[nixir]

Just wondering if anyone else found the HD800 to be too bright for most violin music? I sometimes find the very high notes almost painful.
 
e.g.
Partita No. 2 In D Minor, BWV 1004.: Ciaccona (http://youtu.be/aBQkRzZYN8I)
Beethoven violin concerto http://youtu.be/YIB03fS179s
 
It's even more apparent if you use higher quality recordings.

 

[ubs28]

  Just wondering if anyone else found the HD800 to be too bright for most violin music? I sometimes find the very high notes almost painful.
 
e.g.
Partita No. 2 In D Minor, BWV 1004.: Ciaccona (http://youtu.be/aBQkRzZYN8I)
Beethoven violin concerto http://youtu.be/YIB03fS179s
 
It's even more apparent if you use higher quality recordings.

 
The HD800 I have has no issues with violin music, also on high notes it's great. 

 

[nixir]

Thanks for the input. Do you mind me asking which amp do you pair it with? I'm using the WA7 and it definitely sounds bright and unnatural to me. But then I'm coming from a LCD-2 so perhaps my ears are used to that?

 

[ubs28]

  Thanks for the input. Do you mind me asking which amp do you pair it with? I'm using the WA7 and it definitely sounds bright and unnatural to me. But then I'm coming from a LCD-2 so perhaps my ears are used to that?

I'm using a Chord Hugo. It's probably not the best amplifier since it's a portable device. But the HD800 sounds pretty good on it. 

 

[Sorrodje]

But then I'm coming from a LCD-2 so perhaps my ears are used to that?

 
This ^ . Coming from a LCD2 to a HD800 represents a very large change. Completely different headphones.  Polar opposites shoud I say. The HD800 defintely tends to be bright though. Not everyone tastes for sure.

 

[icebear]

  Just wondering if anyone else found the HD800 to be too bright for most violin music? I sometimes find the very high notes almost painful.
 
e.g.
Partita No. 2 In D Minor, BWV 1004.: Ciaccona (http://youtu.be/aBQkRzZYN8I)
Beethoven violin concerto http://youtu.be/YIB03fS179s
 
It's even more apparent if you use higher quality recordings.

If the recording is excellent and your source doesn't artificially brighten things up to "enhance resolution", then the HD800 will just tell it like it is and will not be "too bright", i.e. not any brighter than the real performance. If source or amp are already on the bright side then it's no fun to listen to violin music on the HD800 but that's postively old news ...

.

 

[Chodi]

  Just wondering if anyone else found the HD800 to be too bright for most violin music? I sometimes find the very high notes almost painful.
 
e.g.
Partita No. 2 In D Minor, BWV 1004.: Ciaccona (http://youtu.be/aBQkRzZYN8I)
Beethoven violin concerto http://youtu.be/YIB03fS179s
 
It's even more apparent if you use higher quality recordings.

I listen to classical music every day with my HD800's. They are the closest window to the source for classical this side of the Stax009. If you would list your equipment chain and the source your are using (pc/mac/software) you will get more useful information here.

 

[atistatic]

  Just wondering if anyone else found the HD800 to be too bright for most violin music? I sometimes find the very high notes almost painful.
 
e.g.
Partita No. 2 In D Minor, BWV 1004.: Ciaccona (http://youtu.be/aBQkRzZYN8I)
Beethoven violin concerto http://youtu.be/YIB03fS179s
 
It's even more apparent if you use higher quality recordings.

the hd800 is amp picky headphones ... does work well or bad depending on the amp, i think you should find a accurate, neutral and detailed amp. For example my chain is Emerson Liebert GXT3 > Foobar Asio > Anedio D2 > Little dot MK VI 6as7g russian tubes and sophia electric 6sn7g > HD800 and i don't find bright the hd800 in violin orchestra like BVW 1043 in D Minor Vivace, Largo ma non tanto and allegro.

 

[Makarov Andrei]

HD800 were quite bright on the first batch, but now it's pretty balanced  light headphones. But of course they cannot tolerate bright element in the path. What gain you listen to the HD800?
Funny: so you dive in the LCD-2, as in dark water

 

[nixir]

  HD800 were quite bright on the first batch, but now it's pretty balanced  light headphones. But of course they cannot tolerate bright element in the path. What gain you listen to the HD800?
Funny: so you dive in the LCD-2, as in dark water

Hey I've tried using low gain (1.0X) with the O2/ODAC and High Impedance settings on the WA7, both sounds really close imo.
 
The source definitely makes a huge difference I find, I guess most of them tend to be mastered a bit bright. The LCD-2s, being the "dark water", indeed hide bright sources very well!

 

[mcteague]

I use an OPPO BDP-103 to a Schitt Audio Asgard 2 and don't find them bright. I listen to classical the majority of the time but only CDs, and well recorded ones at that. Reading all the consternation about them being bright and amp sensitive had me worried but I need not have been. They are the best I have heard, having not experienced the SR-009s though. I did audition LCD2 and 3s, Fostex TH-900s as well as other Sennheisers. For classical music the HD800s excel, they have a very open and accurate sound with a spaciousness that suits orchestral music particularly.
 
Tim

 

[nixir]

  I use an OPPO BDP-103 to a Schitt Audio Asgard 2 and don't find them bright. I listen to classical the majority of the time but only CDs, and well recorded ones at that. Reading all the consternation about them being bright and amp sensitive had me worried but I need not have been. They are the best I have heard, having not experienced the SR-009s though. I did audition LCD2 and 3s, Fostex TH-900s as well as other Sennheisers. For classical music the HD800s excel, they have a very open and accurate sound with a spaciousness that suits orchestral music particularly.
 
Tim

I do find them to be transparent hence very source dependent. I guess a lot of recording are mastered on the brighter side nowadays...

 

[Makarov Andrei]

It would be right to take your HD800 and go listen to them in a different setup. Just take along your music that gives you problems. You will have a new starting point for the hd800.

 

[vcoheda]

the hd800 has a glare, which over time was irritating. i sold them.

 

[dreamwhisper]

A lot of music on youtube is transcodes.
An mp3 converted to another mp3. Which is atrocious sound quality.
 
If you can, try find some properly ripped FLAC's (FLAC rips aren't all created equal) for a digital reference recording.