Sennheiser HD800s - Are they worth it?

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[@FarHagh]

“These will not be linked cuz I don’t think anybody should buy them.” was one of the best sentences in any youtube audio review :)

[@wa2368]

This truth teller needs a 100k subscribers pronto.

[@roygertel]

Too late for me 😆

[@AshishAroraa]

@@wa2368 indeed I am subbing. No one says about costly headphones that he said in this one. Sibilance is an issue for me even in my Anandas and that's what you get for looking for more detail in music

[@Tonyplat98]

​@@roygertel dont worry about this review I have them also and when paired with a good dac/amp they sound amazing. They have just enough bass and this review's pure garbage.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

He has a point, but the 800s are still superb. It takes to EQ like a duck to water, so that bass will come back and brightness will disappear. More important, they are well built and are RELIABLE, unlike many other prime headphones. You won't lose your investment.

[@netzbandit]

Great Review! I got my pair of HD800S two weeks ago and I just love them :-)

[@hoth2112]

I had been considered getting the Drop 8XX version of these, but I already enjoy my HD6XX, & with your review of the 800S, I'll probably look into the Drop Pandas instead as something I can enjoy when I travel or dont want to mess with anything like dongles, DACs or amps, just my phone and bluetooth.. I really appreciate your honesty about them, regardless of the cost. Keep up the great work, Randy!

[@QoraxAudio]

Yeah... they are a bit bass shy... that's especially an issue if you're used to a lot of bass. I used to be a bass addict too, but after having a DJ setup for years I was finally fed up with bass, bass and... bass. So my DJ setup developed into a HiFi system over the years. It still needs a good headphone and I'm seriously considering this one since I've heard it at a friend. People either really love this HD800S or really hate it... there seems to be very little in between.

[@deputy3690]

The most adrenaline I have seen in Cheapaudioman!! Excellent review.

[@munsukwon8393]

To my ears, 800s is perfect headphone. Let me explain why. From the childhood, my ear was trained with classical music listening. Classical music and orchestral music often makes muddy sound when it comes to the album. With well recorded classical music album, I can hear each instrument with 800s. It is incredible. The balance is perfect to my ears for following reasons; I like bright neutral sound. I like slight treble peak. I don't like too much bass. Most of all, sound stage is important to me. I went through so many headphones and IEM. I found that my taste is a way different from general audiophile. For example, I didn't like hd600. I couldn't enjoy symphony orchestral music with hd600. HD650 was a lot better, but soundstage was the problem. For IEM, so many people praised Moondrop Blessing 2 for the quality of sound, balance, and price, but I didn't like the sound at all. There was no clarity and it made muddy sound. Etymotic er4xr was better for the clarity and balance to my ears:) I recommend everyone to find your own taste and create your own favorite measurement depending on your listening habit and history.

[@dmw0077]

@MunSu Kwon Sounds like I have almost the exact same experience and opinion as you, only with a HD800 headphone (which I absolutely love--even when plugged directly into my iPhone--no special amp, equalizer or dac needed). I watched this review to see if the 800s would be some kind of worthwhile upgrade and now think in my case it wouldn't make much sense in my case. I used to play acoustic music professionally for quite a few years, so for me, the HD 800's (and incidentally also the Etymotic er4's) soundstage, detail and overall "you-are-there" realism provide 90% if what I need to enjoy listening to recorded music.

[@soundpitchblack]

I really sympathize with you. I didn’t came from a classical background but was part of a multitude of musical groups as a guitar player, what I truly enjoy from my HD800S is the clarity and music instrument separation and sound stage. I can virtually imagine the things each player is doing like a real band practice “although softer” but having that tool is great even if now a days I dont play as often.

[@alvertozavala3406]

also sprach zarathustra 17hz.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

These aren't headphones for listening to Beastie Boys, Marilyn Manson, Korn, Mumford & Sons, or Alanis Morissette. They're meant for classical and jazz. They'd pair well with smooth DACs and amps like the Chord Qutest (or Denafrips Ares II for something cheaper) and Burson Soloist 3X (or Burson Funk for something cheaper). And they normally ought to be run balanced (which I believe the Qutest and Funk lack).

[@cheapaudioman]

I never for that memo. I am really glad to know the Sennheiser is certifying their headphones with specific music genres now. Is there an application process to purchase. Such as showing them you’re membership to the symphonic society.

[@MayTheSchwartzBeWithYou]

@@cheapaudioman There are always trade-offs in audio, and all headphones are subject to that. No headphone can be great at everything (e.g., soundstage usually comes at the expense of impact/slam, and vice versa, and detail retrieval usually comes at the expense of smoothness, and vice versa). This has nothing to do with the headphone being "elitist", as you're implying-you can critique the headphone for not pairing well with rap or rock, but it's only fair to test it with other genres, and furthermore you ought to similarly criticize other headphones which pair well with your favorite genres but not so well with classical and jazz. It's not about Sennheiser certifying this headphone with specific music; _you_ are actually the one who _only_ tested (or at least opined on) it with just a few specific genres instead of a diverse portfolio of genres. If you don't care to test it with other genres, that's fine, but it'd be fairer to disclaim that your commentary is only applicable for the specific genres you listened to. All electronics are oriented toward a specific use-case scenario. Ideally, the question of whether the HD 800 S is worth it would be tested under ideal conditions-meaning pairing it with DACs and amps that complement it (smooth, rich, and perhaps slightly warm) and using it to listen to classical and jazz. I am pretty sure that it would sound as good to you under those circumstances as it's sounded to other reviewers who've tested it under the same circumstances and found much to praise, but you're welcome to disagree. But if your disagreement is based on theoretical conjecture ("I'm sure it wouldn't make a difference") instead of firsthand experience ("I tried that, and it didn't make a difference"), then I think it's of limited value.

[@soulfulfool]

@@cheapaudioman haha

[@jasonfranciosa]

The Hifiman Sundara with a bit of EQ to bring the bass up (They have excellent bass, just needs to be brought up a bit), is one of the best values in the headphone space in my opinion. For a cheap audio man, I highly recommend them.

[@chrisc7262]

Excellent Randy! All that is required to be said. I have the ifi Zen CAN and it's great paired with hifiman plannars and even as a preamp with my Emotiva basx a 300 😇

[@TheGheddon]

I LOVE your honesty and straight to the point analysis.

[@golfjunkymusicjunky8370]

Thank you for the hounesty..../a fresh wind of air.....

[@exodusvelo]

sucha great review. finally a not sold out reviews. Yet, at least.Yet.

[@dicmccoy]

I could feel your frustration all the way up here in Canada. That was fanfreakintastic.

[@musicforfun5350]

I don't use headphones very much but when I do, my Grado SR-80's are fine. However, I do use the yellow foam Sennheiser ear pads on them to make them more comfortable.

[@UrielJanoach]

Sorry to hear you didn't enjoy your time with the HD800s because they have filled my soul with more happiness than any other device I have had the joy of testing or owning, and that's saying quite a lot. Perhaps try it with a Violectric V280? Beautiful combination. Removes some of the harshness in the treble that can mar one's experience when listening to certain tracks/recordings. I was on the fence between a Stax and the HD800s and eventually settled on the latter because they sound so incredibly real to my ears.

[@newsigmundfreud3023]

👍🏻👌

[@deathspatience3613]

I've had these headphones for about 3 years now, What he is describing sounds really honest and sounds very accurate however it also is rather misleading you have a sort of high in headphone that's getting up there, connected to something that is not meant to drive them and you're expecting good results ( Which I understand most people would think it should work that way if you don't stop and think about what you're asking of these headphones).... I had a similar experience My $350 headphones were more enjoyable than these connected to the cheaper gear that I had at 1st however however I upgraded my gear I did my research spent about $3000 more on my headphones gear the $350 sound better, however the HD 800S sound it way better and it went for me not liking them and now I have them for 3 years they're my favorite my favorite they're not for everybody, you need to understand what you are looking for and what you want from a headphone they have a lot of control which a lot of people are not used to so it sounds weird and yes I don't think they go 20 hurts down I can get them to go about 30ish hurts but it has to do a lot with my DAC and my amp without those things connected to it there's a lot missing from this headphone you cannot really hear how it sounds if you don't have it connected to the proper gear You're not gonna have an idea of how they sound.

[@deathspatience3613]

Sorry gotta do it too harder to try to explain. I've had people tried them with their gear and they're all like I do not see what the big deal is they're really clean but really but they're not nothing especial, Then I bring my gear and connect to that and let them try it and they're like oh my God I love them they sound awesome... then they hear the price and they're like well never mind I don't want to spend that much money.. they're not for everybody not for everybody Once you start getting closer to high end unfortunately you gotta pay the price to get that much control and nuance from this headphone ( I'm referring to the gear connected to something cheap and they are going to sound cheap connect them to something expensive they might still not sound good to you lol you gotta connect it to the right thing's that are gonna sound the way that you like it so good luck).

[@andrewbergamann7982]

Maybe they sound.... Unreally real 😱😱😱😱😱😱

[@GoldenTiger01]

​@@deathspatience3613 "connect it to the right thing" "something cheap vs something expensive" these aren't proper qualifiers for a product. What exactly is the right thing, and expensive does not equal quality. You gotta do better than that if you're trying to convince people that these are worth the money.

[@amirjubran1845]

You might not be the "trusted headphone specialist" guy on KZbin but to me a review like this is much more useful that hearing Zeos ramble on for 20 minutes and then mention the key info I wanted to hear in less than 1 minute. You just said what needed to be said, cut and dry, and I respect you for that.

[@seannewill5520]

No one watches Zeos for what he says. People watch his videos to laugh at a clown!

[@aworminmybook8234]

@@seannewill5520 yes & no. he actually has a great ear.

[@aceofspades6667]

Other HP reviewers: Currawong, SoundNews (Sandu), Passion For Sound, Resolve/Headphone show, Valour, DMS

[@offason]

And you're not the trusted reviewer specialist.

[@seannewill5520]

@@aworminmybook8234 You are joking; aren't you.

[@roygertel]

Hi ! I noticed u film in 1080p but you get the vp09 codec when u upload to youtube. u do something special while exporting your video ?? when I shot in 1080p I get the avc codec when upload to youtube... Thanks !

[@sgtjosozo]

Great video!!!

[@panapat]

See if you can review the Sony MDR7506. They are one of the most popular cans around. I have a pair but before I spring for the Emotivas you rave about, I’d love to get a sense of what I’d be upgrading to if anything.

[@shreddherring]

This sounds like when I had some teething problems with the hd700, which, as it turned out, are extraordinarily transparent to the signal chain, and will reveal any and all issues that your other headphones cant resolve. And its not just amps and dacs that do it. When I got my sennheiser hdva 600 amp, that level of transaprency turned up to 11 and they alone sounded awful amongst all of my headphones. So, I started fault finding. The op amps in my dac turned out to be causing distortion and loss of focus, which I found out when I changed them. When I removed the extention lead and plugged everything into the wall, that significantly lowered distortion again... And I thought and extention lead was something that a human being would never be able to hear a difference with. And when I later tested my skepticism to its limits when Ireplaced my power cables, specifically with ones made to mitigate the proximity effect, it didnt just make them sound better, it was the first time in my entire life that recorded sound of any kind (digital, analogue, music, film etc) didnt sound fundamentally not-quite-right. The more I take it seriously, the more I have come to realise that these headphones are far more capable than they are given credit for, and I believe the hd800 series will behave in the same way, and it would appear that every single part in the chain, however small, and however "yeah right, as if" it might seem at first, it all has an impact on the final signal, and these headphones will only show what they are able to get their hands on. I think I'll hunt down some original hd800's at some point, and see what they were originally designed to be, but I accept that they may be a bit like owning a classic car, in that constant work may be needed to realise what they can truly offer

[@StewartMarkley]

I like my Koss Pro Studio 4S $99 phones except for the D shaped ear cups that you might think is natural but I find that they restrict my ears and are not too comfortable as a result. So I use my Westone $300 IEMs which are incredible sounding, fantastic tonal balance and transient response.

[@ericgray919]

On my RME ADI-2 DAC these cans go down to 10 Hz loudly. Of course, I bass boost them with the RME EQ plus the tone controls. Bass is now clear, deep, and detailed. Why they don't do this themselves beats me since the boost does not diminish the rest of the tonal range. The interesting thing about these headphones is that they allow me to listen to EDM and RAP with no EQ. I have detested those genres until now because of their relentless beat-me-into-the-ground base that overwhelms everything else in the music. If you can't stand a lot of pop music due to their tasteless bass (just me) these phones will expand what you can tolerate and maybe even enjoy. Oh, yes, I paid $1300 and they are totally worth it. Also, I listened to Alanis Morissette "Uninvited/Unplugged" on my HD 800s and true, lots of sibilance. I also listened to that song on Focal Clear, Focal Radiance, and Hifiman Arya. Oh my, lot's of sibilance on each and every headphone! It's not a great recording but the "ssss" or "tttt" have nothing to do with the HD 800s. I think there may be a little reverse bias going on here, like, anything that expensive must be a fraud. I'm glad I average my reviewers opinions.

[@AshishAroraa]

It's not about the song's "recording quality". There are many good tracks out there with sibilance here and there in the track with every high end headphones you mentioned. These costly headphones that increase detail retrieval mess up by giving side effects of sibilance in sounds somewhere. I have Hifiman Ananda and I keep getting distracted by unnatural sounds all the time. The extra bit of detail isn't worth it for me if majority of the music that's out there gets distracting with weird sibilance. In my opinion, increase in brightness in picture settings results in more details in dark scenes and that's what these costly headphones do with sound. That's why we can listen to unlistenable sounds clearer. But increase in brightness comes with side effects, both in picture and sound.

[@Nuevo_El_Nagual]

The review is true. I agree with of that. If you listen to a $1700 headphone on a $150 DAC/AMP combo - yea, HD800S is not a good purchase. BUT… try HD800S on a $2000 OTL amp something like a Schiit Folkwangr. It would be a completely different experience. HD800S would become one of the best hp on the planet. HD800S need toobs.

[@soulfulfool]

🤮 best on planety 🤮🤮 for sure...

[@thewheelchairone]

I have these paired with an IFI Zen DAC V2 / MacBook plus Tidal and I think they sound great 😊

[@mohammedyassermsire216]

are you running them using the balanced or the unbalanced output?

[@thewheelchairone]

@@mohammedyassermsire216 balanced using the pentagon cable

[@mohammedyassermsire216]

@@thewheelchairone i have the hd800s and zen dac currently running it through the unbalanced port, is there a difference in terms of quality when it connected to the balanced port?

[@kentbergstrom3020]

@@mohammedyassermsire216 Why don't you try for yourself. the 4.4mm cable are included in the box? you will get double power, bigger soundstage, tighter bass...everything will improve.

[@ghawk78]

Randy, ya gotta review Grados. The $100 sr80e's are very good. I have Sennheiser ie800's that are fantastic, but they're not cheap. I never thought that I'd like in-ears but they just sound SO good, I can put up with the inconvenience.

[@edgardorivera617]

thanks used your link to Amazon music and the Earstudio ES100 MK2. this is a serious device. if you have not done a review on it I would love it if you do. I found out this can do so much after I bought. would of love to have seen a review before I bought it. we chatted a little about the Sony towers and how I agreed with you that they are missing something. Almost bought the Elac UB5 2.0 on sale on Amazon but wasn't sure if they would sound as good as Ron live sound review. I love how they sound but am Leary about how they would sound in my 18x15 living room furniture Making the usable listening space come down to 12 x15. Plus I would have had to shell for a stand and that's more researching to find a good stand for the Elac. thanks any way love you style of reviewing.

[@cheapaudioman]

I did a pseudo review of it early on in the channel and another mention in the IEM video. I should do another one because those reviews weren't really viewed very much.

[@edgardorivera617]

@@cheapaudioman I will look for the video

[@criptocolorlightstech5292]

hd800s are amazing for video games movies and music this going to sound crazy but they sound amazing with the astro mix amp connect them to the ps5 and connect the optical to the tv and usb to the ps5 put the amp on stereo mode and put the last preset button on going down and u will love the pair these head phones has different kind of base'' its always great to have more then one head phone for different use case' the base is nice and clean its there when u need it ''' on the astro mix amp which is only like 130 dollars bring the astro hd 800s to life i don't no why but it just works ''''

[@cristi724]

I hope Josh also sends you a pair of Focal Clears. They're about the same price.

[@therepublic4759]

I just bought an hd800 have powered them on the zen dac, and liked them less with the bass boost. I really enjoy them as is but I listen primarily to orchestral, jazz, and twee on them. The deep bass isn't there but there is a wonderful experience to be had. I bought them used for 650 and I don't miss my money but I have yet to say if it was worth it, however, I know retail is beyond out of the question. There is a place for them so just think about if it will suit you, and make sure you buy used in case you don't like them, you can resell.

[@wrinkleneckbass]

How do you get your hands on $1,700 headphones? Do you buy them and then return them after you've tested them?

[@cheapaudioman]

I said in the video that josh Valour sent them.

[@criptocolorlightstech5292]

i play alot of call of duty so i got the hd800s for video games when i want punchy clean impactful base i just use my audeze lcd gx for that i run the gx on the schiit hel 2 + and i use the astro mix amp with the hd800s and wow the hd800 sounds amazing with the astro mix amp i use that set up for movies and music try the astro mix amp with the hd800s connect it to the ps5 with the usb then the optical to the tv then put the amp on stereo mode and put the last preset on going down on the amp ''' sounds amazing ''''

[@nilsgoranmagnusson4827]

Hi Randy, love your personal hifi attitude. If you have the opportunity to review the headphones from OLLO AUDIO you will be pleasantly surprised for what they perform for the money. The sound is neutral and musical and doesn't cost you and arm and leg.

[@anthonyalvarado1635]

Randy is the best hysterical and honest af!!

[@yonkocommander5531]

Omg this was amazing 😂

[@jazzpianoman01]

Depends on the source you are driving them with; Classical/Movies/ Open air concerts sound incredible with these genres the bass is beautiful.

[@TexasCorgiGun]

Good job Randy

[@JakeyDill]

This makes me super glad I've got my HD650's powered by a Valhalla 2.

[@soulfulfool]

hate bass of 6xx/650 without definition leaving mud all over the spectrum

[@carlosandresgonzalez4541]

Hi Randy Cheapaudioman I have an iTunes library of 800GB and would like to stream my music across my house. How can I contact you for advice Thanks

[@j1nftw1n]

What are those white speakers in the background?

[@laowai2000]

Stoked to recently pick up a pair of "as new" HD6XX for under $130. Paired with iFi stack no complaints!

[@Roof_Pizza]

Have you ever tried the budget friendly Koss Porta Pro?

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

They're kinda overrated IMHO. They're uncomfortable because the drivers dig into the ear after some time and the foam doesn't help much with that. The wire is so cheap that you're lucky if you get 1 year out of it. And the overall sound is muddy with boosted shrill treble. IMHO the Grado SR60 is far better and way more comfortable for not much more money if you like the sound signature.

[@Roof_Pizza]

@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Not sure why you'd put up phones costing >double the price for a comparison and the Koss does have a lifetime warranty but yeah, far from perfect.

[@viorellunganu824]

See what happened when you try expensive stuff mr.cheapman😃

[@hifiman4562]

Paid $149 for Status Audio Flagship ANC headphones. I'm done buying headphones. But I am pouring loads of cash into my car audio system. It's going to rock!

[@tdfmike3915]

I liked the hd 800s. Went into sennheiser store after my hearing recovered again after wrong diagnosis of sickness... Almost willing to buy them for film music and classical and Soundstage and gaming🤣. But then I decided to go with the original hd800 used and a pre-amp with analog eq options and balanced dac, amp and cable.... My whole setup cost me WAY less then a new pair of hd800s. 2/3rds? Every hd800 is a definitive loser in bang for buck. But if you have money to burn, really like what they do and have another HP for the rest... Why not. Somebody had to by a pair of them new first for me to buy it used....

[@columbiaforte876]

I have two pair of headphones....HIFIMan Sundara..outstanding...bought it open box for $290..connect to my Cambridge cxa81...I also have the Panda - THX. Got them open box for $299 from drop. Best wireless headphones. I cannot imagine how much better a $1700 pair would sound then the two pair I have. Insane really.

[@cheapaudioman]

Heard great great things about the Sundaras

[@columbiaforte876]

One more comment unrelated to headphones, you did a piece on streamers. Basically, all you need is a good DAC and a computer. I have Bluesound Node 2i. Neat little device , although it does have a sort of antiseptic sound. I’m selling it on EBay because , I found that running my 2012 vintage Mac mini through a DAC sounds as good if not better. Unless you want to stream all over the house, I don’t see the utility in these things. Again, 👍 keep it up...

[@lmtrades]

I've actually splurged this year on an Ifi Zen Dac and Sundara headphones. Can't compare to anything else at that price range, simply because i have not tried anything else, but this setup sounds good. Would love to hear your review on these.

[@ReTr093]

Sundara is fantastic and just about the sweet spot for headphone "value". More expensive things sound faster, more resolving, bigger etc. but they also cost anywhere from 2-10x as much. That also includes the 800s.

[@heres_the_sauce]

Savage. If I had the money I'd still get them though. You should try the hd6xx next!

[@cheapaudioman]

I did a vid on the 6XX. they're awesome

[@brochg]

This is the way

[@mikegoddard7354]

prices just dropped crazy, and the HD8XX is 1100 on pre order

[@DBrownCo]

More shots across the Corporate hifi Bow's of ridiculousness. Yes!!!

[@mocomike01]

Nice DMS shirt!

[@ldcp9919]

man, thanks to you I went inmediatly to buy my hd800s ( half the price of course) no joking :B

[@tomhamilton6377]

Really gotta wonder what it is that goes into those little headphones that could possibly add up to $1,700. They must have gold in them

[@cheapaudioman]

ademantium

[@laurelhardy4064]

Maybe that's why Sennheiser introduced the $50,000 HE-1 headphones, just in case people don't like the HD800s.

[@soulfulfool]

ye that price is so stupid haha but at the end you get headphones + amp but even then its not worth it

[@StellarAudyssey]

Haha could be your best one yet!

[@sanjaykumar-mz6tf]

I guess you should try these with a subwoofer. Try doing crossover at 150 hz 😀

[@cheapaudioman]

Ha

[@FlyGuy457]

Viewer 1577 here. Brought to you by Bob's big boy pants. All sizes 8Xl and will fit anyone. Klipsch R600's that you are selling, if you wanted the same dispersion, soundstage but, is a total opposite as for brightness or "livelyness" what would you choose as more or less the opposite of the Klipsch sound??

[@kimbalxyz2]

I read this on head-fi about the Senn. hd 6xxx series compared to the hd800s. " It’s obviously a “better” headphone except when it comes to enjoying music" .

[@marcsullivan7987]

Binge listen, and fill your soul with happiness But not with these headphones

[@chrisp.5272]

Randy!? Ha well I’m an audiophile mostly bookshelves though, and I just started collecting watches this past year as well. Love a good Citizen dive watch, and some Sennheiser headphones. 🎧 Wanted these HD800S’s but man… I might just stick with the SHP9600’s, and my Sennheiser Game One’s EQ’d with Dolby Atmos on the Xbox SX. IE200’s and Koss KSC75’x might be what I’ll use for music when I’m not listening on my beloved Audio Engine HD3’s.

[@edmond40]

I enjoy the HD800s with wooaudio wa3 OTL amplifier the sound is wonderful using external dac in 24bit 44.1kHz will get better sound

[@infn]

Randy should start a channel called expensiveaudioman with an alter ego called Tandy.

[@ThujanK]

Great job Randy!🎉 You basically nailed what happens when you don't get "SYSTEM SYNERGY" right with the Sennheiser Hd 800 series. It really isn't a headphone for those who want to cheap out on the electronics portion (dac/amp) of their system. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the Original HD 800. It would be hilarious 🤣.

[@tbbt2515]

It sucks that this is true. I don't understand why equipment get sensitive to dac/amps the more $$$ they are.

[@45414]

Well, there's goes my theory of you and Audiophiliac purchasing the consumer division of Sennheiser that is for sale...

[@RobNotANumber]

Don't ever change bru

[@1104kdd]

Stax electrostatics remain one of the most amazing sound experiences for me ever, way back in the 70s. They are still around and way more expensive than this. Listening to master tapes on a revox a700... Well you just did not want to take them off. Everything else sounded rubbish in comparison. Worth it? If you already have a few nice houses, a yacht, a few fancy cars etc, why not. But by any normal measure, probably not. Sad these Sennheisers don't seem any good even.

[@cheapaudioman]

they excel at clarity and instrument separation. I can't get over the lack of bass extension and the weirdness going on in the upper mids

[@zeissiez]

These headphones are best paired with tube headphone amps and R2R dacs

[@josexavierjr.5633]

I get it, $1700 for headphones is a bit much. Please do a review at the other end of the spectrum..........Koss KPH30iw headphones for about $30, and sound real good!!

[@corkydukeII5898]

How bout the Panasonic RP-HT21 for $6.99 on Amazon. They may not be built the best (somewhat easily breakable), but they're only $6.99 and most ppl will not complain bout the quality (If they last only a yr consider it a success...they're only $6.99 so you definitely WON'T feel cheated. I've already bought about 3-4 pairs over the yrs so far)

[@jkh4q]

Glad you made this video. I have been staring at those headphones longingly for some time thinking how good they must sound for the price tag. Guess that nagging feeling in the back of my head was right. Price isn't everything.

[@cheapaudioman]

Don’t get me wrong, these are the clearest and most instrument separating and layer headphones I’ve heard. I couldn’t get over the bass extension and the weird sibilance issues though.

[@cnhhnc]

Lol! Going to get audiophiles in a huff. I can here it now? Tube amp, they need a $5000 HP tube amp to sound good, lol! The more you spend the more you have to spend, right! Frankly, I think HPs top out at $500. And even then you have to want that! $150-$300 will do most people

[@aworminmybook8234]

Ouch! But seriously, good to know. I'll stick to my akg 240s. They don't have any base either but for $75,i don't mind. Between watching you & zeos, i'm itching to upgrade but not to $1700! Watch ya got below $150 preffersbly closed back?

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

Sound wise, the Sennheiser HD 25 and HD 280 Pro are hard to beat for the money. But they're not comfortable at all. So I guess you're kinda stuck with the Beyerdynamic DT770.

[@jimfarrell4635]

The very first headphones I bought, over 40 years ago, were a pair of AKG K240s. Loved 'em till some delinquent broke into my flat and stole them along with half my record collection. Probably Steve Guttenberg. He looks a bit shifty and a witness said the guy was wearing a really loud shirt.

[@robertorodriguez2609]

try the Takstar 80 pro

[@aworminmybook8234]

@@robertorodriguez2609 i've had my eye on the takstars! zeos' video on them is hysterical!

[@aworminmybook8234]

@@user-xg6zz8qs3q i'll have to check into them, thx!

[@gr7dc]

Dear chief of man, I like your special stile and appreciate your conclusions. But here the result might be a little next to that. The HD800s is indeed a very analytical and transparent headphone. If you feed it with a cheap frontend, the result is, what you get. I agree to your sssss thing, but this is also a question of the frontend. Pair the HD800s with a Holo Audio May and a good tube amp (you can check this with your buddy), then you might get a very different result. This is my personal experience and this is all subjective and I respect your ssssscore. Stefan from Germany

[@AshishAroraa]

Are you sure all the sibilance of HD800S can be fixed with right amp dac synergy? All?

[@gr7dc]

@@AshishAroraa Yes, but it is even more expensive.

[@AshishAroraa]

@@gr7dc :'(

[@kentbergstrom3020]

@@AshishAroraa Use EQ instead, it's free.

[@AJTupman]

Don’t agree with your views on th hd800s at all but absolutely loved your delivery, have a sub from me.

[@Reeeepicheep]

Never heard these but I know you've got to use these with tubes like all Sennheisers. Maybe add some PEQ. And only listen to certain genres lol. Kind of a niche headphone it seems and not worth the price new. Apparently they soundstage phenomenally, better than any other headphone, whatever that means. Some people are into super wide soundstage width. I wouldn't know if it's good but I don't want my music to sound too stretched at the expense of depth and body.

[@fluffythecat1770]

YESSS! These types of reviews are what gives your channel so much more credibility over many of the other reviewers out there. Everything isn't great, and a reviewer that only posts positive product reviews is either holding something back or not worth the listen/watch (since there's obviously a lack of critical ability there). Never lose this, Randy!

[@doctorbritain9632]

Yep

[@nunofernandes4501]

Compare these with the Sennheiser 560s which cost less than 200 bucks and perhaps are a more satisfying listen.

[@cheapaudioman]

Love it. Thanks!

[@rjzlwop3153]

Good morning sir, excellent video but, what good are headphones if you have to hook up all this other jazz to them and you can’t walk around and listen to music without dragging a wagon LOL did you see that I signed up on Patreon? Have a most excellent safe day

[@patrickmeylemans9627]

I have a pair and like them a lot, and yes they are not for bassheads. No V shape for these babies. I power them with a Marantz DAC1 and very detailed, they give the bass there is…. The bump he is talking was in the HD800 and not the S….

[@alan2698]

I was told in some forums that the 800s is great for gaming and classical music and that's it. Def wasn't recommended to me as an all around use can. Very genre specific I was told.

[@magdavelas]

I’ve been using my 800s for classical music for 5 years. Although I find it very good for classical, the reviewer in this video is also correct that bass is not fully there. I’m using mine with a Chord Mojo so I was thinking a tube amp would be better. Another KZbin reviewer says not even the $10k Chord DAVE is compatible. Either way, I could keep my current set up for 15 years and be happy with it.

[@benjaminqilafku5714]

Mega OT. Who is the typical audiophile. 1. Mostly male. 2. Mostly middle age or aged. 3.His musical interest goes beyond one genre. 4. Insatiable curiosity about hi fi components. 5.His best speaker his the next one. 6 Dedicates at least one hour of pure musical listening daily. 7.He's happy with background music while doing other things. 9. While watching movies pays a lot of attention to the sound effects and considers a real torture having no other option but incorporated TV speakers. 10. His audiophile's best friend rig sounds better even though it is cheaper then his. Did I forget anything. Open for suggestions.

[@al201103]

11 Either has an understanding missus or one who prohibits him from buying another set of headphones (your No. 9 is absolutely spot on!!!)

[@soulfulfool]

one day if I find them used cheap enough than maybe I give it a shot

[@treyhorn5645]

Lol.... My $40 blon 3's and 5's . are amazing I would never considering dropping $1,000 on a pair of headphones I like my speakers I want somebody else to hear as well I don't want to be tethered.

[@aceofspades6667]

I had the HD800 before and sold them after a week on headfi.. They were not my thing for sure! My current rotation are the Klipsch HP3s, Focal Clear, and LCD-X all have great bass, resolution, and dynamics. None have the soundstage of the HD800 but I enjoy them all more.

[@charliehill6776]

Which do you prefer out of the x and the clear and why, i'm curious as I am trying to make a decision.

[@brydon10]

Keep the headphone reviews coming man. Good stuff - nice and honest.

[@corkydukeII5898]

If you're a fan of Headphone reviews, Zeo's (Z Channel) is the goto man for that. His specialty are headphones and DAC's.

[@brydon10]

@@corkydukeII5898 I've been watching him for years. :)

[@JohnScheppler]

I could never see a pair of headphones 🎧 ever being worth $1,700 and would be very unhappy if that is what I got for that kind of money.

[@AshishAroraa]

Looking for more details in music is what results in such sibilance in "high end" headphones. Learnt my lesson after buying Hifiman Ananda

[@shadouxg7150]

@@AshishAroraa the ananda is not sibillant

[@AshishAroraa]

@@shadouxg7150 not overall it isn't. But vocals are sharp noticably. "Sssss" parts. People say that is recording's fault but that is bs. It's the headphones fault. They are trying to achieve more details and are messing up vocals as a side effect/flaw. Edit: if not vocals, something else gets screwed up in such overpriced headphones that boast more clarity. Like how HD800s are super clear sounding and have tons of flaws in fr, sibilance and all.

[@Audfile]

Beyerdynamic DT 770 pro. But you probably have them.

[@danieltufano2659]

But do you mix though??? Lol

[@BrJD-ii4iv]

Couldn’t agree more - these headphones should be priced at $500.

[@SantanKGhey1234]

a tip for you Randy... lessen the # times you say ok..

[@fortynine3225]

Not sure why people need to tell you that mr ''expert''....Like folks say these will not work with all stuff you connect them to. I own the HD600 which are similar those will not sound at their best when i connect them directly into my computer for instance. Also those seems to be more honest headphones which means when something is badly recorded it will sound rather bad also. So pair them propper and use a well recorded album then do some listening...

[@rallealyt]

I own the Sennheiser HD650 for years... excellent to the point that "no one needs 'better' than that" and much more affordable. (HD 600 are very similar but are less natural / have more bass. I think usually Americans tend to prefer the HD600 and the Europeans the HD650)

[@TahoeNevada]

Personally, I like my HD598’s for more “critical” listening, but my HD25’s for more bounce to the ounce when it comes to low end, for electronic music and Hip Hop.

[@Nick_2i]

FYI the difference between the 600 and 650 is the opposite of what you described. The 600 has less bass than the 650. I definitely agree that they are excellent though. I have several headphones that are more expensive than the 600s, but I could definitely live with just the Sennheisers and not feel like I'm missing out.

[@rallealyt]

@@Nick_2i well that's exactly the opposite of what I have read in forums for all this time :-) never tried the 600, but I'm happy with the 650, so it doesn't really matter that much.

[@Nick_2i]

@@rallealyt that's really funny, I can honestly say the exact same. I don't think I've ever heard someone say the 600s have more bass until today lol. Regardless, I'm glad you enjoy the 650s, I've been able to listen to them a few times and they really are fantastic. Now that the 6XX exists, I may pick up a pair for myself to A/B more extensively with my 600s.

[@rallealyt]

@@Nick_2i maybe I'm the one making a confusion :-) but they are still pretty similar, it's not a night and day difference for what I heard. The most important thing is to appreciate them and stop analyzing everything like people (myself included, at times) tend to do :-)

[@VeeHausen]

"Josh Valour is A GOOD man!" - smirks and breaks character....pmsl

[@ginom407]

You could buy quite a few amazing headphones for the price of this one pair. But at least these are closed back and the Mrs. won't hear them...

[@donvittoriosierra]

These are open back

[@ginom407]

@@donvittoriosierra Baaaah, they're off my list!

[@donvittoriosierra]

@@ginom407 yah I don't like them that much either. I prefer the hd6xx

[@gregbellach8239]

bud , you should use a spiral notebook and a bic pen on screen . it would be more in line with your schtick .

[@Shrej97]

you say all that about expensive audio, but you have a constant humm of noise interfernece in the background of your video i dont think your "cheap"" audio equipment is doing you any favours there bud

[@jasonalec6573]

Jeez Randy, now tell me how you really feel.

[@MrMightymind]

Simply the best headphone review ever, imho. You could have made it shorter by applying the "Spinal Tap Album Review" algorithm. Something like, "Sennheiser? More like Shitheiser". Keep up the great work.

[@user-xg6zz8qs3q]

Sennheiser are selling wonderful headphones under $200 however. The HD 25, 280 Pro and 560s are all great examples.

[@brutusmaximus8591]

@@user-xg6zz8qs3q Looks like you have an opinion for everybody.

[@cnnlive10]

Wow! What did Cheapaudioman just do? Aren't these the ones that open up the Heavens, part the cloudy skys and make everything in life better accounding to Sennheiser...... I couldn't agree more with Cheapaudioman!

[@cheapaudioman]

Ha. They were clear for sure but not balanced at all.

[@carminedesanto6746]

God, I’d put my IKKO OH10’s or Moondrop KATO at a fraction of the price up against these ..and I’ve got HD 650’s …🤦🏽‍♂️

[@boomertsfx1]

Randy, please fix your ground loop or whatever is causing the hum in your audio! Are you using something that's **too** cheap?! =)

[@cheapaudioman]

I didn't hear one in this video. I videos where I'm touching an operating piece of electronics like an idiot, I heard and actually had to redo some videos because of the feedback.... yeah. Not smart on my part.