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Disappointed with HD800 bass, need something better...

post #1 of 154
12/17/10 at 4:10am
Thread Starter 

The clarity and highs with these heaphones are amazing, but I was really disappointed with the lack of bass. :(

 

So I think I´m going to return these and find something better and more bass heavy.

 

Any suggestions? Are there something  out there with the HD800 clarity and highs, but with LOT more bass?

 

What about Denon AH-7000? I remember reading good things about them in the past.

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones
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Denon AH-D7000 - Headphones
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post #2 of 154
12/17/10 at 5:50am

What is your setup?

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post #3 of 154
12/17/10 at 6:39am
The D7000 has great bass and slam. I find myself using it more than the HD800. Don't give up on the HD800 yet. When pair with a great amp, it can be pretty amazing but don't expect slamming bass.
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post #4 of 154
12/17/10 at 7:08am
Thread Starter 

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 

I´ve been using HD600 and HD650 now for several years. I like their sound, but would like some more clarity and detail and more tighter bass.

 

So the HD800 was a disappointment, ´cause it has way less bass than the HD600/650. Also I´m noticing fatigue with the HD800 highs, although they are very clear and detailed, but after half an hour my ears are busted, but I guess that´s the price to pay with detailed sound? With HD600/650 I can listen music all day long.

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post #5 of 154
12/17/10 at 7:14am

They....need....amping....

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post #6 of 154
12/17/10 at 9:13am

Your Mac Pro's soundcard isn't nearly enough to amp the HD800.  What you're getting is basically what I got with the iPod unamped.  It's still interesting and it's still pretty nifty but you haven't even begun to hear the bass that your HD800 puts out, which is not slam-heavy bass but quite even bass right down to grumble level.  You need a real amp, not a computer soundcard.

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post #7 of 154
12/17/10 at 9:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).

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post #8 of 154
12/17/10 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).


I agree with Shahrose, but the LCD-2 is NOT easy to drive properly IMO. While it is quite it is one of the easier orthos to drive, it still needs a good supply of current/power to reach it's full potential in my experiences. I would say D7000/Ed.8 for closed or a Grado for open.

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post #9 of 154
12/17/10 at 9:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 

I´ve been using HD600 and HD650 now for several years. I like their sound, but would like some more clarity and detail and more tighter bass.

 

So the HD800 was a disappointment, ´cause it has way less bass than the HD600/650. Also I´m noticing fatigue with the HD800 highs, although they are very clear and detailed, but after half an hour my ears are busted, but I guess that´s the price to pay with detailed sound? With HD600/650 I can listen music all day long.

 

So you drop $1400 on headphones with that setup?  <<insert face palm here>>

 


 

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post #10 of 154
12/17/10 at 10:18am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).


I agree with Shahrose, but the LCD-2 is NOT easy to drive properly IMO. While it is quite it is one of the easier orthos to drive, it still needs a good supply of current/power to reach it's full potential in my experiences. I would say D7000/Ed.8 for closed or a Grado for open.

 

True, thanks for the clarification.
 

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post #11 of 154
12/17/10 at 10:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).


I agree with Shahrose, but the LCD-2 is NOT easy to drive properly IMO. While it is quite it is one of the easier orthos to drive, it still needs a good supply of current/power to reach it's full potential in my experiences. I would say D7000/Ed.8 for closed or a Grado for open.

 

True, thanks for the clarification.
 


 

Shahrose: Just a clarification, the HE-6's bass weight, would you classify it more/less than the HD800s? Would it be on par with the HD650s or LCD-2s?

 

Thanks!

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post #12 of 154
12/17/10 at 11:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).


I agree with Shahrose, but the LCD-2 is NOT easy to drive properly IMO. While it is quite it is one of the easier orthos to drive, it still needs a good supply of current/power to reach it's full potential in my experiences. I would say D7000/Ed.8 for closed or a Grado for open.

 

True, thanks for the clarification.
 


 

Shahrose: Just a clarification, the HE-6's bass weight, would you classify it more/less than the HD800s? Would it be on par with the HD650s or LCD-2s?

 

Thanks!


Way more than the 800. Around the same level as the LCD-2 or HD650 in my setup. Quality falls short of the 800/LCD-2 IMO, but it could be because I don't have a speaker amp to power the HE-6.

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post #13 of 154
12/17/10 at 12:20pm

Get the LCD2 and see how you like it without an amp.  I think you'll be very impressed by the sound.  You can always get an amp for it later when budget permits.

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post #14 of 154
12/17/10 at 12:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MacedonianHero View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post



Quote:
Originally Posted by MetalElvis View Post

My setup is Mac Pro with RME Fireface 800 soundcard. HD800 is connected straight to the Fireface´s headphone out. But I will soon change my setup to the new Apogee I/O and Crane Song Avocet monitor controller and I´ll be hooking up my headphones to those pieces of equipment.

 



You're wasting the HD800s with that setup. Either upgrade your ancillary equipment or get easy-to-drive/forgiving headphones like the Denon D7000 (closed) or Audez'e LCD-2 (open).


I agree with Shahrose, but the LCD-2 is NOT easy to drive properly IMO. While it is quite it is one of the easier orthos to drive, it still needs a good supply of current/power to reach it's full potential in my experiences. I would say D7000/Ed.8 for closed or a Grado for open.

 

True, thanks for the clarification.
 


 

Shahrose: Just a clarification, the HE-6's bass weight, would you classify it more/less than the HD800s? Would it be on par with the HD650s or LCD-2s?

 

Thanks!


Way more than the 800. Around the same level as the LCD-2 or HD650 in my setup. Quality falls short of the 800/LCD-2 IMO, but it could be because I don't have a speaker amp to power the HE-6.

Cool...thanks!
 

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post #15 of 154
12/17/10 at 3:18pm

Spend another $1149 on a Lehmann Black Cube Linear and you will hear what the HD800 is all about.  I did and I love it.  It will not give you slamming bass, but bass is full and well defined.  

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Gear mentioned in this thread:

Sennheiser HD 800 Headphones
Powered by NexTag
Denon AH-D7000 - Headphones
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