General
Now that I've descended into the rabbit hole that is high-end headphones, I picked up a pair of HD820s to A/B against my others (Sony Z7M2, Focal Elear, Focal Elegia). Sound-wise, the HD820 are clear winners. The tonality is perfect, the low-end is punchy, the mid range lets guitar breath without sounding too crunchy, and the highs don't seem harsh. The frequency response on these is great for my preferences and listening to heavier styles of music (rock, metal, prog). They also do sound great for other, softer genres. And I like the included cables—three different options, all plenty long. Most stock cables are too short, so this is great. Sound-wise, I'd give them 4 stars. That said, one glaring problem is the fit.
Fitment
Absolutely the worst fitting headphones I've tried. One star. It's just me. My head is narrow and long, so there's barely any clamping force. If I move my head at all (up, down, left, right) the headphones slosh around. If I open my mouth, swallow, or yawn the headphones move around. I have to remain perfectly still and that's no bueno.
If I put slight pressure against the ear cups with my fingertips, it's perfect. The sound is awesome. Bass hits like a sledgehammer. But just wearing them without holding them, there's less bass from the loose fit. If the ear pads/cushions were a little thicker, that would solve the problem. This would put pressure against the headband, increasing clamping force. Maybe a third-party company will come out with thicker pads at some point. I'm going to keep these headphones though just because they sound so good, and deal with the fitment somehow.
Compared to Focal Elegia
They both have a similar mid-range emphasis to my ears. Not squawky or honky. But they definitely aren't scooped or U shaped. High-gain, distorted guitar doesn't sound fizzy or buzzy or thin. Instead, these cans bring out that muscular growl that most heavier styles of music rely upon. However, the HD820 are more balanced than the Elegia since—unlike the Elegia—they have a prominent low-end thump and a bit more air in the high end. The Elegia sound almost like an AM radio in comparison. I can correct this by adding EQ. But without EQ the HD820 takes the cake. The Elegia also breaks up and distorts easier. The HD820 seems to have a bit more headroom before the low-end flubs out. Kick drums are beastly and clean.
Compared to Focal Elear
Being open back, the Elear certainly have more air and space. They are sweeter sounding. Great for more chill styles of music. They do fine for heavy stuff, but the HD820 have them beat in that department. The Elear break up even sooner than the Elegia. It's easy for bass and drums and high-gain guitar to all mush together into a farty mess with these things, even at low volumes. Elear have more bass than Elegia though. But lack the prominent mid-range bias the Elegia and HD820 have. I should also mention that the Focals fit much better. Good clamping force, thick pads, easy to get a seal around my ears.
Compared to Sony MDR-Z7M2
Fit, like the Focal, is great. lightyears better than the Sennheisers. Incredibly comfortable. Sound wise, They have a nice punchy low end, but it's not as hard-hitting as the HD820. A bit softer and lush sounding. Like a thick hot cocoa. It's deeper. But has a longer decay maybe? Mid-range is incredibly scooped and smooth. Highs are pronounced and a bit thin at times. More headroom than the Focals, but not as much as the Sennheisers. If the the Z7M2 had the Elegia's prominent mid-range, they would sound pretty close to the HD820, just not as surgical and tight.
Surgical. Tight. Punchy. Musical. That's how I would describe the HD820. They are like the Porsche GT3 of the headphone world. Purpose-built. No frills. Exciting. I just wish the fitment were better for my head. The headband could use a redesign to make the clamping force better or at least more adjustable.
Now that I've descended into the rabbit hole that is high-end headphones, I picked up a pair of HD820s to A/B against my others (Sony Z7M2, Focal Elear, Focal Elegia). Sound-wise, the HD820 are clear winners. The tonality is perfect, the low-end is punchy, the mid range lets guitar breath without sounding too crunchy, and the highs don't seem harsh. The frequency response on these is great for my preferences and listening to heavier styles of music (rock, metal, prog). They also do sound great for other, softer genres. And I like the included cables—three different options, all plenty long. Most stock cables are too short, so this is great. Sound-wise, I'd give them 4 stars. That said, one glaring problem is the fit.
Fitment
Absolutely the worst fitting headphones I've tried. One star. It's just me. My head is narrow and long, so there's barely any clamping force. If I move my head at all (up, down, left, right) the headphones slosh around. If I open my mouth, swallow, or yawn the headphones move around. I have to remain perfectly still and that's no bueno.
If I put slight pressure against the ear cups with my fingertips, it's perfect. The sound is awesome. Bass hits like a sledgehammer. But just wearing them without holding them, there's less bass from the loose fit. If the ear pads/cushions were a little thicker, that would solve the problem. This would put pressure against the headband, increasing clamping force. Maybe a third-party company will come out with thicker pads at some point. I'm going to keep these headphones though just because they sound so good, and deal with the fitment somehow.
Compared to Focal Elegia
They both have a similar mid-range emphasis to my ears. Not squawky or honky. But they definitely aren't scooped or U shaped. High-gain, distorted guitar doesn't sound fizzy or buzzy or thin. Instead, these cans bring out that muscular growl that most heavier styles of music rely upon. However, the HD820 are more balanced than the Elegia since—unlike the Elegia—they have a prominent low-end thump and a bit more air in the high end. The Elegia sound almost like an AM radio in comparison. I can correct this by adding EQ. But without EQ the HD820 takes the cake. The Elegia also breaks up and distorts easier. The HD820 seems to have a bit more headroom before the low-end flubs out. Kick drums are beastly and clean.
Compared to Focal Elear
Being open back, the Elear certainly have more air and space. They are sweeter sounding. Great for more chill styles of music. They do fine for heavy stuff, but the HD820 have them beat in that department. The Elear break up even sooner than the Elegia. It's easy for bass and drums and high-gain guitar to all mush together into a farty mess with these things, even at low volumes. Elear have more bass than Elegia though. But lack the prominent mid-range bias the Elegia and HD820 have. I should also mention that the Focals fit much better. Good clamping force, thick pads, easy to get a seal around my ears.
Compared to Sony MDR-Z7M2
Fit, like the Focal, is great. lightyears better than the Sennheisers. Incredibly comfortable. Sound wise, They have a nice punchy low end, but it's not as hard-hitting as the HD820. A bit softer and lush sounding. Like a thick hot cocoa. It's deeper. But has a longer decay maybe? Mid-range is incredibly scooped and smooth. Highs are pronounced and a bit thin at times. More headroom than the Focals, but not as much as the Sennheisers. If the the Z7M2 had the Elegia's prominent mid-range, they would sound pretty close to the HD820, just not as surgical and tight.
Surgical. Tight. Punchy. Musical. That's how I would describe the HD820. They are like the Porsche GT3 of the headphone world. Purpose-built. No frills. Exciting. I just wish the fitment were better for my head. The headband could use a redesign to make the clamping force better or at least more adjustable.
