[Rchandra]

I wish that the hd820 used a new driver that requires less power to be a bit more mobile. I know people aren't supposed to take their high end gear out and about but for me i use my z1r at the gym, having something that can be powered with a Walkman would have been game changing for me, i would have immediately looked past the hd820s flaws if it could be powered by a good dap.

 

[McMadface]

I like the impressions I'm hearing so far from owners. They are not meant to be better then open backs, but they are meant to be one of the more superior closed backs, and it seems they could potentially fit the bill.

Yup. That's exactly what Sennheiser and anyone who has heard the HD820 has been saying all along. I don't know why people are surprised that it's not a successor to the HD800/S. It's a co-flagship headphone.

 

[Rchandra]

I agree and their is nothing wrong with it being a co flagship, sennheiser isn't crazy to make a headphone that competes with its hd800S they are smart however in making something that can reproduce most of its hd800s sound in a closed back unit. And the headphone does look amazing.

 

[Giraku]

Hmm... I am not sure if "a bit better" will be good enough for me.
How about comparison to Sony Z1R ?

Better than Z1R, for sure.

 

[JabenZ]

Hmm... I am not sure if "a bit better" will be good enough for me.
How about comparison to Sony Z1R ?

It’s personal favor. I don’t like Z1R. Z1R has too much bass. Although Z1R is a headphone you can still enjoy.

 

[Giraku]

Better than Z1R, for sure.

I meant this in terms of sound stage. Sound stage is notably wider with HD820 compared to Z1R.

 

[Giraku]

Comparison of the FR plot provided by Sennheiser. Note that I do not own HD800S any longer.

 

[RCBinTN]

Hi All,
Finally some HD820 impressions coming in! Please keep the comments coming, folks. Sorry to hear about shipping delays to some people.

General random comments:
My situation allows me to use open HPs, but I may be interested in the HD820 depending on how they sound (to y'all).
My opinion is the SQ of HD800 >> HD800S. It's easy to tame the 6kHz peak if that troubles you.
I keep the LCD-4 as complement to my HD800. They cost the same as the Utopia.
I didn't audition the Utopia because I have the HD800...didn't need another bright HP.
I had no idea there is an Ultrasone Ed15! I once owned the Ed8 and they sounded OK.

Happy Listening!
RCBinTN

 

[Giraku]

I had no idea there is an Ultrasone Ed15! I once owned the Ed8 and they sounded OK.

You will be surprised how good Edition 15 is. So far the best Ultrasone phones I ever heard.
Sorry for the off topic. Now, back to HD820.

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

You will be surprised how good Edition 15 is. So far the best Ultrasone phones I ever heard.
Sorry for the off topic. Now, back to HD820.

I love it when you talk about the Ultrasone Edition 15! I wish there were more impressions on it. How does the treble of the Edition 15 compare to the 820? Which one is generally brighter?

 

[baiyy1986]

Just find a review from a famous tech reviewer Marques Brownlee

 

[comzee]

Just find a review from a famous tech reviewer Marques Brownlee

It's cool that he's reviewing them, but I'd put about as much trust in his opinion as Unbox Therapy's headphone reviews.
These guys don't drive the cans with any semblance of a good amp/dac. Word on the street is that the hd820 is just meh, which is fine. Open back headphones are legendary for a reason, it lets the audio breath giving better sound stage, instrument separation, etc...

Now I know people are not really comparing them to the hd800(s), and that's good. I don't think anybody is surprised that closing the black makes the overall audio experience less articulated. The obvious advantages are isolating outside noise, and the ability to listen to music in quiet only areas. To have a really good hifi headphone for that, is awesome. Although, for anybody wanting the ultimate experience hd800 (stock) (with sdr mod) is still IMO one of the, if not the, best headphones in the world.

 

[MacedonianHero]

How is the 800S driver supposed to be outdated?

Because it is not.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Yes and that fact that the 800s can be compared favourably to the Utopia at less than half the price proves the Focal is overpriced.

I can feel some post deleting coming on.

I don't think you realize how HiFi works, maybe I'm wrong? We can play this game all day long. The HD650/600 can be compared favourably to the HD800 (and for about 1/3 the price). That's the price you pay if you want the best. I've owned the HD800's since 2010 and the HD800S since their release, but no doubt to my ears the Utopias are the best dynamic headphones I've had on my head. That's not to say I still absolutely love my HD800S headphones...because I certainly do!

 

[Giraku]

I love it when you talk about the Ultrasone Edition 15! I wish there were more impressions on it. How does the treble of the Edition 15 compare to the 820? Which one is generally brighter?

Lol, thanks, @Hifiearspeakers. I simply love Edition 15, for its mystic charm, which I cannot explain. Compared to HD820, definitely HD820 is on a brighter side (but not like HD800S). Edition 15 is either neutral or slightly warm.