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HD800 Initial Impressions (and vs. HE60) - Page 3

post #31 of 44
11/22/09 at 2:53am
Interesting.

There seem to be 2 camps developing with regard to the HD 800 those who love them and those who find them fatally flawed. I have not lived with a pair but I listened to several set-ups of them at the last Canjam. Some were uninspiring but not offensive (a la sibilant or any other flaw).

The best was the Headroom balanced set-up and it sounded better than any dynamic can I had ever heard. Lacking only a last bit of clarity that stats bring although I could still imagine some other listeners preferring them over a stat.

However I note that your assessment does not state the musical material you used to make your test. Possily you have a source problem here.

Still you hear what you hear and you are entitled to buy what works for the material you most like to hear.
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post #32 of 44
11/22/09 at 3:27am
Great writeup! I mostly agree, but find it a shame that you don't like the fit. I'm not arguing, but I find them incredibly comfortable, right up there with the K-501 and DT880. Too bad they don't fit you well.

As for the vocals, have you tried the HD-800 from a DHT tube amp? There aren't many on the market and I find that I am one of very few who listen to the HD-800 off the 2A3. DHTs work a particular magic with vocals. Call it distortion if you must, but nothing else quite compares with breathing the magic of life into a recorded voice. If you get the opportunity to hear the HD-800 with a 300B, 2A3, 45, 46, 71A, 1626, etc., I strongly recommend it. They are a departure from the sound you hear from most tube amps and, certainly, solid state.

I find the Moth Si2A3 (running the 2A3) particularly magical with the HD-800. The bass doesn't quite hit as hard, but the mids and highs are amazing. When I want more solid bass, I switch over to the Zana Deux. It's a tossup which I like better, but I always go for DHT when I want the best from vocals and acoustics.
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post #33 of 44
11/23/09 at 10:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towert7 View Post
...
You're reporting sibilant vocals, very lifelike instruments - two sympthoms for a high frequencies peak. I have the same observations comparing my k701s with the Omegas. All vocals and instruments are more lifelike on the AKGs than at a concert I would call it surrealism, not realism Very pleasant, very "audiophile" experience but not true. When I listen to the AKGs especially with jazz and classics I'm amazed by the almost physical presence of the instruments and vocals around me. Especially the strings and the precussions. I can't listen to the music because my attention is focused on the exceptional instrument's sounding and details. With the Omegas I have all these details but integrated in the music. With the dynamics I listen to the instruments but the Omegas give me the music.
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post #34 of 44
11/24/09 at 4:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by brat View Post
You're reporting sibilant vocals, very lifelike instruments - two sympthoms for a high frequencies peak. I have the same observations comparing my k701s with the Omegas. All vocals and instruments are more lifelike on the AKGs than at a concert I would call it surrealism, not realism Very pleasant, very "audiophile" experience but not true. When I listen to the AKGs especially with jazz and classics I'm amazed by the almost physical presence of the instruments and vocals around me. Especially the strings and the precussions. I can't listen to the music because my attention is focused on the exceptional instrument's sounding and details. With the Omegas I have all these details but integrated in the music. With the dynamics I listen to the instruments but the Omegas give me the music.
With the O2 everything seems to be very integrated. No chance to get a wide soundstage with realistic proportions. The whole orchestra plays in my head, indeed very holographic but very Mickey Mouse-like IME. IMHO there are better and more ingeniously made headphones out there than the O2.
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post #35 of 44
11/24/09 at 7:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mopps View Post
With the O2 everything seems to be very integrated. No chance to get a wide soundstage with realistic proportions. The whole orchestra plays in my head, indeed very holographic but very Mickey Mouse-like IME. IMHO there are better and more ingeniously made headphones out there than the O2.

Looking at your signature I see that we have totally different audio philosophy.
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post #36 of 44
12/15/09 at 4:46pm
I had the chance to try them out today for a 20-30 minutes or so, and they sure sound very good. I was really impressed with the soundstage coming form the very distanced earcups. and they was also very comfortable for me, but comfort issues is something I never have.
I did noticed the little bit aggresive highs, but not something too terrible imo. something that the grado fans would handle easely
the bass was nice. neutral is the best word of describing their sound.

the are sure an upgrade from the HD650, but not that much imo. also the hd650 are a little more bass heavy so it is nice for a basshead like me.
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post #37 of 44
12/15/09 at 7:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by edstrelow View Post
The best was the Headroom balanced set-up and it sounded better than any dynamic can I had ever heard. Lacking only a last bit of clarity that stats bring although I could still imagine some other listeners preferring them over a stat.
I have the balanced Headroom set-up (UDAC/BUDA) that I think you heard at CanJam and assuming that's the case, I would most definitely agree with your impression. I've heard a fair number of different dynamic phones and amps, and feel that the HD800 with the Headroom is the best I've heard. It's been a long time since I heard a stat but I think the HR+HD800 probably does come very close. The stats may still excel in terms of overall finesse and transparency, but if you factor in other things that many stats don't do well, the HD800 may be the overall winner.
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post #38 of 44
12/15/09 at 7:55pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by twsmith View Post
the HD800 may be the overall winner.
They are all hi-fi, that is for sure. At that point, it all comes down to personal preference.
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post #39 of 44
12/15/09 at 8:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Towert7 View Post
They are all hi-fi, that is for sure. At that point, it all comes down to personal preference.
Very well said. I love my HD 800s, but I am listening to some nice speakers, right now.
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post #40 of 44
12/16/09 at 10:14pm
Thread Starter 
I have abstained from the HE60 for about a good month or so, simply listening to the HD800.

This past week I obtained new music, which I first heard on the HD800. Just now, I hooked up the HE60 and am listening to the new music.

Yes, a more intimate feeling with the HE60. It has quite a unique presentation
when compared to the HD800. Bass on the HE60 is a little more reverberant sounding (less precise), but it's not taking away from the music for me. Two different presentations. A Bass guitar I'm listening to now sounds a little more interesting with the HE60. The HE60 presentation seems a little faster, better able to show when sounds start and stop.

With the first disc I listened to, I was very happy to hear it on the HE60. This certainly sounded equally good, if not slightly better on the HE60 (some catchy vocal songs by Dengue Fever). Funny, how when I went from the HE60 to the HD800 a couple of months ago, I said I was hearing new things that I never heard on the HE60. Well this time around, I'm hearing new things on the HE60 that I didn't hear on the HD800.
I miss the HE60 presentation. THe HD800, with it's more forward presentation has great positioning of the depth of instruments, but I miss the typical headphone signature that I get with the HE60. I missed the intimate presentation.

They each have their strengths. They are both so nice, that I haven't developed a preference for one over another. I could easily live with either.
My GS-1 + HD800 costs about the same as my HE60 + HEV70, so there is no clear one to sell if I wanted to.

Just switched to a new disc, and not sure if it sounds as good on the HE60...
There are some presentation effects that the HE60 reproduces that go unnoticed with the HD800.

So yes, in terms of presentation of the music, I much prefer the HE60 with it's more typical headphone sound. It's giving me effects that are not reproduced on the HD800. Effects which make listening to headphones so much fun (as opposed to speakers).

I'm getting that tingling feeling in my body listening to this new music with the HE60. Switching back to the HD800, for the first minute or two it sounds really dry. Actually, it remained dry sounding for the whole song. Back to the HE60, and that extra bass reverberation takes away the dry sound (also thanks to the more intimate presentation).
HE60 are more comfy for me.

The HD800 has some phenomenal technical abilities, while the HE60 has equally impressive qualities. They emphasize different parts of the frequency range, and present music quite differently.
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post #41 of 44
12/20/09 at 12:10pm
Nice comparison. It recalls me my comparing HD800 with HD580 Jubilee. I like the way how Sennheiser telling music.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Towert7 View Post
I have abstained from the HE60 for about a good month or so, simply listening to the HD800.

This past week I obtained new music, which I first heard on the HD800. Just now, I hooked up the HE60 and am listening to the new music.

Yes, a more intimate feeling with the HE60. It has quite a unique presentation
when compared to the HD800. Bass on the HE60 is a little more reverberant sounding (less precise), but it's not taking away from the music for me. Two different presentations. A Bass guitar I'm listening to now sounds a little more interesting with the HE60. The HE60 presentation seems a little faster, better able to show when sounds start and stop.

With the first disc I listened to, I was very happy to hear it on the HE60. This certainly sounded equally good, if not slightly better on the HE60 (some catchy vocal songs by Dengue Fever). Funny, how when I went from the HE60 to the HD800 a couple of months ago, I said I was hearing new things that I never heard on the HE60. Well this time around, I'm hearing new things on the HE60 that I didn't hear on the HD800.
I miss the HE60 presentation. THe HD800, with it's more forward presentation has great positioning of the depth of instruments, but I miss the typical headphone signature that I get with the HE60. I missed the intimate presentation.

They each have their strengths. They are both so nice, that I haven't developed a preference for one over another. I could easily live with either.
My GS-1 + HD800 costs about the same as my HE60 + HEV70, so there is no clear one to sell if I wanted to.

Just switched to a new disc, and not sure if it sounds as good on the HE60...
There are some presentation effects that the HE60 reproduces that go unnoticed with the HD800.

So yes, in terms of presentation of the music, I much prefer the HE60 with it's more typical headphone sound. It's giving me effects that are not reproduced on the HD800. Effects which make listening to headphones so much fun (as opposed to speakers).

I'm getting that tingling feeling in my body listening to this new music with the HE60. Switching back to the HD800, for the first minute or two it sounds really dry. Actually, it remained dry sounding for the whole song. Back to the HE60, and that extra bass reverberation takes away the dry sound (also thanks to the more intimate presentation).
HE60 are more comfy for me.

The HD800 has some phenomenal technical abilities, while the HE60 has equally impressive qualities. They emphasize different parts of the frequency range, and present music quite differently.
Reply
post #42 of 44
2/4/11 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 

Just wanted to make a final entry into this thread.

I sold off my Sennheiser HD800 and HE60/HEV70.

 

At the end of the day I purchased an Stax O2 mk1 to compare to the three of them, and the O2 was best suited to my preferences. 

 

I do have to say that I was very sad by how much money I lost on the HD800.  Purchased for 1400$US, and now ever since the LCD-2 they can't be sold for more than 1100$ (even with sennheiser raising the MSRP price to 1500$ and then to 1800$) .

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post #43 of 44
2/5/11 at 8:35pm

Interesting - even after finding the perfect amp for the hd800, I still sold them in deference to the he60 (with their right amp). To each their own, but the hd800 never would sit still, and the he60 always sit where they are supposed to. And, with a tubed source, it is just right, for me. Enough so to not be tempted by the LCD-2.

 

Even though OII and I despise one another, I am intrigued with (and will plunge on) a C32.

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post #44 of 44
2/5/11 at 11:26pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by pabbi1 View Post

Interesting - even after finding the perfect amp for the hd800, I still sold them in deference to the he60 (with their right amp). To each their own, but the hd800 never would sit still, and the he60 always sit where they are supposed to. And, with a tubed source, it is just right, for me. Enough so to not be tempted by the LCD-2.

 

Even though OII and I despise one another, I am intrigued with (and will plunge on) a C32.

 

I too am interested in the C32.  From the one person I know who has heard them, his impressions sound like the C32 is departing the O2 sound signature and moving more toward the HD800 / HE90 sound.  I have a hunch I won't like it as much as the O2 mk1, but I'm still interested in hearing it.
 

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