[willyvlyminck]

Today, at Sennheiser's exhibit at the Fall 2015 Fujiya Avic Tokyo Headphone Festival, Sennheiser quietly unveiled the upcoming Sennheiser HD 800S.

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(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.​

[rule]

Here are a couple more photos of the prototype (click photos to see larger versions):​

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[rule]

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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No signs of an IE800s ?

 

[icebear]

No signs of an IE800s ?

They are already schwarz (black), so no real point for a new version

 

[TenMoonsNorth]

For reference here is the HD800 without the cloth cover.
 

 

[Jodet]

I called Sennheiser this morning.    They have zero information on pricing or availability. 
 
Pisses me off that they dropped the HD800 price overseas and here they still want $1599.   If the HD700 can go do 40% without a new model we need to see a big price drop on the HD800 and pronto.  
 
$1599 is a 'statement' price and no one is going to pay it if there's another 'better version' for $1999.  

 

[raybone0566]

I called Sennheiser this morning.    They have zero information on pricing or availability. 

Pisses me off that they dropped the HD800 price overseas and here they still want $1599.   If the HD700 can go do 40% without a new model we need to see a big price drop on the HD800 and pronto.  

$1599 is a 'statement' price and no one is going to pay it if there's another 'better version' for $1999.  

It's been posted already in this thread that pricing an availability won't be until next year.

 

[Jodet]

It's been posted already in this thread that pricing an availability won't be until next year.

 
That's it.    Ether C or Stax SR-L700.  
 
IBM was famous for this crap.  It was called 'FUD' - fear, uncertainty, doubt.   A company would release a new product and IBM would claim they were working on the same thing only better, but you've got to wait a year for it. 

 

[bloodydoorknob]

LOL, never seen so many HD800's in the classified's section.  The hype is real.

 

[iDesign]

  I called Sennheiser this morning.    They have zero information on pricing or availability. 
 

 
Sennheiser Corp USA probably learned more about the HD-800S from Jude than they have from Sennheiser GmbH. I'm sure everyone at Sennheiser Corp USA was completely caught off guard by the quasi-announcment posted to Head-Fi. 

 

[GearMe]

FYI...new (sorry, old) HD800 are $1399 at Buysonic....plus $2 shipping.

 

[BobFiggins]

FYI...new (sorry, old) HD800 are $1399 at Buysonic....plus $2 shipping.

 
Or you can always just buy one from Meier Audio for about $1100 brand new with warranty (Meier Audio is an authorized Sennheiser dealer, you will get a warranty). I'm still amazed not everyone knows about Jan and his excellent prices for the HD 800's. Jude has even endorsed the guy: http://www.head-fi.org/t/366433/jan-meier-and-meier-audio-thank-you
 
This is where I bought my HD 800, and likely where I'll get my HD 800S.
 
EDIT: Jan's prices fluctuate depending on the current currency conversion rates. I got mine for $1160 shipped. His site currently says $1250. Email him for more details.

 

[MattTCG]

^^Senn does not honor the warranty if purchased below $1200. 

 

[pervysage]

^^Senn does not honor the warranty if purchased below $1200. 

Seriously?

 

[dcpoor]

He's probably making stuff up.
It would be ridiculous if my HD800 purchased new from Amazon directly during that one 2013 sale doesn't have a warranty because I got it for <$1200.

 

[MrBucket]

  He's probably making stuff up.
It would be ridiculous if my HD800 purchased new from Amazon directly during that one 2013 sale doesn't have a warranty because I got it for <$1200.

I paid only $1,030 for the pair sitting on my head right now.  Got them yesterday and plan on doing the anax mod up on Innerfidelity this weekend 

 

[kapanak]

He's probably making stuff up.
It would be ridiculous if my HD800 purchased new from Amazon directly during that one 2013 sale doesn't have a warranty because I got it for <$1200.

It was a rumour for a long time, but many have confirmed with Sennheiser that as long as purchased from an authorized dealer, price is irrelevant to warranty.