“Wouldn’t you rather buy a Buick, a Buick, a Buick?” from a 1960’s radio tv campaign :) Cool video! Most positive review on this model I’ve seen! I really like my HD 650’s and Auteurs with a Schiit Valhalla 2 & original Saga pre. Had my eyes on the 8xx. Was the mid bass emphasis distracting or did it integrate with running in? Was there any part of the frequency band that was a bit fuzzy or less distinct? Sounds like these are keepers/a reference for you which is solid vote for them :) I’m enjoying your take on audio and equipment!
@@ScottoGrotto Glad you enjoy the channel. Mid bass was not excessive in anyway. Mids could be considered slightly less distinct but I didn't find them distracting.
The Sennheiser HD8XX got hate because six months or so before the release it was sent out to reviewers who were told by Drop it was the finished tuning. Then when the HD8XX came out and reviewers gave it a full evaluation they were upset at Drop for essentially not being true to their word as the finished product was considerably different from what reviewers looked at months before.
I've been daily driving these for a little over a year now. I run them with a Schitt Magnius/Modius/Lokius stack and I love them. I'm a big time pc gamer and the soundstage these give are insane. Being able to call out exactly where I hear opponents are nearby never gets old. I admit they around that great for the type of music I usually listen to (more bass heavy stuff) but that's what I picked up a pair of Focal Elex for.
For the most part, I do believe that dynamic drivers sound more organic and natural than planars. BUT that isn't to say that all planars can't do that as well because my reference go to headphone is a planar, Rosson RAD-0. I think that both do certain aspects very well and the other areas a little more hit or miss no matter the price point.
Great review as always Dave ☕️☕️ Yup..something about Sen’s with high impedance on a tube amp that just seems to work 😋 My 650’s on the Xduoo 604 are good and sometimes even surprising 🥲 Btw, just dropped the hammer on the Moondrop Variation’s..they’re MY TOTL and my endgame in this hobby..I’ll keep an eye out for better sources and of course good music to experience. Once again thank you for your time ☕️
Great review. I have Sennheiser hd58x. On the first they sound very bass lite and forward treble. After burn in bass improves a lot and treble gets smoother, very similar experience.
Would you like to? Compared to the HD 650, 600, and 660S, the HD 58X Jubilee have the most bass emphasis, but they are not lacking in the highs either. Probably the most colorful and exciting sound in that comparison, though not as refined and smooth.
Very insightful review. I purchased my pair around Christmas time when drop was selling them for around $900. I have to admit that after I purchased them and I started reading the reviews that I began to wonder at that time if I made a mistake by spending that much money on a pair of Headphone which were not getting very good reviews… I have to admit when I first got them I was not that impressed… I decided to let them burn in and keep them for a little while before I made my final decision. At the time I had two other headphones which I totally adored. These headphones were my Audeze LCD 3’s and my Grado PS 2000’s. Now these are two headphones I couldn’t be more different and that’s the reasons why I liked them. At that time the Grado’s were my portable headphones and my Audeze’s were my bedroom headphones. At the time I found the Sennheiser‘s to be somewhere in the middle as far as sound quality was between that of the Audeze’s and the Grado’s then I picked up a new headphone amplifier… a dark voice tube amp. I was surprised when I started listening to headphones that the Audeze’s and the Grado’s sounded like shit on that amplifier but the Sennheiser‘s sounded fantastic. Unfortunately a couple months after I purchased the dark voice I discovered that the amplifier had issues and the warranty for the dark voice sucked. Since that time I’ve replaced the dark voice with the Schiit Valhalla and I have replaced my Audeze’s with my Sennheiser’s 8XX’s . I have to admit that when connected to a good tube amplifier these headphones are nothing less than fantastic.
I’m glad you gave them a chance and found that you liked them! When I first heard the production HD 8xx, I thought it was going to be popular (and I was astonished Sennheiser was going to sell it at that price!). But when some of the big name reviewers started coming out and saying stuff like “boxed in sound” or “like listening to music in a corridor,” I was really sad. I don’t think one headphone will suit everyone’s taste to a “T” (I’ve heard enough headphones to conclude that the Harmon Target isn’t a guarantee everyone will like a headphone, nor is it the only enjoyable balance of emphasis), but I felt like there was a lot of people who would find something here they would really like if other reviewers hadn’t turned them away with negative hyperbole.
The more I listen to these headphones the more I like them. Believe it or not they have replaced my Audeze LCD 3’s as well my Grado PS 2000s as my favorite Headphone’s.
I did a very early-on video review on the HD 8xx as well. In my video, I very carefully tried to describe the sound and guess what tastes would enjoy the headphone or not… I am in close agreement with David’s descriptions here, and personally I also like this headphone a lot. This headphone got a lot of push back from other popular reviewers (including ones who worked for competitors or lost their relationships with Drop or Sennheiser… hmm), so for me, it’s a litmus test headphone to see if #1 a reviewer can describe a headphone objectively, and #2 when it comes to the subjective portion of a review, are they presented in a way that still acknowledges that others may come to a different conclusion. In this video, not only did David show that he would give the headphone a fair shake instead of echoing the most popular UA-camrs right now, but also I think he did a fantastic job of explaining the tonal and timbral qualities in a way that the viewer would have an idea what to expect, and the viewer can apply past experience to predict if the sound would be “for them” or not. 👏👏👏 You got a new subscriber, and maybe I can send some stuff your way for more honest content, favorable or not 🙂
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated. Thank you for subscribing :) Thanks for the offer to send gear in for review, you can reach me via email listed in the description and we can discuss further.
Thank you for this review, Dave. I've seen a lot or reviews destroying this model when I think everyone should have approached it without trying to think of it as an HD800s clone. Since Drop is not making it atm, what do you think would be a fair price to pay for in the used market?
Agree, perspective that this isn't intended to be an 800/800s is important for a review. I'd say some where between $700-900 would be fair, depending on condition.
My take on the 8XX as a 800S owner: the midrange on these are broken, hollow… they dont work at all for me. The 11 db dip at 2k is aweful, Im sorry but no, just no 🤷🏼♂️🤦♂️. They are very unbalanced. My friend bought these in hope of them sounding like the 800S but for a lower price. He had heard my 800S and liked them a lot. We live in Sweden and the 800S is expensive here. 8XX is like half price. He was not happy at all and sold them very fast, bought a 800S instead…
I have heard several ZMF at audio shows and haven't been disappointed but haven't been mind blown. Would love opportunity to hear them on my own gear and music preference and review them and see if my opinion changes.
@@TheHonestAudiophile You have to hear them on your own gear and have them for awhile to really appreciate them. They don't offer the immediate "wow" factor like many others do at an audio show. Instead, they're the pair you end up subconsciously reaching for to just kick back and enjoy the music. If LCD-5 is to audiophile, ZMF is to musicphile. (I sold my LCD-5 and kept my ZMF heh)
The DX7 Pro and 8xx was an ok pairing but would benefit from an external amp. Here is a link to my DX7 Pro review. ua-cam.com/video/01w0NdTNzdQ/v-deo.html
I appreciate the review, but I feel like the comparisons to cans you haven't heard in a long time is slightly problematic. That being said, I appreciate you taking a look at these and giving your opinions.
@fofo "I feel like the comparisons to cans you haven't heard in a long time is slightly problematic." As if NO other reviewers use memory to make comparisons to gear. I hope you go on each review you watch and make that same comment so you are being fair with your judgements.
I sold my HD 800s a few months ago when I got the Hifiman HE1000se... But I can still tell you my exact impressions of the 800s sound compared to any other headphone as if I just listened to the 800s today.
After two weeks , the ear can be affected by the highs , just sayin' ... joking ofc. For me 800s was not ok, and i had them a weekend for test , the ones from the showroom, which were very much ,,burned in". Maybe 8xx are better. 🤷🏻♂️
A driver is a mechanical motor. Burn in is real in the sense that the materials are constantly flexing and moving. New drivers are often stiffer on the surrounds. Some drivers might take longer than others. depends on the materials.
I made it very clear that it had been a good while since I heard the 800s. I haven't forgotten everything about it. I just gave my honest remembering's about the 800s in comparison, take it how you want.
I think expectation has its part in the phenomenon of burn in. It's something between you and the device, and as you start to come to terms with the sonic landscape your expectation changes to. Not to say there is not an objective reality to burn in. It seems to me it is perhaps a sum of sorts, rather than this or that. Also, i have sometimes come out of the other side of my burn in phenomenon wishing I had jumped off before reaching my destination.
The title is in reference to the automaker Oldsmobile and their catch phrase many years back "This is NOT your fathers Oldsmobile".
“Wouldn’t you rather buy a Buick, a Buick, a Buick?” from a 1960’s radio tv campaign :)
Cool video! Most positive review on this model I’ve seen!
I really like my HD 650’s and Auteurs with a Schiit Valhalla 2 & original Saga pre.
Had my eyes on the 8xx. Was the mid bass emphasis distracting or did it integrate with running in?
Was there any part of the frequency band that was a bit fuzzy or less distinct?
Sounds like these are keepers/a reference for you which is solid vote for them :)
I’m enjoying your take on audio and equipment!
@@ScottoGrotto Glad you enjoy the channel. Mid bass was not excessive in anyway. Mids could be considered slightly less distinct but I didn't find them distracting.
How do these compare to the CTM daVinci iem’s? From your tier list the 8xx get a D+ and daVinci E+
Thanks ✨✨
www.thehonestaudiophile.com/post/another-tier-list
The article explains my rankings
Comparing IEM to headphones is not a fair comparison.
@@TheHonestAudiophile true, just wondering not so much on sound staging, but tonal accuracy?
Thank you for a fine review. Just picked up a pair! 😊
Awesomeness 😎 Look forward to hearing your impressions.
If anyone's Father actually has a Sennheiser HD 800s... you have an awesome Father!! 🙌
The Sennheiser HD8XX got hate because six months or so before the release it was sent out to reviewers who were told by Drop it was the finished tuning. Then when the HD8XX came out and reviewers gave it a full evaluation they were upset at Drop for essentially not being true to their word as the finished product was considerably different from what reviewers looked at months before.
thanks for the review, helps me in my purchase decision
My pleasure, you're welcome.
I've been daily driving these for a little over a year now. I run them with a Schitt Magnius/Modius/Lokius stack and I love them. I'm a big time pc gamer and the soundstage these give are insane. Being able to call out exactly where I hear opponents are nearby never gets old. I admit they around that great for the type of music I usually listen to (more bass heavy stuff) but that's what I picked up a pair of Focal Elex for.
Awesome 👍 Yes the 8xx are incredible for gaming. Elec does complement the 8xx well. Glad you enjoy both. Thank you for the impressions.
Excellent detailed review! Do you think in the end Dynamic Drivers sound more organic and natural than planars, even in higher end headphones?
For the most part, I do believe that dynamic drivers sound more organic and natural than planars. BUT that isn't to say that all planars can't do that as well because my reference go to headphone is a planar, Rosson RAD-0. I think that both do certain aspects very well and the other areas a little more hit or miss no matter the price point.
Great review as always Dave ☕️☕️
Yup..something about Sen’s with high impedance on a tube amp that just seems to work 😋 My 650’s on the Xduoo 604 are good and sometimes even surprising 🥲
Btw, just dropped the hammer on the Moondrop Variation’s..they’re MY TOTL and my endgame in this hobby..I’ll keep an eye out for better sources and of course good music to experience.
Once again thank you for your time ☕️
Awesome 👍
Variations are on my hope to review list, maybe one day.
Great review. I have Sennheiser hd58x. On the first they sound very bass lite and forward treble. After burn in bass improves a lot and treble gets smoother, very similar experience.
Awesome 👍 Thanks for the information. I haven't heard the 58x.
Would you like to?
Compared to the HD 650, 600, and 660S, the HD 58X Jubilee have the most bass emphasis, but they are not lacking in the highs either. Probably the most colorful and exciting sound in that comparison, though not as refined and smooth.
I have the 580 Black Silk, HD600, HD660S and have reviewed the HE650. Sennheiser are something special for sure.
Very insightful review. I purchased my pair around Christmas time when drop was selling them for around $900. I have to admit that after I purchased them and I started reading the reviews that I began to wonder at that time if I made a mistake by spending that much money on a pair of Headphone which were not getting very good reviews… I have to admit when I first got them I was not that impressed… I decided to let them burn in and keep them for a little while before I made my final decision. At the time I had two other headphones which I totally adored. These headphones were my Audeze LCD 3’s and my Grado PS 2000’s. Now these are two headphones I couldn’t be more different and that’s the reasons why I liked them. At that time the Grado’s were my portable headphones and my Audeze’s were my bedroom headphones. At the time I found the Sennheiser‘s to be somewhere in the middle as far as sound quality was between that of the Audeze’s and the Grado’s then I picked up a new headphone amplifier… a dark voice tube amp. I was surprised when I started listening to headphones that the Audeze’s and the Grado’s sounded like shit on that amplifier but the Sennheiser‘s sounded fantastic. Unfortunately a couple months after I purchased the dark voice I discovered that the amplifier had issues and the warranty for the dark voice sucked. Since that time I’ve replaced the dark voice with the Schiit Valhalla and I have replaced my Audeze’s with my Sennheiser’s 8XX’s . I have to admit that when connected to a good tube amplifier these headphones are nothing less than fantastic.
Awesome 😎 Yes indeed the 8xx are fantastic on tube amplifier.
I’m glad you gave them a chance and found that you liked them!
When I first heard the production HD 8xx, I thought it was going to be popular (and I was astonished Sennheiser was going to sell it at that price!). But when some of the big name reviewers started coming out and saying stuff like “boxed in sound” or “like listening to music in a corridor,” I was really sad. I don’t think one headphone will suit everyone’s taste to a “T” (I’ve heard enough headphones to conclude that the Harmon Target isn’t a guarantee everyone will like a headphone, nor is it the only enjoyable balance of emphasis), but I felt like there was a lot of people who would find something here they would really like if other reviewers hadn’t turned them away with negative hyperbole.
Totally agree about negative reviews and the impact 💯
The more I listen to these headphones the more I like them. Believe it or not they have replaced my Audeze LCD 3’s as well my Grado PS 2000s as my favorite Headphone’s.
@@MrChinabear Awesomeness 👍
I did a very early-on video review on the HD 8xx as well. In my video, I very carefully tried to describe the sound and guess what tastes would enjoy the headphone or not… I am in close agreement with David’s descriptions here, and personally I also like this headphone a lot.
This headphone got a lot of push back from other popular reviewers (including ones who worked for competitors or lost their relationships with Drop or Sennheiser… hmm), so for me, it’s a litmus test headphone to see if #1 a reviewer can describe a headphone objectively, and #2 when it comes to the subjective portion of a review, are they presented in a way that still acknowledges that others may come to a different conclusion. In this video, not only did David show that he would give the headphone a fair shake instead of echoing the most popular UA-camrs right now, but also I think he did a fantastic job of explaining the tonal and timbral qualities in a way that the viewer would have an idea what to expect, and the viewer can apply past experience to predict if the sound would be “for them” or not.
👏👏👏 You got a new subscriber, and maybe I can send some stuff your way for more honest content, favorable or not 🙂
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated.
Thank you for subscribing :)
Thanks for the offer to send gear in for review, you can reach me via email listed in the description and we can discuss further.
After watching your video I'm tempted to do an 8XX mod on my 800S. : )
Interesting 🤔
I might have missed it, but what was your signal chain for your testing?
My main gear I use with the 8xx:
Mytek Liberty DAC ii> HeadAmp GS-X Mini
Also used the:
Drop THX One Linear and Tor Audio Roger
Thank you for this review, Dave. I've seen a lot or reviews destroying this model when I think everyone should have approached it without trying to think of it as an HD800s clone. Since Drop is not making it atm, what do you think would be a fair price to pay for in the used market?
Agree, perspective that this isn't intended to be an 800/800s is important for a review.
I'd say some where between $700-900 would be fair, depending on condition.
@Z Reviews had a DROP coupon for these at $700, when they first came out. So happy I picked them up then.
Awesome 👍😎
@@travism4234 Lucky guy.
@@TheHonestAudiophile what's your opinion on these phones after a year with them? Do you still agree with your initial review?
Please do b&o H9 3rd gen review if possible, I like your reviews, they all make sense and theres truth to it
Thank you for the suggestion. Thank you for the kind words, glad you enjoy the channel content.
Thanks!
My pleasure, you're welcome.
Thank you for the gift, much appreciated.
I’ve always been curious about these headphones…
If you can find them on the used market, they may be worth a consideration since they currently aren't available on Drop. Thanks for the comment.
My take on the 8XX as a 800S owner: the midrange on these are broken, hollow… they dont work at all for me. The 11 db dip at 2k is aweful, Im sorry but no, just no 🤷🏼♂️🤦♂️. They are very unbalanced.
My friend bought these in hope of them sounding like the 800S but for a lower price. He had heard my 800S and liked them a lot. We live in Sweden and the 800S is expensive here. 8XX is like half price. He was not happy at all and sold them very fast, bought a 800S instead…
Glad you and your friend enjoy the 800s. Thank you for the impressions.
Hi Dave,
What do you think about ZMF Headphones?
Overpriced. Well built. Sound decent.
@@TheHonestAudiophile Thank you for your quick response. I wanted to try Auteur. Everyone talks about ZMF Heaphones having the best timbre.
I have heard several ZMF at audio shows and haven't been disappointed but haven't been mind blown. Would love opportunity to hear them on my own gear and music preference and review them and see if my opinion changes.
@@TheHonestAudiophile You have to hear them on your own gear and have them for awhile to really appreciate them. They don't offer the immediate "wow" factor like many others do at an audio show. Instead, they're the pair you end up subconsciously reaching for to just kick back and enjoy the music.
If LCD-5 is to audiophile, ZMF is to musicphile.
(I sold my LCD-5 and kept my ZMF heh)
Thanks for the thoughts. ZMF are hard to get in for review. Maybe one day... We'll see what the future holds.
I have a Topping DX7 Pro Plus. Would that on high gain run these well?
The DX7 Pro and 8xx was an ok pairing but would benefit from an external amp. Here is a link to my DX7 Pro review.
ua-cam.com/video/01w0NdTNzdQ/v-deo.html
I appreciate the review, but I feel like the comparisons to cans you haven't heard in a long time is slightly problematic.
That being said, I appreciate you taking a look at these and giving your opinions.
@fofo "I feel like the comparisons to cans you haven't heard in a long time is slightly problematic."
As if NO other reviewers use memory to make comparisons to gear. I hope you go on each review you watch and make that same comment so you are being fair with your judgements.
I sold my HD 800s a few months ago when I got the Hifiman HE1000se... But I can still tell you my exact impressions of the 800s sound compared to any other headphone as if I just listened to the 800s today.
So the hd6xxx is considered identical to hd650s. But not the case for the 8xx this time
That is correct, clearly stated on the Drop website. Different driver rings and tuning, it is loosely based on 800s.
After two weeks , the ear can be affected by the highs , just sayin' ... joking ofc. For me 800s was not ok, and i had them a weekend for test , the ones from the showroom, which were very much ,,burned in". Maybe 8xx are better. 🤷🏻♂️
As stated in the video, I think the 8xx is better in the highs.
8xx vs Arya Stealth,
5 hz yeah right...
A driver is a mechanical motor. Burn in is real in the sense that the materials are constantly flexing and moving. New drivers are often stiffer on the surrounds. Some drivers might take longer than others. depends on the materials.
honestly, how could you do a review comparing the 800s and the 8xx if your last impression of 800s is a few years ago at an audio show.
I made it very clear that it had been a good while since I heard the 800s. I haven't forgotten everything about it. I just gave my honest remembering's about the 800s in comparison, take it how you want.
I think expectation has its part in the phenomenon of burn in. It's something between you and the device, and as you start to come to terms with the sonic landscape your expectation changes to. Not to say there is not an objective reality to burn in. It seems to me it is perhaps a sum of sorts, rather than this or that. Also, i have sometimes come out of the other side of my burn in phenomenon wishing I had jumped off before reaching my destination.
Thanks for the thoughts.