Sennheiser HD800 S

A legendary headphone with unparalleled soundstage and detail

The Sennheiser HD800S is one of the most revered headphones in the audiophile community. As the successor to the HD800, the HD800S refined the already exceptional sound of its predecessor by addressing some of the minor complaints audiophiles had but kept the amazing sonic attributes, build quality and comfort.

So, I’ve been listening to the HD800 S for several weeks now and I initially wasn’t as impressed as I felt I should be, possible it was the hype associated with this headphone. But, it has not only grown on me, but I now think (with a little bit of EQ) this is the best headphone I have had the pleasure of reviewing.

So, I think it is a headphone that you “grow” into and while it looks a bit “goofy” and mostly made of plastic, the level of comfort, the ruggedness of the build and especially the sound quality are exceptional at any price.

And it’s also a headphone that requires some careful pairing and proper amplification to reach its full potential. But let’s dive into the details.

Unboxing Experience

Sennheiser knows how to deliver a premium experience, and the HD800 S packaging reflects that. The headphone comes in a high-quality box:

With foam inserts to protect the headphones during transport: Note: These are not my pictures - but they are indicative of the unboxing experience.

Inside the box, you’ll find: • The HD800 S headphones • a 3m 6.3mm terminated cable and a 4.4mm balanced cable • A microfiber cleaning cloth • Documentation and a quick-start guide

The inclusion of both single-ended and balanced cables is a great touch, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of setups right out of the box.

Note: The HD 800s which I borrowed, only came with the 6.3mm cable, but it is a very high quality cable:

The connectors are high quality, but they are proprietary and not the now typical dual 3.5mm connectors:

This is connector where you plug this cable into the HD 800 S:

Design, Build Quality, and Comfort

The HD800 S shows excellent engineering, and you can tell this headphone will last a lifetime but compared to other $1000-$2000 headphones its looks will not sell it.

Note: When I asked my family to guess how much it cost were so far off it price I started laughing, but I had them previously guessing the price of some Meze Headphones so as far as judging a headphone by its looks is obviously an unfair test.

But the build quality is outstanding, with a combination of metal and high-grade plastic that ensures both durability and a lightweight feel. The black and silver finish gives the headphone a sleek and professional look.

Here are some closeups to give you an idea of the build quality:

Build Quality

The large earcups are made from a durable polymer material that helps keep the weight down without compromising on strength.

The headband features metal reinforcements for added durability: And the yokes are designed to provide just the right amount of clamping force:

I also like the subtly space at the top of the foam of the headband to reduce the heat build up at the top of your head:

The earpads themselves are large and shaped to maximize the angle of the driver to help create that immensive soundstage:

Note: The unit I borrowed is using third party replacement earpads and as you will see later in the measurements alternative earpads do subtly change the frequency response.

Comfort

Comfort is where the HD800 S truly shines. The large, oval-shaped earcups completely surround your ears, and the microfiber earpads are incredibly soft and breathable.

Sound Quality

The HD800 S is all about precision, detail, and soundstage. It’s a headphone that excels in delivering an analytical yet musical listening experience, making it ideal for audiophiles and professionals alike.

Bass

The bass on the HD800 S is tight, controlled, though I initially felt it was missing a little sub-bass (or specifically I thought the bass sounded more like my HD600), but when I investigated I realised the earpads were replaced with third party ones and their bass roll-off was a little deeper than from the original Sennheiser stock pads. Therefore, I did investigate a little sub-bass EQ, and ultimately I used that EQ to for most of my listening experience.

So, while it’s not bass-heavy, it’s incredibly accurate, making it perfect for genres like classical, jazz, and acoustic. Tracks like “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson reveal the clarity and punch of the bass without any hint of muddiness.

Midrange

The midrange is where the HD800 S really excels. Vocals and instruments are presented with stunning clarity and separation. Listening to “Someone Like You” by Adele is an emotional experience, with every nuance of her voice captured perfectly. I think its is crucial that this headphone provides that accurate midrange while not loosing that large soundstage, too often there is a trade-off between soundstage and midrange tonality but not with the HD 800 S, you get a tonally accurate headphone with a wide spacious soundstage.

Treble

The treble is detailed and airy but very smooth with no treble peaks. Tracks like “Vivaldi’s Four Seasons” highlight the HD800 S’s ability to reproduce high-frequency details without sounding harsh and across my typical 5-hour audiophile playlist, I did not hear any excess treble yet was astonished again and again with the subtle detail the HD800 S provided.

Soundstage and Imaging

The soundstage of the HD800 S is nothing short of legendary. It’s wide, deep, and immersive, giving you the feeling of being in a concert hall. Imaging is pinpoint accurate, allowing you to place every instrument and sound effect with precision. Tracks like “Hotel California” (Live) by Eagles are a perfect showcase for the HD800 S’s spatial capabilities. On other tracks like Bjork’s “The Hunter” the 3D aspects of the soundstage was amazing with detailed pinpoint accurate placement of the instrument swirling around your head.

Specifications and Measurements

With a 300 Ω impedance and moderate sensitivity, the HD800 S requires proper amplification to perform at its best. Pairing it with a high-quality DAC/amp really does bring out the best.

I tried it with the both the new FiiO K17 (providing a little EQ sub-bass boost):

And also with the JDS Labs also new and excellent Element IV as this Amplifier also provides a little EQ sub-bass boost:

Measurements

Note: The following measurements were taken with my KB501X soft ear Pinna and a 711 clone coupler. They are available on my measurement database here.

Frequency Response

The HD800 S has a neutral tuning with slight bass roll-off and a smooth natural treble, but Sennheiser has used some clever tricks with the Frequency response to give and added sense of soundstage. Specifically in the 1Khz-2Khz region.

The following graph compared 2 HD800s with stock earpads with model I borrowed using the Dekoni Earpads and you can see that extra roll-off in the sub-bass, which I EQed to preference anyway so not a big deal for me:

I did decide to investigate the changes with different earpads and Dekoni to their credit do publish the changes these earpads make and as you can see here it does show that extra roll-off in the bass region:

So I thought I would leave an unaffiliated link these dekoni pads should people be interested: https://bloomaudio.com/products/dekoni-audio-elite-earpads-sennheiser-hd800?variant=39929092341835

One thing I was asked to look at with the HD800s was positional variations and the effect of glasses on the frequency response and I have got to say it is fantastic where there is almost no change in the FR with various placements, and different clamping force and even when using glasses:

Distortion

Distortion levels are incredibly low, even at higher volumes:

And showing the distortion as a percentage you can see it is minimal:

So this headphone will easily take to EQ should you want to apply some and I did specifically in that sub-bass region.

The waterfall chart of the HD800s is also excellent one of the best I had seen:

EQ Recommendation

While the HD800 S is fantastic out of the box, I did do a little sub-bass boost, so specifically I pulled up the sub-bass initially to compensate for the differences in replacement earpads in this sub-bass region, but mainly for my personal preferences. This is eqMac when playing a sub-bass heavy track to show the effect of that bass EQ change:

Rating

I’ve given the Sennheiser HD800 S a pragmatic 5-star rating. It’s a headphone that excels in all the areas that matter most to audiophiles: tonality, soundstage, detail, and comfort. While not the best looking headphone it grew on me immensely over the past few months and I will be sad to return it, but happy to have been given the opportunity to give it the time it deserves to write this review.

While it’s not cheap, it is a purchase that can last a lifetime and together with its exceptional performance it easily justifies the price.

Conclusion

The Sennheiser HD800 S is a headphone that has earned its legendary status. Whether you’re a seasoned audiophile or someone looking to invest in a true flagship headphone, the HD800 S should be at the top of your list. Its combination of unmatched soundstage, precise imaging, and exceptional comfort makes it a joy to use for both music listening and professional applications. If you’re looking for a headphone that delivers an immersive and analytical listening experience, the HD800 S is a worthy choice, I finally understand why this is a legendary headphone.