The HD800 & HD800S thread

I'd love to compare your modded HD800 vs stock with digital EQ. Almost tempted to buy a second HD800 and mod so I can spend some time experimenting and hearing both approaches (or a combination of).

I'd definitely like to compare another amp with 0 ohm impedance that will sound warmer than the O2. With my planars, the O2 was competitive if not indistinguishable from everything else I tried and it'd be interesting to see how big a difference I'll notice with the HD800 accounting for similar impedance and solid state.

 

For what it's worth, the 800 subjectively responds to amps more than probably any other headphone I've used. Valhalla 2 on low gain is 3.5 ohms zOut, and it sounds noticeably different than with my O2 or Magni 2U. (Damping factor of >>10 means that shouldn't be an issue.) O2 is more harsh, bright, glare-y, sibilant, and fatiguing. Magni is OK but unexceptional. Valhalla 2 is just excellent. Clean and sweet and warm enough... I can turn off my EQ with it, and I typically listen at 50-70% wet on Sonarworks vs. 100% on the others.

Valhalla does measure as well as quite a few SS amps and "better" than some others (e.g. look up Tyll's testing of the EC Black Widow). (Of course, the BW is supposed to be exceptional with the 800s, so I'm not saying it sounds worse than Val 2, just that it measures worse.) This is just to say that I would keep tubes in mind as an option. Good tube implementations can be objectively good, especially with high impedance dynamics. Of course, this is to say nothing of what I could differentiate in DBT. I'm not sufficiently hubris-filled as to claim anything in that regard.

 

I think the HD800's sound wonderful with the Valhalla 2, and I do agree with you that on low gain the HD800's sound a bit different than on high gain.

 

Imo, it is apparent as is. I bet properly modded HE-6 can sound better. I wish HD800 would extend lower with more energy..

 

How do I get audio hijack pro and sonarworks to work on the mac? I got both downloaded and installed, but I can't even see or search where the sonarworks installed itself.

 

In Audio Hijack in the right pane under Audio Unit Effects you should see Sonarworks Plugin. Drag it into your output chain on the left, then click on the unit to configure it.

 

Thanks! Playing with it right now. I like what it does with the bass and treble, but not quite sure I like what it's doing with the mids. There's too much of a lower midrange suckout I'm hearing. Will have to play with it some more. With default settings, it sounds distant like an Oppo PM1. One thing it does do however, is emulate the natural bass extension I'm used to out of planars. Bas boost via my iTunes EQ just gave more, warmer bass. However, the taughtness of the bass down low here is very much reminding me of the planars I loved like the 560 and 400.

 

It's true though

 

Haha, no surprise then.

Cuz I was like... "What? HD800 bettah than HD650 with just mods? Which dimension is this?"

But seriously, I like the HD800 for its detailed and spacious presentation. But smooth and easy-going like HD650? It simply ain't. I guess my tolerance for how much "violence" I can take with my headphone has increased, but otherwise...

 

Has anyone tried refoaming the earpads for the HD800s? Mine have basically disintegrated and $100+ for a pair of earpads is just outrageous (I know, they're kilobuck headphones but still).

 

Due to popular demand (and someone spilling the beans) we have decided to release a special HD800 correction curve into the wild. This correction profile has no master frame and thus allows full magnitude correction for the whole audible spectrum. The stock one has rolled off correction magnitude around 35Hz and a bit in the last octave as well. This one doesn't, which means:

1. Around 12.5dB loss of sensitivity to avoid clipping. Your amp better have the gain (and power).
2. Higher THD at sub-bass frequencies. If on default the driver is swinging at 80dB, a 10dB rollo-off correction will make it go to 90dB equivalent.
3. Moar sub-bass and highs.

Follow THIS link to watch a 30 minute Sonarworks promotional video, after which there will be a quiz. Complete the quiz correctly and get the super rare AB000B profile.

 

I did some searching and found some brand new HD800 earpads for $75.00 + Free Shipping and No Tax at Audio46. I know that's still pricey, but it's still $25.00 cheaper. They also accept PayPal as well as credit cards. I have never shopped at their store before but they seem legit after doing a little research. They have a 5 star customer rating and the fact that they accept PayPal (if you use that method) then you would be protected by PayPal.

Link to Earpads:
http://audio46.com/shop/sennheiser-earpads-for-hd800-headphones/?gclid=CN3W3bjS08gCFZGMaQodV18FiQ

Store Contact Info:
http://audio46.com/contact/

Also a store called HIFIHeaven has them in stock for $$75.23 but charge $10 for shipping.

Link:
http://hifiheaven.net/shop/Sennheis...currency=USD&gclid=CP2Z-LPS08gCFQEJaQodZmwFwg

 

Thanks for this. I listened to some Burial which has plenty of low frequency content and this makes a difference. I'm running at 70% wet and clipping isn't an issue with my previous gain setting. Nice job on the curve and EQ, gives me more head time with the HD800.

 

I think that someone would be me…
Sorry if that caused a problem, but there really was/is a method to my madness.

Until people hear what 800's can deliver, especially with a fully compensated low end, many simply won't believe it.
And yes the amp that drives the 800's better have some chutzpah or it will clip all to easily.

And the phase reversal trick, while 'non-standard' for professional use can help ameliorate the power demands on the amp.
Which us audiophools are more likely to adopt.

But the results, at least those I'm hearing are WELL worth it.

And if this full bandwidth compensation does prove to be too much, the 'stock' average HD800 curve can be used instead.

JJ
ps and I am still adding 2-4 dB at 15Hz for even more headroom sucking power demands.
pps I eagerly await the next release of Ref 3 plug-in!

 

I just got to demo a pair of HD800s for about the last week and I have top say I was very impressed by what I heard and I dd manage to play with some mods (Tyll's) and some EQ and heard definite improvements. Much more impressive than the Audeze LCD-2F and LCD-X which I found very heavy, uncomfortable and the LCD-2s were quite underwhelming while the LCD-X were pretty good but not very smooth or cohesive sounding. I may soon find myself owning a pair of these if I find some at the right price and can convince myself to spend the money. This was the first pair of headphones to actually impress me in quite some time now.

 

I love the HD800's - my dream headphones! Like you, the loaner pair a got a few months back from Hands had his mods on it and they were a dream to listen to.

 

Just got HD800! I never thought this day would come. Bought it off olor1n (who is ace at keeping his stuff in tip top condition), and using it stock for now. I'm absolutely hopeless with DIY, so I'll only mod it when Marv releases the super-simple kit he's working on. (Bless you, Marv, for doing all this kind of work.)

Meanwhile, any comments on this setup?
At the moment it's:
Foobar > Uberfrost > Ember / Aikido, or cheap CDP > Aikido
(only have redbook audio)

I know, I know, the DAC needs an upgrade, but I'm waiting for Schiit to open their Asia office (hopefully in Singapore?) so that'll reduce shipping costs if I upgrade to Bifrost Multibit, or maybe Gungnir Multibit.

 

Jude is dropping bombs this week:

http://www.head-fi.org/t/785577/sennheiser-hd800s-unveiled#post_12018462

If this has the sound of a modded HD800 I'm in for sure.