Sennheiser HD800S measurements (unsanctionned)

Discussion in 'Audio Science' started by sorrodje, Dec 26, 2015.

  1. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    Thanks for the close-up photos of the resonator, @sorrodje!

    My current mod that @purrin measured a while ago employs some cloth around the back side of the driver, but not directly on top of the circle piece, as I felt that that added too much treble. But maybe the cloth I'm using is just about the same as what Senn is using, and maybe... just maybe... it's actually that that's dropping 6KHz, instead of just the foam thing?

    Just thinking out loud. Will see if I can replicate the resonator's effect without having to do anything destructive to the mesh/grill in front of the driver.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I feel that strategic deployment of foam a la @Bill-P mods is the way to go. This is based on my observations with the foam on HD650. Just haven't had time to test.

    I would go simple. Thin felt and three straw mod. I tried something similar to the HD800S pix (don't know for sure), and didn't get results any better than the straw mod.
     
  3. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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    Wow.

    Senn didn't f**k up!

    Exciting. Seriously considering a pair of these.
     
  4. Judeus

    Judeus Facebook Friend

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    So... These are the best headphones evar?
     
  5. Whiteconvertible

    Whiteconvertible New

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    Based on these measurements I don't think I'm gonna get an HD 800s. Too similar to my hd800. If I want to spend that much money I'll just get another brand of headphones to get a completely different sound.

    I'm also not going to trade my hd800 in for an 800s, because I'm used the HD800 sound now and it's hard to give up a headphone you've gotten used to. Besides, it seems I could achieve the 800S sound with one of the mods.
     
    Last edited: Jan 4, 2016
  6. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Do you think the 800S would make a good complement for someone who prefers a UERM flat signature but it looking for more resolution/soundstage/tone etc?
     
  7. Saalboy

    Saalboy New

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    Hi everyone, after months of experimenting I have come to conclusion that Anax mod with thin 2 mm felt only, narrow ring with trapezoid extension and no other modifications whatsoever with all original parts in place yields the best results preserving all characteristics of amazing HD800 sound signature. It greatly diminishes famous mid treble harshness, adds more pronounced bass and exposes those typical Senns lush mids AKA HD600. Soon will compare to HD800S, it will be interesting.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
  8. Bourne Perfect

    Bourne Perfect Friend

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    FTFY
     
  9. takato14

    takato14 God of Ruin

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  10. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    For a split second I thought this was HF... I remember receiving a threat mail from one of mods at HF a couple years ago that they would ban the shit out of me if I ever dared breathe his name again. I was only referring to his mod at a thread, unaware of the history between HF and Chang (can't say I'm still 100% sure).

    I think I saw someone using the term Voldemike here at SBAF.
     
  11. ZeeRow

    ZeeRow New

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    Yes, slowly got there too. Depends on the amp you have (mine is HDVA600). Perhaps make the neck of the shape a bit wider by approx 6 mm to fully cover the plastic neck inside the can. But it is barely noticable, though it is there. The felt as Tyll says "gets the least in the way of the sound". This slight mod may be less natural, but more airy for sure. Matter of taste. Play with shapes, it´s fun, you cannot go wrong, since you always can go back.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 1, 2016
  12. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    The HD 800S is still far from flat. The original UERM is closer to tonally flat but is infamously slightly voiced after the Yamha NS10 (honky, tinny crap speakers) to provide a common reference for audio professionals. Maybe something like the AKG K701 with their 2khz bump or the HD 600 (smoother than NS10s but with some upper mid bumps or you could go to the darkside with the 650) would be the closest to the Ultimate Ears for full-size headphones? I'm just going by FR as I haven't heard the NS10s in a while and never the UERM. Perhaps you should just buy a pair of good near field monitors that aren't NS-10s for a desktop listening solution? If you're willing to drop 1800 dollars on the HD 800S + more for good amplification, you could easily get something as expensive as the Focal CMS series, treat the walls around your desk, and buy a measurement mic or kit to EQ them for the same price. Maybe even a paired woofer for the low subbass. It certainly will be a much flatter setup even though the HD 800 might be more detailed and have more forwardly presented "false detail" at the same time.
     
  13. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    Way ahead of you lol..

    I also already have good studio monitors (event opal), room treatment (GIK) and corrective EQ to suit (Sonarworks/calibrated mic/REW). Also have a 650 for a relaxed listen.

    Planning to get a UERR.
     
  14. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    So why do you need to "upgrade" then? You already have a better rig than the HD 800S for accurate tone, proper presentation of detail, and maybe soundstage. Do you think anyone vaguely professional mixes on headphones and monitors for details with the much more colored than the HD 650, HD 800? If the engineer can hear a minuscule recording flaw with the pumped up NIKE AIR that is the HD 800 upper treble but not on good near fields, why would they care? The best classical labels, musicians, orchestra, conductors and ensembles tend to be mixed like everything else.

    I would wait for FR measurements and see if UE got rid of the NS-10 honk. Supposedly they added the toilet paper themselves to the UERR to fix the UERM's NS-10 treble but they still would have to fix the honk to get me interested for portable use. Either way, it's probably more of an upgrade than buying the HD 800S. How much and would that thousand dollars be better upgrading other parts of your chain like getting some endgame neutral amps? IDK
     
    Last edited: Jan 29, 2016
  15. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    For reference on the NS10 "honk". While TP will drop the mid-treble, it won't fix the 1-2k honk.
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Chris F

    Chris F Boyz 4 Now Fanatic - Friend

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    The UERM definitely doesn't have a 1-2K honk. I also don't have any issue with UERM treble because it's even handed and consistent. It's when transducers have big decay spikes or sharp FR irregularities that I get really unhappy. I'm looking for more extension/refinement/resolution out of the UERR.

    I agree, next move in personal audio for me should be a serious business tube amp from EC or DNA as this is the "weakest" point in my chain. I know what I like in transducers already and there is nothing much beyond the UERx/HD6xx that strongly appeals to me. Some products (LCD4, HE1K) are interesting but the value proposition is way out of line (IMO) and the performance is (again IMO) a side grade most of the time.

    Anyhow, sorry to slightly derail the thread, back to 800 talk. :)
     
  17. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    UERM really doesn't sound like the NS10. No idea why people are saying that.

    It's only similar in the sense that it shares the same clinical signature, but not the tonal problems (except maybe slight treble grain)
     
  18. sorrodje

    sorrodje Carla Bruni's other lover - Friend

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    http://www.tellementnomade.org/feedback-hd800s-s-comme-superieur-ou-pas/ For francophones. Will translate that later for HF with the Help of @shabta .

    For SBAF : " fixed, more neutral , more balanced black HD800" VG ( no more conditional of mod) " will be shorter but as accurate and complete. Still diffuse open soundstage than can be a pro or a con depending your tastes and what you listens to. Same image, same resolution , tiny bit less instrument separation maybe" . Overally a slightly better HD800 , not a revolution. I can see how some people coud prefer the Classic HD800. I prefer the 800S myself. YMMV.
     
  19. shabta

    shabta Facebook Friend

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    Well the answer is yes. Over here in Europe, a lot of the small classical music audiophile labels are monitoring and mixing using the HD800. 2L for example. Sennheiser has been plying to the professional audio trade for decades, and they are well positioned from a marketing POV. But still if the engineers didn't think it was a good way to monitor and mix, they wouldn't use it.
     
  20. shabta

    shabta Facebook Friend

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