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

[MasterHead]

Hi,

I'm thinking to buy my next headphone for music and gaming, Hd800s is the best option for gaming? My other option is Dan Clark Stealth, I need a good headphone for music, but for gaming too, because I spent a lot of time playing computer games.

HD800s or DCA Stealth?
These are four times more expensive headphones. Strange range of choice... They are also completely different headphones. Both are unique in their own way. I play games with HD800s and so far they are the best in this regard.
I didn't have the opportunity to try playing games with Stealth. But you don't have to guess much that top headphones will give you an amazing experience in this dimension. Personally, I'm not a fan of Stealth style of sound presentation. I prefer the HD800s and others like for example Final D8Kpro LE. But that's only my preference.
First of all, remember that DCA require a good source and a lot of power to show what they can do. And it's best to listen to it yourself to see if you like such headphones. There is no better way.

 

[tamleo]

Hi everyone,
So I have been exclusively using my hd800S for 3 months. This headphone is hard to stop listening and I use it with my Ifi Zen signature stack via balanced configuration.
Yesterday I turned on my Schiit Piety amp and paired it with my hd800S via single-ended cable. The first thing I noticed was everything being a bit loose compared to that was on my Ifi amp. The mids was a bit less intense too. But when I jumped to my Piety with my hd6xx I could feel the difference between the two amps much more. Especially in the depth and nuance of the mids .
Of course beyond this mids-changing ability there is nothing my hd6xx does better than my hd800S does. The mids detail, the width and the openness are still world better on my hd800S. So I think my two small amps suit the cheaper Sen better or with my hd800S I focus on the whole sounding instead of an aspect.

 

[TheRealDz]

Hi all:

I am about to purchase a used 800s off of Craigslist.

Is there a history of counterfeit 800s, so that I should be concerned?

Thanks for your help!

 

[thecrow]

Entirely agree with above. I feel the rep they have earned as genre specific is based on chain rather than transducer. I tried them on two different low OI amps and was very unhappy. Listening on my WA2 makes them an amazing set.

My hd800 has easily sounded best with my wa2. Silky smooth. Better than solid state amps 2x or 3x the price.

as my retailer first told me, the hd800 is best with tubes. whether you go with otl amp or otherwise should depend on what other headphones you have (ie impedance matching)

he was quite adamant and direct, which i felt was a little strong, but i went with his idea. And soon later, and to this day, realised he was spot on

 

[duas2noites]

I just decided to buy a sennheiser hd800s, I want to combine it with a dac amp combo. Has anyone tested the HD800s with the Topping DX7 Pro+? Or maybe I should wait for Topping DX9 yet to be released?

 

[Sonic Defender]

I just decided to buy a sennheiser hd800s, I want to combine it with a dac amp combo. Has anyone tested the HD800s with the Topping DX7 Pro+? Or maybe I should wait for Topping DX9 yet to be released?

No need to wait if the current offerings meet your needs. There are no further audible advances coming. The DX7 Pro is already 100% audibly transparent. What possible improvement to 100% audibly transparent can be made?

 

[TheRealDz]

Hi all:

I am about to purchase a used 800s off of Craigslist.

Is there a history of counterfeit 800s, so that I should be concerned?

Thanks for your help!

Well, I took the leap, and all seems to be as it should be.

A few initial comments:

It is nowhere near as fatiguing as I expected.

It has way more bass than I expected. And it responds well to a bit more EQ'd bass.

It has more midrange presence than I expected.

It is a lot of fun to listen to.

I am kicking myself for not buying one of these earlier.

I would love to hear it on pure tubes. I may have to buy a Bottlehead Crack or something.

I appreciate all of the collective wisdom here.

 

[Tachyon88]

Well, I took the leap, and all seems to be as it should be.

A few initial comments:

It is nowhere near as fatiguing as I expected.

It has way more bass than I expected. And it responds well to a bit more EQ'd bass.

It has more midrange presence than I expected.

It is a lot of fun to listen to.

I am kicking myself for not buying one of these earlier.

I would love to hear it on pure tubes. I may have to buy a Bottlehead Crack or something.

I appreciate all of the collective wisdom here.

I think the stock bass was more than I expected too and you only need to raise it like 4db to get HT bass. I bought the TH900 because they were supposed to be bass cannons, but then I realized their bass is at HT levels and I was already listening to that on my HD800s. The feeling of bass filling the space in the huge cups makes an elevated HP experience IMO. Oratory1990 EQ settings is what I'm using.

 

[Whazzzup]

I think the stock bass was more than I expected too and you only need to raise it like 4db to get HT bass. I bought the TH900 because they were supposed to be bass cannons, but then I realized their bass is at HT levels and I was already listening to that on my HD800s. The feeling of bass filling the space in the huge cups makes an elevated HP experience IMO. Oratory1990 EQ settings is what I'm using.

Well the th900 is also well known for the V, so this create more thump at an expense, it doesn’t bother me, of some fatigue on the high end. But I agree hd800S has enough bass, and represents a more correct timber through the frequency range. I don’t eq by the by on either hp.

 

[UntilThen]

ZMF pads ordered and will get to me in 7 days time.

I forgot to come back and tell you how good the ZMF pads are with my HD800. Comfortable and didn't change the sound signature much. Perhaps it's a little smoother which is a good thing. Slightly warmer too but that is also good. Very slight.

 

[IXOYE]

I use RME ADI-2 with my 800s, and to me it is a great pairing, especially together with the inbuilt EQ and CrossFeed options.

 

[Nick76]

$1199 deal for new HD800S from adorama is back. Seems like they do this sale once a month now.

https://www.adorama.com/se506911.ht...0&utm_source=rflaid62905&utm_medium=affiliate

 

[Solarium]

Just bought the HD800S from the above deal. I'm using a Mojo 2 with my IER-Z1R. Previously had a Mojo 1 paired with a Mainline amp to feed my HD800, and it was a beautiful combo. I've since sold most of my headgear and mostly use speakers now. I don't plan on getting a large desktop amp again like the Mainline. Would the Mojo 2 (with EQ) be sufficient to drive the HD800S?

 

[rocketron]

Just bought the HD800S from the above deal. I'm using a Mojo 2 with my IER-Z1R. Previously had a Mojo 1 paired with a Mainline amp to feed my HD800, and it was a beautiful combo. I've since sold most of my headgear and mostly use speakers now. I don't plan on getting a large desktop amp again like the Mainline. Would the Mojo 2 (with EQ) be sufficient to drive the HD800S?

Yes

 

[Solarium]

Yes

What EQ settings on the Mojo 2 would you use?