ruinedx
500+ Head-Fier
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HD820 vs HD800S 75th Anniversary Edition on Liquid Platinum fed by MXDAC. No EQ
On my own equipment, which I am familiar with, in my own residence. Not at a show, or at the store, not reading tea leaves via FR graphs, etc.
Day 1 impressions
The treble: Tie
HD800S keeps up the brilliance of OG HD800 (owned this a few yr ago), but dials it down to the level where it rides the cutting edge of being brilliant yet not irritating like the OG HD800 can be.
HD820 takes it down a notch further from "brilliant" to "superbly detailed". So if the HD800S was too much treble for you, the HD820 is tweaked bit downward a bit further; but for some this may be a downgrade
I personally would give this to HD800S but I can see some give it to HD820 if they are annoyed by "brilliance" sparkle or super treble sensitive, so preference is where its at here.
The bass: Winner HD820
HD820 is overall more satisfying. The HD800S has very satisfying bass as well, but it just doesnt dig as deep as HD800S and thus is just a bit less satisfying on some material. Maybe you'll like the HD800S just as much or better if your music has no deep bass, but I find most music I listen to does.
The mids: Winner HD800S
HD800S has more lush mids and feels more emotive. HD820 still quite good, but not HD800S level. HD820 is two steps down from "lush and emotive" to "very impressive"
The soundstage: Tie
Now here might be a big surprise for some. A closed back at dead heat with one of the most expansive open backs? Yes. Definitely.
Let me give you a couple of pictures here.
The HD800S is like walking out into a beautiful pasture in the bright sunlight, with sound showering down all around you, your music happily mixing with the natural ambience
The HD820 is like taking a seat in a concert hall with spectacular acoustics, and you are the only one in the audience - then the performance starts.
In both cases, the soundstage is incredibly impressive and all around you. But they are different. At different times, with different content you may prefer one or the other.
and I would say it also depends how you are feeling in terms of mood which one you might prefer at any given time. There is no clear winner given the advantages and extremely impressive technical executions of both approaches.
Isolation and leakage: Winner HD820
Well this was pretty obvious. The HD820 isolates pretty decently and leaks much less. Any noise at all in in environment and HD820 is easily the better choice. Not much else to say.
Fit and weight: Winner HD800S
Again pretty obvious. HD800S is less bulky, stays on the head better, and weighs less. Because it doesnt need the extra weight of a closed back, of course; makes sense, and the HD800S fits better as a result.
Day 1 impressions Conclusion: Tie.
Yeah, so that's my day 1 listening impressions. No drama, no hyperbole. Its a tie.
They serve different functions and each sound and work a bit better with different content & scenarios.
Put on some broadway or classical and you are going to get more emotion and brilliance with HD800S
Put on some R&B or synthwave and you are going to get more low frequency enjoyment from HD820
Put on the HD800S in a quiet environment and the sound floats around you. HD820 still good but maybe 20% less "float."
Put on the HD820 in a noisy environment and your sound isnt spoiled. HD800S still listenable but the music is spoiled at times by obvious background interruptions. HD820 a good headphone to drown out the world with, HD800S a good headphone to let it all in.
They are complementary, one is is not better than the other. Both are cool. buy both.
Will continue adding more I gather throughout the week, for those interested.
On my own equipment, which I am familiar with, in my own residence. Not at a show, or at the store, not reading tea leaves via FR graphs, etc.
Day 1 impressions
The treble: Tie
HD800S keeps up the brilliance of OG HD800 (owned this a few yr ago), but dials it down to the level where it rides the cutting edge of being brilliant yet not irritating like the OG HD800 can be.
HD820 takes it down a notch further from "brilliant" to "superbly detailed". So if the HD800S was too much treble for you, the HD820 is tweaked bit downward a bit further; but for some this may be a downgrade
I personally would give this to HD800S but I can see some give it to HD820 if they are annoyed by "brilliance" sparkle or super treble sensitive, so preference is where its at here.
The bass: Winner HD820
HD820 is overall more satisfying. The HD800S has very satisfying bass as well, but it just doesnt dig as deep as HD800S and thus is just a bit less satisfying on some material. Maybe you'll like the HD800S just as much or better if your music has no deep bass, but I find most music I listen to does.
The mids: Winner HD800S
HD800S has more lush mids and feels more emotive. HD820 still quite good, but not HD800S level. HD820 is two steps down from "lush and emotive" to "very impressive"
The soundstage: Tie
Now here might be a big surprise for some. A closed back at dead heat with one of the most expansive open backs? Yes. Definitely.
Let me give you a couple of pictures here.
The HD800S is like walking out into a beautiful pasture in the bright sunlight, with sound showering down all around you, your music happily mixing with the natural ambience
The HD820 is like taking a seat in a concert hall with spectacular acoustics, and you are the only one in the audience - then the performance starts.
In both cases, the soundstage is incredibly impressive and all around you. But they are different. At different times, with different content you may prefer one or the other.
and I would say it also depends how you are feeling in terms of mood which one you might prefer at any given time. There is no clear winner given the advantages and extremely impressive technical executions of both approaches.
Isolation and leakage: Winner HD820
Well this was pretty obvious. The HD820 isolates pretty decently and leaks much less. Any noise at all in in environment and HD820 is easily the better choice. Not much else to say.
Fit and weight: Winner HD800S
Again pretty obvious. HD800S is less bulky, stays on the head better, and weighs less. Because it doesnt need the extra weight of a closed back, of course; makes sense, and the HD800S fits better as a result.
Day 1 impressions Conclusion: Tie.
Yeah, so that's my day 1 listening impressions. No drama, no hyperbole. Its a tie.
They serve different functions and each sound and work a bit better with different content & scenarios.
Put on some broadway or classical and you are going to get more emotion and brilliance with HD800S
Put on some R&B or synthwave and you are going to get more low frequency enjoyment from HD820
Put on the HD800S in a quiet environment and the sound floats around you. HD820 still good but maybe 20% less "float."
Put on the HD820 in a noisy environment and your sound isnt spoiled. HD800S still listenable but the music is spoiled at times by obvious background interruptions. HD820 a good headphone to drown out the world with, HD800S a good headphone to let it all in.
They are complementary, one is is not better than the other. Both are cool. buy both.
Will continue adding more I gather throughout the week, for those interested.
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