[sup27606]

Would you mind to explain to us how to make the adapter?

You would need a four pin female xlr plug, solder wire to the pins, and connect banana plugs (or spades, or just leave the wire bare) to connect to an amp.

Pretty much, jcn3 explained it. It’s important to know the xlr pin layout to decide where to connect each wire, I.e. pins 1-2: left speaker +/-, pins 3-4: right speaker +/-. Other than that, you need some skills in soldering, which isn’t difficult to acquire. When I saw the price of the adapters sold on EBay, I decided to make my own.

Please keep the volume pot of the amp at zero before connecting the headphones, then slowly turn the volume up. Also, if the power amp is a tube amp, you would need a resistor network in the adapter to match output impedance of the amp.

This is a good resource to read: https://robrobinette.com/RobinetteBox.htm

 

[Ichos]

I’ve owned them both at the same time. I much prefer the 800S. It has more bass impact and a smoother top end. Everything else is the same.

As i have owned HD800 stock , then with SDR mod and HD800S
I totally agree.

 

[donlin]

I’ve owned them both at the same time. I much prefer the 800S. It has more bass impact and a smoother top end. Everything else is the same.

Same here.

 

[gLer]

I’ve owned them both at the same time. I much prefer the 800S. It has more bass impact and a smoother top end. Everything else is the same.

I’ve had them both. The 800S fudges the bass with more distortion. Overall the 800 gives you more to work with if you’re not afraid to EQ. The only downside of the 800 is physical, with the paint chipping if you’re not careful with them, so I refurbed my 800 and now it’s good as new. Not bad for a 10 year old. No other headphone I can think of that still holds its own against kilobuck flagships after a decade or more.

PS. The 800 is very system specific. The 800S is definitely less sensitive to amp variations, so can easily sound better on a system where the 800 doesn’t shine.

 

[Fegefeuer]

Anyone driving their HD-800 from good quality power amps? What's your experience? Irrc this preproman fellow is driving all his headphones from his pre/power amp combo but his gear is out my league.

 

[Maxx134]

I much prefer the 800S

For those that prefer the HD800S sound over the HD800, and currently have the HD800, you can try my suggested Sennheiser foam...
In my signature link.

 

[Kukuk]

They're here!

First impressions: whoever said these are not very musical, and too clinical, we're gonna have ourselves a fight. They're lovely, and not at all unmusical or lacking fun.

Once I get some proper time on them I'll post some extended impressions, but for now I am immensely pleased.

 

[donlin]

They're here!

First impressions: whoever said these are not very musical, and too clinical, we're gonna have ourselves a fight. They're lovely, and not at all unmusical or lacking fun.

Once I get some proper time on them I'll post some extended impressions, but for now I am immensely pleased.

When the HD800 first came out nine years ago, DACs and headphone amps were generally not as good as what's available now. I think that may be one reason that they have a reputation for being thin and analytical.

 

[sup27606]

For those that prefer the HD800S sound over the HD800, and currently have the HD800, you can try my suggested Sennheiser foam...
In my signature link.

Thanks, I have ordered some tips from Sennheiser. Will report back my impression once I receive them.

 

[fortunate son]

Anyone driving their HD-800 from good quality power amps? What's your experience? Irrc this preproman fellow is driving all his headphones from his pre/power amp combo but his gear is out my league.

Withdrawn.

 

[Maxx134]

Today, I put together a hookup rig for use of my HD 800 headphones

Agreed, the HD800 is one of the few headphones that can be run off a strong amp like a speaker amp and sound even better.
Usually a tube speaker amp will sound jaw dropping great.
Most headphones cannot be used this way because lower impedance they will pickup noise floor and blow up from sensitivity so dangerous to do on most all other headphones except the lower sensitivity planars like Susvara & HE6.

 

[johnjen]

And if you are a DIY'r, put ≈ 8Ω or 16Ω resistors (depending on which taps you use) across the outputs when you connect the 800's to a tube amp's outputs.
This 'trick' will help to properly load the output xfmr and tubes.

JJ

 

[protoss]

Here's my DIY

As you can see. My mod is in the RED.

 

[Ichos]

What material is liner and were can be found?

 

[protoss]

@Ichos - easy liner, cupboard liner. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=eaay+liner&_sacat=0

I paid $1.00 at a dollar store for mine