Sennheiser HD800 S Impressions Thread (read first post for summary)

[Quinto]

 
Just a word of warning though - if 'natural' is what you really want you might well be better off getting the HD600! Sure, the HD800/S has a wider soundstage, but it isn't more 'natural' in that aspect, or indeed any other, compared to the HD600. 'Better', yes; more 'natural', no.
 
I think that the HD600 has, superficially at least (meaning that it's more audible), a slightly wider soundstage than the HD650 by virtue of having a less subdued amount of detail in the treble.

Thanks, but I'm very treble sensitive so I'll stick with the HD650 for now, I like the vague shyness of its treble

 

[Mike F]

 
Thanks, but I'm very treble sensitive so I'll stick with the HD650 for now, I like the vague shyness of its treble

If that's the case I'm almost certain that you won't like the HD800S. By all accounts it's treble is smoother than the HD800's but it won't be anything like the treble on the HD650's.

 

[Quinto]

 
If that's the case I'm almost certain that you won't like the HD800S. By all accounts it's treble is smoother than the HD800's but it won't be anything like the treble on the HD650's.

yea thanks, I'm afraid you're right ..
 
I'll buy for  +1000 euros cd's and books (and tell my wife my self restraint saved us another 600) , maybe I'll feel better

 

 

[Mike F]

 
yea thanks, I'm afraid you're right ..
 
I'll buy for  +1000 euros cd's and books (and tell my wife my self restraint saved us another 600) , maybe I'll feel better

 

That's an excellent idea!

 

[yates7592]

That's perfect logic, I'm sure your wife will totally understand.

 

[DukeOfYork]

 
Thanks, but I'm very treble sensitive so I'll stick with the HD650 for now, I like the vague shyness of its treble

 
Hoping for HD850...lol

 

[dharma]

   
Hoping for HD850...lol

 
Sennheiser is slightly conservative, maybe waiting for 3 years...
and then they maybe announce, that new HD1001 will be electrostatic, with more 'humanistic price' ;

 

[yates7592]

Loving my HD800 (second time around). I have no doubt HD800 S sounds 10% (??) better. But I have DHC Spore cables from PC to HP and so I really don't need the included balanced cable. So I'm waiting for the next major upgrade by Senn - maybe HD1000?

 

[James-uk]

Sennheiser is slightly conservative, maybe waiting for 3 years...
and then they maybe announce, that new HD1001 will be electrostatic, with more 'humanistic price' ;

I'm hoping they push the boundaries of dynamic drivers even further . Electrostats not only need specialist associated equipment but they seem unreliable from what I've read, not to mention being insanely expensive . For me the HD800S is almost flawless. In terms of being super clean and neutral I can't really pick an area I would want improving. Now for me and many others a slightly more fun , warmer sound would with the capabilities of the HD800S would be a more enjoyable headphone for the majority of music .I love accurate but sometimes I just want to be indulged and For my own preference I would be very happy with more bass (I'm a secret bass head) and slightly warmer mids just because I find warm mids less fatiguing and more satisfying , I wouldn't change the Hd800S treble though , it's absolutely spot on now to my ears. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Orpheus 2 measurements , I suspect their frequency response wil be the new target for sennheiser going forward. My guess is they will loosely follow the Hd650 in the mids , have more bass and Hd800S treble with better extension and smoothness both ends . Add to that zero distortion and probably the fastest driver ever and perfect sound is achieved. Now if only I had 50 grand!

 

[WraithApe]

For me the HD800S is almost flawless. In terms of being super clean and neutral I can't really pick an area I would want improving. Now for me and many others a slightly more fun , warmer sound would with the capabilities of the HD800S would be a more enjoyable headphone for the majority of music .I love accurate but sometimes I just want to be indulged and For my own preference I would be very happy with more bass (I'm a secret bass head) and slightly warmer mids just because I find warm mids less fatiguing and more satisfying , I wouldn't change the Hd800S treble though , it's absolutely spot on now to my ears.

 
EQ?

 The other solution is just to have a couple of different cans on hand; then you can switch it up if you fancy a different sound signature for listening to certain recordings - hp with an accentuated bass response, for the secret basshead in you!

 

[James-uk]

EQ?  The other solution is just to have a couple of different cans on hand; then you can switch it up if you fancy a different sound signature for listening to certain recordings - hp with an accentuated bass response, for the secret basshead in you!

I have no problem with EQ but the way I listen to music it's a no go unfortunately, Apple Music>IPhone6>AirPlay into airport express>optical >benchmark dac1>hd800S/hd650.

 

[dharma]

I'm hoping they push the boundaries of dynamic drivers even further . Electrostats not only need specialist associated equipment but they seem unreliable from what I've read, not to mention being insanely expensive . For me the HD800S is almost flawless. In terms of being super clean and neutral I can't really pick an area I would want improving. Now for me and many others a slightly more fun , warmer sound would with the capabilities of the HD800S would be a more enjoyable headphone for the majority of music .I love accurate but sometimes I just want to be indulged and For my own preference I would be very happy with more bass (I'm a secret bass head) and slightly warmer mids just because I find warm mids less fatiguing and more satisfying , I wouldn't change the Hd800S treble though , it's absolutely spot on now to my ears. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Orpheus 2 measurements , I suspect their frequency response wil be the new target for sennheiser going forward. My guess is they will loosely follow the Hd650 in the mids , have more bass and Hd800S treble with better extension and smoothness both ends . Add to that zero distortion and probably the fastest driver ever and perfect sound is achieved. Now if only I had 50 grand!

Not sure about 'HD650 middle'... why?

 

[James-uk]

Not sure about 'HD650 middle'... why?

I just love the Hd650 mids. Find them more engaging than the 800s most of the time even though I think the 800s mids are actually technically better and more accurate .

 

[dharma]

OK, understand.. have You tried planar? It seems to me, that your description of ideal hp fits to some planar hp well.!

 

[James-uk]

OK, understand.. have You tried planar? It seems to me, that your description of ideal hp fits to some planar hp well.!

I've not ,they are on my radar as something I would like . I really wanted the latest HiFiMan HE400 to be better because I was going to make that my entry to Planars. My next purchases will be an entry planar , followed by an entry stat and at some point a decent tube amp for my Senns. I'm all about solid state and accuracy but I really want to see what the fuss is about with tubes, plus they look cool! The icon audio is on my radar , they are based in my original hometown of Leicester .