[Dobrescu George]

Or...the micro-iCan SE if you just want an amp is a very nice amp for the $$$

iFi iCAN SE should also be amazing for HD800S! I can't wait to hear one myself!

With the new AMP stage in iDSD BL, it is actually a great AMP as well now!

 

[ubs28]

These HD 800 S has got amazing build quality. It dropped by accident from my desk on the floor and not a single scratch. Not all headphones would survive a drop like that with 0% damage. Good plastic isn't always bad.

(This is also the reason why I take the HD 650 and HD 800 S with me when I'm traveling as I know these things can happen and these headphones are hard to damage.)

 

[Dobrescu George]

These HD 800 S has got amazing build quality. It dropped by accident from my desk on the floor and not a single scratch. Not all headphones would survive a drop like that with 0% damage. Good plastic isn't always bad.

(This is also the reason why I take the HD 650 and HD 800 S with me when I'm traveling as I know these things can happen and these headphones are hard to damage.)

Woah, I didn't know before that HD800S can take a fall with zero damage! Thank you for letting us know! How are you paking them when you travel though? They are a bit big and don't fold as far as I know..

 

[DavidA]

These HD 800 S has got amazing build quality. It dropped by accident from my desk on the floor and not a single scratch. Not all headphones would survive a drop like that with 0% damage. Good plastic isn't always bad.

(This is also the reason why I take the HD 650 and HD 800 S with me when I'm traveling as I know these things can happen and these headphones are hard to damage.)

A lot has to do on what angle they fall and on to what kind of surface, a friends HD800S fell from a table top on to marble floor and the driver housing cracked in 3 places and another person that I know had them break at the joint between the cup and arm from a drop of 30cm on to ceramic tile floor.

 

[Svatopluk]

A lot has to do on what angle they fall and on to what kind of surface, a friends HD800S fell from a table top on to marble floor and the driver housing cracked in 3 places and another person that I know had them break at the joint between the cup and arm from a drop of 30cm on to ceramic tile floor.

So sad to hear. I hope alcohol was not involved in either of these tragic mishaps.

 

[endgame]

I've read a lot of 800 bashing in the Utopia thread, but I'm just going to have to disagree. I wouldn't take the Utopia over my 800S. I would, however, take a Utopia for the sole purpose of selling it to buy an 800S and then using the extra cash to buy some exquisite and rare bourbon to enjoy while I listen to Pink Floyd in lossless.

 

[YesThisIs]

I've read a lot of 800 bashing in the Utopia thread, but I'm just going to have to disagree. I wouldn't take the Utopia over my 800S. I would, however, take a Utopia for the sole purpose of selling it to buy an 800S and then using the extra cash to buy some exquisite and rare bourbon to enjoy while I listen to Pink Floyd in lossless.

Have to agree. What makes the HD800S's "wow" to me is the massive soundstage. I have heard Utopia's and in the soundstage department they were lacking. + For the price difference i can buy a lot of wishkey and enjoy my music....

 

[DavidA]

Have to agree. What makes the HD800S's "wow" to me is the massive soundstage. I have heard Utopia's and in the soundstage department they were lacking. + For the price difference i can buy a lot of wishkey and enjoy my music....

I'll take a few good bottles of cabs

 

[MacedonianHero]

I've read a lot of 800 bashing in the Utopia thread, but I'm just going to have to disagree. I wouldn't take the Utopia over my 800S. I would, however, take a Utopia for the sole purpose of selling it to buy an 800S and then using the extra cash to buy some exquisite and rare bourbon to enjoy while I listen to Pink Floyd in lossless.

I wouldn't say folks were bashing the HD800. I've owned the HD800 since 2010 and I still own the HD800S and enjoy it immensely. That said, they are no longer the dynamic driver king as they used to be IMO.

 

[Dobrescu George]

I wouldn't say folks were bashing the HD800. I've owned the HD800 since 2010 and I still own the HD800S and enjoy it immensely. That said, they are no longer the dynamic driver king as they used to be IMO.

Woah, I still dream of getting a HD800s for myself sometime, their soundstage sure is one of the best ever made!

 

[endgame]

Have to agree. What makes the HD800S's "wow" to me is the massive soundstage. I have heard Utopia's and in the soundstage department they were lacking. + For the price difference i can buy a lot of wishkey and enjoy my music....

I couldn't agree more. For $4000 the headphones have to be perfect. I'm not willing to trade a tiny bit of detail for a dramatically smaller soundstage and after forking out $2400 more.

 

[Svatopluk]

I couldn't agree more. For $4000 the headphones have to be perfect. I'm not willing to trade a tiny bit of detail for a dramatically smaller soundstage and after forking out $2400 more.

I couldn't agree more. For $4000 the headphones have to be perfect. I'm not willing to trade a tiny bit of detail for a dramatically smaller soundstage and after forking out $2400 more.

I bought my first serious headphones back in the early 80's, a beautiful pair of Stax Lambda's. They sounded marvelous to my young ears and I assumed they would last many years to come. Then one night, my cute inebriated big-boned girlfriend set down on the Lambda's after leaving them lying on the couch. I was devastated. Afterwards, I repaired the headband but after a driver failure or two, I moved on to a pair of YH-1000's.

Anyway, you may ask what on earth does this silly little story from back in the day have to do with any of this. The Utopia may not be your best bet if you have an inebriated big-boned girlfriend. Your better off buying two HD800S for the same money just in case.

 

[Topspin70]

Woah, I still dream of getting a HD800s for myself sometime, their soundstage sure is one of the best ever made!

I couldn't agree more. For $4000 the headphones have to be perfect. I'm not willing to trade a tiny bit of detail for a dramatically smaller soundstage and after forking out $2400 more.

Once we have heard how well separated instruments and voices are within that wide soundstage, it's hard to accept anything less is an improvement over the HD800S. Different perhaps, but better no. It's why I find it so hard to even commit to a second pair of cans. Everything I heard makes me question whether it's worth the compromise.

 

[endgame]

Once we have heard how well separated instruments and voices are within that wide soundstage, it's hard to accept anything less is an improvement over the HD800S. Different perhaps, but better no. It's why I find it so hard to even commit to a second pair of cans. Everything I heard makes me question whether it's worth the compromise.

That's exactly how I feel! The first time I got a chance to hear the 800S, it immediately blew me away and I knew it was the best sounding headphone I'd ever heard. But when I tried my friends Utopia, although it definitely sounded good, I felt like I was going to have to "train" my brain to like it because everything sounded so narrow. And I don't feel like it should be necessary to have to learn to like a $4000 headphone. I didn't need to learn to like the 800S. I wanted to own one after hearing it for 5 minutes. Plus, why can't a $4000 headphone have clarity, separation, AND a big soundstage?

 

[endgame]

I bought my first serious headphones back in the early 80's, a beautiful pair of Stax Lambda's. They sounded marvelous to my young ears and I assumed they would last many years to come. Then one night, my cute inebriated big-boned girlfriend set down on the Lambda's after leaving them lying on the couch. I was devastated. Afterwards, I repaired the headband but after a driver failure or two, I moved on to a pair of YH-1000's.

Anyway, you may ask what on earth does this silly little story from back in the day have to do with any of this. The Utopia may not be your best bet if you have an inebriated big-boned girlfriend. Your better off buying two HD800S for the same money just in case.

Bahahahahah!!!