The HD800 & HD800S thread

Ok, thanks, that's helpful.

 

I have a shipment from Jan on the way, haven't received it yet. It was shipped through regular DHL in Germany and then gets handed off to USPS once it gets through customs. You'll be able to see a domestic shipment number on the dhl.de tracking detail page after the package gets to IPZ-Ffm Germany, and that number works as the USPS tracking number.
From what I read online, it really depends on backlog at customs etc, rough estimate is about 2 weeks if things go smooth.

 

Anyone else try SBAF mod in HD800s?

 

I think there are only a few people with the material at the moment.

 

I have. I like it quite a lot.

 

Can't wait to get mine, hopefully some progress is made soon.

 

Just got my HD 800 S. I'm going to run through some comparisons tonight with my HD 800 and HE-6.

 

I'll be interested to see your thoughts.

 

I got my HD800 in the mail yesterday and it's so damned good. I find no reason to mod it. It has ample bass and non fatiguing treble.

 

Just got my HD800S yesterday and it's a decent upgrade from my HD600. More detail, tighter bass and clearer treble.

One point against it is that the sound is a bit 'lean'. I'm using a Valhalla 2 and my source is a Benchmark DAC1.

I would appreciate any advice on how to add some warmth to this system. I think that's the only tweak needed and I'm gonna be happy for a while

Option 1: Change the Valhalla 2 tubes to the Amperex Orange Globes. I have zero tube rolling experience and read a comment by Marv that tube rolling is futile on any amp below $2000 so I'm not sure how big an effect this will have.

Option 2: Sell my Benchmark DAC1 and substitute it with a Schiit Bifrost MB.

Would this change be readily audible with the HD800S? ( for somebody with no hearing loss )

Thanks guys any help would be great, 4 years after getting my first pair of SR80is I finally feel like I'm close to the sound that I'm looking for....

 

I would also think that a mod would do much more than swapping tubes or changing your dac.
I would just do the rug liner mod for now and maybe experiment with the ring and trapezoid later.

EDIT:

I think the most important thing is that it makes the frequency response more even and makes the imaging less diffuse.

 

The more I listen to the 800S the more I'm looking forward to seeing @Tyll Hertsens review/measurements for it.

I'm thinking more and more that the 800S really might not need much modding, if it needs modding at all.

That being said, I have in the past been accused of liking a brighter sound. Maybe its because I listen at lower volumes than other SBAFers?

Anyways, Tyll, can't wait to see what you think.

 

Do you mean the 800S may still be a bit bright for others?

 

Valhalla2 (at least with stock tubes) was a bit lean and bright for my tastes. I did not like it that much with the HD800, and the HD800 S is no different. Try changing the tubes.

Of course, the practical part of me just says use a software EQ and get your desired warmth and thickness there.

 

Oh my gash, for the past 2-3 months i have been searching and reading the differences in between HD800 and HD800S (I'm planning to upgrade from my HD598 to and HD800(s) and the upcoming HDVD 820.

Everybody is saying that the HD800S is not as "clear" and the sound-stage is not as good as the original HD800. But the pretty much everyone prefer the HD800S sound over the HD800, reason is the 6khz peak and the treble. This worries me a bit cause i'm suffering from tinnitus and people with tinnitus have said that the HD800 make's it worse.

Now i do listen to a lot of classical music and music like Hans Zimmer make's. And the one reason that i absolutely do love is the immersion of the music or artist being there. Cause of the sound-stage. Is the overall sound-stage tuned town of the accustical absorder or is it the same that in the HD800? Will it give me the same "wow" effect with the S without triggering my tinnitus?

Yes i know, i should listen to them myself. But anywhere i ask they are not willing to make me an listening session with both HD800 and HD800S unfortunately.... I have asked through

 

Okay if the HD800S soundstage and imagining is the same as the HD800, im going to get the S then (and because 90% of the people say its superior)

What i well in love with the original HD 800 (i have one short listening experience with the original) was the imaging and the "wow" effect of the headphones.

 

Thank you very much for fast responses, i probably will go with the HD800S route.

I read your review in the Head-fi section, what you said in the review was that the only drawback of the S is the to the imaging is a slight loss of instrument separation.
I also checked your last.fm and you seem to listen Hans Zimmer as well if i'm not mistaken How would you describe the instrument separation "issue", lets say like in songs like Hans Zimmer where there are usually multiple instruments playing? How big the change is, does the separation issue affect the overall imaging?

I would appreciate a lot if you could explain the instrument separation ((i know it's a bit tricky to explain these things) in both in the HD800 and HD800S. Thanks!