[Luke Thomas]

Anyone out there ever compared the two? Any insight would be welcomed . Thanks

 

[PointyFox]

I've owned the HD800S and listened to the Clear quite a bit. I haven't had a chance to hear them at the same time though so I'm going off memory.

HD800S: More soundstage, slightly more comfortable, slightly less bass bleed
Clear: Slightly more bass, more midbass, a little fuller sounding

 

[Jodet]

I've had 800, 800S for many years. After owning the Clears about ten months I sold the Sennheisers. They're a wonderful headphone but there's just something off about them in the midrange. I only noticed it after listening to the Clears a long time. So the trick is... buy a pair and don't listen to anything else.

 

[Luke Thomas]

ive listened to both. The bass a tad better with the Clears. But the soundstage of the 800s is quite interesting.

 

[wazzupi]

Regular 800 with tube amp is the best of the bunch or go zmf headphones !

 

[Jodet]

Regular 800 with tube amp is the best of the bunch or go zmf headphones !

HifiMan like tube amps too. My 58X Jubilee's sound amazing on my Quad EL84 amp.

 

[PointyFox]

Bottlehead Mainline is a good match for the HD800.

 

[Luke Thomas]

Bottlehead Mainline is a good match for the HD800.

u like the bottlehead better than your v200?

 

[PointyFox]

For the HD800 yes, because it smooths out the sound and enhances the bass. For darker sounding headphones I prefer solid state though.

 

[steve468]

I too owned the 800S, and sold them soon after I got the Clears. The soundstage might be better on the 800S, but I prefer the spatial positioning on the Clear. And to me, the Clear is much more neutral sounding, and therefore a better all rounder. Mind you, I chalk some of this up to the amp I'm using (Schiit Ragnarok); I know some people like the pairing, but I thought it took away some of what was unique about the 800S.

 

[PointyFox]

I demoed the Clears vs. LCD-4 vs. Utopia and thought the LCD-4 and Utopia were better than the Clear, but not by that much. LCD-4 had better sub-bass and the Utopia was a little more clear sounding. I just got a pair of Stax SR-007A and they sound strangely like the LCD-4 to me. Very slightly less bass impact, but a little more clear in the mids.

 

[Luke Thomas]

I’ve moved from the Clears to ed x. Much better. Just toying with trading my Clears for the 800s. Not really a Clears fan.

 

[gtbrown50]

I had both for a while, and ultimately sold the 800s. In fact, I now have gone all in on Focal with a new pair or Utopias and am selling my (2 pairs) of Clears.

 

[wazzupi]

Zmf Verite is my next headphone and ill be comparing my Blackwood auteurs very carefully.

 

[Arniesb]

I had both for a while, and ultimately sold the 800s. In fact, I now have gone all in on Focal with a new pair or Utopias and am selling my (2 pairs) of Clears.

But what do you like better? Utopia or 1000 Se?