Sennheiser 800 versus the forthcoming 800S

I've read a detailed description of the differences and improvements. I've also read that the only difference is the inclusion of a balanced cable, and some black spray paint.

What have you heard?

 

I will not upgrade my HD800. The differences are so subtle... I already replaced the stock cable and my 800 sounds great.

 

I heard them at CES. First the 800 and then the 800s.
To my ears the 800s pushes the sound stage out in front of you more, and there seems to be more delineation between the instruments vocals and the sound of the hall, I heard the Eagles live, the ambience of the venue was a bit more realistic.

I'm looking for a new set of cans to add to my 23 yearly 580's , and the 800s is up there with the Beyerdynamic T1, Audeeze LCD 2/3
Just gotta save up.

YMMV

 

Looks like Headroom is projecting mid February for availability.

 

I don't have one yet, but I want an 800 or 800S. I been using the HD555 all these years.
I read somewhere here, which I now can not find the thread, that someone had contacted Woo Audio and they recommended either the WA2 or perhaps it was the WA22 as the perfect headphone amp to pair with the HD800. Anyone remember seeing that thread?

 

I've had HD800's for about four years, love them. Not sure an upgrade is worth it for existing owners.

I'm looking hard at the Mr. Speakers Ether open as a 'second' pair for when I want a change.

 

Here is the inside skinny on the HD 800s straight from Sennheiser:

 

Struggling with this myself. The "S" is reputed to shave a bit off the treble spike and add a bit of bass impact -- the only two things I'd change in my HD800s.

They're out of stock everywhere in Europe and haven't made it to retailers in the US, so I guess I have some time to mull it over.

 

the problem for Sennheiser fans, the next grade above the 800's is WAY way up there, I'll stick with my 800's for now

 

I haven't heard the HD800S yet. I suspect the difference between the HD800 and the HD800S is going to be similar to the difference between a stock HD800 and an HD800 with the Anaxilus Mod. The mod makes a minor difference. But at this level of headphone a minor difference is huge, and can make or break whether you're happy or not about the headphone.

I've listened to several stock HD800 headphones and never been happy with the sound. The HD800 tends towards being bright in a way that I find a little too much. The mod tames that a bit. I've listened to several modded HD800 headphones and they've been better. Still leaning to the bright side, but better and something that I could consider getting. I just object to needing to mod $1300+ headphones in that way. I object to putting carpet liner in a $1300 headphone. It's ugly and would remind me that the headphones are faulty and annoying. If the HD800S fixes that problem and doesn't need any modding then I will likely get the HD800S headphones. I'll be auditioning them once they get available here in the US. I have a good suitable amp for them. I suspect I'll likely get the HD800S this year. I've got high hopes that Sennheiser improved them in the right way. Having a balanced cable included with the HD800S is a bonus. I need a balanced cable so having it included will make the HD800S about the same price as buying an HD800 and a balanced cable.

 

That's good news for me. I'm looking for headphone sound that gets pushed out in front of my forehead. A deeper soundstage. The stock HD800 is capable of doing that with the right amp. If the HD800S does that even better then the HD800S will be the obvious winner for me.

The Audeze headphones are also capable of putting the soundstage out in front of you. Even out in front of your forehead. But the degree that happens is very amp and source dependent. A few amps can do it. Most amps don't. It's easier to get the HD800 to put an image out in front of you than to get the Audeze headphones to do it.

 

I have a HD800 with the WA2 and it doesn't get any better than this for me. My T1 2nd Gen, TH-900 and LCD-2 don't come close.

 

I think the GRADO PS1000 cans show the HD800 'phones a clean pair of heels IMHO - they perform as close as I can remember to any headphones versus Sennheisers (Magical) Orpheus Set.....

 

Did you get any special deal or help on pricing on that cable. The cost of $379.00 for a balanced cable is terrible, did you find anything better??

 

I would like to hear them but I'm happy 800's with Mj2, Moon Audio Black Dragon "Balanced", and E88CC1 sound very nice.

 

Here's a very affordable HD800 balanced cable. I don't know how good it is but it's a bargain.

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/sennheiser-hd-800-zy-cable

You can't even get the factory cable for that price.

 

My new HD800S arrived from Germany yesterday. Impressions after about 4 hours: noticeable improvement in treble, where the fatiguing excess energy has been toned down. Very subtle changes to bass, which may be more of a side effect of the treble being improved than anything else. Imaging is actually the biggest difference, with the original HD800's strange "out of body experience" imaging being replaced by something a little more conventional. I like them a lot so far.

 

I have been speaking to people in the know and at this point in time, I am pretty confident the only change to the HD-800 was the acoustic absorber right in the middle of the web on both sides. The slight difference in bass you are sensing IS absolutely a result of that 6K or thereabout bump that caused so much trouble with the original 800, being reduced, giving the feeling of a more defined or robust low end. The reduction of the slight treble glare would give that impression. I have the HD-800S on order, as I was able to come out fine on my original 800's, but an improvement in taming that high end, "correctly", the Sennheiser engineered way, in lieu of cutting pieces of old headphones and placing them in the old 800 is much more preferable to me. Additionally, since I have the Sennheiser headphone amplifier, I certainly want to take advantage of the 4 pin balanced output from the amplifier. Sennheiser is very quiet about any low frequency extension with the HD-800S, as truth be known, I do not think there is any, other than what is perceived by the reduction of the high end in that 6K region. If you find Sennheiser has indeed made any driver change that will enhance the low frequencies, I sure would like to know what they did! I believe this high frequency improvement should have been made in original HD-800, but that did not happen, at least not yet!! They may take a note from PS Audio, make upgrades possible, how sweet would that be for Sennheiser! A really easy way to make say another $197.00 for an upgrade. More to come.

 

InnerFidelity just published a neat review of the HD800S and how it compares to the old HD800. Talks about how the absorber fixes the 6000 Hz peak. Also mentions how the HD800S adds a little bit more bass. All very interesting.

InnerFidelity review: Sennheiser HD 800 S: Tweaked and Delightful...

The HD800S has addressed the 6000 Hz peak. And managed to give an impression of more bass. It has moved in a direction that I want compared to the HD800. I'll have to listen to it with my amp and DAC to find out if it will finally be suitable for me. But it's looking promising. I may have an HD800S this year. If not, well then my bettter headphone search gets complicated.

 

I own a late SN (40K+) HD800, which I pair with a German made solid state amp (Violectric V200). The combination is incredible to my ears. As a result I have sold most of my other mid- to hifi headphones as I simply don't need them anymore.

I should also mention that (with my ears, my music, my setup) my HD800 sample does not have any annoying treble whatsoever. I suspect this treble issue, whose importance has been greatly amplified on a few specialised forums, has mostly to do with poorly mastered and compressed recordings, whose faults the HD800 will expose ruthlessly.

As someone who could get slightly annoyed by the treble of headphones like Beyerdynamic DT990 600ohm and Grado SR325is at times, I would argue the treble of my HD800 is wonderfully detailed, but not problematic the slightest. YMMV.

 

Thanks for your link to this report. They report a troubling alteration (to me) to the bass response by adding second harmonic distortion to the bass frequencies resulting in less precise bass in the Sennheiser 800S compared with the 800. I don't have the 800 but have heard it but have not heard the 800S. Since I listen to a lot of classical or acoustic music that would not be palatable the way it might with electronic pop.

FWIW the Headphones.com tester David Mahler said the following about the Sennheiser 800: Because of its finicky nature with regard to amplification, many have described the HD800 as bright, but I cannot get on board with this description. I have heard the same pair of HD800's sound both dark and bright when paired with different setups. It really is a very amp-dependent headphone.

If he is correct it might explain the variable comments on brightness in discussions although there is no question that the amp is borderline trebly. Again FWIW Mahler recommended either the Manley Labs Classic Neo 300B or TTVJ Millett 307A.

Are there any other amps where the Sennheisers are described as darker or at least not bright?

 

Sorry I meant the headphones are borderline trebly.

 

Amazon video from CES on the HD800S:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AF9IZP2/ref=sr_acs_va_item_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1454283287&sr=8-7-acs

It seems Sennheiser is trying to position the HD 800 S as a more "consumer" oriented headphone (warmer, more forgiving of poor masterings, more sympathetic to old faithful HD650 customers) and the HD 800 as a "professional" headphone - both being of course top of the range products.

In the video above Sennheiser's Product Specialist Scott Houston says, "..we would take [the HD 800 S] more out of the professional application and put it more into the consumer side. So something where the consumer won't need any to use any kind of outboard equipment or equalization to get that little bit warmer sound they would want, that they would be more familiar with. As long you're plugging it into an amplifier because these guys need some power."

 

Yikes, that is a red flag. Design a "fun" headphone from the ground up and sell that. To take a state of the art dynamic and try to massage it this way and that is just nuts. If Sennheiser wants to make a more tonally accurate 800 and is able to do that without compromising fidelity then do it. I guess they are saying they can't?!

 

The HD800S does have more THD in the bass. That's where the impression of more bass is coming from. A bit of added harmonics in the bass to give a fuller bass sound. I consider that a fair trade-off. Not what you want from a measurement perspective. But is what you want from a listening perspective. Bass in real life in a real room isn't that clean. Some added harmonics done cleanly can help headphone bass sound more real. Hyper-clean headphone bass makes for a thinner sounding headphone.

Here's THD graphs by InnerFidelity for both the stock HD800 and the new HD800S. The HD800S graph is the one with more THD.