Sennheiser's New and Improved HD 800 S

by The Audio Beat | December 17, 2015

ince its introduction in 2008, the Sennheiser HD 800 has been on the short list of reference headphones. The new HD 800 S ($1699.95) replaces its namesake atop Sennheiser's extensive product line and boasts of improved midrange and bass performance.

The HD 800 S retains the core technology of the HD 800. This includes the unique transducer. Measuring 56mm and embedded in a specially manufactured stainless-steel gauze, it is the largest transducer currently used for any dynamic headphones. The patented diaphragm features a ring design that minimizes any distortion, especially at higher frequencies, keeping total harmonic distortion to less than 0.02%. The earcups were designed to direct sound waves to the ears at a slight angle, ensuring natural tonality and a greater sense of space. The headband consists of several layers of sound-attenuating plastic and stainless steel, and the earcups are made of high-quality, high-attenuation plastic used in aviation engineering as a substitute for metal.

Finally, in order to achieve even better performance with audio sources that feature a symmetrical output, such as the Sennheiser HDVD 800 DAC/headphone amp, the HD 800 S includes a symmetrical XLR4 cable.