Having recently purchased the Feliks Envy, the 820 sounds better than ever. Although my first time hearing it was on the HDV820 and that was enough for me to buy the headphone. The 820 really excels on tubes, as 300 ohm headphones generally do.
Sennheiser HD820
- Thread starter Dulalala
- Start date
Metalingus
100+ Head-Fier
I quite enjoyed the demo. I wonder if there will be an update since this model released in 2018. Like 660S II.
Anybody? Thanks.
Anybody? Thanks.
I will do that for mine. thanks for the advice
manueljenkin
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2015
- Posts
- 410
- Likes
- 218
I was surprised how awesome hd800 sound out of apogee groove (I prefer the groove over quite a few desktop amps for the hd800. It handles headphones not requiring lot of current very well). Maybe you could give it a consideration too. Or if you’re looking for something modern, maybe the questyle m15 might be your thing (I haven’t heard the questyle though).
Last edited:
jamesjames
500+ Head-Fier
I agree the HDV820 is hard to beat - but I think the SPL Phonitor xe is better. I'm persuaded the higher voltage rails (120 volt) make all the difference - seem to supply exactly what the phones need to perform at their best.
Hi Audiophiles,
I recently acquired a HD820. need some help on DACand AMP - transportable.
Currenty i own SHANLING H7 and FIIO K7.
I recently acquired a HD820. need some help on DACand AMP - transportable.
Currenty i own SHANLING H7 and FIIO K7.
JKTRRT
New Head-Fier
Ifi DIablo is what I use with my HD 820 headphone. It has enough power to drive the headphone along with a 4.4mm balanced connector
I am having ifi MICRO iDSD SIGNATURE in mind. Do you think micro idsd will be also a good option?
JKTRRT
New Head-Fier
I would go with the one that has balanced 4.4 mm connector
IFI Micro iDSD SIGNATURE has balanced 4.4 connection output
JKTRRT
New Head-Fier
I would go with that and the IFI purifier
Shroomalistic
100+ Head-Fier
Hey guys, I recently purchased a pair of hd800s renewed from amazon and they sent hd820. I decided to give them a listening till they respond to my return.
Ive been wanting the hd800s forever and finally got the funds to get them. So my dilemma is, how close are the hd820 to the hd800s? Will I be missing much if I decide to keep the hd820 over the hd800s? I bought these mainly for gaming and the hd820 really excelled at that but I also wanted them for music and these do sound like closed backs vs that openy sound that I want. I was planning on selling my dt1990 and hd6xx after getting the hd800s to upgrade other components.
Ive been wanting the hd800s forever and finally got the funds to get them. So my dilemma is, how close are the hd820 to the hd800s? Will I be missing much if I decide to keep the hd820 over the hd800s? I bought these mainly for gaming and the hd820 really excelled at that but I also wanted them for music and these do sound like closed backs vs that openy sound that I want. I was planning on selling my dt1990 and hd6xx after getting the hd800s to upgrade other components.
JKTRRT
New Head-Fier
I have both the Sennheiser HD 800S is a better option. Reason mainly because of the Sennheiser HD 800S Soundstage is better than the HD 820.
kernel8888
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2013
- Posts
- 1,117
- Likes
- 400
It depends on what your priorities are
Obviously hd820 is going to give isolation, hd800
Open
Hd800 is a bit lighter and lower profile so i like it slightly better but the hd820 is still excellent for comfort
A couple differences:
Frequency response- BASS is stronger on the hd820 and digs deep. Out of a warm source it’s mid bass is just a bit too much- so the fixes for this are either a more neutral source or dekoni hybrid/Fenstrated pads mellow out the mid bass
With dekoni fenestrated pads bass is super linear but you lose a bit of body in lower mids so it’s not quite as organic but a little more open sounding
So the hd800 bass to mid transition is smoother and sounds better for music, but they share the same tone overall so different flavors of the same sound
So pros and cons to bass on either
Once you get past the mid bass/lower mid emphasis on the hd820 with stock pads, mids to upper mids are very similar frequency and overall timbre
I do think the hd820 fills in the hd800’s dip in the mids just slightly with the stock pads and even more so with the dekfen which is good for clarity, but might be slightly less organic sounding.
Treble is also similar, slightly more even on the hd820 but really similar overall to hd800 SDR/hd800s
Detail/resolution- kind of a mixed bag- overall they are on the same level- the closed nature allows resolution to shine through on the hd820
With the stock pads the mid bass can mask a little bit of resolution just based on the elevated frequencies, but with dekfen pads I feel clarity is a little bit higher on the hd820, as they have even less mid bass than hd800 while still going lower and having more subbass than the hd800
Overall I’d call it a draw with detail resoltion
Soundstage- hd820 is less diffuse and a little more direct and focused. This allows it to be slightly more snappy and coherent and a little less “always wide” then the hd800 which I like
Imaging: overall it’s a tie but comes across slightly different due to soundstage differences
So if you’re to a/b them with the stock 820 pads the most obvious differences are
1st the midbass on the hd820 is strong
closed backs make the sounds/images overall sound a bit smaller but also more focused, but the at perception goes away after 2 minutes of brain burn in
So again it depends on priorities- for pure accuracy and tonal balance the hd800 wins. For closed back, or if the diffuse sound bugs, or if you want more bass the hd820 wins
The hd820 is honestly the one that gets my toe tapping and engages with the music, but the hd800 is still very musical to me, and sometimes the problems with the hd820 can also bug me on the wrong track or from the wrong source
So now that you’re more confused, you’re welcome
Obviously hd820 is going to give isolation, hd800
Open
Hd800 is a bit lighter and lower profile so i like it slightly better but the hd820 is still excellent for comfort
A couple differences:
Frequency response- BASS is stronger on the hd820 and digs deep. Out of a warm source it’s mid bass is just a bit too much- so the fixes for this are either a more neutral source or dekoni hybrid/Fenstrated pads mellow out the mid bass
With dekoni fenestrated pads bass is super linear but you lose a bit of body in lower mids so it’s not quite as organic but a little more open sounding
So the hd800 bass to mid transition is smoother and sounds better for music, but they share the same tone overall so different flavors of the same sound
So pros and cons to bass on either
Once you get past the mid bass/lower mid emphasis on the hd820 with stock pads, mids to upper mids are very similar frequency and overall timbre
I do think the hd820 fills in the hd800’s dip in the mids just slightly with the stock pads and even more so with the dekfen which is good for clarity, but might be slightly less organic sounding.
Treble is also similar, slightly more even on the hd820 but really similar overall to hd800 SDR/hd800s
Detail/resolution- kind of a mixed bag- overall they are on the same level- the closed nature allows resolution to shine through on the hd820
With the stock pads the mid bass can mask a little bit of resolution just based on the elevated frequencies, but with dekfen pads I feel clarity is a little bit higher on the hd820, as they have even less mid bass than hd800 while still going lower and having more subbass than the hd800
Overall I’d call it a draw with detail resoltion
Soundstage- hd820 is less diffuse and a little more direct and focused. This allows it to be slightly more snappy and coherent and a little less “always wide” then the hd800 which I like
Imaging: overall it’s a tie but comes across slightly different due to soundstage differences
So if you’re to a/b them with the stock 820 pads the most obvious differences are
1st the midbass on the hd820 is strong
closed backs make the sounds/images overall sound a bit smaller but also more focused, but the at perception goes away after 2 minutes of brain burn in
So again it depends on priorities- for pure accuracy and tonal balance the hd800 wins. For closed back, or if the diffuse sound bugs, or if you want more bass the hd820 wins
The hd820 is honestly the one that gets my toe tapping and engages with the music, but the hd800 is still very musical to me, and sometimes the problems with the hd820 can also bug me on the wrong track or from the wrong source
So now that you’re more confused, you’re welcome
Last edited:
silversurfer616
1000+ Head-Fier
Also have both and of course soundstage is larger on HD800S but the more intimate sound of the HD820 is sometimes all I want.
Being on my 8th pair of HD800S I just smile when I read all the comments of lacking bass or the call for a new updated version…my current serial number is 43 785 and the bass is better than ever before.
Being on my 8th pair of HD800S I just smile when I read all the comments of lacking bass or the call for a new updated version…my current serial number is 43 785 and the bass is better than ever before.
Users who are viewing this thread
