Sennheiser HD800S Unveiled!
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:27 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 6,504
Written by Jude Mansilla
 
Today, at Sennheiser's exhibit at the Fall 2015 Fujiya Avic Tokyo Headphone Festival, Sennheiser quietly unveiled the upcoming Sennheiser HD 800S.
 
(Above) Sennheiser HD800S prototype with Sennheiser HDVD800.
 
The Sennheiser HD800S is a line extension, meaning the original HD800 will remain in the line, alongside the HD 800S. The retail price of the HD800S has not been announced yet (nor has the release date), but it will include two cables (standard 1/4" stereo plug and full-size 4-in XLR balanced plug). Also, the color of the HD 800S will be black, both the outer coating and the base material.
 
Sennheiser let me borrow a pre-production HD800S for a couple of nights in my hotel room (along with a black Sennheiser HDVD800 DAC/amp), and the sense of fullness was improved, and the treble is at least as detailed as the HD800, but with undoubtedly more refinement and smoothness. In my opinion, this is a clear improvement.
 
Axel Grell confirmed that the tuning has been changed (versus the HD 800). When I asked Axel Grell to describe the changes, he said: "The HD800S is an improved version of the HD800. It has an acoustical absorber like the IE 800, and as a result the frequency response that is more extended, but smoother--fewer peaks. Also, the low-bass is also more extended--not necessarily more bass, but deeper extension."
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(Above) Axel Grell of Sennheiser.
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Here are a couple more photos of the prototype (click photos to see larger versions):
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EDIT 2015-10-26 0407 GMT+9
(Below) Photos showing the inside of the HD800S earcups with the grille cloth removed (click photos to see larger versions):
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Oct 23, 2015 at 10:33 PM Post #2 of 6,504
OOH!!  I've been waiting for an 800 without the need of modding.  Hope this is it!
 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:34 PM Post #4 of 6,504
Same hope here 
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Oct 23, 2015 at 10:35 PM Post #6 of 6,504
Subbed, and gently my wallet weeps.....
 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:36 PM Post #8 of 6,504
Mmm....hope the price will be the same or even lower, just like T1.2 (no need for Senn to milk the cow a lot). Of course, I like this a lot and will be a blind purchase. Also, I hope no more mods are needed.
 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:39 PM Post #9 of 6,504
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:40 PM Post #10 of 6,504
This is going to be more expensive isn't it :'(
 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:41 PM Post #11 of 6,504
Axel Grell was on hand at the Tokyo headphone festival to talk about the HD800S headphones. I'm definitely looking forward to trying them.
 

 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:44 PM Post #12 of 6,504
Very good. I look forward to impressions. 
 
Oct 23, 2015 at 10:47 PM Post #14 of 6,504
This is an instant purchase. Come on release date!
 
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Oct 23, 2015 at 10:48 PM Post #15 of 6,504
Mmm....hope the price will be the same or even lower, just like T1.2 (no need for Senn to milk the cow a lot). Of course, I like this a lot and will be a blind purchase. Also, I hope no more mods are needed.

This. Though I can see Sennheiser going a bit cray with the pricing
 

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