Ken Rockwell reviews the HD800!

[dalethorn]

The hd800 comes with individual frequency response graphs for every one of them right? Maybe we can get the graphs of specific ones posted.

You know what?  I didn't get that with the headphone.  In fact it says in the manual that I can view the diffuse-field FR curve for my personal headphone at Sennheiser.com, but I couldn't find the page anywhere.  Message sent to Sennheiser now.

[dalethorn]

I did get that inner canal pressure when i tried the DT48 with "bargain" the best i've ever haaaaaaaaaaad!! lol. Roger's voice really great. My favorite is still "Behind blue eyes". Maybe you should have tried playing it louder on the DT48.

The only problem I have with that test and other such tests, like the ones recommended for the Shure 940 by two lesser head-fi guys (not the big guys who screamed and cursed not to give me any information), is the fact that after noting the results for people, I still don't have any way to evaluate those results or what they mean.  I assumed the HD-800 had some kind of harmonic superiority, but those other headphones are just as extended in the highs as the HD-800, which makes me suspect some kind of acoustic trick.  So that's where it stands after 37 years - there's something extra there - don't know what - assume it's some kind of harmonics...

EDIT: It may be that the HD-800 is the first (only?) dynamic headphone that captures high end harmonic detail like a Stax SR-009.

[dalethorn]

OK boys and girls, I finally got my HD-800 registered at Sennheiser, and they have agreed to generate my response curve(??) and send it to me.  Below is what they said, exact quote.  Now I really have to wonder, what are they generating *MY* HD-800 response curve from?  Maybe the original data(?) is on the Mars Surveyor probe, and they need to call it back?  Very, very strange.

"The frequency response certificate is going to be created based on your data within the next days.
Please allow 2 to 3 weeks for the shipment."

[donunus]

2-3 weeks? LOL

[dalethorn]

2-3 weeks? LOL

I'm guessing they don't want to share any computer data directly, so instead they will send a printed page in the mail.  In that case I will make a high resolution scan and get it onto my site and link from here.  I can't even get my dentist to share xrays of my own teeth.

[RexAeterna]

it's so interesting when i found out the hd800's were diffused field. i wonder what your frequency graph will look like dale. i think most hd800s very bit from bit due to the equalizing process they go through.

[donunus]

all of sennheisers audiophile models are diffuse field equalized

[RexAeterna]

i found that recently as well cause i think i remember Adda telling me about it. they just aren't diffused-field like the 240DF's were from what i heard since Sennheiser uses their own diffused-field technique while headphones like the 240DF and beyer DT48S were equalized for IRT standard for german radio brodcasting.

[RexAeterna]

So far I haven't heard from them.  Beyer is also ignoring me and my request for a DT-48A.  The arrogance they have is amazing.

they're just being your typical company trying to stay hush-hush and just ignore questions. i had many problems trying to squeeze info out of AKG about my sextetts and 240DF's requesting documents so i can learn more about them but they kept pointing me to the k702 page and recommending me that instead. after long hassle i finally got some incomplete docs of my sextetts to find out they were actually free-field equalized.

maybe if we all round up a scheduled internet army with everyone signed on and have everyone at once start spamming them with emails about the dt48's and then they will hear our battle cry. THIS IS SPARTA! lol,j/k,j/k.

[dalethorn]

I sent Sennheiser another notice that the certificate still hasn't arrived after 5 weeks.

[Arnel]

Didn't want to create a new thread just for my blabber, and so I'll just revive this thread.

Got the chance to audition the HD800 today in an ideal environment (the Sennheiser showroom in Aoyama, Tokyo) connected to some high-end Japanese stuff (sorry didn't really pay attention to the equipment, but they were those big desktop amps, and they even had a Wadia dock so I was even able to use the Apple lossless stuff I had on my iPhone).

I'm not good at describing my impressions of stuff, so I'll keep it short, REALLY short.... it goes like this...

WOOOOOOOW!!!   

But seriously, just insert good audiophile virtues right there, and most likely the HD-800 has that. 

EDIT:  And btw, I just read the Ken Rockwell review now... what upper midrange boost is he talking about?  I have this BAD HABIT of checking freq response by tones, using my ears (don't worry I use moderate volume hehe) whenever I get curious about the FR of a pair of headphones.  Certainly the HD-800 is the flattest I've heard among headphones that I tested using this CRAZY method.  The one thing I noticed, though, is that it doesn't boost the 8KHz region unlike many other headphones apparently so that the treble doesn't "bite" much.   But in any case, I didn't even think much about the result of that test-tone thing, with MUSIC the HD-800 sounded absolutely amazing IMHO.

[marcusd]

You know what the high end Jap amp kit was? Currently I am running my HD800 through a nice Burson Audio HA-160 amp and either the Kingrex HD384 dac or mav d1 which are a bit cheap but very loveable

[Arnel]

Terribly sorry I didn't really take note which one it is.  I was so busy being amazed by the HD-800's sound.  And I guess I just didn't pay much attention because I don't wanna be in the market for an expensive desktop rig at the moment.  I just wanted to hear what the HD-800 has to offer without any intent to buy anytime soon. 

I'll just be happy with my new IE 80 for the moment.  Hehe.

[Dyaems]

Didn't want to create a new thread just for my blabber, and so I'll just revive this thread.

Got the chance to audition the HD800 today in an ideal environment (the Sennheiser showroom in Aoyama, Tokyo) connected to some high-end Japanese stuff (sorry didn't really pay attention to the equipment, but they were those big desktop amps, and they even had a Wadia dock so I was even able to use the Apple lossless stuff I had on my iPhone).

I'm not good at describing my impressions of stuff, so I'll keep it short, REALLY short.... it goes like this...

WOOOOOOOW!!!   

But seriously, just insert good audiophile virtues right there, and most likely the HD-800 has that. 

EDIT:  And btw, I just read the Ken Rockwell review now... what upper midrange boost is he talking about?  I have this BAD HABIT of checking freq response by tones, using my ears (don't worry I use moderate volume hehe) whenever I get curious about the FR of a pair of headphones.  Certainly the HD-800 is the flattest I've heard among headphones that I tested using this CRAZY method.  The one thing I noticed, though, is that it doesn't boost the 8KHz region unlike many other headphones apparently so that the treble doesn't "bite" much.   But in any case, I didn't even think much about the result of that test-tone thing, with MUSIC the HD-800 sounded absolutely amazing IMHO.

I read somewhere in this forum that the older versions has that upper midrange "boost", or treble spike, while the newer models doesn't have it. It also could be burn-in related, or a change of aftermarket cables which I doubt that the Sennheiser showroom in Tokyo will change its stock cables.

You also mentioned high-end stuff, so i guess that could be it as well xD

[Collie]

You could do the Anaxilus mod to tame the treble a bit. The HD 800 is really picky about amplification and quality of music played.