Sennheiser HD800

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Still-One

I bought headphones. I tried headphones. Headphones suck as a listening experience. They sit collecting dust. (If there was dust) Sorry.

Ok Jim, I'll bite.. To my ears, a quality set of headphones, a headphone amp capable of driving them properly and a quality source beats out 95% of full systems out there in terms of purity of tone, lack of speaker/room interaction, bass anamolies, flutter echoes, speaker/amp issues, improper speaker positioning, etc... I can usually hear deeper into the music, better instrument seperation not in terms of location on the soundstage but individual notes being played simultaneously, again, due to lack of standing waves, bass overhang in most rooms, etc..

What you don't get with cans is that wide, deep soundstage but if you listen to headphones for a while, your brain compensates for that and actually creates a soundstage that you can imagine in your head.

Of course not all cans are created equal but there are at least a dozen out there that come very close to perfection.

What is it that you find lacking in headphones?

[Still-One]

You can't feel the music. When you are at a concert or listening to any decent system you are enveloped by the music, you whole body is involved, not just your head and ears.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Still-One

You can't feel the music. When you are at a concert or listening to any decent system you are enveloped by the music, you whole body is involved, not just your head and ears.

And this from a guy who doesn't like subs..

[PHC1]

Check out the specs page, "The Raptor" sounds like a quality piece.

Emmeline II "The Raptor" Headphone Amp - Ray Samuels Audio

[PHC1]

Anyone familiar with the 5687 tube?

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Ok Jim, I'll bite.. To my ears, a quality set of headphones, a headphone amp capable of driving them properly and a quality source beats out 95% of full systems out there in terms of purity of tone, lack of speaker/room interaction, bass anamolies, flutter echoes, speaker/amp issues, improper speaker positioning, etc... I can usually hear deeper into the music, better instrument seperation not in terms of location on the soundstage but individual notes being played simultaneously, again, due to lack of standing waves, bass overhang in most rooms, etc..

What you don't get with cans is that wide, deep soundstage but if you listen to headphones for a while, your brain compensates for that and actually creates a soundstage that you can imagine in your head.

Of course not all cans are created equal but there are at least a dozen out there that come very close to perfection.

What is it that you find lacking in headphones?

Serge
Note I didn't say the sound sucked, I commented that the listening experience did. Sure you can often hear deeper into the mix and pick up some details that might be missing with some systems. For me the closer it get to live the better it is.

Jim

[KingRT]

Originally Posted by PHC1

And this from a guy who doesn't like subs..

I also agree with with Still-One, I do not really feel the music with headphones.
More of analyzing experience for me. I wish Headphones did it for me as in $$$ saved.

But without properly set up subs, I do not feel it either! Period.

Cans are great for private listening, and hearing the layers of music.

But if you want to feel a caffeine rush, Speakers with great Subs and a properly set up Room, will give it to you.

(I own the Senn 650's now)

Thanks for the positive Senn 800 review, as they will be my next Cans.
I seem to purchase all of PHC1 picks, but 5 years behind him.

[PHC1]

Picked up the HD800's today. They are cooking with the MCD201 headphone amp on repeat. Quick listen revealed them to be more resolving, airy and open sounding over the HD650's. Tonal balance is a little lean and on the skeletal side since the bass is yet to come out and play. They may need some time to loosen up or perhaps the MCD201 is not going to cut it with these 300 ohm headphones which sound like they are tough to drive so far. The volume has to be set over 70% on the mcd201 to get adequate level. They do sound like they have lots of potential though since the mids and highs are exhibiting exceptional tonal purity. These are serious cans for sure and will most likely require a headphone amp up to the task. I'll order the Ray Samuels The Raptor tomorrow.

I'll follow up in a few days of additional break in.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Picked up the HD800's today. They are cooking with the MCD201 headphone amp on repeat. Quick listen revealed them to be more resolving, airy and open sounding over the HD650's. Tonal balance is a little lean and on the skeletal side since the bass is yet to come out and play. They may need some time to loosen up or perhaps the MCD201 is not going to cut it with these 300 ohm headphones which sound like they are tough to drive so far. The volume has to be set over 70% on the mcd201 to get adequate level. They do sound like they have lots of potential though since the mids and highs are exhibiting exceptional tonal purity. These are serious cans for sure and will most likely require a headphone amp up to the task. I'll order the Ray Samuels The Raptor tomorrow.

I'll follow up in a few days of additional break in.

Serge, the MCD201 will not cut it...

Feed the HD800's what they really want.

[jdandy]

Serge.......Great news. I have been waiting on some additional information. A headphone the caliber of the Sennheiser HD800 demands a high quality stand alone headphone amplifier. Looking forward to reading the review as things progress.