The HD800S is known for having a great soundstage, which is a reputation that is well-deserved. It is big, open, and three-dimensional, which gives the music an amazing place to play. The imaging is also very good, with good separation and a wide sense of cohesion and coherence.
The design of the Sennheiser HD 800S headphones shows that they are made for critical listening. The large, open-back ear cups and headband are made of metal and high-quality plastic to make them stronger.
They’re also padded with a material that looks and feels like suede, giving these headphones a high-end look and feel. They’re bigger than most of the other critical listening headphones we’ve tried, like the HiFiMan Sundara or the HD 700, which might work for some people but might be too big for others.
The Sennheiser HD800S headphones make it easy to listen to music. They have big, roomy ear cups, don’t fit too tightly on the head, and are well-padded with a suede-like material that feels good on the skin.
Unfortunately, they’re a little on the heavy side, and the ear cups are so big that some people, especially those with smaller heads, might not find them comfortable. Check out the Philips SHP9600 if you want a more comfortable pair of open-back headphones.
The bass sounds natural, even if it is slightly rolled off. It has a clean, clear low end that isn’t afraid to give you a punch when it needs to. Most of the action is in the mids, which show a lot of detail and have a natural sound.
The instruments and voices are perfectly layered, and each has great detail and texture. Given how present the upper end is, the treble is surprisingly not tiring. It has good length and strong definition. The overall tuning is mostly neutral but sometimes feels just a little bit bright.
The Sennheiser HD 800 S’ frequency response consistency is great. There are slight deviations in low-bass, which can happen if you wear glasses or have thick hair, but the rest of the range is very consistent. The treble delivery is also very consistent across reseats.
A couple of things to keep in mind about the HD 800 S’s usefulness: to get the most out of them, you need a powerful amp, and their open-back design means that everyone around you can hear what you’re listening to.
Oh, and at the end of the thick, long cable is a 6.3mm connector. Sennheiser recommends pairing the HD 800 S with its HDVD 800 DAC/amplifier unit, which costs $2,200, to give you an idea of the kind of gear you should use with it.