I’m having a quiet chuckle at all these posts gasping at the apparent lack of bass in a Sennheiser headphone. For someone who loves the ‘feel’ of real bass (as in live bass), I’m constantly amazed when someone tells me a headphone has great bass, only to listen and have it sound like watered-down tea. I thought I was a basshead before discovering deep, powerful bass can also have tone, texture and control, a-la Audeze planars, and to a greater extent ZMF’s closed headphones.
I have a running debate with many of my audiophile peers about Sennheiser bass - me holding the position that even the so-called bassy Senn 650 is bass shy, they saying the 650 has too much. So I understand where some people are coming from. It’s all a matter on how you like your sound and specifically your bass, and I for one have never heard a Sennheiser with what I consider to be sufficient bass for my liking. Doubt the HD820 will be any different, closed or not.
Whether that’s a good or bad thing is up to each of us individually.
Totally agree with you regarding the bass on the 650, even though I am fine with their balance. I have an older LCD2 rev 1, one of the best bass planars I have heard.
Oh and regarding Sennheiser bass.
Both HD250 and HD630VB have incredible bass, clarity and balance. The 630VB is so much fun in this regard. Finally, I can follow up listening to classical with trip-hop in a single can.
I do not expect the HD820 to have the bass quantities of either the HD250 or 630VB (well maybe the 630VB in neutral). My thinking here is that Senn has weaned a number of users that reference means a bit bass shy. I get it though, I think hearing bass for a number of people probably doesn't translate the same.
I've read that some people can't even stand the sensation, that it gives them a headache.
Lastly, I'll just recommend that if anyone wants true sub-bass with their uber-pricey 820s they probably can afford a SubPac.
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