Cleaned up the HD800s today and swapped out the pads.
Cant listen to it just yet though but im so close.
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It took until 1 am but i got in a quick listen on the bhc.
Yeah this seems to slap. Its hard to trust my ears as seasonal allergies kicked in hard today and they tend to “hurt” easier.
But the sound is a bit delicate. A little thinner than i think i would like or maybe just am used to. But that delicate feel does seem to let you hear through and resolve overlaps better. Kind of like thin window drapes you can see each fold through as the sun shines in.
Two thing do hit me though, soundstage and treble.
The soundstage doesnt seem that big or maybe i was expecting more from all the descriptions. And there were for sure some treble sibilance spikes. I have a hunch the Lumin may be presenting things very forward and have some treble accentuation, which i hope is not true, but ill need more time. It can also be the allergies, or that im using a generic usb. Either way more time is needed, i think a cable would be perfect for the treble taming, and ill see how my non-lumin bf2 → rnhp chain does.
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I had almost the same impressions when I had the HD800S briefly. The treble was fine for me but it was a little bit lean overall (although I think it’s still more agreeable than the D9200). I was using it with RNHP and V200, and it was then I felt that I didn’t have good enough gear for the 800S (and preferred the Arya).
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I think the gear is good enough.
My next steps are the bf2, rnhp chain. Then when i switch out the rnhp ill put the bf2 on the bhc for a little, then bf2 and CMA800r.
All of these should be good matches, but the ears will tell.
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The 50ft included cable is also great for listening while doing chores around the house.
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Had a good session with the hd800s and had a big game changer.
Listening to some Zakk Wylde Book of Shadows and the treble was just hot, even Zakk’s voice was just piercing way too often. I decided to swap out the tung sol input tube for the telefunken and that honestly saved the session.
The highs were still very much there but they were smoothed out enough to be enjoyable again. The tube swap gave a better defined space and some welcome thickness and lushness overall.
I thought it was enough that i was thinking maybe it did enough that the hd6XX may be redundant. Nope popping the hd6XX on proved me wrong. Yeah you lose a bit but its just a comfy wool blanket. I want to one day have a dedicated space where i drink tea and eat scones and oatmeal cookies while i listen to the BHC and HD6XX do it’s magic on cold snowy and rainy days.
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Agree about the 6xx. Also got a HD600 in recently, totally have no problem owning all three. All so great at what they do.
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Ive been listening a bit more and was deciding if I wanted to write a mini review or impressions of the HD800s but I think I can sum it up well here in a post.
Delicate is still the best word i can use to describe the HD800s. From the sound to even the comfort in how you dont really feel the pads but more so the frame behind it all.
There is a great tactility that helps thicken it up but it doesnt change the overall thinner or transparent nature. Things like drum hits and string plucks have this oddly visceral feel right at the impact, but there is not much to follow it up. There is decent bass right at those moments but its gone as soon as it peeks out. It always goes back to feeling like that thin see through curtain waiving in the wind on a bright spring day. And they do this very even starting at lower volume levels.
Treble peaks have been tamed by tube selection and I would think a good, realistic length cable would suffice here as well. Due to confinement I havent been able to test the headphone on much.
In a neither here nor there side note, they do sound great while theyre not on youre head as well. A few times ive taken them off to talk to someone on a work call and i forget to put them back on. Maybe this is actually my 2ch desktop endgame!!!
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I also should add. The feeling of texture on acoustic instruments is just great as well.
Favorite album so far for these:
Fiona Apple - Tidal, with a heavy nod to the track Pale September.
And really I only have a shitty mp3 rip of this album.
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Shame.
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I know i know. I thought I ripped it from a CD when my sister moved away and left all her CDs behind, I even have the image in my head of the cracked jewel case. But iirc the cd was so beat up i may of had to acquire it from elsewhere.
Ill also add, moreso than any other headphone, the HD800s shows the limitation of the source gear namely the dac. I really need to get the BF2 back in the chain as the current dac is falling behind.
In case somebody was shopping
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No stand?!? No deal!
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@M0N have you used any of the the lower priced brise cables with the HD800s? Mikumari non-reference, or Totori? The description you gave of the Mik Ref.2 was on point of what I want with the headphone but the price point is a bit high for me at the moment. (And i rather invest the bigger money into a ZMF / Audeze cable)
I will also take any other suggestions. Looking for something to tame the high peaks a little, but keeps (or enhances) the excellent texture and staging. Anything that adds a little overall thickness would be welcome as well.
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Unfortunately I’ve not heard any lower end brise on the 800 so I can’t really comment, but I do know they generally share a similar house sound. On the more budget side of things I’ve always liked norne for what you describe, specifically their only copper stuff. Wywires also does similar for pretty low prices these days. I also think honestly the moon cables get pretty cheap on the used market. Most other cables I like with the 800s for that get pretty up there. Not sure if he’s still in business but stefan cables were good value back in the day with a close enough sound to what you want. I wouldn’t say any of these really sound like the brise, but I do think it might accomplish a similar enough goal
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Thanks, ill look at those. Brise used seem to be sparse and i am not sure if they do the non ref Mikumari anymore. I am waiting on an email back.
It seems i am looking in that void spot again where it’s stick with Norne ~$300 or go higher end. Ill check out Moon and Wywire, and see if i can dig up something on stefan. Looking ideally around $500-700.
Tbh i may not even be looking fir a cable if the stock wasnt a 12ft beast.
@Draaly did you just use the stock when you had it?
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I used a hart cable mostly. My main usage for 800s was current drive where cables apparently matter less amd the stock cable was just too unweildly
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Its like they put a loose cloth sheath wrapping two intertwined runs of coat hangers.
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