epocs
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2010
- Posts
- 212
- Likes
- 15
So I’ve been quite content with my Sennheiser HD800 + Woo Audio WA6SE setup (with the Meier StageDAC as the source) for a couple months now since I acquired them. This setup has provided me a sound that I feel makes me excited to come home everyday and listen. I had a pair of Denon AH-D7000 and Audeze LCD-2 with me while I had the HD800s and found that to my ears, the HD800 was clearly the superior headphone in terms of details, clarity, soundstage, and ultimate fidelity. So, because I have no need for more than one high end headphone, I sold the rest.
During the Bay Area meet last month, I had a chance to listen to n3rdling’s Omega 2 setup with the Blue Hawaii. This setup blew me away and had me constantly thinking about the O2s from that day on. However, I can’t possibly justify owning an amp as expensive as a Blue Hawaii so I never really thought of that setup being a possibility for me. However, after much deliberation, I decided to go for the O2s anyway (of course on a more humble setup). Looking around, I was able to find a pair of 007A mk2 headphones paired with a Woo Audio GES and so I decided to take the plunge and do a little head-to-head with my HD800 setup.
I asked around to some people to find more information about how the GES->O2 setup would compare to the WA6SE->HD800 setup that I had and interestingly enough, most people (including Jack from Woo himself) said I would probably prefer my HD800 setup as the O2s really need an amp capable of driving them (WES, A10, BHSE, KGSS). Still, I thought I would regret it if I didn’t try the two setups for myself and so when I received the package, I immediately had both of them connected to the StageDAC to do a comparison. Now that I’ve owned both side by side for about a week, I feel like I can post my impressions here for all to see. All my listening was through my computer (320kbp music) hooked through USB to my StageDAC.
Fit/Ergo: Both of these headphones are very comfortable. I would give the edge to the HD800 as the cups are bigger and the cable is lighter/less bulky while still longer. Unlike the LCD-2 though, the O2 is not heavy or uncomfortable in anyway. I would say they are on par with my D7000 in terms of comfort (which I consider very comfortable).
Practicality: Clearly the HD800 is the more practical headphone as it is a dynamic and can be used with an iPod, other setups, and virtually anything that has a headphone plug. The fact that the Stax need to be stationary to this one spot can be a pain in the future, but for now I have no problem as I do all my headphone listening from my computer and use my IEMs or speakers for everything else.
Sound: Here’s obviously where everyone is curious. Let’s just start to say that both of these headphones are extremely different. I feel like most people won’t be able to CLEARLY say that one is better than the other because I think taste will come into factor greatly.
Some of the major differences are:
HD800 has more treble energy (and can be a little more fatiguing), the O2 can seem almost rolled off in that area, but less rolled off than the LCD-2.
O2 also has much more authoritative bass (very satisfying) while the HD800 bass is pretty light.
The soundstage of the HD800 is leaps larger than the O2 as well, but the O2 doesn’t necessarily have a small soundstage.
The artists I listened to while doing this analysis are as followed: John Mayer, Pink Floyd, Diana Krall, Kenny G, Tchaikovsky, Miles Davis, Phoenix, Daft Punk, and Michael Jackson. This makes me believe that I listened to a wide array of music to test the two cans and interestingly, there was a huge difference in my preferences based on music, which made this a hard shootout.
The HD800 has a clarity that I really do like. Maybe because there’s more room in the soundstage or something, but each song you hear out of these cans sounds crystal clear. There’s an air around each and every instrument and voice, and everything can be pinpointed out. The O2 on the other hand still has a great clarity but maybe because the soundstage is more smashed together or the treble is a little recessed, there is more of a liquid sound, which I also really enjoy. Do you want liquidity or airiness in your sound? Each will be a different “good.”
The thing about the O2 though that I truly enjoy is their ability to make all music sound so…. enjoyable and less analytical. The HD800 can seem a bit analytical and I find myself nitpicking things in music while I can sit back with the O2s and just take in the music. The increase in bass also just makes the music seem more satisfactory. I do notice the mid-bass is lifted a little and this is a concern for many folks choosing between the MK1 and MK2, but I think it actually makes the headphones sound more satisfying! Brings out a more full, mellow sound.
With classical, jazz, or anything without too much of that mid bass/ low bass presence, I did seem to enjoy the HD800 more mainly because I think soundstage plays a huge part in that type of music. However with rock or hip hop and electronica, I was willing to sacrifice the soundstage for the more cohesive musicality that the O2 brings. The bass helped of course as well.
One thing is that music sounds more organic and real to me through the Stax some reason. Not that they don’t sound real on the HD800, but there is a fullness to the sound that the O2s bring that make instruments and voices sound more authentic.
Ultimately, I think I actually might enjoy the Stax more than the HD800 when listening to a wide array of music. Though the HD800 is an amazing headphone and pairs extremely well with the WA6SE, I think the O2s just sound more musical and fun to listen to while not being colored enough to make distracting for long term use (unlike D7000). They also don’t have any of the flaws that I associate with the LCD-2 (comfort, build quality, weird resonance). The HD800’s clarity and open soundstage though make it irresistible as well after long periods of time without them.
So I’m still in the process of seeing which system I’ll keep but they both have their ups and downs, making neither perfect. I don’t really plan to upgrade my system for either of these cans so what I hear now is kind of my deciding factor. We’ll see and I’ll keep people posted!
