[jbarrentine]

So I bought it. Tried it. Returning it. For what I care about the 660S is a better headphone for me personally.
The disparity of how tracks sound based on mastering is part of it. The 800S is pretty ruthless and revealing and anything that didn't have good mastering is substandard.
While the sound stage was larger than the 600/660S it's not that much larger to my ears. I was shocked it wasn't much larger based on how much people talk about it.
Strings were just a bit odd. I can't put a finger on it. Maybe only because they were pushed "back" from my listening perspective if nothing else. The timbre was just "off".
The 660S is just plain more fun to listen to.

I know other people have stated most of if not all of these things. I should have listened I guess.
For what it's worth I did NOT find them lifeless or flat or thin or any of those negatives I've seen stated here. They aren't as "full" sounding as the 660S, but that appears to me to be because staging is pushed back out of the listeners head a bit.

I really wanted to like them more. Oh well, you live you learn. I'll continue to listen for another day or so to make sure nothing drastic happens and there's no revelation, but I think I've made up my mind.

 

[MacedonianHero]

So I bought it. Tried it. Returning it. For what I care about the 660S is a better headphone for me personally.
The disparity of how tracks sound based on mastering is part of it. The 800S is pretty ruthless and revealing and anything that didn't have good mastering is substandard.
While the sound stage was larger than the 600/660S it's not that much larger to my ears. I was shocked it wasn't much larger based on how much people talk about it.
Strings were just a bit odd. I can't put a finger on it. Maybe only because they were pushed "back" from my listening perspective if nothing else. The timbre was just "off".
The 660S is just plain more fun to listen to.

I know other people have stated most of if not all of these things. I should have listened I guess.
For what it's worth I did NOT find them lifeless or flat or thin or any of those negatives I've seen stated here. They aren't as "full" sounding as the 660S, but that appears to me to be because staging is pushed back out of the listeners head a bit.

I really wanted to like them more. Oh well, you live you learn. I'll continue to listen for another day or so to make sure nothing drastic happens and there's no revelation, but I think I've made up my mind.

I was really disappointed with the 660S...have you ever tried the HD650? I much preferred them.

 

[jbarrentine]

I was really disappointed with the 660S...have you ever tried the HD650? I much preferred them.

I hated the 650. It was too dark and slow for me. I like the 600 though.

 

[MacedonianHero]

I hated the 650. It was too dark and slow for me. I like the 600 though.

I prefer the HD600 to the 660s as well.

 

[KC2020]

The disparity of how tracks sound based on mastering is part of it. The 800S is pretty ruthless and revealing and anything that didn't have good mastering is substandard.

I'm quite curious what you you hear as good mastering or bad mastering.

While the sound stage was larger than the 600/660S it's not that much larger to my ears.

Soundstage is always relative to ears size, isn't it ? :~)

 

[kalsonc]

been listening to my hd800s for quite some time now and tempting to change pads

any recommendations on which pads?
Would not mind adding a bit of warmth with the addition of the pads (if possible)

 

[Ra97oR]

How many people here are using the HD800S as their daily? I see a lot of "I use it for x" but I want one headphone to use without switching out all the time.

I almost only use either my Focal Solo6 Be or the HD800S exclusively for everything. Gaming, movie, Youtube, VOIP and everything in between, the other full sizes are only really taken out sparsely to play with.

 

[S Crowther]

been listening to my hd800s for quite some time now and tempting to change pads

any recommendations on which pads?
Would not mind adding a bit of warmth with the addition of the pads (if possible)

I quite like the Dekoni fenestrated sheepskin pads. Comfortable and maybe a little warmer also, it is too long since I heard the originals to be sure.

 

[G0rt]

I've been happy with Misodiko sheepskins on my HD800S. They're about the same depth as stock, so color very little, although to my ears they do slightly collapse the soundstage, not IMO a bad thing.

I use Dekoni hybrids on HD800/SDR, and the delta from stock is more noticable, both toward lifting the bottom, and slightly smoothing the top. Space and detail remain impressive.

 

[Duncan_McCloud]

Any suggestion for a HD800s XLR 4Pin cable within europe ? Thanks!

 

[Ichos]

Forza Audioworks

 

[Hoegaardener70]

Your thoughts on the Moon Silver Dragon for the HD800S?

 

[attmci]

Your thoughts on the Moon Silver Dragon for the HD800S?

You mean black dragon?

 

[Hoegaardener70]

You mean black dragon?

Actually, the silver dragon … you know, with silver
https://www.moon-audio.com/silver-dragon-headphone-cable-v3.html

 

[Viszla]

Any suggestion for a HD800s XLR 4Pin cable within europe ? Thanks!

Custom cans from UK! It is a little bit cheaper and for my ears the same as Forza! I sold the Custom cans because it is stiffer than my Forza