The HD800 & HD800S thread

Never heard this before! Will have to try going back to stock after using my own DIY pads for so long.

 

Yeah hard to account for DIY but stock have been better than anything else I’ve tried. Something to do with the cup shape/driver angle, probably.

 

DMS has released a mod that tames the treble on the HD800 series.

 

Looks interesting but i think i'll just use EQ. I mean even if it fixes that there are still some spots that need tuning for my tastes.

 

Gotta admit I'm curious to see how this compares to the conventional rugliner + SDR mod, or JAR mod. The DMS thing does a better job singling that peak out but it seems to really shelve down the upper treble region which I feel like is one of the charming points of the HD800 series.

Would love to see other measurements here besides FR. Also this seems to be primarily geared at the HD800S so who knows how low end quailty is gonna be.

 

Noticed this too. Seems like it may be a better fit for the OG, as this plus the S version's resonator may be too much.

 

Maybe someone with an HD800 and/or HD800S and has context for how the JAR or SBAF mods sound might be willing to pick one of these up to offer subjective impressions? I remain curious to see those measurements ratified but if nothing else I'm certain the headphonesdotcom guys take frequency response seriously and so wouldn't have bollixed that; more curious about distortion and ofc time domain stuff.

DMS is selling them for $45 on eBay and I feel that's a fair amount for the scale of production and how much went into this:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/277168538751?_skw=HD800S+tuning+kit&

 

It definitely looks like a very clean mod. But I’ve never had issues with the treble on the 800S.

 

I grabbed a set just to see what they do. HD800S with no EQ, but I've modded mine by removing the rear mesh and flipping the rubber driver gasket/ring.

 

Darn, they are already sold out, otherwise I would buy one.

That said, I’m skeptical it will improve the sound, for the below reasons:

1. This thing now blocks half of the sound coming from the driver with plastic. This is likely to change the sound, probably for the worse.
2. We know from folks trying different metal meshes on the ZMF that along with lowering the treble this is an additional decrease in detail and energy/prat from the driver.
3. There appears to also be a reduction in the bass response as well, according to the frequency graphs shown in the video. Most folks end up either liking the bass from the HD800 series or want just a tad more. I’ve never seen someone wanting less bass from these phones.

That said, experimentation is always a good thing, and the price is right, so looking forward to impressions.

 

I'm just happy to see a mod with actual measurements instead of just "Trust me bro".

 

Question for all the HD800 experts here. I have this setup: Yggdrasil A2 > ZDS > HD800S. I'm a little treble sensitive, but this combination is pure magic, although it can be a bit bright. With the HD800S and Sonarworks, it doesn't bother me much. But with the HD800S, the bass isn't as punchy as the HD800. So I tried a JAR800 (v2 I think?) and it was amazing, but it was still too bright for me. Given this experience, would it be worth trying another HD800 mod, like SDR, and other mods (rug liner or something?).

Someone will probably suggest I tube roll on the ZDS, but I just want to talk about it from the HD800 optimization perspective

 

Maybe try LIM boards?

 

This guy gets it. A single EQ filter has more of an effect than any piece of electronics I've ever put in my system.

Sonarworks has also gotten somewhat pointless now that system-level EQ is so easy now.

 

Yeah barring EQ you should either tube roll more or get LIM boards. Any of those have the potential to make things less spicy.

 

And this is exactly what I hear with the DMS filter (filter is just what it does).

Initial listening reveals a smoother, less peaky and grainy treble region (as advertised) and consequently the bass/lower midrange seems to tighten up a bit, and appear more present. Timbre is quite realistic, especially on vocal.

On the down side, after a time it appears there is no air on top. Very suffocated. And whatever dynamics were there originally are now gone. Top to bottom. Music sounds painted on a wall. Bland, bleh.

And when you look at how much of the driver is physically muted with this thing, it seems to dovetail what I'm hearing.

Looking forward to impressions from others.