The headphones thread! [Sorry about your wallet]

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#1652087 17-Oct-2016 07:50

networkn:

Well, I ended up getting an hour with them before I had my game, and I have to say.. Sadly I am really disappointed. They sound awful. Recessed, lifeless, next to no bass. I haven't enjoyed a single one of my reference tracks on it. Given the rave reviews, I am wondering if mine is faulty.

Well that's disappointing - sorry it hasn't yet worked out as you had hoped!

Had you ever listened to a pair (or the non S) before buying and new you like them or was this a blind buy?

Probably worth sticking with - I am not a huge believer of "break in" but I know it can take a while to set aside expecations and to get used to the sound signature of a new Audio purchase before things really settle.

I remember being underwhelmed/disappointed with both my Grado 325is and my recent Sonorous VI's straight out of the box, but over a week or so of listening I did a complete U-Turn.

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#1652118 17-Oct-2016 09:34

Item:

networkn:

Well, I ended up getting an hour with them before I had my game, and I have to say.. Sadly I am really disappointed. They sound awful. Recessed, lifeless, next to no bass. I haven't enjoyed a single one of my reference tracks on it. Given the rave reviews, I am wondering if mine is faulty.

Well that's disappointing - sorry it hasn't yet worked out as you had hoped!

Had you ever listened to a pair (or the non S) before buying and new you like them or was this a blind buy?

Probably worth sticking with - I am not a huge believer of "break in" but I know it can take a while to set aside expecations and to get used to the sound signature of a new Audio purchase before things really settle.

I remember being underwhelmed/disappointed with both my Grado 325is and my recent Sonorous VI's straight out of the box, but over a week or so of listening I did a complete U-Turn.

Sorry I didn't get a chance to get back earlier. The headphones have either been playing music whilst I have not had them on or I have had them on for various things.

I didn't used to believe in burn in as such (esp not cables), but it's hard to refute the evidence. I was contemplating selling them on Friday night and Saturday 2pm I was back on them wondering how they could be the same headphones. Something definately wasn't right when I first powered them on because 85% of my issues are pretty much resolved. It sounded like I was listening to my music down a tunnel on Friday, with the vocals in my face, but now it seems a lot better. It's not placebo as my wife also was astounded between the difference.

I'd heard they were interesting for gaming as well, and Mafia III sounds excellent.

Much happier, later in the week I'll report back.

Also, I tried my T1's again to double check it wasn't just me "getting used to the HD800S sound" and I am happy they sound much more alike (Though the soundstage is almost unbelievably bigger and instrument separation is amazing.

These were a blind purchase. There aren't many places I can listen to a pair in the way and for the length required to decide anyway.

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#1652217 17-Oct-2016 11:48

Yeah baby! I had a similar instance with my Geek Out V2 DAC/Amp. I was decidedly underwhelmed for the first day then I kept it running with music and videos etc for 4 days. It was a massive difference. I can't really understand it but it was unbelievable. I'm really happy the 800s are starting to come around. I'm also glad you got the last pair since if they were in stock I would have pulled the trigger and faced the wrath ;)

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#1652226 17-Oct-2016 12:01

hamstring:

Yeah baby! I had a similar instance with my Geek Out V2 DAC/Amp. I was decidedly underwhelmed for the first day then I kept it running with music and videos etc for 4 days. It was a massive difference. I can't really understand it but it was unbelievable. I'm really happy the 800s are starting to come around. I'm also glad you got the last pair since if they were in stock I would have pulled the trigger and faced the wrath ;)

I suspect it was an issue that the Membranes of the speakers had not yet "stretched" or weren't getting full movement.

Well, I currently have about 10 pairs of headphones in my house. My wife, normally fairly understanding, was not happy.

It was my intention to consolidate before xmas so I am going to be selling the following gear in the next few weeks.

1) Bose QC25 Black Limited Edition (Got a cheap upgrade to QC35) They have about 30 hours on them.

2) Sony Bluetooth Headphones (These have about 15 hours on them, got them in 2014) MDR-10RBT

3) Blackbox M10 Noise Cancelling Headphones (well used, in great condition, surprisingly not too much worse than the QC25's for NC.

4) Siberia 800 Wireless Gaming Headphones (Will use my HD800S for gaming and my QC35's for Skype and portable music listening).

5) Logitech Wireless G910 Headphones (In some ways just as good as the Siberia)

Not sure if I will sell my T1's (Generation 1) or HD650's as I don't think I'll get much for them.

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#1654695 19-Oct-2016 20:34

So I am just LOVING these HD800S now. For the first time since I got into this hobby I don't feel like there is anywhere else to go and this is my (very happy) end game. Obviously, stuff is always changing, and I'd like to try balanced at some stage which may be a new amp (Liquid Carbon would be my dream amp).

Cliche as it is, I am loving discovering all my old music (yet again).

I haven't even tried it with my ifi Micro.

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#1654700 19-Oct-2016 20:36

networkn:

So I am just LOVING these HD800S now. For the first time since I got into this hobby I don't feel like there is anywhere else to go and this is my (very happy) end game. Obviously, stuff is always changing, and I'd like to try balanced at some stage which may be a new amp (Liquid Carbon would be my dream amp).

Cliche as it is, I am loving discovering all my old music (yet again).

I haven't even tried it with my ifi Micro.

So pleased they came good for you!

(bet you are a little relieved too...)

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#1654701 19-Oct-2016 20:37

Is this how they brain wash people?

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#1654702 19-Oct-2016 20:38

Item:

networkn:

So I am just LOVING these HD800S now. For the first time since I got into this hobby I don't feel like there is anywhere else to go and this is my (very happy) end game. Obviously, stuff is always changing, and I'd like to try balanced at some stage which may be a new amp (Liquid Carbon would be my dream amp).

Cliche as it is, I am loving discovering all my old music (yet again).

I haven't even tried it with my ifi Micro.

So pleased they came good for you!

(bet you are a little relieved too...)

Only relieved from the perspective of being disappointed. Given what I paid, I knew I could easily recover my costs if I sold them.

I had a total revelation with them the other night. If you have these phones, find a HD copy of Next Plane out (Celine Dion), even if you aren't a CD fan, and listen to the rain, I'll be surprised if you don't feel like it's raining on your shoulders. I can't recommend it enough.

I'd be keen to hear if anyone has any particularly amazing tracks that really show them off.

I'm surprised they aren't harder on poor source. There have been a few 128K tracks I have that haven't sounded quite so flash as on my HD650's which are legendarily forgiving, but on the whole, I am pretty impressed with how versatile they are.

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#1654708 19-Oct-2016 20:40

joker97:

Is this how they brain wash people?

Not sure what you mean?

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#1654711 19-Oct-2016 20:41

networkn:

joker97:

Is this how they brain wash people?

Not sure what you mean?

Keep playing sounds until victim likes/obeys/agrees ... :) Ok maybe not ... but maybe ... If I recall every headphones I had took a few goes before I liked them ... hmm ... audiophiles call it burn in ... brain wash!

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#1654713 19-Oct-2016 20:44

joker97:

networkn:

joker97:

Is this how they brain wash people?

Not sure what you mean?

Keep playing sounds until victim likes/obeys/agrees ... :) Ok maybe not ... but maybe ... If I recall every headphones I had took a few goes before I liked them ... hmm ... audiophiles call it burn in ... brain wash!

Well in this instance I listened to them twice, once for 40 minutes, which is when I wrote about how disappointed I was with them, and the next time where I got about an hour on them and the only thing that happened in the middle was the music that was playing for 18 hours in the middle. I'd be surprised if you could get a placebo effect

on such a strong negative reaction in the the space of 18 hours with 2 x 1 hour listening samples. It's possible I guess, but either way, I am at least happy that I bought them now.

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#1654720 19-Oct-2016 20:53

networkn:

hamstring:

Yeah baby! I had a similar instance with my Geek Out V2 DAC/Amp. I was decidedly underwhelmed for the first day then I kept it running with music and videos etc for 4 days. It was a massive difference. I can't really understand it but it was unbelievable. I'm really happy the 800s are starting to come around. I'm also glad you got the last pair since if they were in stock I would have pulled the trigger and faced the wrath ;)

I suspect it was an issue that the Membranes of the speakers had not yet "stretched" or weren't getting full movement.

Well, I currently have about 10 pairs of headphones in my house. My wife, normally fairly understanding, was not happy.

It was my intention to consolidate before xmas so I am going to be selling the following gear in the next few weeks.

1) Bose QC25 Black Limited Edition (Got a cheap upgrade to QC35) They have about 30 hours on them.

2) Sony Bluetooth Headphones (These have about 15 hours on them, got them in 2014) MDR-10RBT

3) Blackbox M10 Noise Cancelling Headphones (well used, in great condition, surprisingly not too much worse than the QC25's for NC.

4) Siberia 800 Wireless Gaming Headphones (Will use my HD800S for gaming and my QC35's for Skype and portable music listening).

5) Logitech Wireless G910 Headphones (In some ways just as good as the Siberia)

Not sure if I will sell my T1's (Generation 1) or HD650's as I don't think I'll get much for them.

I've sent you a PM :)

t0ny

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#1654724 19-Oct-2016 21:00

I had the same issue getting used to the HD800S. Actually, i felt the same moving from the NAD's to the Shure 1840's to HD800S. My theory is that our ears gets tuned for a particular sound and anything new take some getting used to. The rain in 'next plane out' is definatly something :)

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#1654729 19-Oct-2016 21:13

t0ny:

I had the same issue getting used to the HD800S. Actually, i felt the same moving from the NAD's to the Shure 1840's to HD800S. My theory is that our ears gets tuned for a particular sound and anything new take some getting used to. The rain in 'next plane out' is definatly something :)

I know it sounds bizzarre, but I literally had to keep shrugging my shoulders etc because it felt so real. My son (7) did the same thing. Freaky deaky.

I am not sure mine was getting used to the signature sound, since I have been back to my T1's for reference and didn't notice the same shock back and forwards.

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#1654827 19-Oct-2016 23:28

I am powering my HD800S with a Crack Amp and Speedball upgrade, what about you guys?

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