[monkuboy]

 
Exactly. When most people hear/read the word distortion they think of very audible effects like driver breakup. Second harmonic distortion simply isn't that sort of 'audible' distortion. However, it is still technically speaking a distortion, and as Tyll says, if you know what you're listening for it can be heard. 

 
Distortion is neither inherently good or bad, it just means a reproduction of the original deviates from that original in some way. So basically anything we listen to through an audio system is distorted. 

 

[JaZZ]

Nevertheless, striving for low harmonic distortion does offer some benefits, depending on the sonic ideals: increased transparency, lower listening fatigue, higher realism.

 

[Whazzzup]

just listening to john digweed live in cordoba, bass is nice and tight, even a little sub bass there for that glow stick feeling.

 

[DWbirdseye]

And in this specific case Sennheiser produced solid results. I wonder just how many here correctly identified the warmer sq as a consequence of intended distortion? On the other hand, how many can hear it because they were told it's there. So we've come full circle: if you liked the sound before Tyll's review, you will continue to appreciate the S's sonic attributes, if you didn't, now you can point to something more concrete, real or imagined.

 

[Whazzzup]

Ill check out some classic classical after my walk, put the progressive or contemporary stuff like, ludovico einaudi, or henrick shwartz, or bugge wesseltoft, or max richter sleep sessions were sublime.

 

[JaZZ]

  And in this specific case Sennheiser produced solid results. I wonder just how many here correctly identified the warmer sq as a consequence of intended distortion? On the other hand, how many can hear it because they were told it's there. So we've come full circle: if you liked the sound before Tyll's review, you will continue to appreciate the S's sonic attributes, if you didn't, now you can point to something more concrete, real or imagined.

 
The HD 800 S is still on a decent level in terms of harmonic distortion. Particularly compared to headphones like Abyss or Dharma. It's just not exactly as clean (in the bass) as the original HD 800.

 

[Mike F]

I haven't actually compared the FR graphs until now. Can somebody please explain to me how and in what way the HD800S measures better than the HD800?
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD800.pdf
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD800SmeasurementB.pdf

 

[Whazzzup]

daniel hope spheres sounds great.
 
Ill add after listening to the first stanza of max richter, daniel hope, konzerthaus kammerorchester berlin and andre ridder 2014, renditions of vivaldi the four seasons, was to die for. sublime.
 
lets add some opera to the mix. rufus wainwright, prima donna, bbc symphony orchestra 2015, seemed very true. vocal inflections to kettle drum reverberations seemed fast and in place. Pretty clear yet warm.

 

[empetus]

With the HD-800 i prefer fat OTL tube amps and with HD-800S i prefer fat solid state amps

 

 

[Whazzzup]

thats a big block

 

[Thenewguy007]

  With the HD-800 i prefer fat OTL tube amps and with HD-800S i prefer fat solid state amps

 

 
What power amp is that?

 

[JaZZ]

  I haven't actually compared the FR graphs until now. Can somebody please explain to me how and in what way the HD800S measures better than the HD800?
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD800.pdf
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/images/SennheiserHD800SmeasurementB.pdf

 
It doesn't really measure better except for total harmonic distortion (see % THD+noise) below 100 Hz. The missing 6-kHz «peak» now rather looks like a dip beside the (wrongly!) elevated 7-10 kHz range. Unfortunately virtually all Inner Fidelity FR graphs show an elevated 7-10 kHz range...

 

[Mike F]

   
It doesn't really measure better except for total harmonic distortion (see % THD+noise) below 100 Hz. The missing 6-kHz «peak» now rather looks like a dip beside the (wrongly!) elevated 7-10 kHz range. Unfortunately virtually all Inner Fidelity FR graphs show an elevated 7-10 kHz range...

 
Wrongly elevated 7-10 kHz range, as in wrongly measured or wrongly elevated?
 
I have to say that I've long since been quite sure that FR graphs means nothing, and now I'm convinced. If the that's a smoother treble response then I'm a monkeys uncle!

 

[Aaaaa]

Would you consider Oppo HA-1 to be a fat SS amp? I have the HA-1 and also a Schitt Valhala. I'm wondering if I would get significantly better sound if I upgraded to another amp with better synergy with 800S. If Oppo is already pretty good then diminishing returns would mean I would have to spend alot of money for a relatively small improvement. I don't mind spending wisely but hate to throw it away for trivial improvement. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[dharma]

   
What power amp is that?

 
http://www.marklevinson.com/productlist/mark-levinson/products.html#amplifiers