Whazzzup
Headphoneus Supremus
What kinds of music exactly?
Hd800S isn’t peaky at all, one could listen for hours
I find its not the “peakiness of the treble” but the forward presentation and lack of resolution in the 225e that is fatiguing. IMHO, you will not experience that in the HD800S as its presentation is very different and its clarity is stellar. Now, you haven‘t mentioned your audio chain nor your music preferences which play a huge role as you are comparing a headphones that are over $1000 apart. Before dropping that much I would examine your entire chain including media quality.does anyone know how the treble peaks in the HD 800S compare to the treble peaks in Grado headphones? I have a Grado SR225e, and I love it and hate it at the exact same time. The soundstage and imaging are incredibly real and airy sounding, but every time it hits that peak my ears die a little bit, and fatigue builds up over time. If the HD 800S is equally peaky, I wouldn't want to spend all that money to get it. But if it's any less peaky than the SR225e, I think I could live with it. Is it the treble quantity itself that causes fatigue? Or do the peaks cause it? It feels like its just the peaks causing fatigue, but I don't really know.
Out of curiosity, what DAC/amp are you using with the 225e?
I'm using a Hugo 2, connected to a HiBy R5 via usb.
I find its not the “peakiness of the treble” but the forward presentation and lack of resolution in the 225e that is fatiguing. IMHO, you will not experience that in the HD800S as its presentation is very different and its clarity is stellar. Now, you haven‘t mentioned your audio chain nor your music preferences which play a huge role as you are comparing a headphones that are over $1000 apart. Before dropping that much I would examine your entire chain including media quality.
Oh, that's a very nice set up! Have you considered connecting the Hugo 2 to a tube amp?
I agree. It depends on chain and content. Well sibilant free recordings/content can sound very good and high resolution and peak free while bad recordings i cant play that loud that i want to. For exempel i whatched on netflix fast and furious 7 i had to lower the volume more then i wanted due to the peaks on my hugo 2. My optical cable i currently use from tv is also very unforgiving. I have another one that smooths out things more but dulls the sound more. Again the more revealing technical sounding optical cable for me brings more of an emotional ride with movie whatching and again peak free content sound really good.For my hearing I would disagree. I love the HD800S, especially for its soundstage and separation, certain tracks come alive in a way they just don’t do on other headphone. However, I am sensitive to sibilance and the HD800S is ruthless at drawing that and any other harshness in the treble from a recording. It can be so bad that my general sensitivity is enhanced for days if I listen to the HD800S for too long.
What kinds of music exactly?
Some seems to hear things differently though , might have been because of the chain. Last Emyprean reviewer on head fi wrote this.If you contrast that to my Empyrean, all music sounds great and enjoyable on those headphones,
Some seems to hear things differently though , might have been because of the chain. Last Emyprean reviewer on head fi wrote this.
"Cons: Cost, unforgiving of poor sources".
I think most people say though its a smooth HP. Thats the impression i get after reading online.
Washed out mids say British grunge circa early 90 curve ice that melts the tips as an example can’t be saved by any hp. And yes speed metal may or may not be Hd800S wheelhouse, while I admit Hd800S is not a perfect all rounder i suggest that that’s hardly lots of music types and lastly I’d explore your source as A potential improvement area to explore, but not for everyone still applies in Hd800S world, but surprised it’s larger than I thought.