The HD800 & HD800S thread

Now I want to buy another HD800 to mod, just to compare to my unmodded pair.

 

Keep an eye of this forum
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/forum/7-private-hi-fi-classifieds/

I remember that there was a zana deux for sale a few months back.

For new amp, I believe AddictedtoAudio have a liquid Glass, which imo quite good with HD800. Our weak dollar and high import tax sort of prohibit us to buy from US atm :-(

 

I do keep an eye out over at SN. I saw the Zana but living in Brisbane the heat from the output tubes would be close to intolerable. I tried the LG and it sounded pretty great but it was extremely expensive. Id like to hear how much better it could be with a bit of tube rolling.

 

In my opinion 800's are not only good enough (as in scale like a muth'r) as an end game component, enough so to build the entire system around, but they deliver bass like nothing I've ever heard, except this one time, long ago.

And getting the bass 'right' is a key factor in terms of providing a 'foundation' for each and every 'voice' (organic and instrumental) to be based upon.
And I figure that some of you already know what I'm referring to here.

Now granted I've not heard a WHOLE bunch of headphones and speaker systems but even so the overall SQ from top to bottom is sublime, now that the bass is 'in step' with the rest of the audible spectrum.

And now that we are able to approach 'flat' without paying a HUGE sonic penalty (phase shift, detail degradation, etc.) our ability to dial in the actual response curve we each would choose, instead of having to live with someone else's choices, is starting to become a reality.

Interesting times in audio Indeed.

JJ

 

Don't feel sorry - I picked up one that had less than two weeks of use with a Sennheiser CH800S for less than a grand USD.

Also, I'll be putting up my Oppo PM-1 for sale sometime near the end of the week for an absurdly low price.

 

The bass capabilities once EQ'd +6db in the low end via Sonarworks is impressive. Punchy and clean. Still missing that sub bass extension you get with planars though. Hopefully Sonarworks can get me the tweaked curve that johnjen mentioned, otherwise I can try running it through another layer of EQ to boost that region.

 

Don't let that stop you from feeling bad for me, though. I can't believe I lost out on AV's HD800 to you! I've been trying to get one at a good price for a while now.

 

Made a comparison with the the first test on this page, for bass region. HD800 has quite good presence for me from 26-30Hz and up. HE-6 start more strongly from 20Hz. I hear the earlier tones too. YMMV.

 

For some reason I don't hear the same HE-6 (slightly modded) as having more sub bass, just more punch in 40-50 Hz region, which to me feels like coloration. Checked twice with different sine gens after hours of just listening to music.
Worth noting the Ehha we used might not be up to snuff for HE-6.
Through my chain I hear modded HD800 as simply superior in technical level.
In most cases I'd pick HD650 before it, but this time at pure technicalities it is a tougher fight.
Still the HE-6's compression and ability to sustain notes better + somewhat darker tonality makes it better for some music.

Praise him, praise the lord 800's! Prise em'!

 

Yes I said your name Hands - you got me to fall in love with the HD800's that's what you did!

 

What mods have you done? The HE-6's drivers need to be sealed in to the housing (blutack mod) and the pads need to be sealed to the cup as well - both mods significantly impact bass extension and bass quality.

The difference in sub bass compared to the HD800 should be easily apparent.

 

This is just barbone HE-6 without grilles and some removed foam.

 

Well, that's the issue. Do yourself a favor and apply Ohhgourami's mods to the HE-6. I think you'll be surprised at how much better they can sound. He's got info on HF and posts here as well.

Sorry for the off-topic - Back to the HD800...

 

Ugh, I shouldn't have opened this thread... I am now stuck between getting this or an HD 650...

 

I personally prefer the HD800's over any headphone I have ever heard. However, some people think stock they have a lot of treble. The loaner pair I received from Hands a few months back had mods done to them so I do not know how the HD800's sound stock. As far as the HD650's go, for the price, they are hard to beat IMO. A lot of people actually prefer the HD650's over the HD800's. I just know in my personal opinion, the HD800's are the best headphones I ever heard.

 

So... all important question: is the HD800 that you have right now (or did you return it to Hands?) brighter than the HD650 by a lot, a little, or the same-ish?

 

For kicks I spent some time comparing my HD800 driven by the O2/ODAC to straight out of the iPhone 6S. What really surprised me was, it doesn't get driven very loud from the iPhone but the sound was fuller, more lush with noticeably more although less tight bass. I went back and forth volume matched to make sure I wasn't imagining it. It actually sounded really nice. My guess is I'm noticing the slight FR change with iPhone ~5-8ohm impedance out vs near 0 of the O2.

Who says the HD800 can't be a portable headphone and super source picky. I'm gonna tape a red 'b' logo to the cups and take a ride on BART with it.

 

Haha. Well, if we have a meet any time soon, I'd love for you to hear my modded HD800.

That aside, I think you're just hearing the characteristics of the O2. There are amps that are 0 ohm impedance that sound warmer/lusher than the iPhone 6.

 

Returned it to Hands a few months ago. Even with the mods Hands had on them they were brighter somewhere between a lot and a little, not tremendously brighter, but not just a little brighter either, but then again he did have mods on them - but to me sounded more natural with a wider sound stage than the HD650's with more resolution and clarity.

For me personally, they are perfect for the sound I am looking for. Also, I did have them EQ'd so that made a difference as well, I did not listen to them with a flat EQ or no EQ, so being that they were modded, and I used EQ, it is tough to accurately answer your question, but even with EQ and mods they are brighter than HD650's IMO.