right?
No he has not ever heard them.

He has commented that he has even to be in the same room with them. This guy is the classic troll..."he speaks ill of what he can't have". Plain and simple.

FTW, zero siblance in my system from Day 1.
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post #239 of 240
5/3/10 at 9:23pm
I'm surprised he's not on everyone's ignore-list yet. His posts are a waste of time and effort to read.
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post #240 of 240
5/4/10 at 12:09am
HD800 with Corda Symphony. Good but not great.
HD800 with pico dac and Woo Audio 6 (power upgrade): better but slight sibilance.

HD800 with Sony Playstation (first in the series: serial 1001, it's the only one with the prized dac) with Woo Audio 6: magic. holographic like imaging. Somehow, the hd800 with it's great soundstage and instrument separation, and Woo Audio with it's slight tube characteristics of making this more spacial and then lastly the playstation, with its freak of nature holographic instrument separation and imaging with slight treble roll off makes it a perfect combination. Can't beat it.
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