Towert7
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2005
- Posts
- 5,853
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- 38
Hello.
These are my initial impressions on the Sennheiser HD800. Most of my listening has been done with my main headphone setup sourced by the MHDT labs Havana NOS tube dac with WE396A tube, feeding either the HeadAmp GS-1 or WooAudio WA6 headphone amps. I have had these for roughly 3 months now.
The HE60 uses the same source but uses the stock Sennheiser HEV70 amp. I have had these for about a year now.
Comfort:
When ever I put these headphones on, I feel a little bit sad. I think it has something to do with the huge size of the ear pads, which make me feel droopy. I am not very thrilled with the comfort of the HD800. I would classify it as simply “acceptable”. The headband is too loose, and I find that just handling it will adjust the headband size, needing me to go back and fiddle with it. The headphones are very heavy! Whereas my Senn HE60 are light as a feather, the HD800 are one of the heaviest headphones I have ever used.
If Sennheiser changed the shape from the typical HD650 / HE60 out of necessity to get their sonic signature, then fine. But if they could have made the HD800 in the shape of the HE60 without loss of sound quality, I wish they would have.
The cable is very coiled, and so it likes to twist up. Extra care must be taken to keep the cable straight.
The HD800 move around on my head a lot! They do not make a good fit on my head. If I lean back to close my eyes and listen to the music, they pretty much fall right off. If I move my head side-to-side, they shift around a lot.
Lastly, because of the large size of the ear pads, when I get a 5 o’clock shadow, the ear pads make me quite itchy.
In summary, I am not very happy with the comfort of the HD800, whereas my HE60 are one of the most comfortable headphones I have ever used.
Build quality:
They are mostly sturdy plastic, with a shape that looks a little intimidating at first, but once I got used to it I find they look bland. No color, but similar looking to the Sony Qualia 010 in ear cup design.
Cable design and ear cup attachments are very nice.
Story:
Is the HD800 a more refined version of the HD650? Well, no, frankly. The HD800 is a complete departure. Dr. Sennheiser set out to build the most neutral and technically perfect dynamic headphone the world has ever seen. And their team did it. A German researcher comes out in a lab coat, says “it's perfect”, and goes back.
Out of every dynamic headphone I have ever heard, the HD800 is the most neutral sounding of the bunch. The way it reproduces instrumental music is so lifelike. Every instruments sounds like that instrument. Sounds have the positioning in space rivaling the top electrostatics headphones, and the level of detail is right there with the best electrostatics (O2, HE90). Most people I have talked to, myself included, feel the HD800 are better than the HE90 in several ways. The 800’s have slightly better bass (having more detail and weight, while being more in line with the rest of the frequency spectrum), more depth to the soundstage, and better micro detail. The best HE90 Rig I listened to, with components hand picked by a very respectable name in the headphone business, totaling around 25,000$ was the closest I have heard the HE90 sound to the HD800. They were both about equally neutral. They had a slightly different sonic signature, and different presentation of the music, but both were close enough to be compared in the same category of headphones. The biggest competition I can think of to the HD800 is the Stax O2 in terms of technicality.
So, right about now you would expect me to recommend these, show a few pictures, and be done.
Sadly, no. These headphones have one or two strings attached. It is true that I find these headphones to be the most neutral and lifelike sounding with instrumental music. However, when you are listening to vocals you are faced with a mildly sibilant quality emphasizing sh’s and ss’s. At times male vocals are even sibilant. Now you might argue that this is technically how the recording should sound, but I can tell you that it makes for a less relaxing musical experience. Anyone who wants to drift away in the music will be in search of equipment that disappears, leaving just the music. It is not the case with the HD800. This is one area that the old Sennheiser electrostatics (HE60 / HE90) did MUCH better. If you are searching for a headphone that can be considered warm, the HD800 wouldn’t be my first choice. I would look instead to the HE60, HE90, O2, and R10.
If I could be so crude for a moment, I would say the HD800 typifies what is typically referred to as a ‘solid state sound’, while the HE60/HE90 typifies a ‘tube sound’. The HE60/HE90 are an easier listen, but the HD800 has the technicality and neutrality.
One is no longer a clear winner. It comes down to personal preference. Each is not without their drawbacks, but each is among the best headphones in the world.
Another Story (HD800 Vs. HE60):
So, I owned the HE60 + HEV70 and decided to try the HD800 out. I wanted to try it, but had a very good feeling that I would be returning them within the 15 day return period since there was no way they could stack up to the HE60. 15 days rolled by, and I never returned the HD800. That right there is saying a lot. Now I am cursed, because I want a headphone that combines the best of both headphones! I fear that my only other option is a Stax O2, or a 25,000$ HE90 setup.
I would say that 70% of the time I am thrilled with the HD800 with instrumental music. But for the other 30% of the time, I yearn for the smoothness of the HE60. Most will still consider the HE60 a more hifi headphone, even though the HD800 is better in several ways.
Some ways the HD800 are surprisingly better: First off, the high frequencies. You would think the one thing electrostatics are suited for is that high frequency speed and detail. Well the HE60 have the speed, but I kid you not the HD800 have a better detailed high frequency. Instruments sound more lifelike with the HD800. The HD800 also have a slightly more pronounced bass region with roughly equal amounts of tightness and slightly more detail. Neither is a major departure from the other though, just the HD800’s being slightly more in line with the rest of the frequency spectrum. For those in need of more bass weight, you’ll need to look elsewhere (O2, R10, PS1). The mids are also comparable, with the exception that the HD800 is a little more detailed and sibilant. In terms of soundstage, the HD800 presents sounds more in front of you whereas the HE60 presents a more encapsulating sound experience (much more typical of headphones). I can instantly switch to the HE60, but each time I go back to the HD800 it takes my ears a minute or two to get used to the presentation again. Once this happens though, both headphones have very nice positioning of instruments, with the biggest difference being that the HD800 presents more depth to the sound stage (sounds can sound farther away). It's still close to a headphone sound, but a tiny bit closer to the presentation of a 2 channel stereo setup.
Smoothness easily goes to the HE60.
I could live with either and be very happy. The HD800 have opened up a new window into the way my music sounds, but I still feel VERY uncomfortable parting with my HE60. I think solely in terms of sound quality, I would rather live with the HE60 simply because of the sibilant vocals on the HD800. Curses, I’m so debated (just like I was when it came time to return the HD800)!!!
When you talk about the price, I think Sennheiser did a good job picking the 1400$us price point.
Pics:
I’ll post pictures at a later date.
Hope this helps, and as always feel free to post your comments!
~Drew
These are my initial impressions on the Sennheiser HD800. Most of my listening has been done with my main headphone setup sourced by the MHDT labs Havana NOS tube dac with WE396A tube, feeding either the HeadAmp GS-1 or WooAudio WA6 headphone amps. I have had these for roughly 3 months now.
The HE60 uses the same source but uses the stock Sennheiser HEV70 amp. I have had these for about a year now.
Comfort:
When ever I put these headphones on, I feel a little bit sad. I think it has something to do with the huge size of the ear pads, which make me feel droopy. I am not very thrilled with the comfort of the HD800. I would classify it as simply “acceptable”. The headband is too loose, and I find that just handling it will adjust the headband size, needing me to go back and fiddle with it. The headphones are very heavy! Whereas my Senn HE60 are light as a feather, the HD800 are one of the heaviest headphones I have ever used.
If Sennheiser changed the shape from the typical HD650 / HE60 out of necessity to get their sonic signature, then fine. But if they could have made the HD800 in the shape of the HE60 without loss of sound quality, I wish they would have.
The cable is very coiled, and so it likes to twist up. Extra care must be taken to keep the cable straight.
The HD800 move around on my head a lot! They do not make a good fit on my head. If I lean back to close my eyes and listen to the music, they pretty much fall right off. If I move my head side-to-side, they shift around a lot.
Lastly, because of the large size of the ear pads, when I get a 5 o’clock shadow, the ear pads make me quite itchy.
In summary, I am not very happy with the comfort of the HD800, whereas my HE60 are one of the most comfortable headphones I have ever used.
Build quality:
They are mostly sturdy plastic, with a shape that looks a little intimidating at first, but once I got used to it I find they look bland. No color, but similar looking to the Sony Qualia 010 in ear cup design.
Cable design and ear cup attachments are very nice.
Story:
Is the HD800 a more refined version of the HD650? Well, no, frankly. The HD800 is a complete departure. Dr. Sennheiser set out to build the most neutral and technically perfect dynamic headphone the world has ever seen. And their team did it. A German researcher comes out in a lab coat, says “it's perfect”, and goes back.
Out of every dynamic headphone I have ever heard, the HD800 is the most neutral sounding of the bunch. The way it reproduces instrumental music is so lifelike. Every instruments sounds like that instrument. Sounds have the positioning in space rivaling the top electrostatics headphones, and the level of detail is right there with the best electrostatics (O2, HE90). Most people I have talked to, myself included, feel the HD800 are better than the HE90 in several ways. The 800’s have slightly better bass (having more detail and weight, while being more in line with the rest of the frequency spectrum), more depth to the soundstage, and better micro detail. The best HE90 Rig I listened to, with components hand picked by a very respectable name in the headphone business, totaling around 25,000$ was the closest I have heard the HE90 sound to the HD800. They were both about equally neutral. They had a slightly different sonic signature, and different presentation of the music, but both were close enough to be compared in the same category of headphones. The biggest competition I can think of to the HD800 is the Stax O2 in terms of technicality.
So, right about now you would expect me to recommend these, show a few pictures, and be done.
Sadly, no. These headphones have one or two strings attached. It is true that I find these headphones to be the most neutral and lifelike sounding with instrumental music. However, when you are listening to vocals you are faced with a mildly sibilant quality emphasizing sh’s and ss’s. At times male vocals are even sibilant. Now you might argue that this is technically how the recording should sound, but I can tell you that it makes for a less relaxing musical experience. Anyone who wants to drift away in the music will be in search of equipment that disappears, leaving just the music. It is not the case with the HD800. This is one area that the old Sennheiser electrostatics (HE60 / HE90) did MUCH better. If you are searching for a headphone that can be considered warm, the HD800 wouldn’t be my first choice. I would look instead to the HE60, HE90, O2, and R10.
If I could be so crude for a moment, I would say the HD800 typifies what is typically referred to as a ‘solid state sound’, while the HE60/HE90 typifies a ‘tube sound’. The HE60/HE90 are an easier listen, but the HD800 has the technicality and neutrality.
One is no longer a clear winner. It comes down to personal preference. Each is not without their drawbacks, but each is among the best headphones in the world.
Another Story (HD800 Vs. HE60):
So, I owned the HE60 + HEV70 and decided to try the HD800 out. I wanted to try it, but had a very good feeling that I would be returning them within the 15 day return period since there was no way they could stack up to the HE60. 15 days rolled by, and I never returned the HD800. That right there is saying a lot. Now I am cursed, because I want a headphone that combines the best of both headphones! I fear that my only other option is a Stax O2, or a 25,000$ HE90 setup.
I would say that 70% of the time I am thrilled with the HD800 with instrumental music. But for the other 30% of the time, I yearn for the smoothness of the HE60. Most will still consider the HE60 a more hifi headphone, even though the HD800 is better in several ways.
Some ways the HD800 are surprisingly better: First off, the high frequencies. You would think the one thing electrostatics are suited for is that high frequency speed and detail. Well the HE60 have the speed, but I kid you not the HD800 have a better detailed high frequency. Instruments sound more lifelike with the HD800. The HD800 also have a slightly more pronounced bass region with roughly equal amounts of tightness and slightly more detail. Neither is a major departure from the other though, just the HD800’s being slightly more in line with the rest of the frequency spectrum. For those in need of more bass weight, you’ll need to look elsewhere (O2, R10, PS1). The mids are also comparable, with the exception that the HD800 is a little more detailed and sibilant. In terms of soundstage, the HD800 presents sounds more in front of you whereas the HE60 presents a more encapsulating sound experience (much more typical of headphones). I can instantly switch to the HE60, but each time I go back to the HD800 it takes my ears a minute or two to get used to the presentation again. Once this happens though, both headphones have very nice positioning of instruments, with the biggest difference being that the HD800 presents more depth to the sound stage (sounds can sound farther away). It's still close to a headphone sound, but a tiny bit closer to the presentation of a 2 channel stereo setup.
Smoothness easily goes to the HE60.
I could live with either and be very happy. The HD800 have opened up a new window into the way my music sounds, but I still feel VERY uncomfortable parting with my HE60. I think solely in terms of sound quality, I would rather live with the HE60 simply because of the sibilant vocals on the HD800. Curses, I’m so debated (just like I was when it came time to return the HD800)!!!
When you talk about the price, I think Sennheiser did a good job picking the 1400$us price point.
Pics:
I’ll post pictures at a later date.
Hope this helps, and as always feel free to post your comments!
~Drew
