[Windsor]

 
Quote:

My 800 serial is in the mid 13000s and the difference is striking compared to my original one 2-3 yrs ago (900 I think).

 
Would you say the higher serial HD 800 sounds 'better' than the lower serial model you had? 

 

[cerberi]

 
Quote:

I've had my HD 800 for a few weeks now and have noticed that my ears ring slightly when I am in a quiet place, more than before a few weeks ago when I was using the LCD-2 and didn't notice any ringing.
 
My question to you: for someone who has tinnitus, would a headphone as resolving as the HD 800 be a wise choice of headphone long-term? Does anyone know if it is likely to make tinnitus worse, even is the headphone is mainly used for mid-low volume listening?

 

I think the one of why you are listening louder, is that the headphone has really zero distortion, even if you turn up the volume too much.
I also noticed myself listening louder with the HD800 during the first days of use, but now i'm trying to control a little bit more my listening volumes, to avoid ear fatigue.
 
THE HD800 is so transparent that you always want more volume!
 
Ear damage is function of volume and time, so you can listen louder for 1 hour, but if you do listen too hight for 3-5 hours, you can really have problems.
 
Another thing that i do when i listen for long times, is to progressively reduce the volume while the time passes; also you can do a 15 minutes pause between listening sessions, this helps a lot.

i experienced the same thing when I first got my HD650, never had ringing problems before (using a HD595), but within days of getting the 650 I noticed ringing, which hasn't gone away since (It's been 6 months).

I've spoken to audiologists about the issue and some of them have advised that a higher end headphone automatically encourages more intent listening, which can reveal previously unheard tinnitus.

Very sad for an audiophile, but one of the risks of the trade.

Just remember to get your ears tested by your audiologist/ent specialist

 

[TWIFOSP]

 
Quote:

Just remember to get your ears tested by your audiologist/ent specialist

 
What can an audiologists do for tinnitus?  

 

[Windsor]

I read that when a person wears a headphone that there's a natural peak occurring in their hearing at around 7.5kHz, which colours the sound from the headphones. Maybe that's what we are hearing somehow and many of call it tinnitus. Possibly that or maybe that certain headphones are highlighting certain 'sensitive' frequencies in our hearing...

I'm considering getting an HD 600 as a means to reduce possible upper frequency aggravation...

 

[dukeskd]

 
Quote:

i experienced the same thing when I first got my HD650, never had ringing problems before (using a HD595), but within days of getting the 650 I noticed ringing, which hasn't gone away since (It's been 6 months).
I've spoken to audiologists about the issue and some of them have advised that a higher end headphone automatically encourages more intent listening, which can reveal previously unheard tinnitus.
Very sad for an audiophile, but one of the risks of the trade.
Just remember to get your ears tested by your audiologist/ent specialist

 

The audiologist you spoke to are spot on about the fact that as an audiophile you listen to things that were always there but you never took notice of that!

 

[Tilpo]

I read that when a person wears a headphone that there's a natural peak occurring in their hearing at around 7.5kHz, which colours the sound from the headphones. Maybe that's what we are hearing somehow and many of call it tinnitus. Possibly that or maybe that certain headphones are highlighting certain 'sensitive' frequencies in our hearing...
I'm considering getting an HD 600 as a means to reduce possible upper frequency aggravation...

It's one very specific peak, and nothing you should really worry about. Some headphones like the HD 650 have a large dip in FR at this resonant frequency (which occurs at 4Khz and 14 IIRC)

If you do worry about it, use sine generator to see if there is a sudden peak in loudness at these frequencies, and then correct for this peak with EQ.

 

[.Sup]

 
Quote:

 
 
Would you say the higher serial HD 800 sounds 'better' than the lower serial model you had? 

 
I am interested in this as well.

 

[dukeskd]

My HD800 are in the 15xxx. When the headphones arrived I was expecting the "dreadful" peaks in the treble and the harshness with sibilance. I am not experiencing ANY of those things, maybe they did change it up in the later production models?

 

[sphinxvc]

I'd like to see InnerFidelity or Purrin's measurements on several pairs sub-16K and above 16K.  

 

[rawrster]

 
Quote:

My HD800 are in the 15xxx. When the headphones arrived I was expecting the "dreadful" peaks in the treble and the harshness with sibilance. I am not experiencing ANY of those things, maybe they did change it up in the later production models?

 
I think it depends on how you perceive treble. My HD800 have a serial in the 600's and I have zero issues with them without any excessive sibilance, harshness, etc.

 

[dukeskd]

 
Quote:

 
 
I think it depends on how you perceive treble. My HD800 have a serial in the 600's and I have zero issues with them without any excessive sibilance, harshness, etc.

 
Exactly, this what what I thought I'd hear reading what most of the people he wrote, but I don't find it harsh at all.

 

[davidgotsa]

Just to make sure, since I don't want such expensive headphones to wear out faster than they should and break, is the part where the cable connects to the headphone supposed to not be sitting in there firmly? I mean I can move it  0,5mm or so on both sides.
 
It is supposed to be like that? I can't move it in or out, up or down, just sideways. 
 
I suppose it's normal but I want to make sure. 
 
English isn't my first language so I don't know the exact words but I hope you understood what I meant. 
 
Thanks. 

 

[peanuthead]

Totally normal.
Quote:

Just to make sure, since I don't want such expensive headphones to wear out faster than they should and break, is the part where the cable connects to the headphone supposed to not be sitting in there firmly? I mean I can move it  0,5mm or so on both sides.
 
It is supposed to be like that? I can't move it in or out, up or down, just sideways. 
 
I suppose it's normal but I want to make sure. 
 
English isn't my first language so I don't know the exact words but I hope you understood what I meant. 
 
Thanks. 

 
 

 

[poikkeus]

I was cleaning my HD800 and was kind of surprised at what I noticed. 
 
You've probably noticed the faux aluminum finish alternating between the plastic ribbing on the cups. Attractive design, all in all. Well, the faux aluminum is plastic, true...but there's a thin mesh covering the plastic. You can even seem to wrinkle slightly with pressure. A very elaborate, complex approach to making the cups, and it makes you realize that considerable thought went into the fabrication of these phones. I'm not sure what the sonic effect of the mesh might be, but it's kind of impressive. 
 
Maybe I've been spending too much time looking at these.

 

[CEE TEE]

^That might be stainless-steel...thought it was.