The difference in sound quality between the stepped and the non stepped volume control is minimal and barely noticeable and in a blind test you will probably hear no difference .I had both the non stepped and stepped v281 for 10 days and decided to keep the non stepped .I followed the advice of...

More expensive doesn't always have to be better people often have difficulty to accept this

The general consensus under most professional reviewers and Axel himself is that the sound quality overall of the HD800S is better ,especially with jazz and classical music .With pop music you maybe better off with the HD 820 and if you can’t listen in a quiet environment .So the value for...

https://www.headphone.com/blogs/news/sennheiser-hd820-closed-back-headphone-review

The general impression of all the professional reviewers and Axel himself is that the 800S is still the better headphone

Axel Grell about the HD 820 https://musicphotolife.com/2018/04/sennheiser-hd-820-preview-canjam-singapore-2018-interview-axel-grell/

The stepped remote control is only useful if you listen to a HP not nearby the v281.It will give you barely audible difference in sound quality. In a blind test you you will not hear a difference. I had the opportunity to listen to a V281 with and without the stepped remote control for a week...

Alex Grell is not profit orientated just sound orientated

Axel Grell said it himself that the 800S is the better headphone, more detail, more cripsness better separation ,wider and deeper soundstage. He can know because he is the designer. For people that need a closed back set, the 820 is the headphone that comes the closest in sound. to the HD800S

iI I drive the Hd 800S ( Cardas Clear xlr cable ) lwith Violectric V281 with Shunyata power cable , Chord Qutest Dac . cables, Audio Quest Diamond USB > ifi Iusb micro 3.0> JCat Reference USB > Qutest >Cardas Clear Beyond Interconnects>ViolectricV281> HD 800S

I have the HD 800S and in my experience they don’t have a thin sound signature at all If you use the right amp and dac they can sound full with a good and powerful bass and you are in the music They are amp picky ,more than HD 820 . I listened for two hours to the HD 820 and to my ears the bass...

I had the opportunity to Listen to the HD820 at my local dealer for about 2 hours and was first impressed by the sound . The sound signature is lthe same as the HD 800S with a little less soundstage airiness and definition and a little more bass but not much. After 2 hours I did put on the...

No the Qutest sounds better as a dac . I compared both for a week used as a dac and decided to keep the Qutest .So if you don't need a amp go for the Qutest .

review of the Qutest https://downloads.artsexcellence.nl/reviews/chord.qutest.artsexcellence.english.pdf