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Post by garbulky on Jun 21, 2021 0:07:06 GMT -5
The time has finally come. Tomorrow Today, I will make the decision whether to buy the HD800S on sale at $1400 (hopefully lower for Prime Day) or not.
This is going to be the headphones that I plan to use, hopefully for at least a decade or longer. So I am comfortable with waiting for my end-game. The thing that makes me hesitate is bass extension. I have the HD700 and though the bass is nice and tight, it doesn’t really extend full range. This makes me realize that I am noticeably missing the lowest notes. I don’t need exaggerated bass, but I want full extension.
The reason I am buying the HD800S is because of the supposed improvements in soundstage.
So here’s my question – should I jump or is there an upgrade to this? Something that can give me the expansive soundstage of the HD800s but deliver low-end extension – under $2k?
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Post by garbulky on Jun 21, 2021 9:00:11 GMT -5
About to make the purchase! Any advice?
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Post by 405x5 on Jun 21, 2021 9:04:18 GMT -5
Wish I could help but I can’t wear headphones 🎧 no matter HOW good they are… (just can’t get comfortable)
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Jun 21, 2021 9:40:02 GMT -5
Well, if the -3dB frequency response is close to the HD820, then I'd say go for it!
Just pay attention to packaging, as several buyers received opened boxes, which the seller rectified. Amazon did the fulfillment, so, the seller wasn't aware until the complaints were made apparently.
You have the Amazon return policy to fall back on if needed.
I'm not a headphone "maven" as such. I buy good headphones for the occasional usage I get from them.
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Post by monkumonku on Jun 21, 2021 9:57:32 GMT -5
FWIW, I have the original 800's and really like them. I can understand why some complained that they were bass-shy (hence the 800S) but personally I think many headphones exaggerate the bass. I've had a bunch of headphones and like the 800 the best overall. It's bass has a more planar character to it.
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Post by garbulky on Jun 21, 2021 10:05:56 GMT -5
Well, if the -3dB frequency response is close to the HD820, then I'd say go for it! Just pay attention to packaging, as several buyers received opened boxes, which the seller rectified. Amazon did the fulfillment, so, the seller wasn't aware until the complaints were made apparently. You have the Amazon return policy to fall back on if needed. I'm not a headphone "maven" as such. I buy good headphones for the occasional usage I get from them. Do you have the HD800X? Also what do you think of the 820? |
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Post by garbulky on Jun 21, 2021 10:10:43 GMT -5
FWIW, I have the original 800's and really like them. I can understand why some complained that they were bass-shy (hence the 800S) but personally I think many headphones exaggerate the bass. I've had a bunch of headphones and like the 800 the best overall. It's bass has a more planar character to it. Ah nice! You haven't by any chance compared the 800 to the 800s? What do you think of the 800 compared to the Emotiva? |
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Jun 21, 2021 10:14:29 GMT -5
Well, if the -3dB frequency response is close to the HD820, then I'd say go for it! Just pay attention to packaging, as several buyers received opened boxes, which the seller rectified. Amazon did the fulfillment, so, the seller wasn't aware until the complaints were made apparently. You have the Amazon return policy to fall back on if needed. I'm not a headphone "maven" as such. I buy good headphones for the occasional usage I get from them. Do you have the HD800X? Also what do you think of the 820? I don't have either. I have only purchased "good" headphones, not great headphones. The HD800S are in the great category, mine can't compete. Personally, I love the electrostatic sound, so when I need to go to the old folks home I'll get the top Stax model. |
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Post by monkumonku on Jun 21, 2021 10:23:58 GMT -5
FWIW, I have the original 800's and really like them. I can understand why some complained that they were bass-shy (hence the 800S) but personally I think many headphones exaggerate the bass. I've had a bunch of headphones and like the 800 the best overall. It's bass has a more planar character to it. Ah nice! You haven't by any chance compared the 800 to the 800s? What do you think of the 800 compared to the Emotiva? Nope, sorry, haven't heard the 800S. As far as compared to the Emo headphones, no offense to Emo but the 800's is a big step up. I think the Emophones are more forgiving and I use them when listening to older recordings because the emphasis on bass helps to smooth out the sound. But in terms of accuracy the 800's are excellent. Older, not-so-good recordings can sound brittle through the 800's. I think they're accurate and balanced so if you listen to a balanced recording that's a big plus but if the recording is out of whack it will really be apparent through the 800's. |
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Jun 21, 2021 10:41:57 GMT -5
As monkumonku indicated, I "know" the GR-1 is not in the same league as the Sennheiser, even though I have not heard them. I have the GR-1, and it's a nice set of headphones, but definitely not in the high end category. I've also got a couple Beyerdynamic headphones which are in the same league as the GR-1, but I like the GR-1 more. They're more comfortable for longer periods of time, less physical fatigue and less listening fatigue. But if I had to replace my big speakers with something smaller due to moving to smaller quarters with less privacy, then I'd be looking at great headphones, something that I wouldn't want to stop listening with. |
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Post by garbulky on Jun 21, 2021 11:27:49 GMT -5
As monkumonku indicated, I "know" the GR-1 is not in the same league as the Sennheiser, even though I have not heard them. I have the GR-1, and it's a nice set of headphones, but definitely not in the high end category. I've also got a couple Beyerdynamic headphones which are in the same league as the GR-1, but I like the GR-1 more. They're more comfortable for longer periods of time, less physical fatigue and less listening fatigue. But if I had to replace my big speakers with something smaller due to moving to smaller quarters with less privacy, then I'd be looking at great headphones, something that I wouldn't want to stop listening with. Thanks for the feedback. Yeah that's my plan. I rarely get to listen to my speakers in teh way I want them to. So I do the majority of my listening now on headphones (HD700). It wasn't until the HD700 which had an interestingly "large" soundstage compared to other headphones I'd heard that I realized that this could be a really good alternative to speakers. So it made sense to spend the big bucks to get a good set that hopefully sticks. |
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Post by Boomzilla on Jun 21, 2021 12:09:06 GMT -5
Supposed to be the best - keep us posted!
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jun 21, 2021 12:29:08 GMT -5
Senn 800 is a nice set of headphones, and reasonably priced. Go for it. If you don't like them, there is a vibrant re-sell market for them.
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Post by garbulky on Jun 22, 2021 12:28:23 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for the feedback. I have ordered the HD800s. Of course there will be a super long impressions thread. lol. Does anybody monkumonku ? know if the HD800 or HD800S's dust cover is replaceable once it is taken off? I am ordering the Dekoni Elite hybrid pads because they are supposed to give you a nice sound and comfort. But it requires the removal of the HD800's dust cover - or the cutting off of the hybrid pads dust cover. If the HD800 dust cover is replaceable after removal that would solve any issues I have doing that. |
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Post by monkumonku on Jun 22, 2021 12:34:21 GMT -5
Thanks everybody for the feedback. I have ordered the HD800s. Of course there will be a super long impressions thread. lol. Does anybody monkumonku ? know if the HD800 or HD800S's dust cover is replaceable once it is taken off? I am ordering the Dekoni Elite hybrid pads because they are supposed to give you a nice sound and comfort. But it requires the removal of the HD800's dust cover - or the cutting off of the hybrid pads dust cover. If the HD800 dust cover is replaceable after removal that would solve any issues I have doing that. I have no idea. Your question is probably better suited for a site like Head-Fi. Congrats on your purchase, though! |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jun 22, 2021 17:32:39 GMT -5
According to page 5 of the HD800S instruction manual (which you can download from the Sennheiser site) the dust covers are designed to be removable for washing.
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Post by garbulky on Jun 22, 2021 17:34:11 GMT -5
According to page 5 of the HD800S instruction manual (which you can download from the Sennheiser site) the dust covers are designed to be removable for washing. Ok good. Glad to hear. The Dekoni Elite Hybrid pads are on the way. I hear they reduce the bass, so something tells me it's not going to work but I figured I would try. |
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Post by garbulky on Jun 26, 2021 0:30:28 GMT -5
HD800S First Listen: I started with this Initial impressions was one of serious disappointment. The issues I had was… where was the bass? Talk about weak! The sound felt a little wider than the HD700 but not by much. The treble felt a bit too laid back and almost slightly muffled. The sound seemed to stop without proper resonating, almost deadened. Finally there was a glare to the treble sound at higher volumes. After a few minutes, I was ready to pack them up and send them back. But I remembered that I had some issues with the HD700 when I first got them and they changed. Now, I love them. So I let them play music for about 30 minutes. Came back and I heard a significant improvement. Better tonality, more immediacy. A little bit of that lightning quick transients that people talk about. A significantly better soundstage. But an improvement isn’t going to cut it. It has to decisively convince me it’s worth keeping. Perhaps its midrange and everything is so fantastic I would overlook the bass or it’s simply great all around. Currently the treble is too hot, bass still lacks low end extension. I shall keep it playing overnight. |
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DYohn
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Post by DYohn on Jun 26, 2021 9:40:03 GMT -5
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Post by garbulky on Jun 26, 2021 9:57:32 GMT -5
Yes! I was going to order one. But then I saw that there 4-6 weeks lead time on it. I would have made the decision whether to return these headphones long before that. Looking at ASR and I see for eq the reccomendation is a large boost in the 20-30 hz range and rolling back in to normal at 60. There is another mild 2k boost and a 4k dip. Loki's buttons adjust at 20hz, 400hz, 2k hz, 8k. So only the 8k is slightly out of the 4k ballpark but overall appears to be functional. Boosts don't mean much if the headphones can't physically reproduce these volumes. According to Amir even though there was a rise in measured distortion, it wasn't audible and it resulted in him really liking it. So it is certainly something I am interested in. |
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