Sennheiser HD800S Unveiled!

[TonyNewman]

... Oh come on, you did that deliberately!

 
If I had of done that I would have thought to remove the headphone from my head before blowing the driver. My right ear was not happy with me for about an hour after that.
 
But I like how your mind works

 

[TonyNewman]

  Hello...
As far as I remember, Sennheiser uses, during manufacturing of HD800, exact match for both channels in any particular HD800... and they record and keep any produced HD800 detailed measurements in their database... So, it is possible, that Sennheiser service (in you country) can replace your HD800 blown-up driver with "exact match".
Hope that this information, if correct, helps somehow...

 
That's an interesting thought - I had not given any consideration to getting a repair. I will see what can be done locally.
 
I live the backwoods of the planet (New Zealand) but there might be something out this way.
 
EDIT - Sennheiser have a local office. Have contacted them regarding HD800 repair.

 

[plakat]

 
I am also looking for a nice high end DAC and amp combo for HD 800 S!  HDVD 800 don't support DSD...

 
To me the HDVD800 is a perfect complement to the HD800S. I couldn't care less about missing DSD support I have to admit...
You could look out for a DAC that fits your needs and combine it with a V281 which should be a very nice combination (or a V200).
 

I orderd up from dhc a new compliment 4 cable for my hd800s thats coming. Another thing to test on TT when it comes

 
Looking forward to hear your impressions about the TT... just got a Mojo and like its sound quite a bit.

 

[James-uk]

Couple more observations....
More weight to the overall sound and dynamics , good example is Adele, Hello. I felt it was a little lacking on HD800 and I preferred it on the 650s. It sounds great on the HD800S, nice and powerful and I find I reach for the volume and can push it up a couple of notches , with the HD800 I wanted to turn it down a bit.
This makes things more impactful , more satisfying and just gives more meat on the bone all across the spectrum. I know turning the volume up does that but with the HD800 the treble became too much and it had to be turned down. I'm finding this on most songs so far but that stood out in particular .

 

[TonyNewman]

Had a rapid reply from Meier Audio to my order inquiry. Thought I should share this information - sold out for now, more stock coming in January:
 
Thank you for your order.
 
Unfortunately my last HD800S has just been made a reservation for. New stock is expected by the beginning of January. I'm sorry for the delay.
 
Only if one of the customers will cancel his reservation will I be able to provide you a headphone sooner. I hope this is not a big issue to you.

 

[Fegefeuer]

I agree. The HD800S raises the "compatibility" of your music collection to the headphone by a good margin. It's not HD 650 level of tolerance but it's above the between/mid marker of the HD800 to the HD 650 if they were positioned on a linear scale.
 
I still believe there's better driver control in the lows. There's more thump in the lower registers than with the HD800. Couple that with the tight, tactile, well controlled bass you remember and you have a large dance hall in your head like the HD800 but with harder hitting bass and more heft down low. It's not the dream of a HD850 tonality but it has stuff that neither of them have (like the better bass extension) while having something that is better than the middle ground those two (treble) would have on the linear scale. 

 

[James-uk]

I agree. The HD800S raises the "compatibility" of your music collection to the headphone by a good margin. It's not HD 650 level of tolerance but it's above the between/mid marker of the HD800 to the HD 650 if they were positioned on a linear scale.

I still believe there's better driver control in the lows. There's more thump in the lower registers than with the HD800. Couple that with the tight, tactile, well controlled bass you remember and you have a large dance hall in your head like the HD800 but with harder hitting bass and more heft down low. It's not the dream of a HD850 tonality but it has stuff that neither of them have (like the better bass extension) while having something that is better than the middle ground those two (treble) would have on the linear scale. 

Agreed. That's what I'm hearing the more I listen. The bass is SO satisfying now, absolutely loving these . It's too early to say but I actually think these are maybe more neutral than the HD600!!! which is my current favourite headphone in terms of tone. I've not down comparisons with the HD600 yet , I don't want to take these off my head , plus I can keep telling myself they are a super duper HD600

 

[seehee2k]

   
I can do that but changing cables takes much too long for sonic memory and I only have one HD800S with me (on vacation... don't ask why I have the HDVD800 with me

So what you are saying is that you forgot the HDVD800 and it is sitting at home right next to a stack of other things you left...? 

 
Having to change the cable makes an A/B comparison impossible, I agree, but I would anyways prefer a longer term test before you change to unbalanced. For me it is easier to get the subtleties between amps, but maybe that is a personal thing. Say, if one of these days you become curious and want to try it, let me know what comes out of it. 

 
Not sure what to make of DSD, but none of the music I listen to is available in exotic formats beyond lossless flac, so probably not a feature I would ever miss. But when spending 2k on an amp/dac I might as well get every state of the art feature so I won't regret it in the future. Also, I still lean towards two separate devices, rather than an AIO. On the other side I find it really compelling that the HDVD800 has so many connectivity options.  Decisions, decisions, decisions...
 
Have to agree with @James-uk that Adele shines on the HD800S. Another example, I find, is "Drawn" from "Kiasmos", where the drumstick percussion (pls excuse my poor wording

) sound so three-dimensional ( http://classic.beatport.com/track/drawn-original-mix/7302624 only link I found).

 

[lovethatsound]

I am also looking for a nice high end DAC and amp combo for HD 800 S!  HDVD 800 don't support DSD...

Their bringing out a new hdvd800 which supports DSD,it's black in colour as well.

 

[Jawed]

I demmed HDVD 800 into HD 800 versus Hugo TT. I'd heard none of these components before the dem, but choosing TT was easy as HDVD 800 was so boring by comparison.

I hope to buy HD 800 S soon

 

[Whazzzup]

I demmed HDVD 800 into HD 800 versus Hugo TT. I'd heard none of these components before the dem, but choosing TT was easy as HDVD 800 was so boring by comparison.

I hope to buy HD 800 S soon

Cool to know but I figured such.

 

[Chris F]

  Any measurements?

 
Check here:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=hd800s+measurements
 
No sarcasm intended btw

 

[jincuteguy]

I ought to just order from Meier now instead of waiting for US retailers.

 
How much did you pay total?

 

[eugenius]

"Let me google that for you" is too low brow to be sarcasm.
 
Those measurements don't fill me with confidence I have to say.  I was hoping for more.
I remember something like "more even high frequency range"  being said in that presentation.
Yes, the peak is attenuated but it's still FAR from even.
 
It might still convince me when listening to it, decay in the 6k region is better and the tonal balance seems broadly OK.
It's not the fixed HD800 I was hoping for, more like a patched up HD800. 
 
Maybe I won't have to spend the money and keep the ancient HD600/HD250 team I have now.

 

[Beagle]

   
Check here:
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=hd800s+measurements
 
No sarcasm intended btw

 
Can they redo the VIDEO and add the small piece of foam over the driver cover to the black paint?
 
Maybe it is possible to DIY-mod the HD800 and hear what is making the change?