[ruthieandjohn]

Even my best headphones, Grado PS500, continually remind me that they are between me and the music. 
 
So I am trying to find the headphones that most "go away" when used, by providing the listening experience that seems most like "You Are There" with the musicians.
 
Reading so far suggests that these might be the Sennheiser HD 800:
 

• Transducers angle the sound into your ears so that its source appears ahead of you, rather than inside your head;
• Sound stage, large for Sennheisers in general, is said to be Huge for the HD800;
• 300 Hz square wave response, indicative of the headphone's ability to preserve the apparent time  and clarity of arrival of various instrument sounds, is the most square (steepest onset, least ringing) of the ones posted on the innerfidelity.com data sheets.

 
Agree or disagree?  Thanks!

 

[JoyboyP]

I would agree but I'm no expert. The Sennheiser HD800 at the moment are dubbed the world's best headphone but with a hefty price tag to go with it at £1000 brand new.

 

[Claritas]

I know what you mean, and it's very uncommon. HD800 does not get out of the way; it's in the way (albeit in its own good way). I've heard only three or four models that do, and the only one currently in production is HD600.

 

[lin0003]

  I would agree but I'm no expert. The Sennheiser HD800 at the moment are dubbed the world's best headphone but with a hefty price tag to go with it at £1000 brand new.

This is rather debatable with most people saying the SR-009 is the best. 

 

[b0000]

I believe the term for this is transparency. Though i'm not too sure, so someone correct me if i'm wrong.
 
The hd800 can be out of the way... with a good setup and a good recording. Otherwise they'll constantly remind you that there's a bright headphone on your head. To me, the LCD2 is more transparent than the hd800 in terms of sound quality. 

 

[Currawong]

Probably the best question is: What are you going to plug them in to? 

 

[hoooboy]

 
Just kidding!
 
 

 

[Claritas]

They might sound fine out of a source with a dedicated headphone amp. Supposedly, they're "picky." I can't be bothered.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I bought a Fiio E12 Mont Blanc amp, really for my Grado PS 500s, but they are completely OK without this amp.  So... I hope it will work for the Sennheiser HD 800s (though I read things that suggest that indeed the 800s ARE picky, and they prefer tube amps!!).

 

[Claritas]

I bought a Fiio E12 Mont Blanc amp, really for my Grado PS 500s, but they are completely OK without this amp.  So... I hope it will work for the Sennheiser HD 800s (though I read things that suggest that indeed the 800s ARE picky, and they prefer tube amps!!).

Some prefer HD800 with tubes because it's a little bright. That's also why many mod it.

 

[ruthieandjohn]

 

 
Just kidding!
 
 
 

Thank you for the FABULOUS historical, hysterical pictures, hoooboy!  Now I need to find my picture of the original wax cylinder of Thomas Edison and post it!