I got my Rai Solos in 2021 and have used them almost every day. For walking outdoors with my Fiio M11Pro DAP, I prefer these to my Shure SE535.

I contacted Meze and they do not stock replacement tips. My search led me to these SpinFit tips that work really well for me.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B06VVRXHG1/.

The Fiio "silver" 4.4mm cables are great on these. The MMCX plug is a very snug fit, but the plus is that they do not swivel around once in place, making insertion much easier.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07GGZCFD2/


Happy listener

HD820 REVIEW 2022 TOUR
I am thankful to Anne at Sennheiser headquarters for the opportunity to trial the HD820 headphones. I received no financial incentive for this review, and I will forward the phones to the next person on the tour after my two weeks are up.

I am the kind of audiophile that’s always looking for the value-for-money factor in my equipment. I am retired and enjoy this hobby for several hours per day. I have slight tinnitus in both ears at about 6500 Hz, but it doesn’t usually distract when listening to music. My high frequency hearing drops off at about 12000 Hz. I listen to many genres of music, but mostly acoustic jazz and classical, with Pop/EDM on earphones for the gym or when walking. I suspect that these headphones may be targeted at my demographic. Since the HD820 has been available since 2017, there are many reviews and opinions on the web. So instead of the traditional background, unboxing, photo type review, I am simply providing my experience hearing them for the first time. I made a point of not reading any HD820 reviews before my evaluation, so this review is my opinion, and your experience may differ.

HEADPHONES USED:
There are many competitors in closed headphones in this price bracket. I compared the HD820 against the two other quality headphones I own:

• Sennheiser HD820 Lightweight (382 gm). Leather/velour pads. 300 ohms. $1,800 USD retail. $1,650 open box.
• Audeze LCD-XC (2019) Sheepskin pads. 730 gm. 20 ohms (purely resistive). $1,300 USD at 2021 prices. $1,100 for open box deals.
• Focal Elegia with Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin pads. 35 ohms. 451 gm. $561 USD on Amazon.

SPEAKERS:
KEF LS50 Wireless with SVS1000 sub. This is my reference for sound stage, bass, imaging.

HD820 FIRST IMPRESSIONS:
The headphones ship in a large 27x35cm wooden box padded with dense foam. Since no carrying case is supplied, I guess Sennheiser expects these phones to be used only in the home. Top quality ¼” and 4.4mm terminated cables, 3m long are included. The proprietary connectors are easy to insert, but very difficult to remove. The L/R embossing on the headphone plugs is almost impossible to see. A red shrink wrap on the right would help if you plan to swap cables a lot.

On first unpacking, the plastic cups and headband look cheap and flimsy, but this is the tradeoff - these are the lightest and most comfortable headphones I have sampled. On closer inspection, the plastic construction seems durable. They would suit a person that listens for several hours without a break (perhaps with EQ using a -2db shelf at 5000Hz to tame the higher frequencies). One attribute I like is that you can listen at lower volumes and not lose much detail (I like to protect my hearing).

The oversized leather/velour pads hug your head without much clamping force. However the isolation and leakage is only average (similar to the Elegia, worse than the LCD-XC).

The headband adjustment slips every time I pick up these phones and stretch the cups apart to put them on my head. I used two strips of gaffer tape to hold my preferred setting.

At 300 ohms they require about 25% more volume on my DAC/AMPs to volume match the Elegia or LCD-XC.


MAIN TRACKS FOR COMPARISON

• Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed)
• Slow Dance (Anna Popovic).
• Bad Guy (Billie Eilish). This is a torture test on the sub-bass.
• Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, K.622. 1. Allegro (Russian National Orchestra)

See my test tracks playlist:

https://tidal.com/browse/playlist/fa6622ac-b9ca-4482-97a4-24e6480b4449


DAC/AMP: Centrance HiFi M8 (AK4493). 1000 mW. Medium gain. Single ended. This is a powerful, neutral DAC that Tyll called “gain on a wire”. No EQ applied.
V10:00 means 10 o’clock on the volume knob.

LISTENING:

Walk on the Wild Side (Lou Reed)

HD820: V11:00. Nice wide sound stage, isolation, and imaging. Lou’s voice in the foreground sounds natural. Backing vocals emerging from the back stage have great depth. Bass is fast and taught. Strings and drum kit are clear but with a slightly sharp finish. Sax at the end sounds natural, but with a slight glare.

LCD-XC: V09:30. The bass is much more natural and emphasized; I can hear the wood in the bass. Lou’s voice has more echo. Strings are clear in the background, natural sounding. Strings and drum kit are clear with no glare. Sax at the end sounds natural, but a bit “honky” compared to the HD820.

ELEGIA: V10:00. Lou’s voice is somewhat enclosed in a tunnel, not the natural ambiance I hear from the LCD-XC and HD820. Sound stage and instrument isolation is good. Sax at the end is similar to the HD820.



Easy Money (Ricky Lee Jones)

HD820: V10:30. The opening acoustic bass line is fast and taught. Vocals sound a bit shrill (some sibilance). Tambourine sounds harsh and unnatural. Vibraphone solo at the end of the track sounds very metallic. Drum kit and piano sound natural.

LCD-XC: V10:00. Ricky Lee’s voice is prone to sibilance, but it sounds more natural on the LCD-XC. Bass is enveloping, but fast and taught. Vibraphone sounds more natural. The most enjoyable of the three with this track.

ELEGIA: V10:30. I can’t hear the natural wood sound of the acoustic bass; it sounds like the bass is made of carbon fiber (hard to describe). The tambourine sounds harsh compared to the LCD-XC. Ricky Lee’s voice is forward on the sound stage, but not as warm or intimate as the other two phones. Piano stands out but sounds natural. Snares and vibraphone sound natural.



Slow Dance (Ana Popovic)

HD820: V10:30. Vocals sound natural with no sibilance. Nice ambiance. Backing vocals clear and well isolated. Wide sound stage at about 160 degrees. Electric bass is fast and taught. Kick drum fast and clearly isolated. High hats are clear.

LCD-XC: V10:00. Bass is warm and a bit more enveloping than the HD820. Vocals are clear, crisp, with no sibilance. Kick drum is fast and clear. Cymbals, drum kit, and guitars are well positioned and crisp. High hats and rim shots are a bit louder than the HD820. Backing vocals at about 3’00” are clear and slightly back on the left of the soundstage. Nice ambiance and wide sound stage. My favourite of the three headphones with this track.

ELEGIA: V10:00. Nice bass foundation, with clear kick drum. Clear and fast rim shots on the snare drum. Vocals clear but a bit brighter than the other two phones. Sound stage and isolation is good. The organ at the end stands out, and sounds natural.



Bad Guy (Billie Eilish).

HD820: V10:00. Main electronic bass track is warm and impactful. Sub-bass around 2’30” is impactful, but a slightly distorted. Billie’s seductive voice sounds natural with no sibilance. Background finger snaps and hand claps (on left and right) sound sharp. Masterful pinpoint isolation of the multiple background tracks laid down by Finnias.

LCD-XC: V09:00. A warm bass cocoon. Main electronic bass track is tight, warm and enveloping. Sub-bass around 2’30” is deeper, but again slightly distorted, but in a different way to the HD820. It’s like the planar diaphragm can’t handle the extension as well as my SVS100 sub. If I turned down the volume a bit the distortion was eliminated. Billie’s voice is more forward and warm than HD820. Nice blend of Billie’s track into the overlaid vocals. An overall smoother presentation. Background finger snaps and hand claps sound more natural but still sharp. These phones are my first choice for EDM music.

ELEGIA: V09:00. Less bass pressure than other two phones, but fast and taught. Billie’s voice and backing tracks sound natural with no sibilance – well isolated. Background finger snaps sound natural. Sub-bass around is tight, with less distortion than the other headphones, but I might be hearing a higher octave harmonic than listening with speakers and my SVS1000 sub.

LS50W+SVS1000: Listening to my speakers, the electronic bass track is centered, clean with no distortion on the sub-bass. Finger snaps and hand claps are natural, with no sibilance.

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto

HD820: V12:00. Big sound stage with great imaging and isolation. Good detail; I was able to pick out tiny sounds across the stage. Clarinet is left of center, several rows back on the stage, clear and natural. The double bass on the left with the violins (?) are clear and well blended into the orchestra. Horns are clear at the back. Violas and cellos are clear on the right. An enjoyable listen with no distracting elements.

LCD-XC: V10:30. Matches the HD820 in the sound stage and pinpoint isolation. Bass is hard left behind the violins. Bass sounds louder, but less distinct than the HD820. The lower registers on the clarinet sound sweeter than the HD820. All the strings sound lifelike, with no harshness. A more relaxed listen than the HD820, with the only distracting element being the wooly bass. Overall my favourite of the three for this type of music.

ELEGIA: V50. Sound stage is a bit more congested. A step down in imaging and isolation from the HD820. Clarinet is not as natural – a bit harder in timbre. Violas and cellos on the right are a bit subdued.


ALTERNATE PAIRINGS:

With Cayin RU6 DAC
This R2R DAC/AMP is very accurate, with big sound stage, but it adds some brightness. This exacerbates the brightness on the HD820, making it sound somewhat metallic. I would say not a good match.


With Fiio M11 Pro DAP (twin AK4497, THX amp, balanced out)
This DAP is a good match with the HD820. It gives a warmer presentation. Listening to the Buena Vista Social Club album is a pleasure, with no EQ required.


SUMMARY:


I gave the HD820 about 50 hours of break in to loosen up the diaphragm and surround. The initial sharp edge was diminished a bit. I would place these in the “bright” class of headphones, with a wide sound stage, accurate imaging, and pleasant ambiance (in live venue or with DSP echo). Good depth and 3D like soundstage. Lots of detail: small background instruments are easy to pick out.

The HD820 sounds to me like a closed back HD800. The emphasis on the higher frequencies makes them a fatiguing for my ears. After an hour or so my tinnitus was exacerbated. I returned a pair of Sennheiser HD800 a couple of years back because of the same issue. I read that the HD800S has attenuated the annoying spike in the treble… it would be interesting to hear a closed version.

The LCD-XC provides a more relaxed and warm listen, with accurate detail retrieval, music and vocals sounds more realistic. However they are not as comfortable due to double the weight.

I would say the HD820 are overpriced, and would have to be at HD800 prices ($1,600) or lower to compete in today’s market.

The Elegias are very good value for money. They are hooked up all day to my iPad Pro via a Cayin RU6.

I have slightly larger than average ears, and the stock pads did not accomodate my pinnae without touching. With the Finestrated pads, I cannot detect any change in the SQ.

With the these pads there is a bit more space, or slighter harder foam, such that I get a better fit while sitting in my La-Z-Boy. Still cannot get comfortable lying on a pillow as the shape of the Elegias, and the straight down cords push on the headphones. I still use my Oppo PM3 in bed for comfort.

After three weeks, the velour pads were starting to look a bit grungy. I expect a long life from the sheepskin, and they look posh on my Elegias. Happy with my purchase.

I have had my Elegias for three weeks, and feel they are nicely broken in.
I had comfort issues that some reported. With the clamping force and the perforated velour pads, my ear hit the top of the inner cup.

My solution was to purchase the Dekoni Audio Elite Fenestrated Sheepskin Earpads:
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07BYYJRL8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

With a bit of gentle stretching on the headband the clamping force is now comfortable. Careful... this is a plastic headband.The pads from Dekoni are MUCH more comfortable. My ear does not touch any more. Still not comfortable lying on a pillow, but great sitting up in a chair.

Next I installed a 2.5mm balanced cable, and drive them from my HyBy R6 balanced out. Seldom set the volume higher than 50%.

Now very happy with these headphones. I rate them as a slightly brighter sound than my LCD-2F. I really like the closed head-space, and do not find any problems with the bass at all. It is tight and meaty when challenged (e.g. Toy tracks). Whereas the LCD-2F bass has a bit more punch, the Focal bass is faster and more distinctive.

However heavy EDM bass fans will not get the really thumping bass they may be looking for.

ABOUT ME:
I was fortunate to be selected to review the xDSD as part of the Head-fi tour, and will pass it along to the next reviewer at the end of my allotted week.

I am a retired IT geek, having spent 46 years trying to make computer systems do what I wanted. I have been tinkering with stereo systems since I was 14. My old ears can still hear up to 10 Khz before the treble drops off in volume. I listen to headphones when I need to keep the noise down at home. When at the gym, or on a walk, I use earphones.

When I have the house to myself I play my KEF LS50W speakers at life-like volumes . I like a system that allows me to enjoy the music and am easily distracted by poor imaging, sound-stage, separation, or by exaggerated coloration.

I like Jazz, Blues and Classical the most these days, but I will also listen to R&B, Pop, Rock, Reggae, and EDM when in the mood. I love a heavy bass line. I listen 95% of the time to Tidal streaming or Tidal Downloads.

WHO NEEDS THIS DEVICE?
Apple and Samsung appear to ignore the Hi-Res music audience by including a “good enough” DAC/Amp in their smart phones. Their research must indicate that the vast majority of their headphone/earphone listeners cannot tell the difference with music above 320 Kb/s sampling. I can, and never listen to MP3 or low bit rate recordings. Phone manufacturers have even dropped the headphone jack, so I think they expect customers to switch to Bluetooth (either to headphones or as input to a DAC/amp). I expect that most people that purchase the xDSD will do so for the wireless Bluetooth input as it eliminates the need to strap your DAC/amp to your phone when on the go.

I am a “wannabe” Audiophile, and I would need an external DAC/Amp like the ones in this review to meet my sound quality expectations. I see three main use cases for a portable DAC/Amp, first, to carry around the house to listen on the sofa or in bed for example, second, as a desktop DAC/Amp for my PC, and third for traveling.

On an airplane, it is impractical to carry my heavy and bulky M8 DAC/amp, so I currently keep it simple and listen to downloaded Tidal playlists on my iPhone, paired to a pair of Parrot noise cancelling phones. Now, while the xDSD Bluetooth with my Shure earphones would give me a better sounding experience, I will still go for the noise cancelling headphones, and they require Bluetooth pairing on output. I do not believe the sDSD can do Bluetooth input and output at the same time, although I didn’t actually try this.

There are many reviews of the xDSD on line now, so I thought I would skip the unboxing photos and just narrate my own experience. I like the quality (Apple like) packaging. The xDSD is literally the size of a pack of playing cards. I like the chrome finish and small form factor. I use other iFi products (iPurifier and iUSB power) and appreciate the quality of their products.

At the end below, I compiled a table showing the specs for the xDSD and similar DAC/Amps.

SETUP:
The first configuration I wanted was USB input from my Windows PC. I read the user guide (a small “cheat sheet” card) and discovered I have to switch off and on again while using the Settings button to toggle to the USB input (white light on LED(2)). Next I discovered that I need the xDSD USB drivers. I downloaded v5.2 (for MQA). Apparently the v5.1 is for DSD files… it appears you cannot have DSD input as well as MQA input. To find the Windows drivers scroll down the Download page at https://ifi-audio.com/downloads/

In Windows Speaker Properties set up, I disabled all enhancements and set the output format to 24/192.

I ran Tidal, which showed a dialogue box asking me to confirm that I want to use this new MQA device. I also checked the xDSD settings to ensure flat EQ.

First impressions: non-intuitive controls. It’s hard to find the right settings without studying the manual. The input setup is buggy… I had to re-try several times to get USB input or Bluetooth input. Twice it went to Line Out without my realizing it and I had my ears blasted.

TIDAL TEST TRACKS:

· Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Natalie Mateo) Hi-Fi
· Nothing but Flowers (Talking Heads) Hi-Fi
· Flight of the Cosmic Hippo (Bela Fleck) Hi-Fi
· Just a Little Lovin’ (Shelby Lynne) Hi-Fi
· Limehouse Blues (Jazz at the Pawnshop) Hi-Fi
· Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K622 (Wiener Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm) Hi-Fi
· Temptation (Diana Krall) MASTER
· You Can’t Control It (Jack Johnson) MASTER
· Mozart Symphony No. 41 “Jupiter” (Berliner Philharmoniker, Karl Bohm) MASTER

LISTENING TESTS

DAC/Amp: xDSD

Headphones: Oppo PM3 (Feb 2016 – stock cable)

First impressions… slightly wooly bass. A warm but pleasant presentation. The tambourine and drums are clearly placed and realistic. No sibilance on vocals. Handles the heavy bass and loud cymbals on Cosmic Hippo with ease. However on Limehouse Blues the high pitched clarinet was very piercing. This problem did not occur on the other phones. The PM3s are more comfortable than the Audeze and have closed backs (for sound isolation). I have a problem with the 3.5mm TRRS cable I bought… a loose socket on the headphones? Sorry, no review of the balanced functionality.

Headphones: Audeze LCD2-F (May 2014 – silver plated litz cable)
These phones have a slightly dark/warm coloration. I preferred listening with 3D on. I turned up the volume five notches to match the PM3 sound levels (just into the yellow zone, 75%). The xDSD has no problem driving these phones.
Bass is tight and fast. On Limehouse Blues the tambourine and drums are clearly placed and realistic. No sibilance on Diana Krall’s vocals. The xDSD handles the heavy bass on Cosmic Hippo with ease and the cymbals are crisper than with the PM3s. On the Jack Johnson MASTER track the sound-stage and imaging are significantly better. Listening to the Jupiter with the 3D setting, I enjoyed the imaging and isolation of all the instruments on stage. It was easy to focus on the various string instruments across the stage. On my Diana Krall test tracks, micro detail was good: I could hear her drawing a breath between her lines.
Overall an enjoyable musical experience… better than the PM3s. As these are my favorite headphones paired with the xDSD, and I used them for the most of my listening this week. I left the 3D switched on to brighten up the top end a little.

Headphones: Fostex T50RP (modded). These phones are notoriously hard to drive, and have a dark signature. On Cosmic Hippo, I obtained a nice tight bass by turning up the volume to yellow/red (about 80%). The mids are a bit recessed. The highs are there but not as bright as the other phones (even with the 3D setting. A workable pairing, but not really the best match.

Earphones: Shure SE215 (with long Comply tips)
These earphones pair nicely with the xDSD. Like the LCD-2Fs these phones have a slightly emphasized bass. The acoustic bass is taught, and the mids and highs are sibilance free. I listened to these (via Bluetooth input coming from an old iPhone 4s) for a few hours on a trip last weekend, and there were no distracting coloration or artifacts. A pleasant musical experience with clear bass, mids, and highs. Good imaging on USB and Tidal MASTER tracks. No hiss at all. Good for portable use.

Bluetooth: Once I had figured out how to get into Bluetooth (again multifunction switches, a two hand job), I paired successfully with my iPad. I had forgotten to turn up the volume on the iPad… easy fix. Sometimes when I turned the xDSD (and iPad) off and on again I had to go through the pairing exercise again. Once I could pair but no sound came across. I had to “forget” the device on the iPad and re-pair again. iFi Customer Service replied “With Apple products, you may need to force the 'forget' and repair”.
The xDSD Bluetooth has decent range (about 15m if no obstructions). I was pleasantly surprised with the sound quality of the Bluetooth input. The ability to have your xDSD in your pocket and your phone in your hand is a major feature of the xDSD. The Fiio Q5 also has this feature.

DAC/Amp: CEntrance HiFi M8
The M8 has a slightly better soundstage and imaging then the xDSD. However, on the Jack Johnson track the presentation is more musical and pleasant on the xDSD than on the M8, albeit I was listening to a MASTER track on the xDSD. The M8 does not decode MQA.
With the xDSD playing through Bluetooth and the M8 on USB input, playing Take a Walk on the Wild Side, the M8 was able to isolate the bongos and tambourine slightly better than the xDSD. Using the treble boost on the M8 it is noticeably clearer than the xDSD with 3D on. However, with both devices on USB input they sound much the same.
Although the xDSD plays loud with all headphones and earphones, I find the M8’s extra power (1000mW), gives a slightly better “grip” and taughtness. The M8 dedicated buttons for all functions are intuitive and easy to switch with one hand. The M8 is a good match for difficult to drive headphones. However, after four years of regular usage, the M8 now has poor battery life (about 4 hours). The M8 is too bulky for outside use, and does not have Bluetooth input.

MQA
On Tidal, I always select “MASTER” MQA albums if available, assuming they are produced from better mastered tapes. I am somewhat agnostic on the sound differences with full MQA decoding, but so far, I have not heard a MASTER track that sounds worse than the Hi-Fi track of the same piece. The xDSD detects MQA tracks and renders them nicely. Listening to the Tidal MASTER tracks was a pleasure, but I did not do a successful blind test comparison with the equivalent Hi-Fi racks (see bugs below).

BUGS
When constantly switching back and forth with MQA and the same track in Hi-Fi, the xDSD started to malfunction and finally died. Battery level was OK. After letting the device cool down for six hours it started up and played again. But when trying the comparison tests again in Roon and Tidal, I eventually got no sound at all even though all the LEDs looked normal. After several attempts at resetting the xDSD I still had a non-responsive device.

MEASURE/LISTEN, XBASS AND 3D SWITCHES
These EQ settings are subtle, not “in your face”. With my phones (and old ears) I preferred the slight treble boost that comes with the 3D setting. With both 3D and xBass on it’s like turning on a “loudness” switch.

KEF LS50W
I switched off the xDSD and switched on my reference system – KEF LS50W speakers. I have to say the LS50W beats any DAC/amp headphone combination I have tried. The imaging and soundstage are very accurate once I set them up for my room. The bass, drums, vocals, and cymbals are much crisper. I guess that good speakers in a compatible room should be able to out-perform headphones.

OTHER NOTES

• I do not have any DSD files, so I can’t comment on the DSD capabilities.
  
• I did not hear any EMI interference from my iMac 27 (running Windows 7) or from my iPad.
• I found that the sound coloration varies a lot with my different headphones, so you may want to test your phones before purchasing.

CONCLUSION
The xDSD would make a good replacement for my CEntrance HiFi M8. The xDSD has an enjoyable sound, small form factor, good battery life and Bluetooth input. It is smaller and lighter. If I had a non-buggy unit, I could live with the more difficult ergonomics on the xDSD in exchange for better sound and Bluetooth input… I guess having to learn the awkward user interface is a reasonable compromise for a small form factor. My preferred match is the Audeze LCD2-F phones. The table below shows the DAC/Amps that are similar in features and price.
Note that only the Fiio Q5 and the xDSD have Bluetooth input. This avoids the need to strap (or Velcro) your phone to the back of the xDSD, which is actually smaller than most smart phones.

Would I buy the xDSD for myself? It’s priced between the iFi Nano Black, and the iFi Black Label. The Black Label produces 4000 mW of power – worth the price for hard to drive headphones from your desktop. If the Bluetooth input is an important feature – the xDSD is worth comparing with the Fiio Q5. If I were commuting by bus or train, I would prefer wireless noise cancelling headphones, i.e. no need for a DAC/amp.
And since I don’t really need Bluetooth input, or multiple inputs, the iFi Nano Black Label at half the price of the xDSD, or the Dragonfly Red may be better value for my money.

COMPARISON TABLE

These specs are what I gleaned on the Internet. Please double check your sources as I cannot guarantee accuracy.