The HD800 & HD800S thread

Finally!

 

Thanks, @sorrodje. I totally agree with your assessment that the 800S is a "fixed" 800. HD850 it clearly isn't.

I've only been listening to the 800S for about an hour while I've been working, but I can already tell that the sound out of the Crack 2 is real nice.

It is easy to forget how much technically better a headphone the 800/800S is from the 600/650. I had to go download Tyll's measurement sheets to make sure I wasn't crazy.

 

Just got my HD800S in today

I'll try to get some quick impressions w/ my Rag & Torpedo III tonight.

 

Co

Could you please let me know how much you paid for the HD800s from Jan?

 

Been listening for an hour or so, and I can echo everyone else's statement that it's a "fixed" HD800. I barely listened to my stock HD800 due to it's inherent issues, but the S seems like it could be a daily driver for me. IMO it's got all the clarity & resolution of the 800, but it's much easier to appreciate it's strengths because I'm not cringing at the treble. I'm assuming it would improve even further with mods. If you can't tolerate the treble of the HD600 or UERM it's probably not going to be your cup of tea, but I think it's a step much much closer to neutrality.

Pairs very well with the Torpedo III (stock tubes, haven't installed the CCS mod yet) & Ragnarok. I might prefer the pairing with the Rag a tiny bit more at the moment, but it's a close call.

 

Thanks! That's a bit lower than the rrp in the UK which is £1199. Currently I listen to my HD600 out of a Valhalla 2 and I like the combination. Do you think the Hd800s would be a sensible upgrade if I don't change the amp? In your measurements I noticed that the HD800S and HD600 seem to be quite similar in FR. Is this true subjectively as well?

Thanks for your review and measurements!

 

Agreed 100%

 

Been enjoying my new HD800S with SuperBAF absorber mod for a week now. It's no HD850, but it gets more head time than my modded HD650 (which in turn got more head time than my previous modded HD800). To my ears, modded HD800S sounds less bright and sibilant than TH-X00. That's saying a lot.

 

That is very sensible advice

I just feel that the HD600 is missing a bit of 'attack' . Also sometimes vocals sound like they're in my ears and I wish for a soundstage that's a bit larger.

What would you say the HD800S does better than the HD600? I'm tried the 650 as well and it had a larger sound stage than the 600 but it was too dark for me.

Thanks!

 

I actually just did that exact upgrade going from the 600 and 650 to the 800S. After a day of listening, while the 800/800S is totally very similar to the 600, it is clear right away that the 800/800S is the vastly superior headphone when it comes to technicalities. I would say there are three main differences I noticed right off the bat.

1) The 800/800S bass is noticeably deeper and punchier than the 600/650 bass.
2) Imaging and soundstage are much better on the 800/800S. I was listening to opera while I was working and it is definitely easier to focus in on a single instrument with the 800/800S than it is with the 600/650.
3) Detail retrieval is better on the 800/800S than it is on the 600/650. Though I'm listening on an OTL tube amp (Crack 2) that is hardly the bees' knees when it comes to detail retrieval, I can hear more detail in the 800/800S than I can in the 600/650.

If you look at Tyll's measurements for the 600/650 vs those for the 800 you can see why all three of these are the case.

 

Rt, I modded my HD 650 with the troika (quarter, back foam and dynamat) and the difference for the better was pretty obvious. So much so that I prefer it to the HD 600 (whose back foam I took as well but not too significant a change for me). The HD 800 is a step up from both. I have the rug liner and trapezoid mods in and waiting on the @zerodeefex and cork mod materials.

I listen to the Senns out of the ZDS (GET THIS AMP NOW).

 

That is super helpful , thanks.

 

I would love to get a ZDS. The only thing that stops me is the thought of shipping it to the USA from the U.K in case it needs repair. Wouldn't you need to spend a few hundred dollars in shipping alone for a warranty repair?

If Craig offered service in the UK through a distributor I would've already gotten one!