 |
I am an audiophile... have been for many many years. Over the years, I have owned many different brands and quality of headphones, but these "cans" are a cut above the rest. They are comfortable and create a sound stage that has to be heard to be believed. If you don't listen to music critically and seriously, then spend your money on a run-of-the-mill set of headphones. If you are a critical listener and if you are fortunate enough to have a high-end playback system, then you will find that the HD800S headphones are worth the hefty price tag. They bring out every nuance in the music and listening becomes so much more than merely listening... it becomes an experience.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Right after these were released in 2009, and were the most expensive outside of Stax electrostats, there was immediately a big rush to try to beat them, and money was no object. There was too much treble and a rolling off bass, but besides that, their soundstage, driver speed, comfort, and pretty much anything else you can mention regarding performance was unmatched. They were THE headphone to try to beat on top of with EQ. It sounds like reviewers say that some headphones >$3k make that, too. Some planars for $2k get good reviews also, but have to say "almost as good as the HD800's" for some points, usually soundstage size. Sonarworks measured a whole bunch of pairs of 800's frequency response using a dummy head with little microphones in it's ears, and offers software that EQ's them using like 1000 points parametrically or something, to a perfectly flat line that goes all the way down. Now, they sound better than anything I have heard before EQ-wise, including not only playing more bass than my subwoofer, but also making it's bass sound cheap and flabby compared to the refinement of my HD800's. Every so often someone plays an electric bass alone, and it's strings sound way better than that lousy electronic bass does. For the extra 99Euros for the Sonarworks software, especially using only the plugin with Audirvana, my system truly becomes reference playback for everything. My most recent upgrade was a new IC, and while it made everything before my amp sound way better, and left me wondering if I should upgrade my amp too, I do not hear the need to upgrade my 800's yet. According to reviews, it sounds like only planar drivers could improve things, and it would have to be ones for considerably more money to not lose anything else. So, in short, if you factor in paying an extra 99Euros for the Sonarworks EQ software, you will not beat these for less than $3k. When mine finally die for some reason, I will replace them with the exact same model, unless the 800S is almost the same price. The EQ software already negates the slight improvement given by the 800S's. After getting used to the EQ'd to super flat sound, everything else sounds wrong.Read full review
Verified purchase: No
Excellent sound. I did have to get Dekoni pads to make them more comfortable. The pads also move the drivers farther away reducing but not eliminating listening fatigue. The listening experience overall was better than everything except Lindsol goldplanar GL 2000 double magnet.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Good headphone. Very neutral in presentation. What struck me was the wide soundstage. Instruments are spaced well. Vocals sound natural without over doing it. These are not bass heavy headphones however. Bass is there but lacking a bit. Overall, impressed with the dynamic range of these headphones. Recommended for jazz and classical but not for hip-hop and metal.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Sunning resolution and clarity. Sound unlike any other I’ve heard. Only on certain recordings bass can seem no as filled out. Vocals can also seem not as present as I would sometimes prefer, but again only on certain recordings. Other than that I have no complaints. They do everything else better than any others I’ve heard up to this price point.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Headphones
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Headphones
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
