Highly accurate and revealing, impressively natural and spatial listening experience, legendary imaging and soundstage
56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducer system
Acoustic absorber system prevents frequency masking for unheralded detail
Developed in Germany, precision-built at Sennheiser’s state-of-the-art Ireland plant
Luxuriously comfortable microfiber padding and ergonomically adjustable headband
Bloom's Take
Everyone is wrong SOMETIMES, right? I honestly didn’t expect to like the HD 800 S nearly as much as I did right now in November 2022. The combination of its legendary soundstage, incredible clarity, and natural sound proved to be a winner – something that goes beyond being good for critical listening to being an excellent, versatile headphone that deserves every bit of praise that’s been given to it since release.
Combining the care devoted to a handcrafted instrument, the precision of modern manufacturing, and over 75 years of Sennheiser expertise, the HD 800 S lets you explore your entire music collection from the inside out and redefines the critical listening experience.
After launching its predecessor the HD 800, Sennheiser accepted its own challenge to completely disappear from the last link in the audio chain. The goal was to provide acoustics so immersive that your awareness dissolves into the perspective of the music creator. On their own, each component of the HD 800 S is world-class. The signature sound of the HD 800 S is possible not because of any one of them, but through the synergy of all of them. Let’s explore.
It Has a Ring to It
The heart of the HD 800 S and its striking sound is the 56mm Ring Radiator transducer. The headphones’ vibration damping chassis and inert headband insert provide complete stability—what you put into the HD 800 S is precisely what you will get out of it.
It leverages the key benefit of a large diaphragm transducer—air displacement—without losing the rigidity that favorably impacts rest and response times. Instead of a single attachment on the outer circumference of the transducer, both outer and inner edges of the “ring” are secured to the drive unit. The voice coil excites the diaphragm, connected to the v-shaped groove found near the center of the ring. A feat in itself, the voice coil is 40mm and wound in-house to ensure the shape and consistency is held to the highest standard.
All the World’s a Stage
The HD 800 S features a mesmerizing soundstage that seemingly transports the listener into the recording environment.
This is the result of several key features. The drivers are mounted at a precise angle, guiding the sound directly to the listener’s ears at their natural inflection point. Instead of hearing a sound that forms between your ears, you experience a vivid wash of frequencies and sensory-stimulating transients. When finally combined, the vibration damping chassis, perfectly matched transducer systems and wide-open construction work in concert to provide the most striking soundstage yet. This orientation rivals or exceeds loudspeaker setups costing exponentially more—especially when room acoustics are factored in. The HD 800 S offers you a personal concert hall on-demand—without waking the neighbors.
An Ergonomic Treat
The HD 800 S delivers on long-term wearing comfort too, providing a listening experience as luxurious as it is immersive.
Every contact point utilizes ultra-soft microfiber padding, while purpose-built composites reduce weight and unwanted pressure. Each earcup provides dual-axis articulation—as soon as you put them on the HD 800 S will instantly and effortlessly conform to your unique structure. The result is a remarkable listening session that never stands in the way of your passion for hi-fidelity sound reproduction.
Specifications
Impedance: 300Ω
Frequency Response: 4 - 51,000 Hz (-10 dB)
Frequency Response (Speaker): 4 Hz - 51,000 Hz
SPL: 102 dB (1 V)
THD: < 0.02 % (1 kHz 1 Vrms)
Adapter: stereo jack 1/4" (6.3mm), 3-pin 4.4mm, balanced, 5-pin
Excellent timber, beautiful overall sound. Besides being well known for its expansive stage this pair of headphones just represents everything clear in a way you will not hear with other headphones. Everything is heard but also has quality around each instrument being heard. Love it!
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Nick
Fantastic, sad I waited this long
The soundstage is real. A true legend. I use them A) for competitive FPS gaming B) for relaxing and enjoying music that highlight imaging, soundstage, and seperation C) when mastering as another way to audition a track before printing.
It's not a reference pair of cans, but they're the most exciting set I've ever used. If you happen to play FPS games, it's like you have wallhacks. You can spatially pinpoint footsteps 30 feet away. It's basically cheating.
They sound a bit better with a proper amp/dac, but just using a run-of-the-mill delta sigma ESS Sabre audio interface (MOTU Ultralite Mk5) with an integrated headphone amp works 92% I'd say. More than fine.
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Anthony Allen
Throughly Impressed
To start, the customer service(email exchange with Matthew) was top notch. Provided all the information for how not only the HD800s would sound on both my setups(Gustard H/X16 stack and Chord Mojo 2) and he was right. Sound great on both and both drive the HD800s perfectly.
The headphones are amazing. The reviews were right, the soundstage and precision of the positioning and imaging is amazing. Some say the bass was lacking but the bass to me was punchy and if anything, just the right amount and natural(I have 15 headphones/IEMS. To me at least. I was shy to buy these but very glad I did. Great for all the music I listen to and makes games so much more immersive and soon school( Full Sail audio production). I was using DT1990s and DT700 but now I don't know if will get these off my head. The HD800s with the Symphonium Helios for something more isolated and on the go is a combo I'm in love with.