Buying Guides

Sennheiser HD800S vs. HD800

Sennheiser HD800S vs. HD800

Sennheiser HD 800 SThe Sennheiser HD800S is the ‘new & improved’ version of the original HD800, a sound revelation which revolutionized headphone audio when released in early 2009.

Now over six years later comes the updated HD 800S touting improvements in bass response, along with a hip black color scheme and an XLR-4 cord for use with balanced-drive headphone amps. So is the HD 800S an improvement over the original HD800?

For listeners seeking to experience the reference HD800 sound for the first time, going with the new 800S is a no-brainer.

The HD800S offers all the sonic and acoustic performance advancements of the original but with a touch more low-end presence, which makes it sound slightly smoother overall and more musically cohesive to our Headphone.com reviewers. The perfect focus and deep soundstage of this headphone still amazes us and is hard to beat at this price.

And although the HD-800S low-end response still leaves something to be desired for bass lovers and misses a tactile sense of authority (especially for funky soul or rock), given the choice we would all go with the HD800S over the HD800.

Most of us also preferred the coolly understated new black color scheme over the somewhat austere look of the original aluminum-framed HD800. The excellent form, fit and comfortable ergonomics remain identical in both models.

Of course, you can save a few bucks by choosing the original HD800 which can be found at a relatively nice discount these days.

But given the nominal difference in price at this rarefied high-end level, it only makes sense to go with the new ‘S’ edition if you are seeking the best sound quality performance your money can buy. The ‘S’ model also provides an XLR 4-pin headphone cable in the box allowing the cans to be used from either standard or balanced-drive headphone amps via the detachable cord system.

We have received questions asking whether the HD800 will stay in Sennheiser’s line-up now that the HD 800S is here, but it’s too soon to tell. Sennheiser has a reputation for keeping some of its traditional products in its line for decades (e.g. HD600) while others seem to fall away quickly. Our guess is that Sennheiser will keep the original HD800 around for a while but, we’re not sure why anyone would want it now that the HD800S is available.

Of course, if you already own the older HD-800 that’s another story. In our opinion, we don't think current Sennheiser HD800 owners necessarily need to shell out for the "S' edition given the incremental nature of the changes in the new edition.

If you already have an original HD800 - or if saving a significant chunk of change on a 'new' first-gen HD800 stokes the penny-pinching angel on your shoulder - there are many free custom mods out in HiFi headphone land that will mimic the bass improvements of the HD 800S and effectively close the performance gap between the two models. The mod process is perhaps not for the faint of heart, but you can check headphone forums websites like HeadFi to see what constitutes these HD800 modifications which, in theory, should get you to around 90%-95% of where the new HD800S currently sits.

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25 comments

James  Tenpenny

James Tenpenny

I have both the HD 800 and HD 800 S headphones. I use the HD 800S headphones with a balanced Mytek BROOKLYN DAC and the HD 800 headphones with a Woo Audio WA7 tube amplifier. The HD 800 S play the best with the solid state DAC/AMP while the HD 800 work best with the tube amp. The 800s is a more refined headphone.

Josh

Josh

@DUANE JACKSON how would you describe the HDVD with the HD800S? I am thinking about buying myself the HDVD.I have the Valhalla 2 as my amplifer now. The DAC I am using now is the Aune X1 Pro/Micca Origen+

Duane Jackson

Duane Jackson

I have both the HD800 and HD800S. I like the HD800S with my solid state Sennheiser HDVD amplifier and the HD800 with my Decware CSP2+ vacuum tube ampilifier with a CBS 5U4g rectifier tube and Amperex 6922 JAN. I like both, but my favorite is the Decware HD800 combination.

Daniel James

Daniel James

Or you can just use an equalizer…

Sal D'Agostino

Sal D'Agostino

Hmmm. Sennheiser spent years working on the completely redesigned HD800, and now they decide it needed more bass. I agree with the panel of headphone experts that $300 isn’t that much to go for the extra-good S model, but that’s not $300 and your old set of 800s. That’s buying the headphones all over again after you’ve already laid out $1300 for the originals. I’ll be happy to give you my 800s + $300 for the S model.

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