[Frank I]

I am sure they would make a big improvement and thats what great about tube amps you can real step up the sound and change the sound to your liking. 

 

[drez]

Hi All,

I wrote a post few minutes ago, but something happened (?) and it did not get published. So, I will write it again, and if for any reason, the old want is there, please my excuses.

There are two questions that I want to formulate regarding the setup I am using with the HD800 I just got few hours ago. First, if any of you have listen to the DAC I am using, a Lindemann USB Dac. I bought it today more or less following an impulse without much reflexion. It was an offer, almost half the usual price, and the very few reviews I found on the Internet were all possitive, but in Head-Fi there are any (that I could found).

Second, is about why it is said everywhere that the HD800 is overanalytical, that lacks musicality, that is oversibilant, and lack bass. Well, I have just spend about three hours with them, but using my test songs, with some of Ella Fitzgerald, some pop music in spanish (well recorded pop music: Enrique Bunbury), Angel (Massive Attack), etc.. I did not notice any lack of bass, and the sound was very involvent. The headphones has been already burn in, were in exhibition in the store, so they kept they running more or less constantly (I would say, more than 200 hours at very least). It could be of course that after a few days/weeks my impression will change, that is why I am asking: is it a real fact that the HD800 has all those characteristics (overanalytical, lacks of musicality, over sibilant, lack of bass), or it depends on the setup?

My other components are: very basic Denon CDP > toslink > Lindemann DAC > Lehmann BCL > HD800.

Thanks for your answer,

Daniel

I would say some of the claims are real ie that they are relatively bright headphones (ie that they are not 100% flat in frequency response), and some of them are statements of taste eg. thin, lack of bass, over-analytical (I agree with nome of these though). Some are just a reflection of the equipment used eg. sibilant, analytical, unmusical (again not with my equipment). There are many possibilities.

 

[olor1n]

 

The right side of my headband adjustment is a tad loose. It doesn't quite click and lock along the adjustment markers as the left side. I've detached the headband padding to expose the mechanism. There's a small ball that slides over grooves on the metal part of the headband. I've tried pressing down on the small plate that secures the ball but that doesn't increase the pressure. Has anyone had this issue?

I have the same issue with mine. They don't slide while on my head, but the one side often does if I pick them up by the headband. If you come up with a fix, please let me know. I'm planning to reach out to sennheiser about it sometime soon.

 
 

  I actually had to put a mark (sharpie dot) where I need mine to be due to mine moving so easily...

 
OK, so this turned out to be an easy fix. It's a little fiddly but all I used was a small flathead screwdriver, tweezers and small pliers. First you detach the headband padding as per this clip. You'll then see the adjustment mechanism on the underside of the metal band. There's a small plate holding the ball which glides over the adjustment grooves (pic).
 
I used a small flathead screwdriver to gently pry the ball from its seat. Make sure you don't let this roll away. It's tiny! Once out of the way I then used the tweezers to detach the small plate from the edge of the plastic (where it just clips on). When you have that plate it's then just a matter of gently bending the part where the ball sits (I used the pliers for this).
 
To put it all back together you just align the ball on a headband groove. Place the plate over it, ensuring the ball is seated correctly. You then apply some pressure to get the plate to clip back onto the edge of the plastic. Re-attach the headband padding.
 
My right side adjustment is now perfect. It still glides smoothly up and down but now it locks with that tactile click on each adjustment marker.

 

[magiccabbage]

Just got my hd800 - YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kvtaco17]

Congrats!

 

[Dopaminer]

  Just got my hd800 - YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You waited a loooong time for them!  Enjoy !  

 

[longbowbbs]

  Just got my hd800 - YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats! Enjoy the ride....
 

 

[magiccabbage]

thanks guys. Time for some bill withers! 
 

 

[brunk]

@magiccabbage Welcome to the club! 

 

[LugBug1]

Congrats Magic! I think we're all a bit excited for you, its been a long wait ha 
 
I know you've heard them before, but are they as good as you remember? 

 

[Boss429]

Congrats Magic, please post some impressions when you can pull yourself away from them.

 

[magiccabbage]

  Congrats Magic! I think we're all a bit excited for you, its been a long wait ha 
 
I know you've heard them before, but are they as good as you remember? 

Better! I definitely prefer them to my T1's. They are really surprising me, i thought some of my older albums would sound a bit sharp and harsh like Aretha's "lady soul" or James Browns "hot pants" but they sound amazing. Even some of my old metal albums sound great. I thought the treble would be bad on those but no. I have been listening for 5 hours straight - no fatigue or anything like discomfort. The one album that did sound a bit sharp on the vocal was Melody Gardot's - "my one and only thrill" which is funny because that is the album that i thought would sound warmer. My WA2 with tubes probably help with the treble on older music. 
 
By the way I got a 20% Discount because of the delay in delivery and that was 20% off 879 euro. A great deal for anyone thinking of getting a pair. The site is avclass.nl . I think its down at the moment, hopefully the sale is still on and they dont put the price up when the site comes back online. They are nice people.

 

[bearFNF]

^^^Sweet, always nice when someone does right by their customer.  Congrats...

 

[LugBug1]

  Better! I definitely prefer them to my T1's. They are really surprising me, i thought some of my older albums would sound a bit sharp and harsh like Aretha's "lady soul" or James Browns "hot pants" but they sound amazing. Even some of my old metal albums sound great. I thought the treble would be bad on those but no. I have been listening for 5 hours straight - no fatigue or anything like discomfort. The one album that did sound a bit sharp on the vocal was Melody Gardot's - "my one and only thrill" which is funny because that is the album that i thought would sound warmer. My WA2 with tubes probably help with the treble on older music. 
 
By the way I got a 20% Discount because of the delay in delivery and that was 20% off 879 euro. A great deal for anyone thinking of getting a pair. The site is avclass.nl . I think its down at the moment, hopefully the sale is still on and they dont put the price up when the site comes back online. They are nice people.

Sounds like you got a bargain! 
 
Yeah, I'm really not surprised that you aren't finding them fatiguing. It's becoming such an myth with these headphones. I also listen to a lot of old recordings (mainly Jazz) and they never fatigue me. Oh! try some Julian Lage ; See how they perform with a great modern acoustic recording.  

 

[magiccabbage]

  Sounds like you got a bargain! 
 
Yeah, I'm really not surprised that you aren't finding them fatiguing. It's becoming such an myth with these headphones. I also listen to a lot of old recordings (mainly Jazz) and they never fatigue me. Oh! try some Julian Lage ; See how they perform with a great modern acoustic recording.  

I been there today already. Listened to the whole Gladwell album. Love his version of freight train....