*Update 2/16/2022 - I have since returned my Sennheiser HD800s. I bought them at MSRP and luckily could return them on time. For now, for my financial sake, I won't be needing reference headphones.

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As a note of caution, this headphone is not heavy in the bass region; it’s actually a very even, revealing type of bass that is exceptionally defined. If you're looking for a heavy bass response, with a lot of presence and texture, I don't feel the HD800s meet that criteria.

As stated by Sennheiser, the HD800s is a headphone used for critical listening, “it not only raises the ceiling, it smashes right through it”. Because the HD800s is a reference headphone, it retains faithfulness to the recording. 

Something particularly striking with the HD800s is that through its imaging, it represents music in such a way that is deeply engaging with its instrument separation, special sense of space, and smooth, extended notes which picks up on micro-detail in a surprisingly beautiful way. 

No region overwhelms the other which results in a smooth and cohesive sound with a lot of depth and character. The equilibrium allows for all the frequencies to weave a truly beautiful representation with emphasis and impact ever-present, beautiful, and raw. The HD800s go very deep in the ranges and pick out the subtleties in the music, in the cleanest possible way.

The HD800s has a warm sound with a presentation that has weighty notes. This is especially true when pairing the HD800s with tube amplifiers such as the Garage 1217 Project Sunrise III. With solid-state amplifiers such as the Matrix X-SPDIF 2 -> Yulong D18 -> A18, the sound was less expansive, contained, and flatter.

The HD800s has a large soundstage with a liquid sound that is very revealing of the notes. The skillful imaging and the soft, yet impactful notes evoke a sense of calm during listening sessions.

The HD800s soundstage also scales well with different chains. With the Schiit Modi Multibit, the soundstage is immersive; however using the Audio-GD HE-7 MK I, the soundstage will feel even more three-dimensional and bring a big sense of space and airiness. 

There is a lot of potential and enjoyment that can be had throughout all levels of hi-fi with the HD800s. With all the chains I’ve tried, I’ve found that the HD800s retains a nice body and decay in the notes with an awesome sense of space, naturalness, and masterful instrument placement.

Some may think it’s a soft, mild headphone, being that it is a reference headphone and of the HD800 line. When compared with other headphones that have more bass response, it is actually true that the HD800s may sound tamer; however, the HD800s is not flat.

The HD800s is not only a reference headphone; I appreciate it because it allows me to experience every detail in a way that makes critical listening enjoyable. I’d recommend the HD800s to anyone curious about hearing the full dynamic range of a song.

Missing minute details prevents us from fully experiencing the music in its totality. A song is never bad or ruined because of your choice of headphones, but with the HD800s, I don’t feel like I’m missing out on any subtle details or that my headphones are not fully and accurately representing the recording.

With that being said, it may take a certain type of person to enjoy a headphone like the HD800s; it's a subtle signature that is revealing instead of being overtly fun. It's suited for an individual who is keen on detail and doesn't want to miss a step.

As with more so-called neutral headphones, there is sometimes the impression that it's not adequately engaging. In my experience, headphones that might be classed as neutral such as the HiFiMan HE6SE and Sennheiser HD800s (which is warmer), contain a lively synergy through the notes with a large stage that allows a unique way to experience music.

Source: Audio-GD HE-7, Schiit Modi Multibit

USB: Singxer SU-6

Amplifier: Garage 1217 Project Sunrise III, ampsandsound Kenzie OG Rev 2

Product Links:

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