Sennheiser HD 800 S Review
Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 10,656 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Sennheiser HD 800 S. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Sennheiser HD 800 S. For example, 92% of 1,489 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Sennheiser HD 800 S have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 12 of 12 Reviews
A worth upgrade over the prior model
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Mediahound on B&H Photo Video
I tried the prior Sennheiser HD800 headphones previously and really wanted to love them but always found them too strident in the highs for my liking. The bass also seemed a bit lacking as well. While they were VERY comfortable to wear and they had excellent stereo separation/precision, and very good overall reference performance, in the end, they just were not that fun or engaging to listen too. Alas, I didn't end up keeping them. My headphone of choice the last few years has been the Audeze LCD-3. Great cans! My ears prefer a smooth laid back, slightly vocals/mids-forward type of sound and the Audeze's fit that bill wonderfully. Except, they are a bit too heavy on the head and after about an hour and a half, I would have get discomfort and have to take them off. ENTER THE NEW HD800 S: When Sennheiser announced that they improved upon the HD800 with the new HD80 S both in terms of a smoother treble and slightly increased bass response, it sounded like an answer to my prayers so I preordered them. Everything good about the HD800 has remained, including things like the great design and extreme comfort as well as the very open and expansive stereo separation and precision. Yet, the highs are not as strident, which means my ears get less listening fatigue. Definitely a smoother sound, but do note, it's not a drastic transformation, more of a subtle tweak. Same thing on the bass response; the HD800 S does seem to have a bit better bass, but it's still a bit on the lean side if I had my druthers. Make no mistake, these are in no way bass-head headphones. That said, with the right headphone amplifier and a bit of EQ'ing in the bass region, these can get a very engaging bass going for you. I had found that with the prior HD800, the sound was HIGHLY dependent on your headphone amplifier and this has not changed with the new HD800 S. With a good amp pairing, they can really be very engaging with smooth, tight sound throughout the entire range, including great clean bass (accurate and involving, but not overly accentuated). However, with a sub-standard headphone amp, they can certainly sound a bit less involving. You NEED a headphone amp to run these. Don't even think about it if you don't have one. Sure, you can get sound out of them without an amp, but it would not sound good and defeat the purpose of spending so much on these headphones in the first place. I'm really glad these come stock with both a balanced 4-pin XLR cable ion addition to a single ended cable because I only listen to headphones balanced unless (I'm on the go and just using my iPhone) and really recommend this (you'll need a balanced headphone amp though). Why? You get up to 4 times the power and a lower noise floor running balanced, it makes a difference (my current amp is the Schiit Moljnir 2, by the way). I can't say I like the Black color of this new version versus the Silver on the old one, although it does not look bad. Some may prefer the Black color. I can tell you these are definitely a worthy upgrade over the prior HD800 headphones. Just like with the HD800, I feel like I can locate each distinct instrument playing and the stereo separation (probably the best headphones for that I've heard) and overall comfort is really the strong point. Yet they have a smoother over all presence than the H800 so are more 'listenable' to me. ... More
A lot of work to reach the advertised TOTL headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Khoa on B&H Photo Video
A month ago I was in love with my new Grado GS3000e. A week into my bliss purchase, this brand new set's left ear stopped working. I sent it back to B&H for an exchange, I ended up with a refund because they couldn't get me another set at the sale price. Frustrated with awesome parties to my ears were taken from me. So I looked for a replacement at similar price. I took a chance and ordered this HD 800S also on sale. On the first day, I tried them on my Marantz HD-DAC1... frankly they sounded bland. Even though I noticed the soundstage was present where I could sense where the singer and each instruments were located. The upper sound was crystal clear, but the bass was missing of the vibration of the guitar strings strummed or the drum surfaces thumbing. I read somewhere high impedance headphones might sound better with high gain, but I feared of distortion! I tried it anyway and this set came to live like GS3000e and no distortion at all. The treble was pleasant, but the bass was still too mild. I switched over to the Astell&Kern Kann with high gain and increasing bass through the equalizer (60-200Hz). Now it can compete with GS3000e with even better soundstage. In short, due to high impedance I must use a DAC headphone amplifier and an equalizer to reach its full potential. As for quality of these headphones, they are well built with mostly plastic material. The drivers are huge at 56mm therefore having the headphones on is like wearing Prince Leia's cinnamon hair buns. But they are light and very comfortable to wear. I had them on for over an hour and I wasn't tired. I love the feel of the 2 cables came with the headphones but I would prefer if they include the XLR 4 connector instead of the Sony 4.4mmm proprietary. In conclusion, the Grado GS3000e is low maintenance it will work great even with a phone. It has wonderful sounds in the Cocobolo wood. But with my current setup of amplifier/MP3 device and downloaded the software equalizer for my PC, I'm glad I got the Sennheiser HD800S over then the GS3000e. Is this my end game headphones? Yes! But I'll wait for Grado to come out with something exciting like the GS3000e as my low gain impedance headphones (or if GS3000e is on sale again and work properly), I'll pick up another set again then I'll stop. ... More
I am really glad I bought these!
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Gene on B&H Photo Video
Amazing. Just amazing. Takes me back to my dedicated hi-fi days. Not hyped, just awesome, clear, detailed, and spatially enveloping. Unlike some other reviews I've seen online about these (and yes, I looked into a lot of boutique cans reviews and discussions) I do not find a lack of low frequency. But then I was looking for a proper reference. Another reviewer here mentioned Schiit Mjolnir 2 ... I had no idea about that, and ended up going that route as well. Definitely worth it. I will say I was a little let down with the lack of significant obvious difference between the unbalanced headphone outputs of the two interfaces I use (from computer, an Akai EIE Pro and a MOTU UltraLite mk3) ... but when I switch the included cable to balanced and listened with the Mjolnir 2, I started to get it ... seemed that the depth and detail increased. To be honest, it had better ... I WANT it to make a difference. And of course it's a little harder to A/B since one has to switch the cable out. For what it's worth, I listen for general use and reference with the LISST cans in the Mjolnir, and when I want pure enjoyment and exploration, I put the tubes in. Between the LISST cans and the tubes, it is more apparent in the HD 800S than in my other cans, which sound midrangey and hollow by comparison ... also, I find it MUCH more easy to hear overcompression and small distortions that I would not have heard otherwise, so just that, by itself, is a case for the Sennheisers with or without fancy amp. I am happy to say that things are less disturbing or surprising when I listen on speakers after working on stuff using the HD 800 S ... so, for what it's worth, as reference cans, I find them very satisfactory. ... More
Spectacular dynamic-driver heaphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Joseph on B&H Photo Video
I won't go into technical details on these headphones, as there are great resources online a simple search away. Suffice to say these are the modestly updated successors to Sennheiser's previous (and still available) HD800 headphones. The main changes, apart from the cosmetic shift to black, from the HD800 to the HD800 S is a slight increase in bass response (technically by adding second harmonic distortion) and the use of a Helmholtz resonator to reduce the 6khz treble peak that some felt plagued the original HD800. Otherwise these are identical to the original HD800, and share that headphone's many positive attributes. Namely: An amazing ability to scale with your other equipment Precise, detailed sound Huge, enveloping soundscape (for headphones) that comes as close as I've heard to replicating the feel of near-field monitors Great comfort The main limitation as I see it to these are price (they aren't cheap, although they - oddly - represent something of a bargain vs competitors like the Focal Utopia, Audeze LCD-4, and other flagships), the inability to swap the earpads as the end user (apparently, I haven't tried myself), and the lack of subwoofer-like, subterranean bass. I think this last issue is a little overblown in the community at large, but it is true: these are not bass-head headphones. They aren't going to pound your head like a pair of JVC-Z20000 or Shure 1540s or Fostex TH-900mkII. But the big 56mm drivers on these do deliver precise, accurate bass with lots of texture and detail, and they reach down deep - they just don't emphasize the bass like bass-cannon headphones do. All in all, despite the price (and factor in you do get a balanced cable included with these, which is pricey by itself), I've found immense enjoyment from the wonderful, engaging, enveloping soundscape these deliver. If you are in the market, YMMV, you may prefer planar sound like the LCD-4, but do yourself a favor and try these, too. You may just find you love 'em. ... More
Solid Product
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
The HD 800 S is very comfortable and feel exactly the same as the old HD 800. The sound stage and imaging are amazing (like before) and Sennheiser (finally) fixed that high peak and added a little more power to the bass. However, I feel that they are still as picky in terms of amp-pairings. Definitely do your homework on pairings (try them out at a local hi-fi store/audio meet) before dishing out for these. They may sound fine on some amps but are lackluster on others and require more power than most other headphones out there. Accessories are the usual except they now come with the balanced cable -- which used to cost $400 separately. I can't comment on the difference in sound between the unbalanced 1/4 and balanced XLR cables as I haven't spent the time to A/B test them, but it's nice of Sennheiser to include this if you ever need to switch to an amp with only balanced outputs. The included cables are a bit long if you're not in a studio, but if you have the money for this pair of headphones, you can probably afford a custom, shorter cable for portable/at-home use. ... More
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You will need a headphone amp
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Patrick on B&H Photo Video
No doubt these are very good headphones. But, are they worth the hefty price? I don't think so. I tried a direct plug into my Marantz 8802A preamp, and was not impressed. But, the reviews were clear that these cans needed an amp, so I was not surprised. So, I got a top of the line Schiit Moj and tried again. They sound good, but the bass is a bit lacking. Again, not a surprise. My advise: Find somewhere where you can listen to a variety of headphones. Put on a blindfold and have someone else put the options on your ears. Have each sample driven by the same music, amp, etc. Rate each and buy the best value. ... More
Superb headphone
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Heepaholic on B&H Photo Video
Superb product if you like studio quality and not a headphone who can influence the sound. Some hard to drive compared to others, but this is a High-End product
Phenomenal Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by William on B&H Photo Video
I picked these up after a friend had nothing but good things to say about them for a year. They have changed my listening experience for the better. Every time I listen to a track I swear I am hearing something new. If you're in the market for some great headphones and have a decent amp, then you can't go wrong.
Phenomenal Headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by William on B&H Photo Video
I picked these up after a friend had nothing but good things to say about them for a year. They have changed my listening experience for the better. Every time I listen to a track I swear I am hearing something new. If you're in the market for some great headphones and have a decent amp, then you can't go wrong.
Best money can buy
Sennheiser HD 800 S Dynamic Open-Back Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Christopher on B&H Photo Video
These headphones were an upgrade from my HD650 headphones and I can safely say the upgrade was worth it. If you are looking for the best premium HIFI headphones on the market for less than $2000, these are it.
My dream headphones
Sennheiser HD 800 S Headphones
Reviewed by Robert S. on Reverb
I am so happy with my Sennheisers. They sound phenomenal. I hear nuances that I've never heard before. The reviews speak for themselves. Thank you
Sennheiser HD 800 S Headphones
Reviewed by Mohammed A. on Reverb
Fantastic headphones, very detailed, extremely comfortable.
