[musikaladin]

Update concerning my errorcode issue (0xef000011) while doing the HDVD800 firmware update:
 
Another user here mentioned, that after getting this error he had to send it back to Sennheiser. So I was really afraid that I have to send my HDVD from Singapore to Germany.  So I wanted to try something else first.
 
The failed update was done with an Windows 8 computer. So I just tried it again with a windows 7 computer... and guess what, now it worked successfully! Hooray, that's it!
 
Before I found that simple solution, I had asked Sennheiser for support via the contact-form on their web-page. Just after the update was successful, they answered my mail and gave me a phone number to call a service-engineer directly. Well it was not necessary anymore now, but still I would rate that a quite good service!

 

[wisemanja]

  Nope, (as I understand)
 
They couldn't care less about the outputs that they nor even list them in the tech. specifications:
 

Technical Data

Technical Data and Specification of HDVD 800 Article No. 505590

Dimensions	(W x H x D): approx. 216 mm x 55 mm x 324 mm
Frequency response	0.3 Hz to 100 kHz (-3 dB)
THD, total harmonic distortion	< -110 dB (1 kHz / maximum gain)
Weight	2,2 Kg
Audio input	Analogue input XLR-3 : Max. input voltage 20 dBV / Input impedance 10 kOhm
Analogue input RCA: Max. input voltage (eff) 14 dBV / Input impedance 10 kOhm
Digital SPDIF (RCA): Max. sampling frequency 192 kHz /AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution 24 bit
Digital SPDIF (TosLink): Max. sampling frequency: 192 kHz (AES3-compatible) Max. resolution: 24 bit
Digital AES/EBU (XLR-3): Max. sampling frequency: 192 kHz (AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution: 24 bit

 
 

 
They certainly don't seem to care about the accuracy of their advertising either. They still haven't corrected this after all this time!?!?
 
The S/PDIF optical input (TOSlink) canNOT handle anything over 88.2 kHz. The only place in the world that seems to have this documented correctly is in the actual manual that you get with the unit AFTER YOU BUY IT! In fact, It seems to me that I remember some discussion a ways back where someone tried a high bit rate input on the S/PDIF coaxial input and saw the same problem as with the S/PDIF optical input (you tend to get random clicking noises in the output at those speeds)
 
Also, every Sennheiser dealer that I've talked with has had no clue about the hiss issue needing the FW update. Sennheiser has kept them all in the dark too.
 
- Jeff

 

[wisemanja]

  I'm sorry If I have missed that, but does HDVD800 work as a regular pre amplifier?

As has been pointed out by others here, no, all you can use it for is a switch box and DAC. Basically, everything that you can select by the knob on the front panel can be routed to the XLR output (including the unblanced inputs which are converted to balanced before outputting). Unfortunately, the volume knob right next to selection knob DOESN'T work when using the XLR outputs.
 
Note that although this seems a bit strange that you can't do this, the design of a quality preamp section and a quality headphone amp are different so adding the preamp capability to the HDV800 would have required some extra parts and switching. Amps like the Conductor use some special circuitry that will change some of its operating characteristics when switched in as a preamp instead of a headphone amp.
 
- Jeff.

 

[macbob713]

Just recieved the Sennheiser balanced cable today, and I'm now running the HD800 in total balanced mode. Right now I'm using the Schitt Mjolnir amp with a Sony XA5400ES cd/sacd player and it's balanced outputs. I plan to buy the HDVD800 amp in January to have a total Sennheiser setup.

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

Just recieved the Sennheiser balanced cable today, and I'm now running the HD800 in total balanced mode. Right now I'm using the Schitt Mjolnir amp with a Sony XA5400ES cd/sacd player and it's balanced outputs. I plan to buy the HDVD800 amp in January to have a total Sennheiser setup.

 
Should be a nice upgrade, hd800s arn't a great match with the mjol imo

 

[macbob713]

Should be a nice upgrade, hd800s arn't a great match with the mjol imo

To my ears and on my rig, they sing together. I've been listening to some jazz and vocals, and everything sounds much improved over my former amp, the Lyr.

 

[macbob713]

Having said that, I'm still going for the HDVD800!in January.

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

I found the mjol to be a bit bright for my tastes with the HD800s.
 
Just out of curiosity, where did you get your CH800S cable?

 

[macbob713]

I found the mjol to be a bit bright for my tastes with the HD800s.

Just out of curiosity, where did you get your CH800S cable?

I purchased it directly from Sennheiser. It's available thru their sales department. Just go to their web site and fill out the contact info, and they will call you.

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

How much was the damage?

 

[macbob713]

How much was the damage?

I believe it was $369.00 plus shipping.

 

[OICWUTUDIDTHAR]

icaramba!

 

[palmfish]

For a cable?!? Thats enough for a pair of HD600's and a bottle of good Scotch!

 

[wisemanja]

 

icaramba!

Yea, that's why it's a far better deal to buy a pair of Neutrix connectors for around $20 and solder them on yourself. Electrically it is identical to the $369 version. You just don't end up with an extra unbalance version laying around and never being used again
 
Remember, it's not the cable that is making the difference, it's the ability to use the HDVD800 in its fully balanced configuration that it was originally designed to be run in.

 

[7ryder]

 
As has been pointed out by others here, no, all you can use it for is a switch box and DAC. Basically, everything that you can select by the knob on the front panel can be routed to the XLR output (including the unblanced inputs which are converted to balanced before outputting). Unfortunately, the volume knob right next to selection knob DOESN'T work when using the XLR outputs.
 
Note that although this seems a bit strange that you can't do this, the design of a quality preamp section and a quality headphone amp are different so adding the preamp capability to the HDV800 would have required some extra parts and switching. Amps like the Conductor use some special circuitry that will change some of its operating characteristics when switched in as a preamp instead of a headphone amp.
 
- Jeff.

Unbalanced inputs are converted to balanced? So there's no reason to use an outboard phase splitter to convert unbalanced RCA signal to balanced XLR?