Sennheiser HD800 vs HD800S – Check Which One Is Best & Why?

Why Do I Recommend The Sennheiser HD 800?

• The Sennheiser HD 800 has a brighter treble tuning for revealing micro-details and recording flaws during critical listening, while the Sennheiser HD 800 S has a smoothed treble response.
• Sennheiser HD 800 features a stronger upper-treble peak for enhanced airiness and perceived resolution in orchestral and acoustic music, whereas the Sennheiser HD 800 S uses a damped high-frequency profile.
• It comes with a leaner bass presentation to maintain maximum tonal neutrality for studio-style monitoring, while the Sennheiser HD 800 S has a slightly boosted low-end.
• The Sennheiser HD 800 has a wider and more expansive soundstage for a speaker-like spatial presentation in classical and live recordings, while the Sennheiser HD 800 S has a slightly more focused stage.
• Sennheiser HD 800 features a more analytical overall tuning for pinpoint evaluation of mix balance and tonal accuracy, whereas the Sennheiser HD 800 S targets a warmer listening profile.
• It has a more diffuse imaging character for conveying natural hall ambience and depth in large-scale recordings, while the Sennheiser HD 800 S emphasizes tighter image boundaries.
• Sennheiser HD 800 includes a purist acoustic design without internal absorber damping to preserve raw driver behavior and unaltered frequency response, whereas the Sennheiser HD 800 S includes absorber technology.

Maybe the Sennheiser HD 800 S can make you comfortable because it’s a little bit cheaper than the Sennheiser HD 800. But you have to compromise all the above-mentioned features. Now the Decision is Yours. I hope it was helpful to choose the right one.

What Common Both Can Do?

• Driver type: Both headphones use dynamic drivers rather than planar or electrostatic designs. This matters because dynamic drivers are known for natural timbre, strong macrodynamics, and compatibility with a wide range of amplifiers.
• Driver size: Each model features a 56 mm driver, which is unusually large for headphones. The large diaphragm allows better air movement, contributing to expansive soundstage and realistic instrument scale.
• Driver technology: Both use Sennheiser’s ring radiator design. This technology reduces diaphragm breakup and distortion, improving clarity and spatial accuracy across the frequency range.
• Back design: The open-back construction is shared by both models. This design allows sound to escape freely, resulting in a more natural and speaker-like presentation with a wide sense of space.
• Ear cup size: Both models use very large ear cups that fully surround the ears. This improves comfort and helps maintain consistent acoustic geometry for accurate sound reproduction.
• Ear pad material: Microfiber ear pads are used on both headphones. This material provides breathability and comfort during long listening sessions while maintaining acoustic consistency.
• Headband padding: The headband padding on both models is replaceable. This matters for long-term ownership, as it allows users to restore comfort after years of use.
• Cable connectors (ear side): Both headphones use dual proprietary 2-pin connectors at the ear cups. This ensures secure attachment and allows for aftermarket cable compatibility.
• Cable detachable: Each model features a detachable cable design. This improves durability, simplifies storage, and makes cable replacement or upgrades easy.
• Weight (without cable): Both headphones weigh approximately 330 grams without the cable. This similarity contributes to comparable comfort and balance during extended listening sessions.
• Intended use: Both are designed for reference-level listening rather than casual portability. This shared focus emphasizes accuracy, transparency, and critical evaluation of recordings.
• Made in: Both models are manufactured in Germany. This reflects similar build standards, quality control, and production philosophy.
• Chassis material: Each headphone uses a combination of metal and high-grade polymer materials. This provides a balance of durability, rigidity, and manageable weight.