Sennheiser - HD 800 S

The Short Story

Ideal for
Audiophiles

Balanced Sound
Signature

Open-Back
Design

56mm Dynamic
Drivers

Replaceable
Cables

Needs
Amplification

2 Year of
Warranty

Designed in
Germany

DESCRIPTION

Dynamic Transducer Design

Headphones have always have had a basic physics problem when it comes to transducers. Better sound always requires a larger surface area but this also results into more distortion due to oscillation at high frequencies. Sennheiser essentially blew everyone’s mind when they showed off the Neodymium-powered two-layer ring radiator inside the HD 800 S. Firing at your ear in a strategic 60 degree angle to simulate free-air sound arrivals it has claimed to sport the largest diameter ever seen for such applications.

 

Ring Radiator Driver

The 56mm or 2.205" (with a 40mm voice coil) is twice the size of your average tweeter. Generally you don't encounter them until you shell out about 100 times that for the full speaker. This results into controlled oscillations, which leaves the headphones to do what headphones do best, i.e. create the best and clearest sound possible.

 

 

 

 

 

Handcrafted Comfort

The Japanese Alcantra Earcups boast of suede-like fabric material that you’ll find used for the interior of many high end automobiles and racecars. It definitely feels like an airy version of suede, as it doesn't have the heft of most leather materials. Also the fabric breathes, which is great for long listening sessions when you don’t want to have to air out your ears. Handcrafted ear pads made of high-quality microfiber fabric and the ear cups are covered with a thin metallic mesh.

Ingenious cord

3 meters of fabric-sheathed Kevlar-reinforced Teflon-insulated 4-strand straight OFC copper wire in a Y harness. The cable is covered with a fabric sheath, making it flexible and non-microphonic. Two connection leads, a 6.3mm connector and a XLR-4 balanced cable to offer even better quality sound from sources with balanced outputs.

 

 

Sound-stage effect with the open-back design

Any set of headphones that give a real sense of ‘being there’ are open-backed, meaning that air and sound can come in an out of the headphones. The sound has less of a ‘laboratory feel’ this way. It’s not great for noise isolation, as people will be able to hear whatever music or movies that you’re listening to.

 

Strategic weight distribution

The headphones come in at a pretty heavy sounding 11.5 oz (or 330 grams for the metric folk), but they manage to distribute the weight evenly so that you don’t really notice the weight at all. They are large headphones, and cover even the largest of ears. But they feel light and after a two hour film you’re head won’t be sore at all.

Large and Very Comfortable Design

The headphones come in at a pretty heavy sounding 11.5 oz (or 330 grams for the metric folk), but they manage to distribute the weight evenly so that you don’t really notice the weight at all. They are large headphones, and cover even the largest of ears. But they feel light and after a two hour film you’re head won’t be sore at all.

 

 

 

 

SPECS

WARRANTY

Don’t sweat it, This Sennheiser product is covered by a 2 Years manufacturer's warranty.
Learn more

FAQ

What is the warranty period on the Sennheiser HD800s?

The Sennheiser comes with a 2 year warranty. Read more on warranty claim here.

Whats the difference between an Open-Back and Closed-Back headphone?

We have an article to help you understand better the difference between Open Back and Closed Back Headphones.

Which devices are compatible with the product?

The Sennheiser 800s are compatible with all Android and iOS devices that has a 3.5mm audio jack and a 6.3 mm jack that is most suitable for studio monitoring. However we do recommend using them with a good external DAC and Headphone Amplifier.

Does it have Noise Isolation?

No, It’s not great for noise isolation as it's an open back headphone and it won't shut out any external noise.

How do these sound?

The Sennheiser 800s sounds so amazing that it would make you feel like a live stage performance on every track.

Will I need an Amp?

The Sennheiser HD800s will need an amp, we recommend you read our article on Why you may need an Amp to help you take a decision.

What is the difference between 800 and 800s ?

The 800S driver is a modified version of the 800 driver. This new modified driver smooths over the 6 kHz peak on the 800 which some people thought made it sound fatiguing. It also makes the sound feel a bit more full bodied and comparatively warmer.

How do I know I'm making the right choice?

We understand that choosing a headphone can be a tough job having being given so many variations so this blog should help simplfy your doubts on the right choice on headphones

MEDIA REVIEW

"Listening to the Sennheiser HD 800 S is a unique delight, and that's ultimately the best reason to spend money on luxury technology."

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"The HD800 is known as one of the very best headphones for what transparency, detail, layering, neutrality and positioning are concerned."

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"The HD 800s have one of the best audio reproduction that we've measured so far. They have a well-balanced mid-range that isn't too forward sounding with instruments and vocals."

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"Sennheiser’s latest high-end headphones are a treat, & a clear step up from the standard version,Detailed and articulate sound, Nicely balanced presentation, Composed and refined, Comfort and build."

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"The Sennheiser HD 800 S have an immensely wide, expansive and detailed soundstage, providing a “3D” sound that’s better than what most surround-sound headsets can create."

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"I do with they used more premium materials that the plastic used but the audio quality is just so, amazingly, clean & pure I can honestly say that I love this headphone with every fiber of my being."

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"Both the Sennheiser HD 820 and the Sennheiser HD 800 S have earpads that follow the asymmetrical shape of their earcups. As a result, their earpads are the same shape as each others."

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Buying Guide

Best Audiophile Headphones

by Abhijeeth Shetty May 09, 2020

There are a lot of headphones available in the market posing themselves as audiophile headphones. But which of these audiophile headphones actually serve the purpose? Check this article to find out.

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