The (new) HD800 Impressions Thread

[jlbrach]

I didn't look into the LCD3 took much, but from what I gathered it was a HD800 lite & dialed down the bass too much from the LCD2.
Doesn't have the soundstage or imaging on par with the HD800 & doesn't have the fuller more enveloping bass of the LCD2 rev.1.
 
It is stuck in between, being better overall in most categories than those two, but never besting the specific things the LCD2/HD800 do the best.
 
Or I could be wrong. It's price was also as much as the HD800 & LCD2 combined.
 
this is very much incorrect,the LCD-3F is wonderful and gives my HD800 a run for its money....i love the spacious feel and detail of the 800 but the LCD-3F is one of the very best headphones in the world..I have listened to most of the contenders and they are fantastic!Different than the 800 for sure but just as good in their own way

 

[whirlwind]

 

  Hey all, not sure if this has been discussed much ITT, but I notice that a vast majority of HD800 users mod their 'phones (anax seems especially popular). Anyway, I was wondering if anybody is using and enjoying the 800s bone stock. No mods, no aftermarket cables, etc?
 
Just curious, as I have these on my "dream wish list" but I never mod any of my stuff, as I feel the engineering/design should be taken care of before I make a purchase. Additionally, I must admit that I have an absolute FEAR of messing something up REALLY bad!  LOL!

Bone stock other than a Norne Vanquish cable - and only made that change for it being shorter and wanting a more flexible cable.  Love it as it came but then again, I'm not susceptible to harshness in the highs like some folks are.

Yep, stock here also, except for Norne Draug 2.....I adore the sound  

 

[BirdManOfCT]

More bass and cheap? Maybe Bose or Koss?

 

[Thenewguy007]

  You haven't listed any info in your profile, specifically what you preferred musical genre is.
  In the end you might realize that the HD800 is just transparent. It is telling you what is on the recording. If the recording sucks, these headphones will tell it like it is. No amp will make it sound good, it might sound a little less bad but still it will never sound great.

 
I got that bad recordings will sound even worse with the HD800, that really doesn't bother me at all.
To me, the HD800 sounds like it has a veil over the midbass/lower midrange area. I just want that veil gone.
 

  Really, it seems like you're looking in the wrong place. You said you're happy with the qualities of the sound (things like detail, soundstage, transients, etc.), but just want more bass. Spending thousands on amps and dacs that are likely pretty linear to try to change your frequency response seems kinda silly to me. Especially considering you already have a really colored amp already (the Crack).

 
A few people flat out said, their higher end equipment does significantly improve the bass & mid frequency. Some say it doesn't.
A read so many conflicting reports, so many conflicting answers, so many different opinions, I am at stage zero again.

 
The stock Crack also didn't really do anything to the bass. It made the headphone sound smoother,  warmer & it did improve the spacing/soundstage a bit. Bass & mids were still held back though.
 
Maybe buying higher end amps & DACs directly from Amazon & taking advantage their 14 day return policy if they don't live up to the hype?

This wouldn't be considered exploiting their system, would it?

 

[Taowolf51]

 
A few people flat out said, their higher end equipment does significantly improve the bass & mid frequency. Some say it doesn't.
A read so many conflicting reports, so many conflicting answers, so many different opinions, I am at stage zero again.

 
The stock Crack also didn't really do anything to the bass. It made the headphone sound smoother,  warmer & it did improve the spacing/soundstage a bit. Bass & mids were still held back though.
 
Maybe buying higher end amps & DACs directly from Amazon & taking advantage their 14 day return policy if they don't live up to the hype?
This wouldn't be considered exploiting their system, would it?

 
It's because amps don't actually change a whole lot FR-wise. Most good amps are +- 1db throughout the audible frequencies, while you're looking for a 7db+ boost in bass. Really high output impedances can boost/cut certain frequencies (based on the impedance curve), but you're not really going to find an amp with a higher output impedance than the Crack.
 
You said the Crack changed elements of the sound like soundstage, smoothness, etc, but didn't change the FR. This fits what I said earlier, amps are great for enhancing the sound quality (through technicalities), but doesn't change the FR much. The Crack is pretty damn colored for an amp and it barely (maybe inaudibly) changed the FR, now imagine how little of a difference less colored amps will make. Certain elements like better driver control can make the bass more snappy or punchy, which gives an impression or more or less bass (depending), but if you want to actually increase bass output, I don't think a new amp is going to do a whole lot.
 
You can do that with Amazon, I once even asked them if doing stuff like that was a problem and they told me they only consider it an issue once you've done it a bunch of times in a small timeframe. Also, any decent online audio site will offer a 30 day no-questions-asked return policy in case you don't like the gear you ordered. Go ahead and try the gear, have fun and see if they work for you.
And if you want, if you're running Windows on your headphone system and have average-ish experience with computers (can install and uninstall programs, and navigate the file explorer, etc.), PM me and I can walk you through trying the EQ I told you about. It costs nothing but a bit of time.

 

[olor1n]

Stop reading and endeavour to listen to gear with your own ears. Or just sell the HD800 and get something more to your liking that doesn't require you to agonise over your gear and limited budget.

Most here love the HD800's articulate bass and accurate mids. You won't convince anyone who has dedicated some thought into building a system for the HD800 otherwise.

 

[logscool]

I'm thinking about making the plunge and getting the HD800 from either buysonic for 1200 or refurbished from crutchfield for 1100. Any recommendations one way or the other? I'm very much on the fence about doing it or a different headphone (likely some high end planar) but it's a headphone I've lusted after ever since it came out.

 

[potkettleblack]

  I'm thinking about making the plunge and getting the HD800 from either buysonic for 1200 or refurbished from crutchfield for 1100. Any recommendations one way or the other? I'm very much on the fence about doing it or a different headphone (likely some high end planar) but it's a headphone I've lusted after ever since it came out.

Audition all the ones you are interested in before making any hasty decisions. You may be surprised.

 

[logscool]

Audition all the ones you are interested in before making any hasty decisions. You may be surprised.

I would certainly love to, but I don't have a good way of doing so.

 

[Thenewguy007]

I would certainly love to, but I don't have a good way of doing so.

 
What other headphone were you specifically considering?

 

[Buddhahacker]

I would certainly love to, but I don't have a good way of doing so.

If you don't have a Hi-Fi shop local you can reach out to Livesoundwave.com.  They are out of Orlando and have a nice audition program where for a nominal fee you get to audition a variety of gear for several days and they cover the shipping costs.
 
https://www.livesoundwave.com/en-us/livesoundwave

 

[logscool]

  If you don't have a Hi-Fi shop local you can reach out to Livesoundwave.com.  They are out of Orlando and have a nice audition program where for a nominal fee you get to audition a variety of gear for several days and they cover the shipping costs.
 
https://www.livesoundwave.com/en-us/livesoundwave

Wow thanks for the recommendation at $30 for 3 days the audition fee seems very reasonable and they have audeze lcd 2 and x and hd800.
 
Other headphones on my potential list are the audeze lcd 2/3/x, mr.speakers ether, hifiman he 560.
 
Basically while I have tried many closed back headphones and pretty well dialed in what I want I have very little experience with open headphones. I am really looking for just one pair of open headphones that I really love much like I have found the alpha prime for closed headphones.

 

[RUMAY408]

  For 3 grand I would expect that much of an improvement, but I would be happy with something that can bump the bass to maybe 75% more, mids to 25% & soundstage 10% more.

 
Incidentally, I did miss out on a few good amps in the classifieds, because I wasn't sure they were good enough & hesitated on pulling the trigger.
DNA Sonnet 2, Woo Audio WA2, Auralic Taurus MKII.
All those were within my new budget, but just could not convince myself to get them before they were snatched up.
 
I hate playing the wait game trying to see if something good comes up. Like a few people suggested the Eddie Current Super 7 & to buy it  if it ever gets put up for sale somewhere. That could take months.

 

If you want to buy new from what I have personally heard the WA22 it is the best in your price range at <$2000 I have personally tried
 
I bought the GSX-mk2 for $2100 from a head-fi member, I waited and watched for a year, and balanced in and out it is the best I have heard from <$8000
 
Longbowbobs says the >$4000 is the best he's heard, I have no doubt he's right, but have not personally experienced the ALO Studio Six

 

[HiAudio]

Is it a good or bad idea to use my NuForce icon HDP as DAC and use its analog output to the analog input of HDVA 600 for HD800? I found one authorized dealer has HDVA 600 new at $1275 on sale.
 
Or an open box HDVD 800 at about $1600? I have concern about its quality or potential problem and I have no means to know if it has such problem. 

 

[Thenewguy007]

  If you don't have a Hi-Fi shop local you can reach out to Livesoundwave.com.  They are out of Orlando and have a nice audition program where for a nominal fee you get to audition a variety of gear for several days and they cover the shipping costs.
 
https://www.livesoundwave.com/en-us/livesoundwave

 Wasn't there a similar site that let you rent headphones?
I forgot the link to it.