Sennheiser HD 800 Redux

[The Monkey]

Some of us are now on this phone for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time. Perhaps there's a reason we keep coming back. Admittedly, I currently have a loaner, but I have to say that I think the HD 800 kicks some ass, especially out of the Luxman. Now, apparently, this HD 800 is modded with foam, toilet paper, and snot, so I'm not sure what bearing that has on anyone else's experience, but I guess I'm just saying that this headphone does not suck.

[recstar24]

Duh.

[The Monkey]

Thank you. Are you interested in my newsletter?

[blessingx]

Glad you like the combo.

[shellylh]

Has someone really bought the HD800 4 times already?

I love mine. If I had to keep only two cans it would be the HD800 and SR-007 MKI.

[HeadphoneAddict]

Some of us are now on this phone for the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th time. Perhaps there's a reason we keep coming back. Admittedly, I currently have a loaner, but I have to say that I think the HD 800 kicks some ass, especially out of the Luxman. Now, apparently, this HD 800 is modded with foam, toilet paper, and snot, so I'm not sure what bearing that has on anyone else's experience, but I guess I'm just saying that this headphone does not suck.

Even un-modded I thought the HD800 played well with TTVJ's Luxman P-1u loaner. Well, does cable count as a mod, if they didn't have the Tyll-Foam?

[HeadphoneAddict]

Has someone really bought the HD800 4 times already?

I love mine. If I had to keep only two cans it would be the HD800 and SR-007 MKI.

I can't narrow it down to just two cans but those would be in my top 3 list, along with the SR-009.

My issue with the HD800 is that while I really enjoy them the most with my ZDT amp, any other amp in the house is more of a let down with them. I have the tubes in the WA6 matched better to the LCD-2 and HE-500, which sound too aggressive with the HD800. If I change the tubes in it to play well with HD800 then the sound is thicker and more closed in than I like with everything else (relatively speaking). The HD800 sound a bit too clinical or dry with my DACmini, too aggressive with my HDP, and too grainy with my EF5 amp.

While my HE-500 play well with a wider variety of amps, I don't get the same level of enjoyment out of them as I do with the HD800/ZDT combo.

[nikongod]

Well, does cable count as a mod, if they didn't have the Tyll-Foam?

No, mods actually do something.

[obzilla]

Banter from the other site had me turned off to these for a long time. Got a pair recently, lesson learned.

Still honeymooning, but I'm gonna agree that they don't suck and let them be the headphone of my second rig until deemed passe.

I do notice a succinct lack of personal hygiene products and bamboo shavings in the driver on certain tracks.

[Anaxilus]

After sampling the HE500, HE5LE, HE6, 4xT1s, 3xLCD2r.1s, 2xLCD2r.2s, 5xLCD3s, and various stat rigs my modded 800 + Super 7 still presses most of my buttons w/ only 2-3 minor niggles. The only other setup I'd consider an upgrade for my needs would be the 009 + T2. I'd be willing to accept Orpheus donations however.

[Nebby]

I liked the HD800 before the mod and liked it more after the mod

Edited April 22, 2012 by Nebby

[arnaud]

A foam modded HD800 with p1-u is indeed very special for me as well, probably quite complementary to a 009 rig.

I sold my HD800 for a Stax rig (O2mk2) after direct with comparison with modded HD800/p1u and haven't gone back since. The two rigs (same source) were rather similar tonally but a tighter bass with the HD800 while the Omega 2 excelled in the mid / highs, low level detail.

[mikeymad]

I love mine. If I had to keep only two cans it would be the HD800 and SR-007 MKI.

I am down to only my 007mk1 and L3000... I am happy... 800s are not on my radar.... now 009s are a different story (given a pile of cash)

cheers.

[wink]

My HD800 with a Blue Dragon cable is my favourite can in my collection, although the HE60 out of a Transistoramp V3 was very close to knocking ot off it's perch.

Can't wait to finish one of my KGSS and KGSSHV builds.

Will probably see the HD800 dethroned, even with the Anax mod recently installed.

[jantze]

What kind of mods are peeps doing to their HD800?

[johnwmclean]

I’ve was scotched by an earlier production pair (serial #427), I re-built my system trying to tame the beast, then came the LCD-2’s, I instantly gave the HD800 the ass. I’d be interested to re-visit a current modded pair of 800’s.

Edited April 22, 2012 by johnwmclean

[spritzer]

Same thing for me. Most of my HD800 time has been spent with one of the very early sets (demo pair at the local distributor) and to me the LCD-2 is a superior transducer over all. Those that have owned numerous sets, is there any change in the production? Sennheiser is known for tampering with things such as there are 3 very different versions of the HEV90 but they never said anything...

[morphsci]

Every time I have listened to the HD800 I have been disappointed with the midrange and so it is not on my radar either.

[blessingx]

Tubes choices on a Peak/BA/S7 can do wonders for a HD800 pairing.

[Tari]

Same thing for me. Most of my HD800 time has been spent with one of the very early sets (demo pair at the local distributor) and to me the LCD-2 is a superior transducer over all. Those that have owned numerous sets, is there any change in the production? Sennheiser is known for tampering with things such as there are 3 very different versions of the HEV90 but they never said anything...

It's a source of some contention. I was told by a Senn rep that they had played with the FR slightly. He told me they even had graphs that he could email me. Then after talking to the head of production he backpedaled. I've owned three pairs, once when they first came out and most recently purchased a month ago. I'd like to say there are slight differences but too much time has passed and pieces changed in the rig.

Senn specializes in dynamic transducers. With the amount of time the HD800 spent in R&D, any changes left to make were minor tweaks. The mod has a greater effect than any production variations.

The mod that's being discussed is the Anaxilus mod.

[K3cT]

Every time I have listened to the HD800 I have been disappointed with the midrange and so it is not on my radar either.

I currently have a loaner HD800 and I agree, midrange is the weakest aspect of this headphone. Hard to describe but the midrange almost sounds veiled in comparison with the Stax Lambda and LCD2.

Since it's a loaner I probably won't tamper with it but what does the mod do exactly? Other than a very slight ringing in the upper mid, I think this sounds fine enough. Mine is serial #05157 BTW.

Edited April 22, 2012 by K3cT

[Leonardo Drummond]

I bought a HD800 about a week ago and so far I have to say I'm disappointed... I find it very good technically, but it leaves me cold and doesn't involve me in anything. And it's not a source/amp issue since I'm using it with a Meier Eartube, an extremely warm amp, and even that doesn't cut it for me.

The cans sound too neutral to me somehow, with something on the mids and highs that remind me of the "hardness" that I hear on my K1000, and to me there's not enough bass to balance it out and make the presentation sweeter. This is undoubtely a very good headphone, but one that feels more like a machine to hear what's on the recording rather than a headphone for listening to music.

[n3rdling]

Every time I have listened to the HD800 I have been disappointed with the midrange and so it is not on my radar either.

Same here, both modded and stock. I like the bass though.

[deepak]

Loved them with the best recorded classical. Couldn't enjoy them with jazz, tonality just wasn't what I hear in real life. I realize these may be contradictory statements, but IME jazz is closer mic'ed and with the trio/quartet/quintet type music I prefer it is easier to hear into the instrument so everything really needs to be spot on to sound real.

[The Monkey]

The point about the mids is a good one. Sometimes they sound a little "distant" to me. Don't know how else to describe it.