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

[Whazzzup]

#920 Feb 2016, 1800 cad all in. So about to when it launched.

 

[Litlgi74]

Thought I share something with the HD800s, HD800, and HD8XX owners of our community.

Finally, a bespoke case to keep our precious headphones clean, dust free, and easier to travel with.

New lambskin pads, both fenestrated and smooth are also available as a combo. While I use the fenestrated pads... I can't speak to any sonic differences between the new and old pads... But they do feel comfortable. Much nicer than the ZMF and Dekoni pads I've tried... And with no extra clamp force. Also, unlike others I've tried, the pads fasten and lock onto the headphone frame very well.

https://store.jaben.com/products/hippo-case-for-headphones







Comparing to the original



* I am not in any way affiliated with Jaben... I've just been looking for a case that works for the HD800s for some time... But until now... Nothing really worked well.

 

[Rob80b]

#920 Feb 2016, 1800 cad all in. So about to when it launched.

Same here...Had to order from Germany as they were yet or not available in Canada at the time,

 

[Rob80b]

I like your contrarian view

My Mom, god bless, used to say the same thing about me, usually with regards to her cooking, so I haven't chaned. lol

 

[chesebert]

Let us know....wonder if they're old new stock like the Focal Elegia.


lol.

I hope a brand new copy will have even more toned down treble. I really like 800S but I have few plies of TP in front of the drivers

 

[Whazzzup]

Same here...Had to order from Germany as they were yet or not available in Canada at the time,

I actually pre ordered Boxing Day sale in 2015 to get the all in price, and waited to be shipped from Vancouver from Germany, received end of Feb 2016….

 

[Rob80b]

I hope a brand new copy will have even more toned down treble. I really like 800S but I have few plies of TP in front of the drivers

Glad someone has advanced on my previous experiments...with paper towel there are less layers but the Eddie currents get through.
In the end I just prefer them "au naturel" and just switch over to the HD660S2 if the recording needs further taming.

With the newly released HD660S2 on hand I'm finding with direct comparison they are more natural sounding especially with regards to the treble than my HD800S.
To just dampen the the uppers frequencies slightly I've used a very easy reversible mod that I previously applied to my HD630VB, it's not new and I'm sure others have tried.
Paper towel and tissue have been used for years for taming treble frequencies, I've gone ahead and put 2 discs in between the driver and the removable mesh, appears to work quite well so thought I'd bring it up for those that may be interested.
And yes it could and can reduce the airiness and reel in the staging, obviously YMMV.

 

[chesebert]

Quick take on 800S (3ply TP, Germany) vs NDH30 (Germany):

800S:
- smoother mid range - as smooth as HEK and 007mk2 and slightly smoother than NDH30 and Clear OG. This took me by surprise to be honest. TP does not affect mid range frequencies
- very slightly more transparent mid range than NDH30 and Clear (did not see this one coming)
- greater treble extension and detail (expected). Some track can sound having slightly too tilted up FR without TP
- greater width and depth of soundstage. About the same height as NDH30. Can sound slightly artificial depending on the track (expected)
- Satisfactory PRaT (did not expect this)
- Satisfactory bass and sub bass. Not as good as NDH30 but better than Clear and 650/660s2 (did not expect this at all)

NDH30:
- Greater PRaT
- More dynamic
- More satisfactory bass and sub bass - sub bass can create a scale that 800S cannot match
- Slightly greater weight to music notes
- warmer sounding with more agreeable treble tuning out of the box

I feel kind of dumb now having waited over a decade to get on the 800S train.

 

[johnnym]

Finally, a bespoke case to keep our precious headphones clean, dust free, and easier to travel with.
.

Nice, I’m going to try these out. Just in time for Canjam London

 

[Rob80b]

I really like 800S but I have few plies of TP in front of the drivers

And here I thought you were yanking my chain. lol

with paper towel there are less layers but the Eddie currents get through.

but I was about the Eddie currents....but hey, who knows.

Quick take on 800S (3ply TP, Germany) vs NDH30 (Germany):

So now I'll need to try some 3 ply TP instead of paper towel. So one or two piles layers?

..........

I feel kind of dumb now having waited over a decade to get on the 800S train.

And now I don't feel so bad about the Neumann, there's still time.

 

[Rob80b]

New lambskin pads, both fenestrated and smooth are also available as a combo. While I use the fenestrated pads...

Those appear to be the same pads I have, but was able to source them separately....
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003371203834.html
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sen...ost-for-summary.795365/page-500#post-17092010

 

[chesebert]

I got a "brand new" 800S from Adorama - and in typical Adorama business practice, I actually received an open box 800S. The headphone has obviously been used. But that doesn't matter because the primary purpose of the purchase is to try to compare whether there has been any change between Made in Germany and Made in Ireland copies. TLDR is there is no material difference and I actually preferred the Made in Germany one I already had because it sounded warmer and more articulate in the mid. If we assume 800S after break-in (I have a suspicion that my "new" pair have already been broken in ) will have slightly fuller bass and calmed down treble, the difference would essentially be nil.

 

[Rob80b]

I actually preferred the Made in Germany one I already had because it sounded warmer and more articulate in the mid.

So I may gotten confused here....the Made in Germany is also recently made? The headband would have "HD800S" engraved as there was no S on the earlier made in Germany ones.

JFYI your new recent one # 51851 I see is very close to UnfetteredWandering's at 51881.

I'm not sure how helpful this will be for comparison, but here's a copy of my particular model's certificate:

 

[chesebert]

So I may gotten confused here....the Made in Germany is also recently made?

JFYI your new recent one # 51851 I see is very close to UnfetteredWandering's at 51881.

I think the German made one is older but still in the last couple of years.

 

[Rob80b]

and I actually preferred the Made in Germany one I already had because it sounded warmer and more articulate in the mid.

Which may make sense as if appears flatter....somewhat.


Your made in Ireland (top line) appears to behave quite differently with the diffused frequency response starting from just below 2K with more abrupt boosts, 3.5K-5K and then again at 9K and they dropped it down at the troublesome 6K, all of which I would believe, easily audible....

....as noted earlier both made in Germany, mine and yours, have very similar, almost identical graphs so there definitely has been a change ....or is it just the way measuring is being done in Ireland?
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sen...ost-for-summary.795365/page-529#post-17668996