recstar24

^^^ Pretty much agree with everything said and sums up very well where I stand currently. The bass response will be the biggest question I have. It can be concluded that its faster than the 650 (though not that hard to do). I have never criticized the scope and size of the 650 soundstage, just the cohesiveness, as it does come out somewhat blobby even on heroic amplification IMO. So like you said, I am super curious at the aspect. As for the pricepoint, I think it will represent more a ceiling than a floor. Though there is a demand for a $1000+ hi end headphone in our niche market, I think pushing it beyond $2000 becomes unfeasible to sennheiser as a company and the bottom line (or any other manufacturer). I think $2000 economically speaking is the absolute threshold for a hi end can, where a company can still make some money. Sennheiser has already sold 70 or so to Tyll and Todd, I would imagine Todd will pick up a bit more from his original 10, and who knows what the orders are like for the other dealers. If the pricepoint was north of $2000 I don't see that occuring, but Tyll could elaborate if he wished as he is the business guy not me. You can see what the pricepoint is doing though. The people that actually can afford the can are excited for it to come out and look forward to either purchasing or auditioning. The people that can't afford it, or they are relatively new and unexperienced in headfi, are finding multiple ways to bitch about it. There will probably be people who can't afford it, but feel like they need to have it, so they will buy it from Tyll and return it within 30 days because they realize they shouldn't be spending money when they actually don't have it (JK Tyll). That leaves us, IMO, with a hiend can that will eventually belong to the hi-end users.

Makes sense...I do think that Tyll and Jude's impressions still have a sense of validity to them, or at minimum are more valid than your typical headfier. Though it appears Edwood's overall impression is similar to them, so I think all 3 combined confirms that the initial impressions are not only valid, but quite positive. I am glad he commented on the bass response as well.

I think its a smart move - another source of revenue for wavelength. Happens in business all the time, a company that you are competing with is also a major supplier or customer as well.

Ah that makes sense, I got that same feeling as well. Damn you Tyll you hypester.

Damn, it might actually be possible that I could dig these.... ...waiting for Billy's set to arrive in chicagoland to take a listen:p

tyll, Your dope:p Your on my top 5 list of people to rock out with.

Which hypersters are you referring to? The only people that have posted have been Tyll and Jude primarly. Are you implying that their impressions aren't objective first impressions of what they are hearing? Bostonears did post his impressions which actually were somewhat even keeled. From reading his post it appears he finds the 650 and 800 to actually be somewhat similar sounding. However his listening experience is colored by his own, apparent limited background in hifi so it seems. I would understand your statement if these were in the hands of a whole bunch of newbs, but Tyll and Jude shouldn't be associated with that group. From the very limited information that we have so far, the hd800 sounds like it is faster and more impactful than the hd650 but probably has a similar tonality (this is evident by bostonears impressions, and IMO most beginning/lower level listeners have an easier time describing and hearing the overall balance and tonality of cans).

I think the MSRP is high enough so that demand won't pass supply.

I concur. ZS, If you genuinely want some feedback and constructive criticism about audio and gear (which a lot of us are giving to you), then be willing to take it at face value without getting pissy. If not, don't bother contributing as you are only going to piss people off.

If detail is your #1 priority, I think you might like the Sony SA5000's. They are very "detailed" for lack of a better word. I find them so bright and shrill I would not understand how a human being could listen to them for more than 45 seconds but I can guarantee you they will help you differentiate between su and zu quite easily;)

If your goal is to enjoy music you can do that with a very cheap boombox, or just stick with your portables and IEM's. A lot of the users here are pursuing a higher level of fidelity, because we feel in the music that we listen to, there are a lot of subtle details and nuances that the best equipment can bring out. Also a lot of us feel that the hiend stuff has a way of eliciting a very special emotional response that connects us with the music in a certain way. If your main goal is to enjoy your japanese music and be able to differentiate the sound of su and zu then by all means it appears you have found your audio nirvana. Enjoy.

I think it would be absolutely fantastic if that were the case; however, do you think it is feasible that this ring driver technology can have the speed and clarity of electrostats? I am not sure, but I agree with you that if that were the case, it would be pretty much a no brainer.

ngeh.

Just some anectdotal notes based on what Tyll and jude have said. The common thread that these two seem to strike on is the speed and transient response. This was my personal gripe with the 650 and to a lesser extent the 600. I love the 650's full bodied tone and what tyll calls "coherent smoothness", but its lack of impact and speed (being a gradohead) never ever captivated me into the music, regardless of the amplification (SS, tube OTL/TC). The best I ever got with the senns was 650 with Nate's sialo cable and the ZD, but it still was no comparison to my grados. Something about the midrange performance too of the 600/650's, the "veil" never truly bothered me on the top end, but I felt that they always leave something on the table regarding the midrange performance, that sense of openness and transparency in the midrange which I feel even the low end grados get so easily, I just never got with the 600/650. So to hear there impressions regarding the 800 gives me some hope. I will be curious to hear for myself the level of speed, transient response, impact, and overall dynamics that the 800 brings to the table, compared with some of the heavy hitters in that regard. AKG K1000 Top End Grados Top End Electrostats To my ears, the AKG K1000, regardless of the level of amplification, has always impressed me with his eye blinking impact. They remind me of really nice horn speakers, in fact the tonality and overall balance of the AKG k1000 is pretty similar to the Klipsch LaScala - bass performance around 50 hz, a bit bright sounding, but damn so clear and the impact is just killer. I think as a gradohead a senn that I could enjoy would be the hd650 with a bit more midrange clarity and about 3x the sense of speed and impact. I do think the 600's offer a cooler sound sig that has a touch more impact but I am hoping the 800's are in a different league in that respect (which it appears based on Tyll's and Jude's impression is the case). Just some random thoughts. Like I said before, I give kudos to sennheiser for stepping up to the plate and coming out with a true hi end offering. The sound signature may not be my taste and may not gel with whatever amp I have at the moment, but sennheiser has my respect as a company willing to maximize its resources to create something sort of unique in a very niche market that we have been asking for quite a while now - a $1000+ hi end can that can run on a wide variety of amplification (dynamic based) that could be considered top shelf, being currently made and could hang with the heavy hitters of discontinued stock (ps1, r10, l3000).

Does this part scare anyone else? I mean, shouldn't it be clear to Mikhail that he is really not in a position to get all hissy over Dan wanting some clarity and security in his deposits after what he has been through? Dan, maybe you can clarify, but it appears Mikhail seemed offended that you would even propose such a thing. I personally don't get it, I would think any decent human being would attempt to made right what was wronged and move forward in a positive manner. Speaking from personal experience, the two manufacturers that I have dealt the most with have been Ray and Craig. I could never imagine one of those guys doing this stuff, its unfathomable.

Jeebus, it's scary how similar are interests have been for the past couple of years! Father PJ, forgot to add that I as well bought hp2's for the 4th time this year, dropped plenty of money on gear I do not need, began listening to those dreaded big boxes with little drivers on them, got crazy into vintage klipsch only to sell those freaking boxes within a week (darn WAF), and have done away with power conditioning crap and random audiophilia tweaks. Random off topic - mike, would love to hear your thoughts on the vintage tannoy's. They have this one 12" coaxial driver hi sensitive vintage model that is supposed to be fantastic, but rare and expensive (can't think of it anymore). I believe they had a couple of speakers that would probably sound fantastic with my 2a3 or 45 tubes

I sold the Zana:(

x3

Amp changed from the Zana Deux to the Moth si2a3/45H. For whatever reason I prefer the transformer coupled sound with the grados and the emission labs 45 tubes are very sweet. Down to one can, brown headband rs-1's. Meridian G08 still going strong. Got Speakers! Hornshoppe horns, pretty amazing little buggers. 2009? Would love to get into the computer/usb source. Vinyl is always on the table, but can never motivate myself to dive in. Would love to mess around with another set of hi efficiency speakers.

I concur - I would go as far and say at times it can sound bloated. If you think of every single note and sound having an initial attack (transient), the tone of the sound itself (body), and the release (decay), the cary 300sei and sli80 are very rounded and full in the body, the decay is extended, but that initial attack that gives music its snappy, dynamic character is muddled due to the emphasis in the tonal and decay area of the note, if that makes sense.

I believe Steve Guttenberg is a headfier, FWIW. Hey, it's a start...I do remember seeing the grado rs-1's in maxim's top recommended gifts one year. I also remember seeing the ATH l3000's on cnet at some point in time. When you look at the current stock of top of the line cans that are still in production, I think Steve for the most part got it right. However, I think that speaks of a broader issue of the state of can-dom that the top 3 to represent the best of headphone current production are those 3.

Awesome. Thanks for sharing. I do not have much experience with balanced drive, other than 15 minute auditions at meets. The past chicago meet I was in love with the HP1000 APS balanced from the TTVJ 307a. Probably the best I have ever heard them. I would attribute that more to the 307a and the APC cabling than the balanced part.

The new one is better. More power, less background noise, a really nice match if the senns were your one can. I agree with ER and boomana regarding the receiver. Check it out, you may like how it sounds. Depending on the receiver, a lot of them have EQ controls, which is fun to use with that can, as you can bring down some of that bass energy around 100-200 hz and add some volume around 10 khz if you need it.

The lunch box FWIW sounds pretty darn good. Craig has updated the laconic version to create that nice spiffy version with a hi/lo switch, better power supply, better volume pot, and when I had it for my summer meet last year, people enjoyed it. Outside of DIY I am not sure if you have much options.

Total domination, here is a snippet of my favorite round as broken down by yahoo sports. ROUND 7 Lead right by De La Hoya lands to open the round. Pacquiao rakes De La Hoya with a three-punch combination. Double jab by Manny. Pacquiao batters De La Hoya into the corner. He