The HD800 & HD800S thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by sorrodje, Oct 11, 2015.

  1. Erroneous

    Erroneous Friend

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    I don't know if this has been clarified here yet but Drop mentioned in their Q&A section that they're not selling 789s for $100. They're merely suggesting that you use your $200 in Drop points on a $300 789. Sounds like a big ol' load of malarkey to me.
     
  2. Elnrik

    Elnrik Super Friendly

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    I think all I ever wanted was a HD800 with a bit less (and more even) treble, even with an SDR mod. I don't think I'm alone in that opinion, but I could be wrong.

    Instead they give us this.

    I'm not disappointed though. To be disappointed, one must have expectations. I shed all expectations of greatness (or even goodness) from Drop and Sennheiser long ago. Sennheiser has had decades to further develop, expand upon, or just refine the HD800 sound but instead they rested on their laurels. My dreams of a headphone with an HD800 chassis and an improved HD650 sound died long ago.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2021
  3. Merrick

    Merrick A lidless ear

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    Yes, I know they’re not bundling it or offering a discount, but they’re pushing it and calling it an endgame setup, so...yeah.
     
  4. animus

    animus Almost "Made"

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    Well hey, they have to appeal to their objectively transparent reddit ASR audience somehow. Don't hate the player, hate the game. Or maybe hate the player too for entertaining the game in the first place.
     
  5. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    [​IMG]
     
  6. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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  7. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    This was my first reaction but the lower THD in the bass on the 8XX seems to contradict that. The 800S had audibly more distortion in the bass than the 800 but the 8XX you'd expect to do better than the sophomore effort. Assuming for a second though the bass lines up with the charts and is good, I'm more worried about the extra distortion in the highs along with these new peaks at 2.5k and 3.5k. The bass FR they can dick with but damaging clarity in the highs on the 800 is a mistake if it becomes even remotely audible, and if they're creating weird resonances and making it even brighter... ruh roh. Need some CSD's.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2021
  8. Thad E Ginathom

    Thad E Ginathom Friend

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    This is just a nitpick, and maybe nobody else feels the same way, but it is a nitpick that does my head in. A lot and badly.

    Why the hell do they have to use X or XX in the model name? Because X means x, right? It means fill this space with the real letter or number. To me, an HD6XX is an HD600 or an HD650. That's the way 'X' works for me.

    So if someone tells me "I have an HD8XX," I want to say, "Oh, which one?"

    It's a nitpick. But it makes me want to Scream!
     
  9. ksat90

    ksat90 Acquaintance

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    If it's not ringing or reflections, on the plus side, now since everything above 2k is raised, you can just plug in a high shelf filter and it'll sound "normal" :D

    With some editing tricks:

    hd8xx 2k -5db shelf.jpg
     
  10. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    Almost as bad as HD800S as opposed to a pair of HD800s. Big fail.
     
  11. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Hey that's only valid in the case-insensitive world. let's use "case-sensitive" system ('X' <> 'x')!

    But yeah I kinda agree. Replacing non-zero with X drops some information. K712X could be more informational naming practice than K7XX.
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Could we be assuming too much - from a few graphs from a guy who selectively takes measurements - but still cannot decide what latest and greatest artificial ear and still has no clue as to what compensation to use? Let's wait until experienced data mongers or trusted reviewers get their hands on this. Measurement poseurs don't help us much.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2021
  13. roshambo123

    roshambo123 Friend

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    Talking about how we're going to EQ a pair of hp's before they arrive is getting a bit ahead of it. EQ is plastic surgery, a little in the right place can help sometimes but go crazy and you get a monster.
     
  14. loadexfa

    loadexfa MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I agree. I understand many are frustrated with Sennheiser making their lines worse in recent years (I hated the 820, after what I read didn't bother trying the 660) but so far Drop tuning has been good, at least to my ears. I don't think we should pass judgement until hearing them or triangulating from trusted ears. I'm not planning on spending a lot on an 800 series since I already have one but would be curious if these changes makes it more usable for a wider variety of music genres. I imagine that is what they were going for with the 820 but didn't get there. :(
     
  15. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    Echoing @purr1n in that we should wait to see if someone can actually listen to it and hear it. Who knows? might be good. I'm just puzzled that Drop didn't do their usual practice of sending review units out, then expect to have reviews arriving the day of launch to get people on board, esp when the price is much higher than the usual offering.
     
  16. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    One only need to remember the example of why movie studios sometimes don't allow critics to see their new offering before release. It's usually pretty obvious why. Not saying this is the same situation, but Drop probably can't risk negative reviews on something that is already priced well out of the bounds of their usual market to begin with.
     
  17. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Noise:

    IIRC the 789 wasn't passed around SBAF either.

    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/massdrop-x-thx-aaa-789.5852/#post-193117

    /Noise
     
  18. Vtory

    Vtory Audiophile™

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    Agreed. It seems preliminary measurements taken by Jude (based on the graphing formats, measuring rigs, etc) but he hasn't posted any youtube yet and kept silent in HF thread (initiated by Senn MOT), too. Maybe they're having some schedule conflict in reviewing Jude's advertisement material on Senn side? IDK

    Interestingly Drop initially posted both Gras and B&K measurements, then took out gras ones a little later. I see that as some hints on inter-party miscommunication.

    A little surprised that 461 units already sold (much more than I expected for one day without any useful info..).. I am kinda curious how those 461 broken down across forums lol.
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2021
  19. Baten

    Baten Friend

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    Looks like solderdude/diyaudioheaven was involved at least.
     
  20. Walderstorn

    Walderstorn Friend

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    That gives it some potential. I enjoyed (and own) some of his work.
     

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