Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsTOTL Endgame but source dependent! Like Tyl, I'm out!
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2019
I am semi-retired, but back on the road full-time air travel weekly. For years I have been buying high-end headphones, in the $500-$2800. range. I spend hours reading reviews, analyzing cables and Daps. I use most items a short time, sell them at a loss, and pursue the next great sound. It is important to me travelling 80% of the time, to be able to have my home listening experience on the road, because when I'm travelling, that is my life. So knowing that I have had Sennheiser, Oppo, Focal, Sony, Audeze, Grado & Mr. Speakers to name a few. This is important for you to understand as to why my review is such. There are many variables influencing sound, the quality of the file, the cable, the DAC /AMP, and the actual Headphones. Knowing that, when we look at HP reviews we have to carefully look at those variables, as well as the listeners preferences, to determine how the review applies to you. In my case the music I like is Jazz, Classical, singer /songwriter and Broadway and Movie Soundtracks. Across all of the years, the most fascinating pair of headphones I ever owned was the Sennheiser H800. The soundstage, detail, timber, the note extension, the air were aspects I never experienced with any other headphones. I always went back to the HD800s as a reference sound, to check the tonality of a voice, the depth of strings, the quality of an oboe or flute, the strike of a piano key. The treble could get a little sibilant, and the bass a little lean, but they sparkled. I sold them because they were open, I was seldom home and I seldom listened to them. Recently back on the road, and after purchasing the most high-end DAP /AMP I had ever owned the Cayin N8, I searched again for a good closed back sound. The Sony WMZ 1000v3, Focal Elegia, Mr Speakers C, AKG N90, Sony 1ZR, I was considering the new Focal Stellia. I became aware of the Sennheiser HD820, never knowing they had been released. From the moment I put them on, the reference level sound I remember came back to me. The depth, the sparkle, the range, the timber, taking a semi-sibilant alto vocal, and giving it breadth, neutral and sibilance gone. I know I didn't want the Senns because of the 300 Ohms, and dependence upon an amp, but I have to say, they sing like no other. I've had them about 2 weeks, have about 50 hours on them. I bought a Moon Audio Black Dragon Premium balanced cable, to replace the long stock cable, with a shorter length for travel, more durable connectors and best sound. I bought the Accessory House Global 2XL case for travel. Have worn them on 8 flights. They are noise isolating, and frankly good enough where I can enjoy the music. I'm not really a fan of "electronic" headphones. I have felt, when I retire officially these Sennheiser HD820 and my Sony Z1R are my end game headphones. I've been through everything but electrostats, and these give me awesome reference sound and snuggle warmth with the Sony's. After purchasing I still follow reviews and keep reading the that the Sennheiser are at a High end Treble peaky, and the Sony's are more warm, and maybe something like the Focal Stella and Meize Empyrean are the in the middle, not sibilant, not bassy, but best all arounders. So this morning I'm thinking how can what I hear be so different. How can I think the HD820s
are the best all arounders for me. Every HP is a compromise somewhere, but I think the HD 820s are the most enjoyable and perfect. So I did a comparison between the HD820s powered by the Cayin N8 balanced, and my Sony NW zx300. In the quiet of my home I Listened to a high resolution file of DreamBoat Annie, one of my all time favorites, for dynamics, sparkle, bass, mids and treble and soundstage. On the Sony ZX300 the top end sounded thin, in fact a tad sibilant, the whole sound lacked the end game sound I had been hearing. I went to the Cayin N8, Ahh...Sennheiser HD820 I am fully satisfied with, the comfort, the build quality and the sound, what more could I want. So I know there are others out there buy .High-end Headphones, and search for great sound. Sound is subjective, but I have learned a lot from other reviewers, in order to gain a perspective. Get confused by some reviews that raise a product on a pedestal, and others that say the same product is middling. I know this is a long review, without measurements and spectrum comparisons. But I hope it will help others. No single Headphone does it all. but in your private listening room, I am convinced that the Sennheiser deliver everything anyone would ever want, and if stuck on an island or stopping all future purchases with the HD820, you will enjoy them, you will hear detail you never knew was there, transported to another realm, and enjoy the music, taking into consideration all the variables. Using the N8 and quality files, there is no fatiguing highs, and there is plenty of bass, and everything in the middle. This may be my last HP review, thank you amazon for the opportunity to share and help others in the community, enjoy the music, Chip out!* (*reference to guru Tyl Herstens, who I followed for years, and is now downsized and enjoying the world! God Bless on your Journey!)
