Sennheiser HD 800 S Review - The Critical Take

Sennheiser HD 800 S: www.headphones.com/products/s...
Sennheiser HD 800 S Written Review: www.headphones.com/blogs/news...
Check out Chrono's Sennhsier HD 800 S Review: www.headphones.com/blogs/news...
How to read frequency response:
• How to Read Frequency ...
Become an expert on headphones: www.headphones.com/pages/rese...
Learn about headphone measurements and frequency response: www.headphones.com/pages/meas...
How frequency response impacts sound signature: www.headphones.com/pages/how-...
Podcast: theheadphoneshow.fireside.fm/
Twitter: / headphonedotcom
0:00 - Intro and Build
2:25 - Tonality
5:25 - Technicalities
7:20 - Verdict

[@taidee]

Well I've definitely enjoyed this review. I think for high price items like HD800S, this kind of critical review is truly warranted because for the average person (not rich) like me, buying this kind of gear is endgame purchase, it's not something you just sneak in through, while buying eartips or something, so it's worth as much real information about it as possible.

[@kylerclarke2689]

That's a reason I love Precog. If you base a purchase off of, say, Head-Fi reviews, you'll never buy anything, or buy everything. Reviewers there can't say a bad word about 90% of IEMs. Precog clearly explains the drawbacks of everything as he sees them.

[@kylerclarke2689]

Ty as always for actually writing a script and explaining yourself clearly, rather than waffling on aimlessly for 20 minutes like so many Hifi reviewers do

[@NotCharAznable]

*Z Reviews has entered the chat*

[@kylerclarke2689]

@@NotCharAznable z can be entertaining, at least

[@justina9914]

John Darko intensifies

[@kylerclarke2689]

@@justina9914 I don't mind his style but I'll never forgive him for convincing me to buy the mediocre as shit Campfire Polaris 2

[@MistaLova-Lova]

Absolutely, fantastic analysis and presentation, I learned more in those 8.5 minutes than I did from some other 15-min+ videos.

[@aceofspades6667]

IMO the HD 800s benefitted and suffered from being one of if not the first flagship / TOTL headphone made available to the masses. The HD800 did more to bring midFi people into Hifi for headphones than any other set of cans. The staging and resolution at the price point at the time was bar none. I'm the opposite of this reviewer where he can't get comfortably with over ear headphones. Conversely I cannot get used to IEMs as I do not enjoy the feeling of anything penetrating my ear canal. I'm much rather listen to 2 channel or headphones than anything IEM.

[@enjoshi-godrez8775]

@Jacob objectively erroneous comment

[@thatchinaboi1]

Expecting headphones to have main vocals appear outside of your head is to expect something that is literally impossible unless it is a Binaural recording. Headphones with extremely unnaturally wide "soundstage" still have the vocals inside the head. It is only the elements that are at the very edge of the "head space" closest to you that may appear slightly outside of your head around your face area (such as dry cymbal hits).

[@TheWhyteKnyte]

Thanks for the review man. Was looking for a take on these.

[@godtiermedic]

Awesome review. You remind me of that OLED TV reviewer guy too hehe

[@thelonepainter4760]

😂🤣 HDTV

[@JTCPingas]

Vincent Teoh from HDTVTest. That dude is funny. 😂

[@nickabbott4411]

Haha I thought the same thing. Just listened to the video for a few seconds and was thinking... Nope it's not Vincent. 🤣

[@ImagineScent]

This one is my favorite!!!! Great review, the treble is harsh for me at times as well. I also agree with the depth. It's very much a laterally wide experience rather than a precise layering and depth one.

[@tdfmike3915]

Great review! I agree on your final take on the hd800s and I kinda understand your prefernce to iems. I used the rha t2 as my preferd drivers over the hd800(No s) I was amazed at the soundstage that medium expensive iems can give you! But all my iems die very fast and only my used pair of hd800 remain true and indestructable and still kicking the competition

[@mdfrick]

I can really appreciate this alternative take!

[@Tonyplat98]

There’s nothing wrong with the bass on the 800S lol you need to use these with the proper amp then the bass is actually really really good. Anyways you can wear whatever headphones you want. For me it’s the 800S they’re my go to for just about every music genre

[@newtondickson]

Thank you! Your post reminded me of my experience with Magnepan speakers - they were supposedly lacking in bass, but when I hooked them up to a pair of 400-watt monoblock amps, the "problem" vanished; the bass bloomed. I'm not a very experienced audiophile, but it seems to me that power matters when it comes to bass. I'm buying the headphones.

[@yosixxx]

I’d like to know what IEM’s you were referring to

[@mariuszgorka4713]

Good review. An honest take without any of the negative or fanboy bias.

[@wmc_videos]

Awesome review! Really loved this take on a headphone I just went into debt for.. lol

[@sephondranzer]

I would LOVE to see you guys do more critical takes or something along the lines of a condensed review! It’s such better material than, for example, a shootout with multiple headphones. Obviously that may be just me, though, so take that with some🧂 🧂.

[@lonestar1664]

Hi three again a good review but I would love to know which iem has better soundstage then HD800S I have been looking for such for years, hope you will help me get my dream iem. Thanks.

[@Ratseeker]

The Seinhesser flagship iems (ie800) have good soundstage, but at the cost of having little ear gain. But they give an amazing feel of ambience around you. But I wouldn't blind buy it. Of what I tried, also the Sony ier-z1r in-ear monitor is another one, but keeps more ear gain than the Seinhesser ie800 (and I guess the newer ie900 should be similar and be easier to find when released). Ie800 does soundstage better than ier-z1r but with its quirks.

[@thelonepainter4760]

What do you guys in the chat think. Is it worth upgrading to the hd800s from the original hd800??

[@st0neageman]

I am struggling between the HD800S and the 64 Audio U12T... I need some help.

[@bash3245]

I would love to know which IEM has better soundstage depth than HD800S please share your experience. Thanks

[@aaronpaulbernas4097]

me too! what iem?!

[@anomalousresult]

Yeah and better bass...

[@DEALUX]

I think he meant better clarity, especially for the center image. IEMs do do that better. The HD800(S) has kind of hazy/diffuse images and IEMs are usually more precise but narrow in staging.

[@Precogvision]

@@DEALUX Yes, this is correct. In my experience, IEMs are incomparable otherwise to headphones for sheer stage size. Open-backs inherently sound more, well, open and spacious than any IEM that I’ve heard.

[@saadi703]

Can you please tell me which IEMs have bigger soundstage than HD800s? I am really interested to know because I am looking for them.

[@richardshevkun7871]

Empire Ears Zeus - think it is still on top in terms of soundstage dimensions

[@atalo]

Do they need a external headphone amp? (I connect them to my uad x8 that has headphone preamps who can handle 300 Ohm)

[@aaronpaulbernas4097]

what iem is wider than (assuming its driven correctly) hd800s?

[@massivemikeh]

None.

[@radioactivehalfrhyme]

For me at least, the HD800 has pretty exemplary depth if you scoot it most of the way forward on your head, so that your earlobes are just shy of touching the back of the earpads. It's quite as deep as the Arya V2 and HE1000 V2, but not far off either. There's a very compelling illusion that images are hovering maybe 4 to 6 inches in front of me, with the reverb on cymbals often extending significantly farther back. Then again, some people just don't hear soundstage depth. It may be an HRTF thing, or just a difference in people's psychoacoustic perceptions.

[@Loot_Train]

Sennheiser HD800 s or Focal Clear MG for 70% gaming/ 30% music that wants to avoid harsh sibilant headphones?

[@whosgotrythm]

Which iems have a better sound stage?

[@shroud1390]

Are there any iems that compete with the 800s

[@TheHope12322]

The most glaring flaw are the ODU jacks being held in place by nothing and ripping out the wiring when simply changing to balanced cables.

[@homerjones3291]

Headphones are definitely (and unfortunately) something that you must experience how they feel, sound. Buy from someplace that you can return for free or cheaply, because you can waste a lot of money chasing your endgame set.

[@robovirtuoso1354]

To this day in 2024, there are days that I absolutely love my HD800 because of the smooooth and abundant details and huge soundscapea. But on other days, I find them sounding "weak", especially when I just listened to my Focal Clear. On the other hand, I find the Clear consistently more engaging and enjoyable, and still highly technical.

[@HiLoMusic]

I have to say, whilst you made your points fine, I find it very frustrating that you didn't give examples to the other headphones and IEM's you claimed had better soundstage or response. These claims are fine but you clearly have some headphones in mind that I'd love to know about, what do you prefer over the 800s, what sounds better to you?

[@Precogvision]

For sure! Some good examples of IEMs with better bass include the IER-Z1R and Tia Trio. But honestly, I’d prefer pretty much any IEM with a decent DD and sub-bass shelf. For soundstage, I don’t think there’s any IEM - or headphone for that matter - that sounds as “open” or “wide” as the 800S. However, for soundstage depth specifically, IEMs like the U12t and Andro 2020 best the 800S. Or at least they image vocals further in front of me. Hope this helps clarify!

[@HiLoMusic]

@@Precogvision I gotcha, I've heard many good things about the IER-Z1R, and I owned solaris IEMs for a bit and would also conclude that those had a more refined and performant bass. What do you mean by soundstage depth? Do you mean the ability for a headphone or IEM to more finely balance it's panning abilities?

[@Precogvision]

@@HiLoMusic Soundstage depth is the extent to which a transducer projects the center image. On most IEMs/headphones, you'll notice that vocals sound like they're coming from inside your head positionally. Transducers with good soundstage depth are able to project that image and make it sound like the vocalist is actually coming from in front of you positionally, not unlike a speaker. Of course, this is just my interpretation, others very well might define it differently :)

[@DEALUX]

@@Precogvision That sensation of depth also comes from extra/better image clarity on IEMs. I actually sold my HD800 because the wide stage and hazy/diffuse presentation (i.e. stretched images) sounded awful with binaural content for instance. Timbre was also quite unnatural compared to most single DD IEMs.

[@bstrxn]

@@Precogvision lcd x put the phantom center on my nose, which I never experienced before

[@imodey]

What headphone (or IEM) would you recommend at a comparable or lower price point with the same soundstage but more bass presence?

[@nonnegaard]

You're not getting the same sound stage anywhere. Not in cheaper nor more expensive headphones.

[@MasterMark5]

I actually dont prefer when the vocals sound like they are coming from infront of you like they are on stage, i find it harder to hear them and its easier to get lost in the mix. I actually returned the Arya for multiple reasons but this was one of them, it was too hard to hear vocals in a good percentage of music.

[@J94_Film]

"I dont like headphones" the headphone show

[@joecaner]

I want a pair, but for the asking price, I am definitely going to audition them before purchasing.

[@2thousand639]

Audio Vincent TEOH!

[@Stephenwongdirectimaging]

I use Tube amp to drive Hd800s boss is more solid and warmer tone. I very love the soundstage ,detail and comfort

[@Another_Audiophile]

Still haven’t heard any headphones that will give me the impression that sound comes from the central forward.

[@MFHRaptor]

What IEMs have better soundstage than the HD800S? I've been dreaming about 64 Audio offerings for years! I hope they actually deliver on soundstage spaciousness.

[@boboiboy9350]

if sound-staging you are looking for, 64 audio will be rewarding.

[@mikeg2491]

@@boboiboy9350 it’s crazy the hd800s is 8 years old now and even the top end planars I’ve yet to read of or hear of one that beats the 800s soundstage. Do they have some kind of patents or something that makes competitors unable to build something similar or what?

[@Ninafan68]

Maybe it's my dac and my amp (Mojo 2 + Schiit Valhalla 2), but my pair of 800S have none of the flaws I keep hearing and reading about. I don't like boomy headphones. I want realistic bass that doesn't spill on the other frequencies. If you go to a classical concert, notice how little bass there is. That's exaclty how I want it to sound when I listen to classical or acoustic jazz on headphones. And that's how it sounds on the 800S. The bass it there when it's in the mix. It can rumbles when it's there, especially with movies. I tried the Focal Clear once in a store and I immediately took them off, they were way too boomy for me. I tried many headphones : Hifiman, Grado PS200, etc. But there is something quite magical about the 800S paired with a tube amp.

[@kentbergstrom3020]

The base is actually quite good with some PEQ, and with PEQ it is the best headphone iv'e ever heard, and I have listen to many headphones in my life.

[@Blitztriech]

what iems that have better soundstage than HD800s?.. probably wanna check it out. i am interested.

[@dannybos7024]

There aren't any.

[@epicwarding]

i hate loud bass, when i try other headphones other than sennheiser i hate the loud bass on them, i could increase the bass on my sennheiser hd650 but i dont want to. i love very suttle quiet bass

[@fab7999]

As an IEM person, which is your favourite headphone?

[@Precogvision]

Haven’t found one yet! If we’re talking the *best* headphone I’ve heard, then it would unequivocally be the HE1 ;)

[@spartanV48]

@@Precogvision have you tried a ZMF headphone? I am in IEM person and when I went to RMAF along with the many recent headphones/IEMs purchases that I've tried, ZMF and the Meze Empyrean were among the few headphones that I can say that I enjoyed. Haven't tried HE1, but yeah none of the Focals or other brands really had me musically engaged

[@poppinlochnesshopster3249]

Something you wouldn't have been able to notice and add in regarding build, as a user of these for about 5 years now I can say: Their build quality is SHIT. I have had to replace the cable 3 times now because the very thin plastic between the braided cable and where it hits the cans degrades over time due to twisting of general wear until eventually after about 1.5 years it splits open forcing you to tape it up and it just slowly gets worse and worse until one cup will stop working forcing you to replace the cable. This has happened twice with OEM cables. The pads on the cups and on the headband need to be replaced probably twice a year as they crush down to basically nothing. The thin metal around the cups is VERY soft, and while I've been treating these like they are made of glass I did have an incident with a pair of HD700s when I was younger with the same material where 1 unlucky drop of them when my headphone holder fell over left a HOLE in it. The metal screws mentioned in the video also tarnish and come to look like cheap fake silver jewelry after about 6 months. The headband snaps that hold it on weaken over time like velcro and fewer and fewer of them will hold the headband in place until you're forced to tape it on. The ratchets that hold the cups in their up/down position weaken over time until the cups will just fall under their own weight, again forcing you to apply tape. Basically these have the quality of a $25 pair of junkers, the only thing that hasn't gone to shit on them in the years I've had them is the drivers themselves. Still sound like the day I opened them. Wish I could put them into a better "body"

[@ibassnote]

A headphone that sits around without being used is a bad sign.

[@michaelr8313]

good for only a few well recorded tracks, and gaming. more or less

[@ibassnote]

@@michaelr8313 ouch

[@ibassnote]

@@michaelr8313 I’m headed Ananda

[@UrielJanoach]

You can keep the harshness in check by combining the HD800S with complementary gear. For example, after trying many different amps (incl. tube amps), I've settled on the Violectric V280 (+ Chord Qutest, in "rolled-off highs"-mode if I really want to relax), which does wonders. A black dragon cable from moon audio has helped with the bass response, too, though I don't quite agree with you on that point. I think that even though it lacks bass QUANTITY below a certain number of hertz, the HD800S reaches deep.

[@ETCNK]

Vincent

[@pointsofhonesty]

Listen to aphex twin - ageispolis and you’ll hear bass ;)

[@gnewylliw2]

not sure how you could review this without an amplifier?

[@CrazyAboutVinylRecords]

Like no one has covered this before...

[@smellyoldsock1553]

Very different headphone when on my Feliks Audio Euforia than on my Topping A90. Only get this headphone if you've a tube amp.

[@UrielJanoach]

True. Heard it on a Euforia as well, eventually decided to go with the Violectric V280, though, because it made the headphone easier too listen to, less energetic.

[@loonation2185]

We need this kind of honest and critical reviews. I think most reviewers these days are playing too safe, even andrew.

[@EVILLASER]

All it took was for hell to freeze over and Sennheiser to sell the division! lol

[@Shoaibexpert]

Loved the fact that he actually said the HD800S don't have sound stage or depth to it. No headphones have that... It has always been a marketing stunt. I do own them and never was impressed with the sound stage. My Aryas are better!

[@smellyoldsock1553]

And comparing IEMs to the HD800s nope! Come on apples and oranges.

[@Skeith89]

This review is useless... HD800S performance is very dependant on your audio chain... Including the soundstage depth performance... I can hear extreme depth from HD800S even just using Hugo2go... The vocal and instrument is in front of me... And if you try it with classical music you can feel like you are in the venue... If HD800S have bad SS depth, it will be bad for classical...

[@UrielJanoach]

Even though I agree with you, I don't think this review is useless at all.

[@dannybos7024]

@@UrielJanoach I agree with you. Criticism is always useful, as long as it brings a properly worded and structured critique to the table. This review is exactly. If he just would've said; 'the HD800S sucks.' and left it at that, that would've been useless criticism.

[@IntuitiveReview]

what other amps/dac setups have you used? I am searching!

[@ch-ym6pt]

third

[@whatsmyname3460]

Fourth

[@Jamie-666]

Too many notes.

[@emuclone154]

First!