[Sorrodje]

Didnt see the video yet. that's 25 mn long. will watch that during my Lunch time . 

 

[headwhacker]

Musical vs analytical....  I'm soooooo tired of those arguments.  

Analytical for some is the musical for others , the musical for some is the boring mess for others.  matter of tastes, musical and sound preferences. that's all subjective. 

Tyll Hertsens just released his ranking of the totl headphones he had for the Bigsound2015 and his favorite is the HE1K that I personaly consider way too soft and polite and not precise enough for my music enjoyment cuz it's does not make me feel what I listen is real.  I'm a HD800 nut for good reasons after all and Tyll is crystal clear about his personal preference towards warmer/darker sound sig.  So I fully understand when he comes from even if our preferences differ. 

Absolute great work from Tyll. the whole Big sound 2015 deserves a lot of praise. 

I agree with your observation of Tyll's listening preferences (towards warm/dark sig). To me the headphones he raves about are mostly what I don't like personally.

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

If you actually watch the video, he does say that with the mod, he'd take the HD800 over any of the other headphones.

 
Need to clarify, sometimes it's not easy to be precise with my words in the videos...mostly done in one take, donchaknow.
 
Professionally, I can't be without an HD 800, so it's the most important headphone to me in my work.
 
But personally, I'd take the HE-1000 for listening pleasure.

 

[RudeWolf]

The only reason I use a LCD-2 over a HD800 at home is that the Sennheiser in stock form isn't pleasant to listen to. It's a spectacular headphone when EQ calibrated, but un-modded and un-EQ-ed... Audeze wins.

 

[Dadracer]

Just out of interest has anyone done a detailed comparison of the HD800 vs HD800 modified with the anaxilus? I am certain it will make a difference to the sound but I am as sure that means it will be an substantial or significant improvement.
 
On the one hand I fully respect the work that Tyll and his associates have done and they are to be applauded wholeheartedly. On the other hand is it probable that Sennheiser with their R&D budget had missed something so significant and which could be sorted with such a small adjustment?
 
Maybe I need to visit the craft shop...........

 

[Dadracer]

Oh and yes, I forgot to ask this. Has anyone at Sennheiser listened to this modification and made comment either official or unofficial about it???

 

[Raika]

   
Need to clarify, sometimes it's not easy to be precise with my words in the videos...mostly done in one take, donchaknow.
 
Professionally, I can't be without an HD 800, so it's the most important headphone to me in my work.
 
But personally, I'd take the HE-1000 for listening pleasure.

how did you compare the lcd 3 F and he 1000 ? which one hit hard on the bass ? what about the midrange ?
Thanks Tyll .

 

[shultzee]

  The only reason I use a LCD-2 over a HD800 at home is that the Sennheiser in stock form isn't pleasant to listen to. It's a spectacular headphone when EQ calibrated, but un-modded and un-EQ-ed... Audeze wins.

Having owned a LCD -2, LCD-X, and AKG 812 pro and now the HD800 I am forever screwed.  IMHO nothing else holds up to the HD800.  

 

[Sorrodje]

   
Need to clarify, sometimes it's not easy to be precise with my words in the videos...mostly done in one take, donchaknow.
 
Professionally, I can't be without an HD 800, so it's the most important headphone to me in my work.
 
But personally, I'd take the HE-1000 for listening pleasure.

 
Just Saw your vid and  what's funny and interesting for me is that it seems we share the same impressions ( mine are here ) about the HE1K but what makes me dislike  this headphone are the same things that make you like it. we shared some impressions with @romaz and it was exactly the same.  I really find interesting when people who have different tastes can quietly share the same analysis . it means a lot for me. 
 
btw, kudos for all your work , @Tyll Hertsens . Impressive and insightful . World class stuff that we appreciate a lot in France as well.  

 

 

[Fegefeuer]

very well written take on the HE-1000, Sörrödje

 

[RudeWolf]

  Just out of interest has anyone done a detailed comparison of the HD800 vs HD800 modified with the anaxilus? I am certain it will make a difference to the sound but I am as sure that means it will be an substantial or significant improvement.
 
On the one hand I fully respect the work that Tyll and his associates have done and they are to be applauded wholeheartedly. On the other hand is it probable that Sennheiser with their R&D budget had missed something so significant and which could be sorted with such a small adjustment?
 
Maybe I need to visit the craft shop...........

 
I have a modded and stock pair at the office. Compared them both in a sighted listening test. The mod did make them more neutral sounding, but I still had some reservations. I'll ask my engineers to compare them measurement wise and see what happens. My guess is that the Anax modded version together with calibration will sound the best.
 
As for Sennheiser R&D... I wonder what did they not like about the HD650 signature that made them go with this kind of tuning. As a marketing person for another company I'd say that my experience is that brighter sounding headphones/speakers are able to immediately grab attention. Same goes for exaggerated bass response. How it fares in the long run? I can only guess.
 
My perfect headphone is a HD800 with HD600 tonality and ortho bass.

 

[Sorrodje]

   
As for Sennheiser R&D... I wonder what did they not like about the HD650 signature that made them go with this kind of tuning. As a marketing person for another company I'd say that my experience is that brighter sounding headphones/speakers are able to immediately grab attention. Same goes for exaggerated bass response. How it fares in the long run? I can only guess.
 
My perfect headphone is a HD800 with HD600 tonality and ortho bass.

 
I definitely think Sennheiser designed the HD800 specifically for Classical music.  And IME this is where the HD800 shines at his best . Mods and EQ help to transform tnhe HD800 in a more forgiving headphone. (I currently use light mods with mine )  
 
In 2009 , when the HD800 was released ( not to mention that HD800 was developped during the years before) , the HIFI market was really different. and TOTL Hifi stuff was dedicated to classical and Jazz mostly. Now , more and more consumers want totl headphones to listen to a wider range of music where the HD800 FR is not ideal. 

 

[AlanU]

After modding my HD800 I do not think I can go back into stock form. I try to keep a simplistic approach to my headphone rig with no EQ manipulation. 
 
I'll go with new headphones  or buy new dac for different sound signature before EQ'ing.....

 

[RudeWolf]

   
I definitely think Sennheiser designed the HD800 specifically for Classical music.  And IME this is where the HD800 shines at his best . Mods and EQ help to transform tnhe HD800 in a more forgiving headphone. (I currently use light mods with mine )  
 
In 2009 , when the HD800 was released ( not to mention that HD800 was developped during the years before) , the HIFI market was really different. and TOTL Hifi stuff was dedicated to classical and Jazz mostly. Now , more and more consumers want totl headphones to listen to a wider range of music where the HD800 FR is not ideal. 

 
Do you find classical music too darkly mastered? I'd say that in stock form the HD800 isn't too truthful to the recording and the same goes for most headphones which usually get associated with pro or studio use. With bright coloration you get the impression of increased detail, but the HD800 doesn't need that! It's friggin microscope without any of the tricks.
 
For me the ultimate test for neutrality is wether a system can be used for critical studio work. One of the reasons why headphones tonality wise are all over the place is that to this day there is no target reference on how to tune them. Hence headphones in studio have always been the underdog device with very few people able to pull off great mixes on them.

 

[Moonhead]

HD800 is King 
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/big-sound-2015-finale-headphones#3YjCOUtiVUVzMEd3.97
 
By the way if you ask numerous record producer the only refrence is real live instruments, especially classical and jazz.