[ASOKA]

the volume of XLR out put in fixed.
and the output does not switch off when a headphone connected.
don't have chance to try the RCA yet.

 

[TheManko]

Quote:

- I would like to hook them up to a power amp - is the output gain / volume affected by the volume dial, or is it fixed?
- Do the outputs switch off when a headphone is connected?
- My amp only has RCA inputs. any issues with using XLR to RCA cables?
- Also appreciate any recommendations on XLR to RCA cables.
 

It's fixed, the outputs don't switch off if headphones are connected, I'm using XLR to RCA adapters when connecting it to my amp with no issues, and for the last point I don't have any cable recommendations as I just got a couple adapters instead so I could use the RCA cables I already had.

 

[GandalfLux]

To coincide with High End 2013 in Munich, audio specialist Sennheiser is unveiling symmetrical connecting cables for its new HDVD 800 and HDVA 600 headphone amplifiers. When combined with Sennheiser high-end headphones, the new high-end cables guarantee a very special sound experience.
 
 
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/news/the-ultimate-in-listening-pleasure-the-new-sennheiser-high-end-cables-

 

[Mr.Sneis]

They look pretty.  If only they were not an arm and leg.
 
 

 
 
 

 

[GSARider]

They had two at the London meet, which did make the HD800's sound pretty good - my order has been placed with Custom Cable.
 
Have been listening to my combo for the past few days now and very happy with it.
 

 

[R Giskard]

Oxygen free copper? Hmm... One would expect more for such a premium. 

 

[R Giskard]

Regarding the comments on difficulties when driving HD800 headphones, I never found them to be particularly difficult to drive. What is difficult though is to find an amplifier that matches it's way of music presentation. I am sorry but Jan Meier's amplifier are not it. One other amplifier that drives thm well is the Lehmann linear but it too has it's shortcomings. 

 

[R Giskard]

Quote:

Has anyone compared this to the GSX yet?

Unfortunately, the GSX doesn't compare that well with the latest high end amplifiers from the likes of Sennheiser and Bryston.
 
Incidentally, A Headamp amplifier I liked the best was the Gilmore lite. I liked it for it's simplicity and an excellent price/performance ratio. I bought the GS-X used and liked it for a while. Still, it never really impressed me and once I opened it up, it was quite clear why that was. The design itself was exemplary - basically a school example of tidy signal path and component arrangement. The components themselves were a different story unfortunately. Their quality was mediocre at best. All of them were through-hole types but it didn't take me long to realite that replacing them for something better would cost the same as what I paid for it. I just don't think this amplifier is all it could have been and as far as I am concerned, they ruined the otherwise solidly engineered amplifier by cutting the cost down on parts' quality,
 
I think it is time for the Headamp team to make use of the modular construction and design amplifier stages with something that would compare more favorably to the newcomers.

 

[uffeolby]

Quote:

To coincide with High End 2013 in Munich, audio specialist Sennheiser is unveiling symmetrical connecting cables for its new HDVD 800 and HDVA 600 headphone amplifiers. When combined with Sennheiser high-end headphones, the new high-end cables guarantee a very special sound experience.
 
 
http://en-de.sennheiser.com/news/the-ultimate-in-listening-pleasure-the-new-sennheiser-high-end-cables-

I do not understand all technical mumbo jumbo here, so I have to ask. Is there anything special with the new Sennheiser balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) that makes them better with HDVD 800 than any other balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) by other suppliers (also of course with connectors to the Sennheiser headphones)?
 
I guess not, but can anyone with a deeper understanding confirm - thanks!

 

[Mr.Sneis]

Quote:

Unfortunately, the GSX doesn't compare that well with the latest high end amplifiers from the likes of Sennheiser and Bryston.
 
Incidentally, A Headamp amplifier I liked the best was the Gilmore lite. I liked it for it's simplicity and an excellent price/performance ratio. I bought the GS-X used and liked it for a while. Still, it never really impressed me and once I opened it up, it was quite clear why that was. The design itself was exemplary - basically a school example of tidy signal path and component arrangement. The components themselves were a different story unfortunately. Their quality was mediocre at best. All of them were through-hole types but it didn't take me long to realite that replacing them for something better would cost the same as what I paid for it. I just don't think this amplifier is all it could have been and as far as I am concerned, they ruined the otherwise solidly engineered amplifier by cutting the cost down on parts' quality,
 
I think it is time for the Headamp team to make use of the modular construction and design amplifier stages with something that would compare more favorably to the newcomers.

 
WOW. I don't even know how to respond to such a statement.  Post this in the GS-X thread please

 

[Mr.Sneis]

Quote:

I do not understand all technical mumbo jumbo here, so I have to ask. Is there anything special with the new Sennheiser balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) that makes them better with HDVD 800 than any other balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) by other suppliers (also of course with connectors to the Sennheiser headphones)?
 
I guess not, but can anyone with a deeper understanding confirm - thanks!

 
Based on what I see:  They took the stock hd800 cable and have it terminated with a 4-pin XLR instead of the regular 1/4" jack.  The same goes for the hd650 cable, just the stock hd650 cable reterminated.  The 4-pin XLR doesn't appear to be anything I've seen available commercially and you'd probably ruin it trying to dissect it i.e. of special sourcing.  Most off the shelf XLR connectors I've seen are nice in that you can take them apart without worry of harming the cable or solder joints.  In fact IMO they are easier to work on and solder than single ended connectors.

 

[R Giskard]

Quote:

 
WOW. I don't even know how to respond to such a statement.  Post this in the GS-X thread please

Which statement? I said too much to be sure what you are referring to! Besides, the GS-X story is long over for me . 

 

[spritzer]

Quote:

I do not understand all technical mumbo jumbo here, so I have to ask. Is there anything special with the new Sennheiser balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) that makes them better with HDVD 800 than any other balanced cable (terminated with 4 pin XLR) by other suppliers (also of course with connectors to the Sennheiser headphones)?
 
I guess not, but can anyone with a deeper understanding confirm - thanks!

 
It's a cable just like any other, nothing special about it. 

 

[TheManko]

I carefully read that cable press release and what it describes is the stock HD 800 cable, except with 4 pin XLR. The Obu connectors it brings up in a separate point is just the connector the HD 800 cable already uses. The HD 700 and HD 650 versions of the cable are probably an upgrade over their stock cables, but for the HD 800 it's the same with a new connector.

 

[Nordwestlicht]

Quote:

Oxygen free copper? Hmm... One would expect more for such a premium. 

 
Sorry, what? You mean exclusive snake-oil stuff? That's so ridiculous! What does copper do wrong? Right, nothing! Only believers without any proof complain about OFC, as always.
Or do you have a real proof that it's not good or that there is a material that 'sounds' inevitably better?
 
Quote:

I am sorry but Jan Meier's amplifier are not it. One other amplifier that drives thm well is the Lehmann linear but it too has it's shortcomings. 

 
Total bull... uhmm... nonsens!
 
I am 100% happy with the HD800 out of the Cantate.2 and a headphone has to sound very sophisticated until I call it 'very good'.
The HD800 out of the Cantate.2 is very good. I mainly listen to classical music and the HD800 is just fantastic here.
 
So how can you explain that I'm so very happy with the HD800 without a snake-oil cable and out of the cheapy-creepy Cantate.2, even if I demand for the highest quality in sound reproduction???
 
Very good and good recordings just sound amazing with my HD800-setup, mediocre ones sound good and really bad recordings sound really bad.
But for bad recordings I've got another >40 headphones to chose from.
 
That's the way it is.
 
Do you have an irrevocable proof for your statements?!
 
And why are you so arrogant to tell me/us, that Meier amps don't have a good synergy with the HD800?
 
That's totally wrong and I'm not deaf and I don't listen to Rap oder Justin Bieber with the HD800, for sure.
 
For me after a lot of testing there is no need for another amp or another cable paired with the HD800 to get the sound I like so very very much.
 
Maybe someone likes the HD800 better out of 120 ohms. I don't. Etc. pp.
 
Your opinion that Meier's amps can't cope well with the HD800 is your opinion, but it simply has no relevance for anybody else than you and you certainly can't proof a thing why another amp should be AUDIBLE better.
 
How do you know what I like and what I want?!
 
Sorry, I'm angry atm., but I can't stand such an arrogance.

 
Every single headphone listener has to chose his/her own headphones that he/she likes best. Same goes for the amp and the cable(s).
 
I'm in heaven with my HD800 (#7xxx) with a mahogany-felt-modification out of the Cantate.2, fed by a Denon DVD-3910.
I've tried several other amps from cheap to expansive and even another cable.
 
This all didn't improve a thing for me, maybe because I'm not a believer (and crowd follower).
 
And as I've said so often, the brain is of cause the main factor when it comes to listening to music.
 
Example:
 
The same musical opus/piece/song at the same volume and out of the same setup simply sounds different listened to it at 9AM and at 2PM and at 9PM.
 
Think about that.
 
Sorry for my hard words, but I'm really upset about such ignorant unproven statements, that are only valid for a single person or a small group.