@Ichos your review is beyond detailed and credit to you for the time consumed to produce a quantitative and qualitative feedback. My point is in no way against your review. They had the chance to produce a cheaper HD800s and they missed that opportunity. Personally I don’t think the HD8XX is in any way, shape or form a better performing headphone for both technicalities and tuning compared to the HD800S. If they had done what they did with the HD6XX then it would sell faster than typing this message.

Hard disagree on the take of the tonality of the 8xx out of the box, but appreciate the thoroughness of the review.

@Another Audiophile
I believe that this is the greatest misconception of the community.
To my knowledge Drop didn't want to produce a cheaper version of the HD800.
The wanted to make a different sounding flavor of the headphone, addressed to the users who don't like the other two and they have greatly succeeded in doing so.
As I write in the closing thoughts on the review it is not necessary better or for everyone.
But there are people who are going to love it.
Still others would stick in they old trusted HD800S or 800.
Nothing wrong with that.
Reviewing is a difficult task and guys like Crinnacle and others who think themselves like golden ears or audio judges should think twice before ditching a product.
It is not about what they like or not , it is to communicate what other might like in a product.
Maybe some reviewers or users where expecting something and got something else.
So what?
There are so many other people that are going to love it.
Thanks

@Ichos Έχεις ενα δίκαιο. Agree about the comparison style instead of opinions. Nobody has golden ears.

Σε ευχαριστώ!

Couldn’t agree more about reviewing style. Too many people (not just reviewers) confuse their personal opinions with fact. All we can hope to do is give some context of our own listening preferences and experience, and then communicate what we heard in the light of that context. That is what I hope to do after I get the review sample, hopefully next week. Any attempt at ‘absolute truth’ in a review is pure hubris, and probably should be ignored. Especially if it’s based on graphs.

Words of wisdom!
Looking forward to your review.

Just curious. Out of Crinacle's top IEM and headphones which have you actually tried?

Why does it matter?
Focal Utopia/Focal Clear/Hifiman Jade II/HEDDphone/Sennheiser HD600/Audio Technica ATH-R70x
Not going to B category.
I am not into iems for personal use so from the top categories I am limited to
Vision Ears VE8.
Everything else in my list is in his B tier and lower.

But the main difference to Crinnacle specifically (and other very busy reviewers) is that with all of them I have spent many - many hours of listening time.

Anyway I don't like to start a discussion.
Everyone is entitled to his opinion.

Because I was interested? What other reason is there to ask a question if not for the sake of curiosity!

Also, it seems that you actually just hate most of his headphone selection (It really is too bad you dislike the usage of IEMs, since I find myself agreeing far more with Crinacle's list on IEMs than headphones), but you stated, "I hate most of his top ranking headphones and iems."

I personally (opinion woah!) find myself disliking his top headphones from grade A up (except the Utopia and 600s, though I'm interested in why you dislike Utopia and 600! Just interesting to understand the opposing side of an opinion!).

I see... well a discussion is scary isn't it? Imagine what could occur... the possibilities are endless!

Discussions are not scary at all but in a subjective hobby are pointless.
So I will let you know why I dislike Utopia and HD600.
So what?
Am I going to change your perception about this headphones?
No way.
So I don't see the point here.
OK let's say that I don't like the artificial timbre of Utopia, the out of tune presentation and ultra detail for the sake of detail being thrown at my face screaming hey I am a TOTL headphone, I am doing detail great.
I don't get connected to the music, so with the HD600 , a most unengaging and boring headphone.
No what?
OK now you are going to reply no , no , I don't agree , I love the Utopia for x, y, z reasons.
And blah blah....

Ichos, again, thank you for your review! It was much appreciated. I don't claim to be ultra knowlegable on anything, but I have been in this hobby for awhile now and have been through many pieces of gear from low end dacs to high end dacs (currently Yggdrasil LIM) as well as Amps ranging from the Magni and presently the Jotunheim 2. I have had other gear from Topping to SMSL and many headphones as well. The list is too long to list hear. So with that being said, I have read numerous opinions from many people over the years saying how that is great and this is trash and it is frustrating as hell because alot of times when I get that particular gear I am not hearing what they are hearing. The bottom line here is that it is OK to have different opinions about things because we all hear things differently and like different things. It is impossible to really take anyones review as the defacto standard on anything because it is just an opinion the way they hear it.

Your experience will differ because you hear things differently. Lets also not forget that everyones chain probably isnt the same, the quality of the music (redbook audio, Mp3's, WMA etc etc) not to mention masterings vary wildy. Then you have the acoustics of the room your in for speakers. Then you have gear that people claim with .0000000000000000% distortion is going to sound better than something that is .003% because it is more "accurate". Just find something that sounds good to you and go with it. Who cares what other people say. This hobby will drive you insane if you let it. And as I said in my previous post, understanding how to build a system, each components strengths and weaknesses balanced with each other (system synergy), in my opinion is the most important thing you can do to have an enjoyable system.

In my life I am trying to see the hidden beauty within everything that the general consensus is that it is ugly.
I review with the same ideal, when I like something I know that there are people who will not and when I don't like it , I am trying to find out what other people might like.
Just can't stand reviews trashing products without thinking twice and I don't like how a sparkle can spread into a fair.
One influencer said x for a y product and then all the people vouch for this x without even listening to the product.
I guess that is how the masses get influenced.

False! Even in a world of subjectiveness, we can find the thin lines that help define a discussion that is more than just stating one's opinions and moving on.

Of course you will not change my perception about the headphones, rather you mean to say my opinion! Why, I would become the very thing you're against, you stated, "One influencer said x for a y product and then all the people vouch for this x without even listening to the product. I guess that is how the masses get influenced." You see your usage of perception is quite misleading. You haven't changed my subjective opinion on the headphone for myself (as I am independent enough to gather my own thoughts to form a strong, maybe stubborn, opinion on something), but you have given me a greater perception of the audience's opinion towards something that conflicts with mine. That is the point my kind sir, and you may not see the purpose but you surely will one day!

Intersting! I must inquire deeper... so would you say the sort of aspect that you're looking for could be defined as muddy (the dislike towards extreme detailing is how I derived this thought)? Or would you use a different term to describe your personal taste? I'm not surprised that you and I are on the opposite spectrum towards detailing, and I've always been perfectly glad to have a contrast to what is so common for myself. Though, I understand that's my stance on life, but we all can appreciate a small break every now and then...

If you don't care for my opinion, then I see no point in stating it! Though, I never said that I was going to say anything about it... I see that you've already attained a certain attitude and I can tell it seems to conflict at times. I wouldn't blame yah! Have a wonderful day!

I am not an influencer.
More like a hobbyist who takes some of his time in writing opinions and thoughts that may help other to gather some information.
Have a nice day too, for you it is certainly going to be, for me it is rather good night!!!

BTW, never said that I don't like detail or I am into muddiness.
For example the Elite is detailed and resolving the Utopia is obsessing analytical.

BTW 2 , I would like to engage in a discussion with you, for the shake of it but I am not that well versed in English, we are way out of topic and honestly I barely have some time to write my reviews.

Thank you again for reading.

Why are you letting a newbie with 50 posts, many on this thread, get to you? He is obviously just trolling you, and he hasn’t developed enough manners to post a difference of opinion without being arrogant and insulting. Don’t let his inexperience and obvious immaturity bother you or bait you into lowering yourself to his level. We all prefer not to hear from these guys who start with the snide remarks from post 1, but you can’t do anything to stop them. My advice is to just ignore him. We can all see what he’s up to. You put a in ton of effort and posted your honest assessments. He thinks it’s funny to crap on your hard work. Shameful.

@Strat1117
Thank you very much for your comments.
As you can see I am bitting, just being polite!

I have the HD 800 which I purchased in 2016; I like them, however, it is bass light, and I am not a bass head. I tried the expensive leather pads on it; it ruined the sound beauty in every area. Furthermore, I put the stock pads back on the 800, and I now appreciate them for their sound and wide sound stage. I was discerning getting the 800's, then I discovered the HD 8XX. Now, I am discerning getting them. Thus, from what many folks have stated that there's not much difference between the HD800 and HD800S. However, is there a discernible difference with the 8xx over the other 800's? In addition, is it worth getting the 8xx if you already have the 2016 version of the HD800?