[BirdManOfCT]

On the naming of the HD-800S Axel Grell stated that, "the S has two meanings. One is the S of Symmetric, I mean an improvement in the balance connection. Another sports car to represent the Germany's S of the Porsche 911 Carrera S . That in the words, and to refine the balance connection is one of the features of the HD 800, it suggests that intention to give a speedy and sporty image." Source: news.mynavi.jp/articles/2015/10/24/headphonefes_sennheiser/

Sennheiser also elected to name the headphone HD-800S because the changes are not significant. Axel Grell stated in a video posted to YouTube, "in total just little things that we have changed but the sound is a little bit better." Clearly the changes represent only a small difference and the HD-800S is akin to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S. And the S nomenclature is also somewhat suspect because it comes across more like a marketing ploy to jumpstart sales of an aging headphone that was released in 2009. The black paint is the equivalent of rose gold in signifying it as the S model. I would like to see Sennheiser offer an HD-800 upgrade program which would give them another revenue stream. Sennheiser has to accept that most buyers of the HD-800S already own the HD-800 and only a small percent would upgrade to something thats "a little bit better." However, a high percentage of HD-800 owners would happily pay to have their existing headphones upgraded. I also would like to see an interview with Axel Grell that discusses his findings testing modifications like the Anaixlus.

Good stuff - thanks!

 

[inseconds99]

Looks like a lot of headfiers gonna buy this hd800s , the for sale forums are flooded with hd800

Figured as much, I want a pair but only if the treble peak is tamed and the price is right. As I said in a previous post, I just traded my HD800's for the TH900's on Monday, looks to be the best headfi decision I've made all year.

 

[up late]

The stax are surely no hfman/audeze in the bass or 'fullness' areas. But the 007/009 had pretty much the perfect amount of bass & slam to my ears... more than the hd800 and more than the lower stax models in a side-by-side test. If only there was a way to make em portable/transportable.

In terms of sound signature right now I'll prolly go with he1k .. however, will never pay that price because of the subpar (for the price) bass and the business-as-usual hfman BQ.
In terms of P/Q: he6/he560, ether, dharma. Also Hd800, th900 akg812 and beyer t1 mk2 but most of those dont fit my highs sensitivity very well.

And in reality I'm still using my trusty old hd650 . Very good sound, no obvious SQ or BQ issues and a muuuuch better P/Q than any of those so called TOTL cans.

Waiting for the dharma release nowadays .. depending on price & SQ changes the hd800s may become quite a contender too.
Well, at least it is not boring in HP land

i've heard the sr-007 and was underwhelmed tbh. didn't think it sounded as transparent as the lambda models.

as for the sr-007's bass compared to the hd800, it might have had more weight but it wasn't as precise and textured to my ears. it also doesn't go as low. i thought that the hd800's bass quality was better tbh.

 

[glassmonkey]

Woooooo

will it be drivable by Mojo ?

HD800 isn't hard to drive, the problem is synergy with amps. So if these have less synergy issues due to retuning, then almost certainly yes.

 

[Deftone]

  l haven't been a part of this forum/hobby for too long, but l have already noticed that "bumping up the prices like crazy" trend. l jumped off that train 'before l even took it', believe me. The new Hifiman $3000? Come on! Let alone the LCD-4, that is ridiculous (IMO, of course). l can pay a lot for a product, but there is a point where l feel l am being considered a fool. As usual: YMMV. 

When i did a 2 week comparison of the HD650 and the LCD3 the the better sound the lcd had was not worth the extra £££ over the sennheiser, big jump in price.
 
if i had an amazing cash flow then yes i wouldnt care at all really and i would have he lcd3 but for people with normal jobs and normal pay its better spent wisely, also the LCD3 paired bad with high end amps and sounded better on mid-fi stuf imo (added a harsness to the sound i didnt like)

 

[SoundApprentice]

  When i did a 2 week comparison of the HD650 and the LCD3 the the better sound the lcd had was not worth the extra £££ over the sennheiser, big jump in price.
 
if i had an amazing cash flow then yes i wouldnt care at all really and i would have he lcd3 but for people with normal jobs and normal pay its better spent wisely, also the LCD3 paired bad with high end amps and sounded better on mid-fi stuf imo (added a harsness to the sound i didnt like)

What do you consider a high end amp? I have never once heard of the LCD3, or any LCD for that matter being called harsh. I've owned the HD650 and currently own the LCD-X and they are in entirely different leagues on every amp/dac combo I have had, which is many. The HD650 is supremely comfortable, but the SQ does not touch higher echelon headphones.

 

[Wildcatsare1]

What do you consider a high end amp? I have never once heard of the LCD3, or any LCD for that matter being called harsh. I've owned the HD650 and currently own the LCD-X and they are in entirely different leagues on every amp/dac combo I have had, which is many. The HD650 is supremely comfortable, but the SQ does not touch higher echelon headphones.

X2, had the 650 for years, haven't heard the LCD-2, but the X and the 3 are vastly superior headphones in every way except comfort.

 

[masterfuu]

The hd800 on amazon is under review. Same situation as beyer t1 about 3 weeks before t1 v2 was released. So boys in 3 weeks maybe we will see new hd800 on amazon. As it happened with new T1.

 

[kapanak]

The hd800 on amazon is under review. Same situation as beyer t1 about 3 weeks before t1 v2 was released. So boys in 3 weeks maybe we will see new hd800 on amazon. As it happened with new T1.

 
Keep dreaming. The reason it is under review is because a bunch of anxious audiophiles, most likely from here, told Amazon that a new version is out, even though Sennheiser has specifically said that the HD800S will co-exist side by side the HD800, and the HD800S isn't even officially on Sennheiser website or have prices out.
 
Things people do.

 

[masterfuu]

Keep dreaming. The reason it is under review is because a bunch of anxious audiophiles, most likely from here, told Amazon that a new version is out, even though Sennheiser has specifically said that the HD800S will co-exist side by side the HD800, and the HD800S isn't even officially on Sennheiser website or have prices out.

Things people do.

Possibly. You dont know any more then i do.

Im connecting dots with what happened with t1 and amazon the pattern has some similarity.

I do see sennheiser release the new headphone in november before holidays. Lots of money is to be made during holiday season.

 

[wink]

I guess the 800's are too bright to be called neutral. 600's are probably the most popular open headphone for professionals, for a good reason. Not perfect, but close enough to neutral for trained ears.

 

  650s aren't so much dark as the 800 is like an ice pick in the forehead bright.  I almost bought a set but I find no endgame in the ability to hear flies ****ing in the corner of the studio where the performance was recorded.
 
If they tame them a tad...perhaps.  Who knows.

Have you people ever heard a piano or flute live?  Really...?
 
The sound can be really piercing.  If your system doesn't portray that accurately, then it is not high fidelity.
 
Sorry, folks,    that's the bald truth.
 
Just because something sounds good does not mean it sounds realistic.
 
And. after all, high fidelity does mean high accuracy to the recorded material.

 

[greggf]

Flutes and pianos sound like the HD800 if you're on stage with them.
 
Flutes and pianos sound like the HD650 if you're in a mid-venue seat.
 
Both are "correct" headphones.  Just depends upon where you want to sit!

 

[prot]

Looks like a lot of headfiers gonna buy this hd800s , the for sale forums are flooded with hd800

Might just be the best time to buy an used 800

i've heard the sr-007 and was underwhelmed tbh. didn't think it sounded as transparent as the lambda models.

as for the sr-007's bass compared to the hd800, it might have had more weight but it wasn't as precise and textured to my ears. it also doesn't go as low. i thought that the hd800's bass quality was better tbh.

Oh well, ears, tastes, moods, amps ... all different. Btw, since I mostly test in audioshops, I only heard the stax with their top amps (tube & ss) and the hd800 usually with the senn amp.
I can partially agree about the "precise and textured" bass of the hd800 .. it's quite unique and the stax bass is not the same (cant say worse though). All other things I heard quite differently: 009/007 pretty clearly better than all lambdas I heard (4/3/207 iirc) ... 009 a bit better that 007 for me with a tiny amount of extra detail/precision/airiness/transparency ... but I can see how some would prefer the somewhat warmer 007 .. which is also a much better deal at ~half price.
And it's not any particular aspect that impresses me most about the 007/009 but the almost perfect top to bottom coherence and the general lack of faults .. with any othe HP my grumpy ears could find at least one fault in less than 10mins: too much of that, too little of the other, bq issues, comfort/fit, etc. Tried the stax several times already and still cannot find a single damn technical issue worth complaining about

Goin back to the hd800 .. in comparison to the other TOTLs it's definitely a worthy deal even at current new prices .. the new 800s is surely worth a try .. and the idea of a secondhand 800+mods is starting to grow on me.

 

[SONYES]

Hello everyone
- a lot of years of experience
- notice !!!
A good cleaning of wax every few months. which will be carried out by a specialist ears only - doctor of course - NOT DIY raises the level of your hearing.
several degrees beyond any upgrade you make in equipment and in particular the headphones HD800 / S.
- When I start hearing that the frequency of certain types and everything becomes like a curtain aside does not distinguish between recording layers .
doctor saves a lot of money upgrading and everything sounded so good open all frequencies and again you can enjoy music -So I feel like sitting in the hall
-With HD800- course with an excellent source and amplifier suitable

 

[phonomat]

   

Have you people ever heard a piano or flute live?  Really...?
 
The sound can be really piercing.  If your system doesn't portray that accurately, then it is not high fidelity.
 
Sorry, folks,    that's the bald truth.
 
Just because something sounds good does not mean it sounds realistic.
 
And. after all, high fidelity does mean high accuracy to the recorded material.

 
Well, in that case I'd choose good sound over realistic sound any day, thank you very much.