[Maxvla]

Right...

 

[koiloco]

Right...

 

[Sonido]

 

Don't deny it. You're at the point in the relationship where you know deep down it's not going to work out in the end, but out of loyalty, principle, and perhaps pride, you're simply trying to rationalize why you should keep it. The best thing to do is let go now and live your life with nothing to hold you back and with your true soul mate, the HD800. I'm sure someone else will treat your HE-500 better, with the neglect that will follow soon enough.

 

[willjbryan]

   
With regard to your speakers, how do you know they are "flat?" Where are they flat - measured at one foot? 3 feet? listening position? anechoic room?
 
With regard to the HD 600, neutral sounding is not necessarily the same as flat. Ears are shaped differently, different listening volume results in different perceived frequency response - it's all very subjective.

They are flat when measured at 6.5 feet in an anechoic chamber.  Obviously I don't live in an anechoic chamber, but I've listened to the speakers in well-treated rooms and the sound is pretty similar from one room to another - no differences stand out like the treble spike in an un-EQed HD800.
 
As to subjectivity, I just pulled up a frequency response curve on headphone.com for the HD 800, the HE-500, the LCD-3 and the HD600.  The HD800 measures significantly louder than all the others in the 6-10 khz range.  I suppose it's possible that my ears are idiosyncratic, or that some aspect of the HD800's geometry and driver placement means that the average listener doesn't perceive that spike, or that the HD800 just has the must accurate portrayal of sound in that range and everyone else messed it up.  I don't find any of these explanations convincing, however, and my experience of the other headphones is that they sound more accurate in that range.  There's no Analixus mod for the LCD-3, after all.
 
I think the simplest explanation for the "sonic microscope" characterization of the HD800 is that (i) the soundstage/instrument separation from the ring driver and the driver speed make it easier to identify particular recording details and (ii) the hyped treble makes those details stand out even more.  It's easy to view (i) and (ii) as intertwined aspects of the HD800's character, but I view (i) as a virtue and (ii) as a flaw, judged solely from the perspective of accurate sound reproduction.  Fortunately for me, (ii) is easy to fix.

 

[Maxvla]

There's no Analixus mod for the LCD-3, after all.

Correct, just the toilet paper mod for those. :rolleyes:

 

[koiloco]

 
Don't deny it. You're at the point in the relationship where you know deep down it's not going to work out in the end, but out of loyalty, principle, and perhaps pride, you're simply trying to rationalize why you should keep it. The best thing to do is let go now and live your life with nothing to hold you back and with your true soul mate, the HD800. I'm sure someone else will treat your HE-500 better, with the neglect that will follow soon enough.

damn, you should be a shrink.  

 but no seriously, I can still handle multiple her just fine at this point.  I am notorious when it comes to selling stuff I know I won't use no more.  

 

[pdrm360]

  damn, you should be a shrink.  

 but no seriously, I can still handle multiple her just fine at this point.  I am notorious when it comes to selling stuff I know I won't use no more.  

 
Sell the HE-500 and make some room for the HE-560. 

 

[koiloco]

   
Sell the HE-500 and make some room for the HE-560. 

If the HE560 proves to be better to my ears then I will be the first in line to upgrade.  In the mean time, turntable is coming tmr.  This will be a fun weekend.  3rd time is a charm, I hope. 

 

[Dubstep Girl]

  Based on your multiple recommendations for GEC 6AS7G with WA2 & HD 800, I bought one (for my Bttlhd Crack). Wow, Wow, Wow......

Thanks.

 

 

[TwoEars]

I really liked the sound of the HE-500's. It's fat, meaty and atmospheric.
 
But I didn't like overall build quality of the HE-500's. They felt like something made in a small shop and like if they would break if I accidentally dropped them.
 
However - what really killed the HE-500 for me was the weight and comfort, the HD800's disappear on my head where as the HE-500 became painful to wear after an hour or so.
 
If they could make a HE500 that's as comfortable to wear as the HD800 (or at least the LCD2/3) I might be tempted to try them again.
 
Perhaps it's an individual thing but I even tried a padded headband and I could never get the HE-500 to be comfortable for me.
 
I do think that the HD800 is in another league compared to the HE500, but the sound quality of the HE500 is very, very good for it's price range.

 

[James-uk]

They are flat when measured at 6.5 feet in an anechoic chamber.  Obviously I don't live in an anechoic chamber, but I've listened to the speakers in well-treated rooms and the sound is pretty similar from one room to another - no differences stand out like the treble spike in an un-EQed HD800.



As to subjectivity, I just pulled up a frequency response curve on headphone.com for the HD 800, the HE-500, the LCD-3 and the HD600.  The HD800 measures significantly louder than all the others in the 6-10 khz range.  I suppose it's possible that my ears are idiosyncratic, or that some aspect of the HD800's geometry and driver placement means that the average listener doesn't perceive that spike, or that the HD800 just has the must accurate portrayal of sound in that range and everyone else messed it up.  I don't find any of these explanations convincing, however, and my experience of the other headphones is that they sound more accurate in that range.  There's no Analixus mod for the LCD-3, after all.

I think the simplest explanation for the "sonic microscope" characterization of the HD800 is that (i) the soundstage/instrument separation from the ring driver and the driver speed make it easier to identify particular recording details and (ii) the hyped treble makes those details stand out even more.  It's easy to view (i) and (ii) as intertwined aspects of the HD800's character, but I view (i) as a virtue and (ii) as a flaw, judged solely from the perspective of accurate sound reproduction.  Fortunately for me, (ii) is easy to fix.

According to measurements of flat speakers in a treated room the rise in db from 6-10 kHz is normal. See slide 29.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16343460/Olive%20ALMA%202014%20Winter%20Symposium%20Headphone%20Talk%20copy.key.pdf

 

[Spakka]

  Apparently if you register your HD800 at: http://en-uk.sennheiser.com/club-orpheus-registration and bought the HD800 from an authorised UK dealer, Sennheiser sends you an email saying that you have a 10 year extended warranty.
 
Some UK dealers also mention a 10 year extended warranty:
 
- http://www.hifiheadphones.co.uk/sennheiser-hd800-open-back-headphones-hd-800-audiophile-prodid-4538.html
  [also mentioned in this post: http://www.head-fi.org/t/654416/sennheiser-hd800-new-product-announcement#post_9235760 ]
 
- http://www.audiovenue-shop.co.uk/details.asp?id=465&type=Products
 
Anyone else heard anything about this?

 
 
Hmm, I purchased mine from an authorised UK dealer last year (January), and the warranty in the Sennheiser confirmation email is only for 2 years.  Maybe this is a new thing. 
 
P.s. Authorised dealers here only advertise for the MSRP, however if you call them up they will usually knock off ~£100, maybe more.

 

[PTom]

Did you register for the club orpheus program?
 
On Amazon I think Spain and Italy, the HD 800 was hovering under 900 EUR at some point last year. According to camelcamelcamel.com in Amazon Spain it got as low as 821 EUR! It'd probably be better to buy when the prices go back to this range on Amazon even at the expense of a possible 10 year warranty.
 
The UK authorised dealer price is still way too high IMO even at £900. It's going for around 999 EUR at the moment on Amazon Spain and Italy which is around £820 so....

 

[Rayzilla]

 
They certainly are a pair of phones that keep surprising with each upgrade. I am finding I don't want to upgrade, but I also want to see how far I can push them, as the saying goes 'welcome to head-fi, sorry for your wallet'.

I don't want to for the sake of my wallet too but I also understand what you say about the 'pushing them' comment.
 

   
...
 
I for one think the 800's picky, sensitive ways as to whats in the chain is great!
 
It brings me to the edge of my seat when I upgrade or swap out this or that. 
 
You never know how it will agree or disagree to what you've done and I think that is pretty neat.
 

I get excited thinking about what sound will come out with any changes in equipment and things.
 
 
 
Hopefully you guys that know about tubes for the HD800 can help me out with some inexpensive recommendations for my Line Magnetic DAC and amp. I didn't want to derail this thread so I started one here:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/703292/tube-advice-needed-for-my-dac-and-my-amp-for-hd800#post_10222715
 
Thanks!

 

[nigeljames]

Just re-registered my pair bought 11/02/13 via club Orpheus, and now I have a 10 years warranty confirmed via e-mail 

 
 
e-mail:
 
Dear N*************
 
Congratulations on your recent Club Orpheus product purchase!
For over 70 years, Sennheiser has been focused on The Pursuit of Perfect Sound, which we are certain you will enjoy for many years to come from your chosen product.
Please accept this e-mail as confirmation of your extended warranty registration, offered to you as a pledge of our complete confidence in your product.
In the unlikely event that you experience any problems with your product during this time, please contact our service and support team who will be more than happy to help: Premium Product Support
Your extended warranty period:
10 Years
 
In the unlikely event of an issue with your product, to ensure smooth after care service, please retain your purchase receipt and a copy of this e-mail.
Are you interested in Sports, Music Production, Travel or even Gaming?...As a token of our appreciation, we would like to offer you an exclusive 15% off your next purchase on our Online Shop.
Click here, select your product/s and enter coupon code at the checkout:
Coupon code: O*******
Thank you again for your custom and for joining us in The Pursuit of Perfect Sound!
Sennheiser