[SilverEars]

Holy moly!

Looks like Sennheiser has made an old school planar magnetic out of the 800. Quite the feat in itself and should probably please folks who are allergic to mids. The way the mids drop off right around 900hz is textbook planar.
One thing though which this new tuning does succeed in: it is undoubtedly going to be a much warmer sounding can than it’s daddyo. Whether that is good or bad is of course down to the listener. Personally I’m glad I didn’t jump on it.

First of all, different rigs output different results, but it's undeniable that there's a pit that digs in centered around 1.5k or so. I don't like the look of that from the measurements. I want that area transition to be a smooth rising to the ear gain apex.

Also, I don't know about the upper tilt in the mids as we get to the highs. But, it will not help the sudden valley that it's setting up for. It creates more of a tonal contrast at the valley.

If they would kindly fill that valley, I'd appreciate it. They probably know they should, but it's likely they cannot. It's probably the result to them trying to bring out the mids and lower frequencies trying to level the spectrum (trying to warm up the response), and the valley was the cost. They gone Fullmetial Alchemist. They went for the transmutation.

 

[DenverW]

I feel like the tuning Has been changed since the earlier reviews. I can’t imagine people thinking this is very hd800 like.

 

[SilverEars]

I feel like the tuning Has been changed since the earlier reviews. I can’t imagine people thinking this is very hd800 like.

Yeah, I don't think so either. I think it will have a warmer tonality with meater mids, but I get a feeling that valley is going to create some off-ness to the sound.

 

[hmscott]

A bit disappointing, I think I'll stick with the original Sennheiser tuning.

Drop + Sennheiser HD8XX Review: Illogical Conclusion - Video

https://drop.com/buy/drop-sennheiser-hd-8xx-headphones/talk/2840264

 

[xanlamin]

In a way, it is a good thing for current HD800S owners. At least, they know that they don't have to upgrade

 

[HiFiHawaii808]

A bit disappointing, I think I'll stick with the original Sennheiser tuning.

Drop + Sennheiser HD8XX Review: Illogical Conclusion
https://drop.com/buy/drop-sennheiser-hd-8xx-headphones/talk/2840264

This is a disaster.

 

[Sense]

Well now I feel like I should cancel…but I already used the drop points. So I guess they get me one way or the other. Either I owe them money or I take a chance on a headphone that just got ripped to shreds.

 

[Pigeon X]

Keep in mind you have a month to return your 8xx if you don't like the sound.

I'm pretty spooked by some of the reviews. But the original 8xx tuning also had a lot of crap/meh reviews. And that one was 90% of the 800s tuning.

And for that matter, a lot of people hate on the 800s too. It seems like half the reviewers and half the audio community are going to be dissatisfied with this headphone either way.

I'm optimistic.

 

[nlowran]

I'm going to ignore the reviews and make my own conclusion when they come in

 

[SilverEars]

I saw Crinacle's review and he's very confident on his impressions. He did have a sound demo, and I get good feeling mids are going to come off too thick. It's not a good combination with the dip in the upper-mids. Panda, and now this? Somebody likes thick.

 

[omegaorgun]

Any way to remove, revert the tuning to make it closer to an 800s or 800?

That was part of the 6XX's allure that it was essentially a 650.

 

[SilverEars]

Any way to remove, revert the tuning to make it closer to an 800s or 800?

That was part of the 6XX's allure that it was essentially a 650.

That's not what's going on here. 8XX is nothing like 800 or S. 8XX is 8XX. 6XX is 650. At least with 6XX, you are getting an already establish tuning (NOT tuned by Drop).

Why not just get a 800S or 800? Why get something you need to revert? EQ'ing doesn't make something sound like a headphone without EQ. If it was the case, why don't we EQ to a cheap headphone to TOTL headphones?

 

[Sense]

That's not what's going on here. 8XX is nothing like 800 or S. 8XX is 8XX. 6XX is 650. At least with 6XX, you are getting an already establish tuning (NOT tuned by Drop).

Why not just get a 800S or 800? Why get something you need to revert? EQ'ing doesn't make something sound like a headphone without EQ. If it was the case, why don't we EQ to a cheap headphone to TOTL headphones?

I think what he's talking about is that the original tuning for the 8XX was a slight adjustment to the 800s. He wants that back. I would agree.

 

[omegaorgun]

Drop should revert it, or at least tell us which pieces to remove to get it more in line with a regular 800. I would like to pick up one of these, but not if it's a hot mess.

 

[MHLC]

Honestly wish they would just make a cheaper HD800s rather then mess with the tuning. I'll still keep my preorder since I will like what I like regardless what other reviewer say but it is nerve racking.

If anything, I can go to one of those DJ Twitch channel and have a mini rave at the comfort of my own home.