[Sorrodje]

Seems the Good ol' HD800 is still competitive indeed. The most interesting point for me is that the Senn is always in the 4 favorites headphones of everybody even when the tastes of the visitor ( Bob Katz for example) does obviously not tend towards HD800's kind of sound sig.  
 
That said , Tyll's HD800 is modded  

 

[elvergun]

  Seems the Good ol' HD800 is still competitive indeed. The most interesting point for me is that the Senn is always in the 4 favorites headphones

 
+1
 
I didn't know how the HD800 would fare against all the newly released high-end headphones (HE1000, Ether).  Apparently, the HD800 is doing quite well in the face of stiff competition (specially considering that those new releases have the FOTM factor going in their favor). 

 

[Shembot]

   
+1
 
I didn't know how the HD800 would fare against all the newly released high-end headphones (HE1000, Ether).  Apparently, the HD800 is doing quite well in the face of stiff competition (specially considering that those new releases have the FOTM factor going in their favor). 

Having just spent a bunch of time with the HD800 and Ether, I preferred the HD800. The Ether is great, but it makes too many compromises in order to have the best of all worlds (to my ear). The HD800 has a strong personality, but it's just so good at what it does.

 

[johnjen]

I currently have a set of stock HE1Ks that I can compare to my modded 800's.

It's to early to make a final determination, but the 1K's are really smooth in the mids, as one would expect from planar magnetics, since that IS their forté.

More later…

JJ

 

[BirdManOfCT]

Although many people (articles, YouTube) mention the comfort of the HD800, hardly anyone mentions comfort for glass wearers. Since I can't wear contacts, and don't want to chance laser surgery, it's an important factor to me. I find the HD800 comfortable with glasses, even over long periods (just not laying down). I'm found many mid-fi headphones to be uncomfortable with glasses. Unfortunately, I've not tried many high-end headphones.

 

[MacedonianHero]

  Although many people (articles, YouTube) mention the comfort of the HD800, hardly anyone mentions comfort for glass wearers. Since I can't wear contacts, and don't want to chance laser surgery, it's an important factor to me. I find the HD800 comfortable with glasses, even over long periods (just not laying down). I'm found many mid-fi headphones to be uncomfortable with glasses. Unfortunately, I've not tried many high-end headphones.

 
I wear glasses all the time and the HD800s are still the most comfortable headphones with my glasses (or without for that matter).

 

[drez]

The 3000 dollar question: is it smooth, or smoothed

 

[MickeyVee]

I use the Audeze / Pelican hard case.  Works perfectly.
Quote:

  /edit
On another note, does anyone here have a hardcase for transporting the HD800? I'd be interested in what different people here use for transport.

 

[MickeyVee]

HD800 vs HE1000 Comparison by Jerg from the Toronto Spring Meet (using my McIntosh MXA70) post #8

 

[ubs28]

If the HE-1000 wins in terms of fun sound for some people, a mastering EQ on the HD800 does the same thing.

 

[henkie196]

I use the Audeze / Pelican hard case.  Works perfectly.

Thanks, I think I'll look for a Pelican case of more or less the same size (I don't think I can find the Audeze / Pelican case here without going out to buy an Audeze).

 

[Sorrodje]

I was in the Beta and wrote a full  review of the HE1000. :http://www.head-fi.org/t/767883/official-hifiman-he1000-impressions-thread/540#post_11682842
 
Seems We were spot on a few month ago. the HEK sounds always beautiful but soft/smooth . softness/smoothness makes the HEK a relaxing headphone to listen to and it seems that's what is appreciated by HE1000 lovers. and I can understand that. For me, enjoyement and fun come from the illusion that what I hear is real and not embellished or smoothened,  That's why I'm a HD800 nut and a SR009 fan. 
 
Nevertheless , if I can understand why people love the HE1000 I dont get how people can really praise that much its soundstage though. It's big , wide , airy but not that precise and layered imo. not to mention imaging precision.  I own a  Lambda and still IMO  HEK soundstage is on par with my old lambda. Same slightly diffuse/nebulous nature IME. that's not bad at all but as stellar as I could expect from a 3K headphone. YMMV. 
 
Moreover, it seems there're some serious inconstitencies between Unit.  

 

[thomascrown]

  Thanks, I think I'll look for a Pelican case of more or less the same size (I don't think I can find the Audeze / Pelican case here without going out to buy an Audeze).

https://www.audeze.com/products/accessories/ruggedized-travel-case
 
but this will do fine as well for the hd800 (it's the one I'm using):
 
http://www.pelican.com/cases_detail.php?Case=1300
 
But I prefer the Audeze one, it's easier to open

 

[jsgraha]

For me, compare to HD800, HE1000 seem have that soft in its attack. But only compare to HD800, not to LCD (either X or 3). Soundstage, particularly its depth, actually better than my modded HD800. I felt layering (in term of depth of each instrument location) also better on HE1000. Bass goes deeper than to HD800, though HD800 gave a slightly better impact. But since I have schiit yggy now, I never felt that HE1000 is lacking impact and attack on my setup. 
 
I imagine they are a good complementary phone to HD800 (still my primary). For me, they are sort of uber LCD-3.
Using stratus on both, for me, I can listen to any genre of music. Just slightly different presentation, I guess.
 
I can't comment on variation between units, but when I compare to demo unit at local shop (after 3 weeks), it seem similar (particularly using ragnarog).

 

[Sorrodje]

@jsgraha :  Did numerous comparison against HD800/SR009/Abyss and for us (me and a friend)  Imaging issues (Nebulous/Diffuse lack of pin point imaging) were there.  It could be my pair though but I think some other owners noticed the same issue..