Slickdeals is community-supported.  We may get paid by brands for deals, including promoted items.
Heads up, this deal has expired. Want to create a deal alert for this item?
expirediconian | Staff posted Mar 11, 2023 01:29 AM
expirediconian | Staff posted Mar 11, 2023 01:29 AM

Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones

+ Free Shipping

$1,199

$1,800

33% off
Adorama
191 Comments 53,667 Views
Visit Adorama
Good Deal
Save
Share
Deal Details
Update: This popular deal is available again.

Adorama has Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones for $1199. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Reference class open-back audiophile headphones
  • 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducer system
  • Impressively natural and spatial listening experience
  • Acoustic absorber system prevents frequency masking for unheralded detail
  • Ultra-ergonomic adjustable metal headband with inner damping element
  • Luxuriously comfortable microfiber ear and headband padding on key contact points

Editor's Notes

Written by StrawMan86 | Staff

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Product Info
Community Notes
About the Poster
Update: This popular deal is available again.

Adorama has Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones for $1199. Shipping is free.

Thanks to Deal Editor iconian for finding this deal.

Features:
  • Reference class open-back audiophile headphones
  • 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducer system
  • Impressively natural and spatial listening experience
  • Acoustic absorber system prevents frequency masking for unheralded detail
  • Ultra-ergonomic adjustable metal headband with inner damping element
  • Luxuriously comfortable microfiber ear and headband padding on key contact points

Editor's Notes

Written by StrawMan86 | Staff

Original Post

Written by iconian | Staff

Community Voting

Deal Score
+66
Good Deal
Visit Adorama

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Top Comments

HappyRiver1948
59 Posts
14 Reputation
Hey y'all have your hobbies, we have ours. This is a good deal thanks OP
CrimsonPlastic9743
30 Posts
10 Reputation
Ok, but this doesn't help us in any way.
Royal2000H
3731 Posts
401 Reputation
It's an audiophile headphone not a gaming headphone. Not really sure what the deal is with the commenters on this thread.

191 Comments

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Mar 11, 2023 05:40 PM
16 Posts
Joined Sep 2020
aRandom1Mar 11, 2023 05:40 PM
16 Posts
It shows backordered??? So is deal "dead"?
Mar 11, 2023 05:41 PM
315 Posts
Joined Jul 2007
sssdddaaa222Mar 11, 2023 05:41 PM
315 Posts
Thanks got 1 for my bday this week 👍🏽
Hopefully my cmoybb can handle this
Mar 11, 2023 06:58 PM
137 Posts
Joined May 2011
smiles07Mar 11, 2023 06:58 PM
137 Posts
Quote from erikev :
These are great headphones, but do not buy this to plug into your computer. The computer is way to noisy, and you waste your money. We used a similar headset in our sound studio, and here is the minimum setup you need to be able to enjoy the quality of this headset:
- A dedicated room: Add an inner wall with fiberglass insulation and sheetrock with no studs as sound bridges. (Basically a new room floating in insulation inside your old room.)
- Add acoustical elements to the room: Some pyramid foam, but also just framed canvas art with fiberglass insulation on the inside.
- PC must be outside the room, or in a soundproof enclosure. Get a PC that turns off PS and CPU fan with low load.
- Bring the audio from the pc on the optical port to a high end preamp. Does not need to be expensive, just away from the PC with all that electrical interference.
- Make sure your monitor is noise free, and disconnect any speakers in the monitor.

The headset can deliver more dynamic range than your ear can process, but you will easily get 50dB noise in your room and 40dB electrical noise interference from you PC, and then the dynamic range is reduced a lot, and you waste your money on anything over a hundred $$.

With the above, you should get down to about 10dB, similar to normal breathing, and any lower gets expensive. Expect to spend about $20k for a small room, and a few k$$ for electronics and gear. Don't buy this headset unless you are willing to do this, but if you do, you will get an unbelievable experience well worth it.
Appreciate the breakdown on to fully get the most from these headphones. Thankfully I have a spare room to dedicate for these headphones and It'll take me about 2 months time to check off all the aspects you've provided. It's a small sacrifice but I believe the end product will all be worth it.
1
Mar 11, 2023 07:01 PM
450 Posts
Joined Apr 2009
crazygideonMar 11, 2023 07:01 PM
450 Posts
Quote from erikev :
These are great headphones, but do not buy this to plug into your computer. The computer is way to noisy, and you waste your money. We used a similar headset in our sound studio, and here is the minimum setup you need to be able to enjoy the quality of this headset:
- A dedicated room: Add an inner wall with fiberglass insulation and sheetrock with no studs as sound bridges. (Basically a new room floating in insulation inside your old room.)
- Add acoustical elements to the room: Some pyramid foam, but also just framed canvas art with fiberglass insulation on the inside.
- PC must be outside the room, or in a soundproof enclosure. Get a PC that turns off PS and CPU fan with low load.
- Bring the audio from the pc on the optical port to a high end preamp. Does not need to be expensive, just away from the PC with all that electrical interference.
- Make sure your monitor is noise free, and disconnect any speakers in the monitor.

The headset can deliver more dynamic range than your ear can process, but you will easily get 50dB noise in your room and 40dB electrical noise interference from you PC, and then the dynamic range is reduced a lot, and you waste your money on anything over a hundred $$.

With the above, you should get down to about 10dB, similar to normal breathing, and any lower gets expensive. Expect to spend about $20k for a small room, and a few k$$ for electronics and gear. Don't buy this headset unless you are willing to do this, but if you do, you will get an unbelievable experience well worth it.
This is way overkill for the average ear. The bare minimum advice anyone should take away from this is "don't plug this directly into your computer" but not because of severe noise but rather you need a DAC/AMP. If you have any decent mid-range motherboard the USB implementation should have good enough noise isolation. Better yet you can use optical out into your DAC.

It's not going to sound like garbage using the headphone jack in your computer, you're just gonna bottleneck it like buying a 4090 and pairing it with a 3600X.
1
Mar 11, 2023 07:53 PM
2,308 Posts
Joined Dec 2008
revocMar 11, 2023 07:53 PM
2,308 Posts
People who think you need open airy headphones for a competitive edge in gaming aren't very bright and are in fact very gullible. Do you see pros using wide open headphones for gaming or do you see them using earbuds which have NO soundstage. Use your head.
5
Mar 11, 2023 08:29 PM
98 Posts
Joined Apr 2018
stevenswallMar 11, 2023 08:29 PM
98 Posts
Quote from erikev :
These are great headphones, but do not buy this to plug into your computer. The computer is way to noisy, and you waste your money. We used a similar headset in our sound studio, and here is the minimum setup you need to be able to enjoy the quality of this headset:
- A dedicated room: Add an inner wall with fiberglass insulation and sheetrock with no studs as sound bridges. (Basically a new room floating in insulation inside your old room.)
- Add acoustical elements to the room: Some pyramid foam, but also just framed canvas art with fiberglass insulation on the inside.
- PC must be outside the room, or in a soundproof enclosure. Get a PC that turns off PS and CPU fan with low load.
- Bring the audio from the pc on the optical port to a high end preamp. Does not need to be expensive, just away from the PC with all that electrical interference.
- Make sure your monitor is noise free, and disconnect any speakers in the monitor.

The headset can deliver more dynamic range than your ear can process, but you will easily get 50dB noise in your room and 40dB electrical noise interference from you PC, and then the dynamic range is reduced a lot, and you waste your money on anything over a hundred $$.

With the above, you should get down to about 10dB, similar to normal breathing, and any lower gets expensive. Expect to spend about $20k for a small room, and a few k$$ for electronics and gear. Don't buy this headset unless you are willing to do this, but if you do, you will get an unbelievable experience well worth it.
The average dynamic range of almost all music is under 20dB.

You don't need that room for a headphone though it sure would be nice.

Save the 20k and sit in your car inside your closed garage on a quiet street with a battery powered player... You'll experience everything they have to offer to the point of inaudible returns.
2
Mar 11, 2023 08:54 PM
1,742 Posts
Joined Dec 2010
av911Mar 11, 2023 08:54 PM
1,742 Posts
Quote from ldeveraux :
Headphones for $1200? I can't see a situation where I would ever consider that. I'll pass
Great story. You go to Tesla threads and repeat your sorry comment?!
1

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Mar 11, 2023 09:31 PM
338 Posts
Joined Dec 2005
2k3r1Mar 11, 2023 09:31 PM
338 Posts
Quote from save2day4tomorrow :
I have a Hifiman Arya, will this Sennheiser HD 800 S be an upgrade?
Totally different sound, IMO, and likely more of a side grade.
Mar 11, 2023 09:41 PM
2,284 Posts
Joined Mar 2008
EzioMar 11, 2023 09:41 PM
2,284 Posts
Out of stock. You can still order but it's backordered. They promise to fulfill the order by "12/31/9999".
Mar 11, 2023 09:41 PM
128 Posts
Joined Nov 2011
scoopbbMar 11, 2023 09:41 PM
128 Posts
Quote from Craig234 :
If someone wants to spend this for gaming headphones, look at the Audeze LCD-GX for $899 also.
i would highly advise anyone not to waste their money on a headphone that weighs this much for gaming. ive had audeze headphones for casual listening and they straight up hurt to wear after not particularly long. i cant imagine wearing one for a long gaming session.
Mar 11, 2023 10:14 PM
265 Posts
Joined Nov 2014

This comment has been rated as unhelpful by Slickdeals users.

Mar 11, 2023 10:39 PM
3,052 Posts
Joined Jun 2006
luk350Mar 11, 2023 10:39 PM
3,052 Posts
Quote from aRandom1 :
It shows backordered??? So is deal "dead"?
It went backordered on December 4, 2022, i got mine 2 weeks ago. Adorama will eventually ship it to you.
1
Mar 11, 2023 10:46 PM
16 Posts
Joined Sep 2020
aRandom1Mar 11, 2023 10:46 PM
16 Posts
Quote from luk350 :
It went backordered on December 4, 2022, i got mine 2 weeks ago. Adorama will eventually ship it to you.
Now it shows In Progress - we're preparing your order for shipment.

Does this mean mine should ship soon?
Mar 11, 2023 10:50 PM
27 Posts
Joined Dec 2022
FancyClover515Mar 11, 2023 10:50 PM
27 Posts
Quote from Craig234 :
Reviews I checked suggested they are close to the HD800S, but none were close to 'vastly superior'. But they are half the price.
It seems Neumann NDH30 have flatter and more extended response, and less distortion. All the reviews and the comments in audio forums suggest that they are better headphones. Hmm...

Sign up for a Slickdeals account to remove this ad.

Mar 11, 2023 10:53 PM
77 Posts
Joined Oct 2022
BrightBelieve888Mar 11, 2023 10:53 PM
77 Posts
Great find and very good price for top tier audiophile headphone.

How is this good for gaming (from reading this thread)?

Leave a Comment

Unregistered (You)

Popular Deals

Trending Deals