Despite having a rocky start, my first few days with the HDV 820 have been a real ear opener. Not having access to my music allowed me to focus on a mostly overlooked use for headphones: Gaming. I admit, I am a gamer. Mostly casual these days, since my first Atari 2600, progressing all the way to PS3/XBox 360 and eventually PC gaming, the number 1 aspect that for me that had the biggest impact on immersion was(/is) sound. Graphics simply had to be good enough, but music and sound was always the driving force in the games I chose to play over the years. This is why my home stereo is way, WAY better than my TV, and likewise carries over to my computer; 10 year old monitor - iFi stack. Over the years I have purchased numerous top tiered PC sound cards and eventually external USB audio solutions all in the pursuit of the best PC audio experience, both for general music listening and games. Creative, ASUS, Audioengine, TEAC, and now my iFi stack, I thought I have heard some of the best out there. The HDV 820 not only puts their performance to shame, it is in a completely different echelon! Don't get me wrong, my iFi stack sounds amazing, and for many (my poor self included) it would be considered their end game, but the HDV 820, much like it's predecessor the HDV 800, truly is worthy of being considered "Summit-fi".
I am not one to revisit old titles, so naturally what I am currently playing through are recent releases: South Park - The Fractured But Whole, and Shadow of Mordor - Shadow of War. As it so happens to be, both titles are sequels to originals that are highly acclaimed, and thus far both are improvements, especially in regards to graphics and, most importantly, sound! While playing through the original titles, the HD 598 had the honour of accompanying me alone my journey to the end of both games, this time around the HD 600 is my weapon of choice. For the previous 2 weeks before the arrival of the HDV 820, I had been using my iFi stack consisting of the micro iDAC, micro iCAN SE, and micro iTube2.
Along with the reference class HD 600, the pair make for one heck of a gaming experience! While some may consider the HD 600's sound stage to be too narrow for gaming, thanks to both game's stellar audio engine, as well as the open-airy tubiness of the micro iTube2, this simply was not a problem; The HD 600's supreme focus and imaging simply complimented them both. Both games sounded amazing. Immersion was there, 3D positioning and imaging was (seemingly) spot on, and I was one content gamer. Then came the HDV 820. One word: Wow! Nah.. Maybe holy schiit!? Nope, still not good enough. Hmm, I got it: EPIC! Yes, the most over used word of the year (of 2014) that should never be used again, but I don't care because truly, that is the only word to describe what my ears hear! Heck, even... ÜBER EPIC! Take that hipsters! Ha HA! But no, in all seriousness, it would be reference class studio sound, through and through, bar none, period.
First off, dialogue and vocals. Whether it be story driven dialogue or battle born war-cries, both games feature almost non-stop talking. The HD 600/HDV 820 combo superbly and effortlessly renders voices to perfection! Every word spoken had incredible focus within the sound scape in regards to both position and scale, coming across clean and clear with perfect layering. It mattered not if the voices were simple back ground chatter, a cut-scene dialogue, or a horde of 20 orcs coming at me from all directions, every sound that exited a mouth could be easily distinguished and positioned within the game's environment. I knew exactly who was talking and where they were coming from. Advantage: me!
Much like vocals, environmental sounds and effects were rendered to perfection. The accuracy of the 3D positioning was spot on, providing me with a natural sense of scale and position. In Shadow of War, I could be perched upon a roof, overlooking a courtyard full of orcs going about their business, and without repositioning the camera to get a better vantage I could pin-point exactly where they were underneath me just by the mundane sounds their movements were creating! When in the heat of battle, archers and ranged opponents pepper you from afar. With arrows and spears wizzing by while deflecting blows from swords and axes, they are difficult to notice and often are only spotted once you take a few hits. The combination of the game's well engineered audio and the HDV 820's rock solid grip on the sound allows me to easily and quickly receive a clear and precise directional audio cue the moment the projectile is launched to the point it flies by my head (or into my torso). Sword blows were felt, possessing an excellent transient response thus giving a great sense of impact! Every individual crackle of burning embers falling upon the ground was heard as fire pits explode, which in turn had a great sense of exploding force! I could go on and on, but all in all, I was totally immersed! It doesn't take me long to forget about the fact that I am wearing headphones with sound coming out of an amplifier as everything sounds so natural that I simply fade away into the game's world!
Lastly, and certainly not least, the music of South Park - The Fractured But Whole, and Shadow of Mordor - Shadow of War. One word: Epic! This time I mean it! Being Action-Fantasy and Super Hero themed, both can not be described any other way than simply, epic, and the HDV 820 renders their scores with beautiful, blissful, perfection! Surrounding my head in a expansive sound-scape, the music was big, the music was dynamic, every subtlety could be discerned without strain, yet sat perfectly behind both the effects and vocals without sounding distant or recessed! It was almost as if I had a secondary driver sitting behind the main that produced nothing but the music.
To be continued....
Next up: I am thinking, perhaps, the AKG K340 Elektrostatic-dynamic 400 Ohm power hungry flag-ship of old!
