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HD-800

post #1 of 65
10/4/11 at 5:15pm
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Hello, today I recieved my second pair or HD-800s (long story) and one sounds a bit different than the other.  The first pair I had sounded very bright to the point where it drove me nuts but however this second pair I have is much more mellow on the high end.  Overall the sound is much more improved.  Just wondering if anyone else has encountered this.  The serial number on the new one is 12XXX and the old one was 11XXX.  To those that have tried the HD-800 and found it too bright you may want to try again.  Just my thoughts.

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post #2 of 65
10/4/11 at 5:47pm

It could be regular old product variation, but I'm interested if others have experienced the same recently.

 

When did you buy your first one?

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post #3 of 65
10/4/11 at 5:57pm
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I bought my first one 3 weeks ago from headroom (they had just recieved a fresh shipment). I sent that one back because of a cosmetic issue and the new one I recieved today.  I would like to say the difference is minor but it is not at all.  I would have to say the difference is  huge. It is like I recieved a pair that has no treble peak at all and is silky smooth in every way.   I did notice less bass however but that is okay in my book.  This new pair also has cosmetic issues but I am almost afraid to send it back because of the difference.


Edited by snaps11 - 10/4/11 at 5:58pm
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post #4 of 65
10/4/11 at 6:41pm

what kind of cosmetic issue on new headphones twice? I heard that latter serial number HD800's  are  different , so that s may be it.

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post #5 of 65
10/4/11 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by snaps11 View Post

I bought my first one 3 weeks ago from headroom (they had just recieved a fresh shipment). I sent that one back because of a cosmetic issue and the new one I recieved today.  I would like to say the difference is minor but it is not at all.  I would have to say the difference is  huge. It is like I recieved a pair that has no treble peak at all and is silky smooth in every way.   I did notice less bass however but that is okay in my book.  This new pair also has cosmetic issues but I am almost afraid to send it back because of the difference.


Three week difference probably means it's just product variation.

 

You didn't have both pairs at the same time? A good chance there's placebo and mistaken aural memory in the mix too, then.

 

Are you sure the volume setting is the same? You hear less treble and less bass relative to the mid-range at lower volumes.


Edited by Head Injury - 10/4/11 at 6:50pm
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post #6 of 65
10/4/11 at 6:56pm

Any chance you never broke the first pair in, and somehow the 2nd pair had hours on it already?

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post #7 of 65
10/4/11 at 7:05pm
Thread Starter 

Both pairs were brand new, never used.  I agree that one could say "you did not try each of them back to back". However with the old pair there are certain albums I could not even listen to and had very high amounts of sibilance and was slightly shrill.  I am getting none of that with these.  The current pair still has more brightness than my HD-650 but no where near the same amount as the last pair. 

 

I have not touched my volume on my amp in the last 3 months so I would say thats not it... :-)

 

I guess there is a possibility that the last pair had more wrong with it than what I thought.  I believe its going to be hard to get someone to back me up.  Most people can barely afford one of these let alone two (within the last 6 months).


Edited by snaps11 - 10/4/11 at 7:10pm
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post #8 of 65
10/4/11 at 8:38pm

HD800 can be bright for pop music.  Mine is in the 10000.  

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post #9 of 65
10/4/11 at 9:04pm

I'm not saying you're wrong, but it's difficult to put much trust in comparisons done so far apart. See if you can compare side-by-side with other pairs. I know that both of mine sounded the same (first was 3406, current 9311).

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post #10 of 65
10/4/11 at 10:15pm

If you can find it, there is a thread where people posted the frequency response graphs they were sent by Sennheiser. There are significant frequency response variations in them. It is highly unlikely that reak-in/burn-in would cause as much variation.

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post #11 of 65
10/5/11 at 1:47am
Yes, I've heard some variation between pairs. I guess I'm lucky to have gotten an agreeable pair.

I hope your second pair fits you well - I really enjoy mine.

And what are the cosmetic issues? There was a known problem with the headband a couple years ago, but I haven't heard of anything else.
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post #12 of 65
10/5/11 at 5:04am

I'd say it's likely you read a post somewhere of someone reporting a difference between models and confirmation bias mixed with a psychosomatic inference lead you to your conclusion. 

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post #13 of 65
10/5/11 at 5:16am

Is it possible that all these observations about two of the same product (mostly Sennheisers) could be traced to driver matching issues? I remember back when I was seriously setting up my car 1db variance on one driver (be it tweeter or midwoofer) can cause those perceived treble peaks or scratching "t" and "s" sound, even if both were processed to arrive at your ears from one listening position at the same time.

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post #14 of 65
10/5/11 at 5:17am

http://www.head-fi.org/t/433059/sennheiser-hd800-certificate-for-frequency-response-arrived

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post #15 of 65
10/5/11 at 5:25am

Both your serial numbers are later then those who found the same thing. Mine is 10400. Surely not treble shy but never piercing.

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