[ruinedx]

This would have been the perfect opportunity for Sennehiser to introduce their long-awaited, brand new flagship headphone. But instead, all we get is a HD 800 S (which is based on an 11-year-old design) that's painted gold?!

Seriously, what is this crap!?!

Some people still consider the HD6xx series released in 1997 Sennheiser's best if not the best.

Which begs the question , when you say flagship what exactly do you mean?
New HD6xx series?
New HD8xx series?
New HE series [technically the flagship @ $59k]?

Yeah it's an hd800s painted gold. When you release one of the best headphones of all time you don't have to release one to replace it every 2 years.

Obviously not worth it for a current hd800s owner but a fun bonus for those in the market for one.

 

[XERO1]

Yeah it's an hd800s painted gold. When you release one of the best headphones of all time you don't have to release one to replace it every 2 years.

How about every 10 years, then?

 

[Whitigir]

when something is so good, they became a timeless piece

 

[.Sup]

Looks nice but I am worried the paint job wont stand the test of time. My original HD800 were silver only a few years, now they are a lot blacker because the paint chipped off. Dissapointing for a 1000€+ headphone. I want the HD800s’ but the warranty is too short to cover it.

 

[ruinedx]

Looks nice but I am worried the paint job wont stand the test of time. My original HD800 were silver only a few years, now they are a lot blacker because the paint chipped off. Dissapointing for a 1000€+ headphone. I want the HD800s’ but the warranty is too short to cover it.

Very valid concern would be nice if @Sennheiser would address how they improved the paint quality so it doesn't chip/scratch like the original hd800 did

 

[erik701]

I don't like this color/finish. I also expected some special box, maybe some extra accessories, like extra cable, in different colour sleeve maybe. Such a missed opportunity to do something really special I think...

 

[ruinedx]

I don't like this color/finish. I also expected some special box, maybe some extra accessories, like extra cable, in different colour sleeve maybe. Such a missed opportunity to do something really special I think...

I like the color (reminds me of this ) but would have been a nice bonus if they threw in a 4pin XLR instead of pentaconn almost no one uses with a 300ohm headphone

 

[purk]

I don't like this color/finish. I also expected some special box, maybe some extra accessories, like extra cable, in different colour sleeve maybe. Such a missed opportunity to do something really special I think...

I would have agreed with u on all counts, but they didn’t jack up the price. This is literally the same price as the HD800S.

 

[ruinedx]

How about every 10 years, then?

Ok, that would be 2026.

 

[XERO1]

Ok, that would be 2026.

Nope. The HD 800 S is just a slightly tweaked version of the original HD 800, which came out in 2009. So 2019.

 

[ruinedx]

Nope. The HD 800 S is just a slightly tweaked version of the original HD 800, which came out in 2009. So 2019.

So? You are saying a company needs to throw away a vastly successful and critically acclaimed design after some arbitrary number of years and start from scratch because reasons? This is analog audio, there is no new digital format that needs to be supported that obsoletes older designs, and hence there is no need to also reinvent the wheel (with something that can be potentially worse) when you have a bonafide winner already. HD800S replaced the HD800 in 2016. 2016+10=2026.

Buy some more music or something instead of dumping cash on unnecessary "upgrades" just to have something new...

 

[gimmeheadroom]

I would have preferred a totally new set of cans rather than a paint job. Not that the 800S is not a great headphone, but Sennheiser is putting out gaming headsets, IEMs, blah blah blah. Some new cans would be appropriate and very welcome.

 

[purk]

I would have preferred a totally new set of cans rather than a paint job. Not that the 800S is not a great headphone, but Sennheiser is putting out gaming headsets, IEMs, blah blah blah. Some new cans would be appropriate and very welcome.

I am disappointed too but at least they didn’t just charge $3.5 k for a very small improvement. They are being honest about it.

 

[Whitigir]

I am disappointed too but at least they didn’t just charge $3.5 k for a very small improvement. They are being honest about it.

And Hd800s still spanks others in the $3k+ rank...really hard

 

[gimmeheadroom]

And Hd800s still spanks others in the $3k+ rank...really hard

Well for that matter the HD 600s out of the right amp do also