[Ichos]

I prefer the S.
Sold my 800 + sdr for it.
That's a great hobby!!!

 

[gLer]

If I had to pick the 800 or the S to live with, at this point it would be the original.

Likewise. The S sacrifices too much, and the original can be made to sound like the S with basic mods/EQ while sacrificing little in return.

 

[340519]

Likewise. The S sacrifices too much, and the original can be made to sound like the S with basic mods/EQ while sacrificing little in return.

Yeah but I dig it as is.

 

[340519]

The S, on the other hand, kills it with jazz. Kind of blue and blue train sound superb on the S, but too etchy with the 800.

 

[Rayzilla]

Lately I've been pairing the HD800 with the Masskobo 424. Oh my it is such a nice pairing according to my preferences. I can't imagine how amazing the HD800 would sound if paired with one of the desktop Masskobo's.

 

[cddc]

I prefer the S.
Sold my 800 + sdr for it.
That's a great hobby!!!

I agree, other than Classical music, HD800 S should be better than HD800.

 

[340519]

I agree, other than Classical music, HD800 S should be better than HD800.

I disagree. They are both stellar.

 

[cddc]

I disagree. They are both stellar.

Accepted...lol...it's quite controversial over this topic...it's just different personal preferences

 

[cddc]

Just like the HD600 vs HD650 debate

 

[tumpux]

The 800 is my second child..

 

[RCBinTN]

I prefer the original HD800 over both the HD800S and HD820, and have heard all three on my gear.
Agree it's personal preference, but to me, the "S" and 820 don't deliver the resolution of the HD800, which shine on all music genres from classical to metal.
If folks are hearing too much etchy noise, or sibilance, from the HD800 it's likely the upstream equipment not the HPs. Been there

 

[sup27606]

I don't want to reign in the debate over which one is superior, but will put it like this, the S is probably more tolerant towards a wider variant of amps and DACs (and recordings) than the original 800 is.

 

[gLer]

I don't want to reign in the debate over which one is superior, but will put it like this, the S is probably more tolerant towards a wider variant of amps and DACs (and recordings) than the original 800 is.

I agree with this, and will only add that if you get the upstream system right, the original is a better headphone than the S. Get the synergy wrong (which is easier done with the 800 than the S) and you’re in for a frustrating listen.

 

[sup27606]

I agree with this, and will only add that if you get the upstream system right, the original is a better headphone than the S. Get the synergy wrong (which is easier done with the 800 than the S) and you’re in for a frustrating listen.

Absolutely! Learned it the hard way, and haven't given up. My current favorite pairing is the La Figaro 339 with CV4079 as power tubes and RCA 5693 as rectifiers.

 

[gLer]

Absolutely! Learned it the hard way, and haven't given up. My current favorite pairing is the La Figaro 339 with CV4079 as power tubes and RCA 5693 as rectifiers.

I can almost see the board meetings at Sennheiser before each of the new ‘flagships’:

“Axel, we realise you made the perfect headphone, but some customers are complaining it doesn’t play nice with their amps.”

Result: HD800S, which tries to ‘fix’ the ‘sound issues’ of the 800 by adding a resonator (same can be done with a $15 plastic upgrade, as we later discovered) but mainly by changing the tuning to play better with more amps. Hits the mark but loses some of the charm and technicalities of the original (like the new Lion King movie).

“Axel, our customers want a closed version of the HD800 for some reason. Oh, and give them more bass while you’re at it.”

Result: HD820, which tries to ‘mimic’ the original’s sound but falls well short, using smoke and mirrors (mainly glass) to make it look like it’s worth $1000 more when it really isn’t, at all. Not even close. (like the new Aladdin movie).