[Mediahound]

They're neutral headphones, not bright. Bright would be  highs accentuated above the bass. The frequency chart show both bass and highs above midline, so neutral: 
 

 

[Whazzzup]

  They're neutral headphones, not bright. Bright would be  highs accentuated above the bass. The frequency chart show both bass and highs above midline, so neutral. 

well then it is what it is 
 

 

[swspiers]

 

You're taking that too personal. Different people have different ears – therefore the different headphone preferences. I'm inclined to agree that (to my ears) the HD 800 S (which I haven't heard yet) would still be on the bright side of neutral, but I also think it may indeed be one of the most neutral headphones I know nonetheless, as well as the classic HD 800 with my modification. Every single headphone has its colorations, some are rather dark, some are rather bright, some are rather balanced over-all, but even in the latter category you'll find colorations making the concerned headphones less neutral than e.g. the HD 800 S.

Sorry I don't think I worded that right.

My confusion here is how people are so much more willing to jump to the conclusion that a DAC or amplifier are more likely to have coloration than the headphones. I think it has been pretty well established over the years that transducers are the biggest point of coloration in an audio chain, taking out of the equation your own hearing.

Isn't this where synergy stems from in the first place? Finding an amplifier that accommodates the signature of the headphones? Finding an amp with a high output impedance for the HD 800 for example, the boosted, more bloated midbass will mask the treble response a bit more, etc.

Check out my sig: Benchmark DAC-1 is my centerpiece, and I think it's an amazingly under-rated DAC/Amp on headfi.

Sorry for my part in making it personal, brother. And reviewing the graphs on Innerfidelity, it does measure pretty bright. BUT, and this is a big BUT, they come across as neutral and transparent when I listen to them. Personally, I think my DAC-1 is a big part of that, and I'll be using SE out of it tonight.

 

[chakku]

Check out my sig: Benchmark DAC-1 is my centerpiece, and I think it's an amazingly under-rated DAC/Amp on headfi.

Sorry for my part in making it personal, brother. And reviewing the graphs on Innerfidelity, it does measure pretty bright. BUT, and this is a big BUT, they come across as neutral and transparent when I listen to them. Personally, I think my DAC-1 is a big part of that, and I'll be using SE out of it tonight.

I'd just like to reiterate that it could also be your music choice. Many times I've listened to the HD 800, the annoying peak wasn't present at all because of the selection of music on the playlist seemingly optimized for them. I have tried them from the HDVA 600, Burson Soloist, WA6 and WA22 and I never had the impression that it was the headphones that were neutral. (Not my own HD 800 S, however.)
 
Personally, I think the transparent DAC2 I'm using lets me hear the true nature of the HD 800/HD 800 S any probably any headphone used on it, from there it's up to me to decide whether I want to match it with an amplifier to better suit the sound signature of the headphones, but I still need that reference point.

 

[Youth]

Check out my sig: Benchmark DAC-1 is my centerpiece, and I think it's an amazingly under-rated DAC/Amp on headfi.

Sorry for my part in making it personal, brother. And reviewing the graphs on Innerfidelity, it does measure pretty bright. BUT, and this is a big BUT, they come across as neutral and transparent when I listen to them. Personally, I think my DAC-1 is a big part of that, and I'll be using SE out of it tonight.

 
How's the HD800S with Liquid Carbon? 

 

[swspiers]

Check out my sig: Benchmark DAC-1 is my centerpiece, and I think it's an amazingly under-rated DAC/Amp on headfi.


Sorry for my part in making it personal, brother. And reviewing the graphs on Innerfidelity, it does measure pretty bright. BUT, and this is a big BUT, they come across as neutral and transparent when I listen to them. Personally, I think my DAC-1 is a big part of that, and I'll be using SE out of it tonight.

How's the HD800S with Liquid Carbon? 

Really, really good. In fact, it might be over-kill power wise, but the sound is pure bliss so far.

 

[daltonlanny]

I don't even know why I bother trying to talk sense here, people are drowning in their own delusions.

The fact that people can call this bright headphone 'neutral' yet turn around and say this measurably neutral, transparent DAC/Amp is 'bright' and makes the 'neutral' headphones 'brighter' is astounding. Apparently nobody can accept the fact that it might be the other way round and their coloured amplifiers are rolling off the treble? Not sure how to comprehend this.

If you think the HD800 S is so bright, then why do you own them, as well as the Beyerdynamic DT-880 250 ohm, another headphone which alot of people consider bright?
According to your profile you own both!
You must actually like "brighter" headphones.
I agree that the S isn't perfectly neutral, and still leans more toward the brighter side of neutrality, but it is still closest to the most neutral over all transducer I have ever personally heard, to my own ears, and again, I come to this conclusion using 3 different amps, 3 different sources, and even with recordings that aren't recorded well.
Plus, I have listened to countless headphones through the years, and these are closest to my own personal neutral that I have found.
And like it has been stated, we all hear differently.
One persons neutral, may be alittle bright or dull to someone elses ears and/or and personal tastes.

 

[chakku]

If you think the HD800 S is so bright, then why do you own them, as well as the Beyerdynamic DT-880 250 ohm, another headphone which alot of people consider bright?
According to your profile you own both!
You must actually like "brighter" headphones.
I agree that the S isn't perfectly neutral, and still leans more toward the brighter side of neutrality, but it is still closest to the most neutral over all transducer I have ever personally heard, to my own ears, and again, I come to this conclusion using 3 different amps, 3 different sources, and even with recordings that aren't recorded well.
And like it has been stated, we all hear differently.
One persons neutral, may be alittle bright or dull to someone elses ears and/or and personal tastes.

When did I say I didn't like bright headphones? I was merely stating they were bright and not neutral. People call the DT 880 neutral too, or at least used to, so anecdotal evidence isn't exactly reliable.

 

[daltonlanny]

Nevermind

 

[Dadracer]

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

 

[daltonlanny]

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

+1

 

[chakku]

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

You are indeed entitled to believe they are neutral, but the only evidence we have suggests against that. You're free to state your opinions but when it starts spreading around as 'fact' and people begin soaking in this misinformation, it becomes a problem.
 
Just my 2c, maybe the problem is people taking subjective impressions too seriously.

 

[CoLdAsSauLt]

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

Sounds like a bright plan... whilest you're obviously trying to be neutral. Confused... :s

 

[Dadracer]

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

I

You are indeed entitled to believe they are neutral, but the only evidence we have suggests against that. You're free to state your opinions but when it starts spreading around as 'fact' and people begin soaking in this misinformation, it becomes a problem.

Just my 2c, maybe the problem is people taking subjective impressions too seriously.

I refer you to my previous comment.

 

[JaZZ]

 

You are perfectly entitled to the belief that these headphones are not neutral. I am perfectly entitled to the belief they are. Can we move on now to something interesting?

You are indeed entitled to believe they are neutral, but the only evidence we have suggests against that. You're free to state your opinions but when it starts spreading around as 'fact' and people begin soaking in this misinformation, it becomes a problem.
 
Just my 2c, maybe the problem is people taking subjective impressions too seriously.

 
Subjective impressions are the only thing that counts in the end. Your own perception of the HD 800 S' sound is based on your subjective listening impressions, no matter how much you consider them «objective». Moreover, no measurement can prove that the HD 800 S isn't (passably) neutral. Headphone measurements need compensation and interpretation. And even if it's still considered as slightly bright, it can nevertheless be the most neutral headphone on the planet – because neutrality doesn't rely on sonic balance alone.