[Sennheiser]

Hello Head-Fi!

When the original HD 800 was launched in 2009, it ushered in both a sound and design that was unlike anything we had done before. We’re seeking input from owners of the open 800 family (past and present models) in the form of a quick survey. Because the questions span a few different response types (ranked choice, check boxes, multiple choice) you'll need to click the link below to take it, however It is anonymous, quick, and does not require registration of any kind. Lastly, the questions range from acoustics to ergonomics.

The survey will close on April 3rd. If you have any questions about the survey, @ericpalonen will be here to answer them.

Thank you for your time and feedback.

>>The Survey<<

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[carbonF1]

Adding a comments box to the end of the survey might have been useful, but I guess that can be solved here.

For cable length, I think this varies on the application. When I used HD800S at my desk, the stock cable was too long. Now that my setup is in my living room, the stock cable is too short. I picked the answer that matches my current setup (too short), but using the headphone in different listening areas gives me different results for that question. The length is too long and too short.

A follow up question to the ear pad / headband replacement for people selecting “No, but I intend to” would be interesting to see if customers are going third party, first party/OEM or want to go first party. It took me long enough, just short of 2 years, to be able to order ear pads directly from Sennheiser. This was thanks to the people posting here on Head-Fi for mentioning the ear pads were back in stock.

 

[gikigill]

HD800 (26xxx/51xxx),HD8XX and HD820 owner here. Submitted

 

[sennfan83261]

Not a fan of the beaded headband adjustment mechanism, which is reflected in some of my responses. On my HD800S, it is way too loose, which leads to the adjustment mechanism sliding out of my preferred setting whenever I hang the headphones on a stand. It is far less than stable than my egg-shaped Hifimans.

 

[gingerchoco]

Omg HD800S2 confirmed?

The survey is strangely focused heavily on comfort, considering the biggest criticism 800 series receives is about the bass response, or lack thereof. And for the love of kittens please get rid of the awful lemo connectors and go standard dual 3.5mm or even the HD6X0 series connectors if you must stay in-house. Not only is it a complete pain to remove, my recent purchase straight out of the box had varying degrees of wobbliness between the L/R so it's not even a solution for durability.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Hello Head-Fi!

When the original HD 800 was launched in 2009, it ushered in both a sound and design that was unlike anything we had done before. We’re seeking input from owners of the open 800 family (past and present models) in the form of a quick survey. Because the questions span a few different response types (ranked choice, check boxes, multiple choice) you'll need to click the link below to take it, however It is anonymous, quick, and does not require registration of any kind. Lastly, the questions range from acoustics to ergonomics.

The survey will close on April 3rd. If you have any questions about the survey, @ericpalonen will be here to answer them.

Thank you for your time and feedback.

>>The Survey<<

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I filled out the survey.

I find them very uncomfortable due to the top strap but that is not specific to Sennheiser, I also find Fostex, Beyer, HE6SE V2 uncomfortable. However, the HD 600 padding helps a lot here. Paradoxically, I find the big Audezes the most comfortable, despite being heavier, since the suspension headstrap distributes the weight better.

For me the main benefit to the 800 is the resolution. With my Phonitor 2 it is easy to hear most of the matrix adjustments while on some other headphones I can't hear them at all.

The earpads are good quality but too large. I think fenestrated sheepskin tuned to the HD 800 should be standard for the price, and with my unit I did not receive an XLR cable (so I had to buy one) nor did I receive a real box, rather just the carboard box. And the unit was not wrapped in plastic and had no factory seal. I think the packaging and accessories were not appropriate for this headphone. (I realize packaging and accessories vary, but in Czech Republic what I got is what I described).

I would have preferred mini-XLR connectors to the proprietary ones so I could have avoided buying additional cables.

I liked the included paperwork and USB drive with the response plot but the scale of the plot was not granular enough.

More thoughts later, perhaps.

 

[dbboy]

Done. Generally I am satisfied with HD800. But If there is a survey for HD700 I will have lots of things to say.

 

[Nago]

@Sennheiser will you share the results with us? It would be quite interesting!

 

[Arniesb]

If you gonna add bass on hd800S successor like in hd660s2, then consider increasing presence range too, cause just increasing bass will kill the mids and end result gonna be dead mid range.

 

[Montyburns]

People used to get around 50 bucks for every market research survey they’d fill out .

 

[Beagle]

Sad that there were no questions regarding the aspects of the frequency response/balance. This is more important that the questions that were asked IMO.

 

[ericpalonen]

Sad that there were no questions regarding the aspects of the frequency response/balance. This is more important that the questions that were asked IMO.

The assumption we are not listening to this conversation here in the thread or in general is false. Turn that frown upside down my friend.

People used to get around 50 bucks for every market research survey they’d fill out .

Then the motivation is the $50, not the product.

Adding a comments box to the end of the survey might have been useful, but I guess that can be solved here.

Correct and thx for your in-depth feedback!

Omg HD800S2 confirmed?

No, sorry.

just increasing bass will kill the mids and end result gonna be dead mid range.

Sorry, this is a hazy oversimplification and not a result we would accept, nor is it a problem we could not solve.

 

[ext1]

Owner of nearly 50 different HD800 and S. Submitted not because I want something new, but because I hope Senn won't change what is great. (And I hope they change back to their old ways.)

 

[IgeNeLL]

Owned 10s HD800, end up with HD800 series 9xxx, which is less spacious than my previous 19k series but the treble agile and punch is improved.

At present time, I do not use it much but submitted.
For me, HD800 is no longer a perfected itmes.
The treble has its problem of balanced, where the resonance make sound harsh and lack of detail in the brilliance range note. You can overcome it someway by the modifying the original someway.
The bass extension is someway the problem to dig down further in to the fundamental instrumental of the song. You still have good impact in mid bass range but its roll off in the bass extension make it sound like a bookshelf speaker, never get the full-scale of a grand speaker.

 

[nephilim32]

I’m so grateful to say that I’ve had the original HD 800 for 11 years now. Last year I finally gave them some refurbishing. Replaced the headband and pads. This headphone is staying with me for good. After all, who on earth would want to buy an 11 year old headphone? Lol.