Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones

John_Wick

Mar 11, 2023 6:51 AM

4.3K Comments

Joined Jun 2006

John_WickMar 11, 2023 6:51 AM

4.3K Comments

Quote from goodness97

:

Without amps, this is not better than $200 headphones. So, if buying this, budget to also invest in a high quality amp.

What are some good amp suggestions to pair with this?

1

airecoos

Mar 11, 2023 6:59 AM

94 Comments

Joined Oct 2020

airecoosMar 11, 2023 6:59 AM

94 Comments

My HD 650s are still my all purpose headphones that sound amazing for audio and gaming after owning them for several years. If they were starting to deteriorate at all, I'd definitely jump on this upgrade, but it's still tempting to go for this sale price.

PpP5661

Mar 11, 2023 7:05 AM

671 Comments

Joined Apr 2014

PpP5661Mar 11, 2023 7:05 AM

671 Comments

Quote from goodness97

:

Without amps, this is not better than $200 headphones. So, if buying this, budget to also invest in a high quality amp.

Who in their right mind would by this without an amp?
These are high impedance headphones, they need an amp to be driven. Pointless to compare it's "performance" to $200 headphones.

3

lvl69rowlet

Mar 11, 2023 7:06 AM

49 Comments

Joined Dec 2022

lvl69rowletMar 11, 2023 7:06 AM

49 Comments

Quote from save2day4tomorrow

:

I have a Hifiman Arya, will this Sennheiser HD 800 S be an upgrade?

Depends on what you value more. The wide soundstage of the 800s is so damn good it's disorienting, but it is pretty lacking in the bass department. An upgrade if you primarily listen to classical music (and perhaps for enhanced gaming audio, lol). Downgrade for listening to bassy music like EDM, Hip Hop, etc.

Last edited by kagi1121 March 10, 2023 at 11:10 PM.

6

save2day4tomorrow

Mar 11, 2023 7:18 AM

499 Comments

Joined Nov 2012

save2day4tomorrowMar 11, 2023 7:18 AM

499 Comments

Quote from kagi1121

:

Depends on what you value more. The wide soundstage of the 800s is so damn good it's disorienting, but it is pretty lacking in the bass department. An upgrade if you primarily listen to classical music (and perhaps for enhanced gaming audio, lol). Downgrade for listening to bassy music like EDM, Hip Hop, etc.

Thx, Cagi!

1

stevenswall

Mar 11, 2023 7:25 AM

101 Comments

Joined Apr 2018

stevenswallMar 11, 2023 7:25 AM

101 Comments

Quote from FeistyRaccoon394

:

This or a dedicated Dolby Atmos system. Decisions.....Decisions lol I'll always have lifelong regrets if I chose one or the other.

What are you planning on for the Dolby atmos system?

3600 is what you'd need for a 5.1.2 system with something like the Kali IN5 speakers which is what I'd go for if you're putting things on the ceiling and at always angles and placement until you can afford Genelec. But you still need a surround sound processor and source device.

Atmos is great, but man... It took me $7 in used Genelec 8260 monitors and a woofer to get something that sounded better than high end headphones.

4

supermodio64

Mar 11, 2023 7:44 AM

30 Comments

Joined Mar 2023

supermodio64Mar 11, 2023 7:44 AM

30 Comments

Supposedly, the 8xx sticker mod makes them nearly identical to the 800s. https://youtu.be/MiVeFTL0VQg

Last edited by supermodio64 March 11, 2023 at 06:39 AM.

1

R32Raines

Mar 11, 2023 8:09 AM

88 Comments

Joined Jan 2006

R32RainesMar 11, 2023 8:09 AM

88 Comments

I've had these for nearly 6 years. Paid $1675 back then. I use them primarily with a Schiit Jotunheim Amp/DAC. Use them every day and no regrets at all about the cost. They are amazing. I hear things in music I never heard before with these. The separation and detail in instruments is fantastic. They're worth every penny if you value quality sound. BTW, using them with the balanced cable really opens them up.

And to the ones asking about headphone specifications... specs give you an idea of what they can do, but it gives no representation of what they sound like.

8

slickd888

Mar 11, 2023 8:56 AM

1.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2019

slickd888Mar 11, 2023 8:56 AM

1.5K Comments

Quote from thefantasy

:

can i use this for zoom meetings?

I don't know if you serious but I Zoom interviewed someone who actually does. I happened to be in the know and commented on it and geeked out with him on headphones for a minute ( I also own the 800S). I personally think it's flaunting a bit since 800S are definitely overkill for Zoom but I suppose it's reasonable in a WFH environment that you enjoy your lossless and jump on a call with the same headphones.

These are legendary in their own right in terms of sound quality but my only negative on these is they're not the most comfortable.

Last edited by slickd888 March 11, 2023 at 01:07 AM.

doublequote

Mar 11, 2023 9:49 AM

618 Comments

Joined Nov 2017

doublequoteMar 11, 2023 9:49 AM

618 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank doublequote

Quote from Royal2000H

:

It's an audiophile headphone not a gaming headphone. Not really sure what the deal is with the commenters on this thread.

You are mostly correct here. These are intended for quality music/audiophile nerds but…. Many of the audiophile YouTubers agree that if budget is not a part of the decision, these headphones are the ones to get.

Yes, they are not intended for gaming but, if you are a quality audio nerd AND want something you can game with too, these are your 'endgame' cans.

Reference:
https://youtu.be/Jrpn1XhVD_Y

2

1

golgo1313

Mar 11, 2023 12:00 PM

435 Comments

Joined Nov 2010

golgo1313Mar 11, 2023 12:00 PM

435 Comments

Quote from R32Raines

:

I've had these for nearly 6 years. Paid $1675 back then. I use them primarily with a Schiit Jotunheim Amp/DAC. Use them every day and no regrets at all about the cost. They are amazing. I hear things in music I never heard before with these. The separation and detail in instruments is fantastic. They're worth every penny if you value quality sound. BTW, using them with the balanced cable really opens them up.

And to the ones asking about headphone specifications... specs give you an idea of what they can do, but it gives no representation of what they sound like.

Yes, on balanced cables, but they are also pricey... ~$200 and and cost of a balanced out headamp, this definitely isn't a "let me get my toes wet" purchase. For many, these are end-game headphones.

I've also read these perform well in the first person shooter games because of the awesome pinpoint precision placement of sound in space, but it's more like if you already own them, they're great for gaming, not get them for gaming... Does that make sense?

Last edited by golgo1313 March 11, 2023 at 04:03 AM.

Product Description:	HD 800 S - The audiophile headphones all others are measured against, our HD 800 S doesn't just raise the ceiling for critical listening-it smashes right through it. Combining the care devoted to a handcrafted instrument and the precision of modern manufacturing, the HD 800 S lets you explore your entire music collection from the inside out. The Exploration of Sound The HD 800 S demonstrates over 75 years of audio expertise, redefining the critical listening experience. After launching its predecessor-the HD 800-we accepted a self-imposed challenge to completely disappear from the last link in the audio chain. Our goal was to provide acoustics so immersive that your awareness dissolves into the creator's perspective. On their own, each component of the HD 800 S is world-class. The signature sound of the HD 800 S is possible not because of any one of them, but through the synergy of all of them. Let's explore. It Has a Ring to It The heart of the HD 800 S and its striking sound is the 56mm Ring Radiator transducer. It leverages the key benefit of a large diaphragm transducer-air displacement-without losing the rigidity that favorably impacts rest and response times. Instead of a single attachment on the outer circumference of the transducer, both outer and inner edges of the "ring" are secured to the drive unit. The voice coil excites the diaphragm, connected to the v-shaped groove found near the center of the ring. A feat in itself, the voice coil is 40mm and wound in-house to ensure the shape and consistency is held to the highest standard. Solid as a Rock The headphones' vibration damping chassis and inert headband insert provide complete stability-what you put into the HD 800 S is precisely what you will get out of it. Each transducer is manufactured, tested, and measured to the tightest tolerance to ensure the most dependable performance out of the box. Even the steel mesh found in the baffle is matched and integrated with consistency in mind, as it contributes to ultra-low variance in the management of trave
Product SKU:	se506911
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Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones

$1,199

$1,800

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