Sennheiser HD800 Headphone arrived

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by wpascoe

Which is likely to give me better sound into the headphone amp -- bypassing the Ref 40 entirely by connecting the Ypsilon phono stage to the headphone amp via unused RCA out on the phono stage, or connecting the Ref 40 via unused balanced out to the headphone amp?

Bill.......It is good to have several connection options and you may wish to try them all but I would not pass up the opportunity to use the HDVD 800 in fully balanced mode. Use balanced interconnect cables from the Ref 40 to the HDVD 800.

I have decided to order the Sennheiser HDVA 600 and the CH 800 S balanced headphone cable. I will connect it to my W4S DAC2 using balanced interconnects.

[Vintage Pete]

Originally Posted by jdandy

I have decided to order the Sennheiser HDVA 600 and the CH 800 S balanced headphone cable. I will connect it to my W4S DAC2 using balanced interconnects.

Dan....what a surprise!!

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Vintage Pete

Dan....what a surprise!!

Pete.......I didn't think it would take you long to zero in on that.

[Blackstone]

In this price range everyone should hear the Grado PS-1000 and Bryston BHA-1 amp.

[jdandy]

Blackstone.......You are welcome to start a different thread topic. This thread is about the Sennheiser HD800.

[Pider]

Dan, while at Echo for my meeting with Michael (Yamaki), I tried on a pair of the Sennheiser HD800's. Oh, my, are these BIG! They reminded me of the ear speakers I had long ago. Do you find them comfortable? I must admit, I was a little intimidated simply by their size, but they weren't heavy. Certainly they may not be for casual listening sessions. These are serious speakers for the ears.

I also tried on and listened to a pair of 650's. Very comfortable. I didn't spring for either model. Not sure headphones would get much use, other than late night movies. Who knows. Maybe sometime in the future.

I did pick up the W4S DAC 2 and will put that into my system sometime this week for a trial.

[Dr. Sleep]

I got a chance to listen to the HD-800's at CES, as well as the 700's. Granted the environment wasn't perfect but my first impression of the 800's were of a "smooth electrostatic" even though these are dynamic. Effortless reproduction throughout their frequency range, detailed without emphasis of their own. The 700's had a bit more bass punch to my ear but not in an overbearing way. Given the noisy environment at CES, I'll have to get to my local dealer to give both a listen. Headphones are next on my list.

Sent from my iPad using A.Aficionado

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Pider

Dan, while at Echo for my meeting with Michael (Yamaki), I tried on a pair of the Sennheiser HD800's. Oh, my, are these BIG! They reminded me of the ear speakers I had long ago. Do you find them comfortable? I must admit, I was a little intimidated simply by their size, but they weren't heavy. Certainly they may not be for casual listening sessions. These are serious speakers for the ears.

I also tried on and listened to a pair of 650's. Very comfortable. I didn't spring for either model. Not sure headphones would get much use, other than late night movies. Who knows. Maybe sometime in the future.

I did pick up the W4S DAC 2 and will put that into my system sometime this week for a trial.

John.......I agree with you that the new Sennheiaser HD800 headphone is larger than the average headphone. The advantage of the large ear cups provides four distinct advantages. One, it allows for the larger drivers that deliver improved bass resolution. Two, the larger ear cups allowed the designers to move the drivers forward and angled back toward the ear. This creates a much improved sound stage. Three, the larger ear cups allow your entire ears to be inside without touching the headphone. This improves comfort while at the same time allowing your ears' natural shapes and curves to perform their normal tasks without being crushed or misshaped when being pressed by pads like so many other headphones do. Four, the larger contact area of the ear cups around the ears distributes the 330 grams of the HD800's weight over a larger section of your head so that the effect delivers a sense of less weight to the wearer. I have worn my HD800 for as long as twelve hours without the slightest sensation of discomfort. No other headphone I have ever worn provides anywhere near the same comfort level.

I am glad you are getting the opportunity to audition the W4S DAC2. It is a fine DAC. I love mine. Perhaps you can give us your impressions in a new thread once you have had time with it.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Jambalaya

I got a chance to listen to the HD-800's at CES, as well as the 700's. Granted the environment wasn't perfect but my first impression of the 800's were of a "smooth electrostatic" even though these are dynamic. Effortless reproduction throughout their frequency range, detailed without emphasis of their own. The 700's had a bit more bass punch to my ear but not in an overbearing way. Given the noisy environment at CES, I'll have to get to my local dealer to give both a listen. Headphones are next on my list.

Mike.......Thanks for letting us know your initial impressions on the HD800 and HD700. You will do better to audition them with familiar music in a quieter environment.

[Toccata]

My 800s arrived today and they sound great plugged straight into my Oppo 105--certainly better than my Byerdynamic DT 770s and nearly as transparent yet warmer than my previous Stax 404 system. They might sound better yet with a dedicated amp, but they will do for a while as is.

By the way, the instruction manual states that I can view an individual diffuse-field frequency response by entering my S/N on the site, but I see no place to do that. Can someone direct me? Thanks.