[Hi-Phi]

So after reading a bit about the HD 800 S losing its soundstage I wanted to pose this question:
 
Does anyone think its possible to mod the HD 800 S to get some of that imaging back? Maybe through physical changes or software -- i.e Sonarworks? 
 
Still deciding if I wanted to get a discounted HD 800 C and mod it or get the HD 800 S. Either way I am waiting to hear the "S" locally in Seattle, WA. 

 

[Whazzzup]

  So after reading a bit about the HD 800 S losing its soundstage I wanted to pose this question:
 
Does anyone think its possible to mod the HD 800 S to get some of that imaging back? Maybe through physical changes or software -- i.e Sonarworks? 
 
Still deciding if I wanted to get a discounted HD 800 C and mod it or get the HD 800 S. Either way I am waiting to hear the "S" locally in Seattle, WA. 

Im still waiting for mine so with that in mind, and i have read both hd800S forums extensively as im stoked waiting for delivery, i dont think anyone has said there is any less soundstage in the S. Im sure the infighting between old and new owners will continue, I think over time S will attract new owners who dont have a history, like me, I think that is what its all about in the big picture. If you dont want new driver positioning, absorber tech, smoothed 6 khz spike, more bass, and dislike black. Just dont consider it, the old 8 is cheaper now.

 

[MacedonianHero]

So after reading a bit about the HD 800 S losing its soundstage I wanted to pose this question:

Does anyone think its possible to mod the HD 800 S to get some of that imaging back? Maybe through physical changes or software -- i.e Sonarworks? 

Still deciding if I wanted to get a discounted HD 800 C and mod it or get the HD 800 S. Either way I am waiting to hear the "S" locally in Seattle, WA. 

Lol, did you just miss the previous 2-3 posts?

 

[fpsoft1]

 

So, the graph I put up on the previous page, which looks for all the world like a new HD800S graph, was in fact my HD800's.
 
I'm not sure what to make of these graphs really, especially of Senns use of the comparative graphs for the HD800 and HD800S included in the manual; http://en-us.sennheiser.com/global-downloads/file/6263/HD800_HD800S_Manual_12_2015_EN.pdf
 
Either it's just BS, or some HD800's really do sound different, and closer to the HD800S, than others.......

 
Very similar to my HD800 graph, S/N 29356, I don't see the 6k spike.
 

 

[Hi-Phi]

Lol, did you just miss the previous 2-3 posts?

 
Might have, but looking back and reading them now it doesn't look like I missed much. Look at the end of the day we can write about our experiences all day but our ears are indeed our ears.
 
I'll just hold out until I can get an 800 C and 800 S side by side and use the balanced cable to compare the two -- same DSD128 track, same cables, same dac, same amp. By the looks of it I'll have that opportunity in the coming weeks and will report back what I happen to find. 

 

[Mike F]

   
Very similar to my HD800 graph, S/N 29356, I don't see the 6k spike.
 

Wow, I think that's the closest I've ever seen to mine.
 
According to some, the 6kHz spike is still there as it's an inbuilt flaw in the HD800, all HD800's sound the same and these graphs are good for nothing......? Hmmm.......
 
Are you aware of any problems in the treble in yours? (I mean does it actually sound OK?!!)

 

[iDesign]

   
"...why does Sennheiser warm the «S» version by reducing treble energy by means of a helmholtz resonator..."

 
Sennheiser's Product Specialist Scott Houston answers this by saying, "...[so] the consumer won't need any to use any kind of outboard equipment or equalization to get that little bit warmer sound they would want, that they would be more familiar with." He is confirming that Sennheiser feels recording professionals have a different set of needs and professionals often use equalization and other equipment to achieve their desired sound. He is also explaining that the HD 800 S is Sennheiser's response to consumers who purchased the HD 800 for home use but wanted a warmer sound. Sennheiser has always positioned the HD 800 as "professional reference class headphones" since their launch (refer back to the press releases and videos). His comments are not intended to justify the coexistence of the HD 800 and HD 800 S, rather its the other way around-- he is trying to explain the advent of the HD 800 S which is intended for consumers. And consumers includes headfi.com since the majority of members here are nothing more than hobbyists without sufficient knowledge of equalization methods and using professional headphones at home. He is referring to consumers who plug their HD 800 into a Chord Hugo TT and write tens of posts on headfi.com about treble peaks and imaging. 
 
Those are Scott Houston's words and opinions, NOT mine. My only opinion here is that Sennheiser completely botched the PR and communications approach for the HD 800 S ever since Axel Grell previewed them too early in Japan and it caught both Sennheiser Electronic Corp USA and Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co completely off guard. Its only now that Sennheiser is starting to better articulate their story and they are making ninja-edits to the copy on their websites. 

 

[dharma]

  So after reading a bit about the HD 800 S losing its soundstage I wanted to pose this question:
 
Does anyone think its possible to mod the HD 800 S to get some of that imaging back? Maybe through physical changes or software -- i.e Sonarworks? 
 
Still deciding if I wanted to get a discounted HD 800 C and mod it or get the HD 800 S. Either way I am waiting to hear the "S" locally in Seattle, WA. 

 
Sonarworks is truly making good work, suitable for pro needs (tested by pro stuff reviewers too).
Two weeks ago there wasn't yet HD800S plugin available, but HD800 was measured and calibrated plugin available with software, and 20 + more plugins for other headphones

 

[hekeli]

 
According to some, the 6kHz spike is still there as it's an inbuilt flaw in the HD800, all HD800's sound the same and these graphs are good for nothing......? Hmmm.......

 
Yeah I know. It's very hard to trust a bunch of measurements from most respected people like Tyll, pages of deep technical analyzing of the peak from Arnaud, Rin Choi, etc. This over some random people that may or may not be sensitive to certain frequencies, playing random music. And super low-detailed smoothed graphs taken with unknown methods from the manufacturer itself.
 
Here's graph and personal in-ear-mic measurement from my HD800. Look ma, it's a peak. 

 

 

[Krolik]

  .... who plug their HD 800 into a Chord Hugo TT and write tens of posts on headfi.com about treble peaks and imaging. 
 

 

[xp9433]

   
Yeah I know. It's very hard to trust a bunch of measurements from most respected people like Tyll, pages of deep technical analyzing of the peak from Arnaud, Rin Choi, etc. This over some random people that may or may not be sensitive to certain frequencies, playing random music. And super low-detailed smoothed graphs taken with unknown methods from the manufacturer itself.
 
Here's graph and personal in-ear-mic measurement from my HD800. Look ma, it's a peak. 

 

 
Aren't these measurements taken with very different methodologies? The manufacturer's are effectively free air, whereas yours look like were taken using a dummy head?

 

[hekeli]

  Aren't these measurements taken with very different methodologies? The manufacturer's are effectively free air, whereas yours look like were taken using a dummy head?

 
If you mean I'm a dummy, then yes I am, they were taken with my head.

 
Quite irrelevant anyway, the peak is still a fact, whether it doesn't show up in some exotic free air or underwater measurement doesn't matter.

 

[Mike F]

   
Yeah I know. It's very hard to trust a bunch of measurements from most respected people like Tyll, pages of deep technical analyzing of the peak from Arnaud, Rin Choi, etc. This over some random people that may or may not be sensitive to certain frequencies, playing random music. And super low-detailed smoothed graphs taken with unknown methods from the manufacturer itself.
 
Here's graph and personal in-ear-mic measurement from my HD800. Look ma, it's a peak. 

 

Actually, I'm not disagreeing with you and other people who say the spike is there. My point was just that some graphs show a peak there and some don't, but apparently they all sound the same....

 

[hekeli]

  Actually, I'm not disagreeing with you and other people who say the spike is there. My point was just that some graphs show a peak there and some don't, but apparently they all sound the same....

 
Obviously one needs to know all the stuff behind such graphs. It's amazing how people are obsessed with the Senny graphs and try to make some subjective sense out of them. We have zilch idea how they are made, averaged etc.

 

[Mike F]

   
Obviously one needs to know all the stuff behind such graphs. It's amazing how people are obsessed with the Senny graphs and try to make some subjective sense out of them. We have zilch idea how they are made, averaged etc.

It's fun to speculate though - isn't that what this place is (mostly) about?