[Sennheiser]

Hello Head-Fi!

We’re excited to announce a new Drop collaboration: the HD 8XX. This open-back audiophile headphone offers the same outstanding performance that made the original HD 800S the standard in high-end headphones: 56mm Ring Radiator transducers, carefully tuned Helmholtz resonators for a smooth high-frequency response, a vibration damping chassis and more—all with a sound signature and colorway tailored to the Drop community. The hand-made HD 8XX will include a detachable single-ended cable with 6.3mm (¼-inch) jack plug, and uses the same HD 800-series connector as the HD 800, HD 800S, and HD 820.

You can learn more about the HD 8XX exclusively at Drop here.

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• Drop + Sennheiser
• Headphone type: Open-back
• Ear coupling: Over-ear
• Drivers: 56 mm ring radiator dynamic drivers
• Impedance: 300 ohms
• Frequency response: 4 Hz – 51,000 Hz (-10 dB)
• THD: 0.02 % (1 kHz, 1 Vrms)
• Contact pressure: ~ 3,4 N (± 0,3 N)
• Weight (without cable): 11.6 oz (330 g)
• Handmade at Sennheiser's headquarters
• Launch pricing for the HD 8XX is $1100, plus you'll receive $200 worth of Drop points

We hope you enjoy our latest collaboration, and look forward to bringing it to your rigs.

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Thanks to Head-Fi for producing a full suite of graphs, more viewable on Drop's product page.

 

[Sennheiser]

Reserved

 

[Sebastien Chiu]

So exciting! Can't wait to try one out.

 

[Evshrug]

The midnight blue reminds me of the light blue ring on the first serial numbers of HD 800

 

[Headphony]

Tuning the housing resonance doesn't sound promising, nor does the wait and price. Kind of boring really.

 

[YtseJamer]

@Sennheiser Seriously, at that price you should have included a balanced cable as well.

 

[cadgers]

Will there be any review units before November?

 

[Evshrug]

Will there be any review units before November?

Yes, and time to cancel if needed.

@Sennheiser Seriously, at that price you should have included a balanced cable as well.

Keep in mind the HD 800S is $300 more, plus Drop is offering $200 back in store credit on the HD 8XX. Any existing HD 800S balanced cable you might have will be compatible.

 

[glassmonkey]

Yes, and time to cancel if needed.


Keep in mind the HD 800S is $300 more, plus Drop is offering $200 back in store credit on the HD 8XX. Any existing HD 800S balanced cable you might have will be compatible.

For me the question is whether it will be better than HD800 minorly modded (felt mod solves the peak), as I've always preferred HD800 to the HD800S. This looks like a warmer and more bassy HD800S with a small 12k peak. Somewhat strange territory given the used market prices for HD800.

 

[ics1974]

I am tempted to preorder but sounds risky without any reviews.

 

[astrallite]

It looks like the drop version doesn't include the Balanced cable either. So this is basically a brighter sounding 800S with blue trim and missing some accessories.

 

[purk]

Interesting indeed. So Sennheiser needs input from Drop to update the sound signature of their flagship headphones now? Not that I am not a fan of Senn and Drop.

 

[XERO1]

 

[CaptainFantastic]

@Evshrug RIP Sennheiser audiophile headphones?

https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/16/...what Sennheiser calls business communications.

 

[MLGrado]

Interesting curve. Looks like a warmer sounding phone but it will at least be an interesting listen. That is a serious bump in output where the ear is most sensitive in the upper mids 2k to 4k. So in practice may not sound as warm as the significantly better bass extension and drop in output from 1k to 2k might seem to indicate.

As always listening will really tell the tale.

Quite interested in this one.