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Post by ronzo56 on Nov 17, 2016 13:04:46 GMT
I have had a pair of HD800's for sometime. I have tried two Anax mods. A mod with a laser cut foam with trapezoid and without. Thinner liner and thicker. Dust cover off and on and dust cover in but not attached. I have even been told by a person who's ears usually agree with mine that my pair doesn't need mods. I am now back to minimal mods. A little thin foam around the driver and loose dust covers. TBH the 6 KHz issue has never been my major complaint with them with most of the music I listen too. It's the bass. A little thin, great clarity but no slam.
My question is, that as the HD800 filter is making it's way into the "wild", what are people's impressions of what it does to the sound of the actual headphone. I know what it should do theoretically based on freqency response graphs of the stock headphone. What are those of you that have physically heard the two together impressions? I may have missed something in my search. If I have I apologize in advance for wasting your time replying. Mostly would like to know if the bass response is improved and does it still retain the clarity without the treble sizzle it is so well known for.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Nov 17, 2016 13:37:56 GMT
To me the overall sound improves. Not many people have heard it I reckon. Brian did when he visited me and compared with and without filter for quite some time. He thought the HD800 on Kameleon was 'better' than HD650 on Kameleon and I fully agreed with that statement. HD650 was more tonally correct in the lower treble but overall the HD800 is 'better' on many fronts. How much better is up to the listener and their preferences.
The biggest problem I have with the HD800 is lack of 'grunt/body' which is cured with the filter. To me the peak in the treble is a problem. The HD800 and HE350 both can trigger a ringing in my ears (a beep) where other headphones do not. In both the HE350 and HD800 it doesn't happen when on the Kameleon.
The character remains the same to me treble level is simply is too much for me and toning down the offending part only helps and doesn't affect clarity which resides between 1kHz and 3kHz
The spaciousness remains but the hyper detailing is not 'hyper' anymore but still more detailed than HD650 on Kameleon. Getting rid of the 'hyper' aspect makes it less fatiguing. You can listen longer at higher SPL. to Clarity remains the same, mids remain the same. Bass/body improves (more presence, same quality) and hyperdetail is lowered to excellent detail. The sound isn't muffled or darker at all. Stereo width/spaciousness may a smidgeon smaller as that and the hyper details by the treble peak is lowered. Lowered even more than the HD800S or SD mod.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Dec 10, 2016 18:29:39 GMT
only just received my Kameleon recently. got the filter modules for my 650 and lcd2. much preferring the 650 filtered over the lcd2 filtered, not just for comfort.
i have already considered an alternative to my lcd2 as a result and the hd800 is a possibility. it would have to be damn impressive to beat a filtered 650. if i can find a dealer that will loan me a hd800 (quite confident i can), i will take a chance and order a module for it from Jeremy.
you guys have whetted my appetite .
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Dec 10, 2016 19:37:20 GMT
I have 2 HD800 filters, you can loan a filter from me as well.
And yes the HD800 is better on the Kameleon than HD650 (more realism and instrument 'separation' but the HD650 is tonally more 'correct'. Haven't used my HD650 in a long time.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Dec 30, 2016 23:32:38 GMT
cheers for that offer Frans and i may well take you up on it. i am considering a few changes to my headphone inventory and other projects, i just need to prioritise. its a bit of a juggling act
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Dec 31, 2016 16:51:25 GMT
one thing i am curious about.......... i have read that the later S version of the hd800 addresses some of the issues with the original's FR. i am not expecting any of you have heard the 2 and compared but any opinions on the 2 options? filtered hd800 against stock hd800s.
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solderdude
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Post by solderdude on Dec 31, 2016 18:58:19 GMT
Yes, heard them side by side. The HD800S is said to have more bass. To my ears it doesn't nor is it seen in graphs out there. Some of the treble nasties is less. The supersharp 'edge' it has is decreased compared to the HD800. Perhaps the less sharp treble masks the perceived lack of bass a little less giving the impression of more bass ? Strangely enough when looking at the plots more closely it reveals that the HD800S has measurably LESS subbass than the HD800 ! Maybe the considerable higher distortion in the bass (HD800 is much better in this regard) could be responsible for a perceived increase in bass ? Judging from Tyll's plots (frequency, impedance and distortion) and HD800 HD800S Russian plots the HD800S driver seems to be damped a little more, possibly resulting in higher 2nd harmonic distortion and more subbass roll-off. Just like in tube amps increased 2nd harmonics may result in a perceived increase in bass. In any case the difference is VERY small and not worth mentioning. To me the only audible difference was less 'ssssharp' sss'es and slightly more realism in the treble. Not nearly to the amount of what the Kameleon shaves off as that one also adresses the 10kHz peak which the resonator doesn't and adds a substantial amount of subbass and thereby removing the 'sterile' sound. BUT all in all it is still a relatively 'cold' and 'analytic' headphone which lacks body and has a sharp top end. I certainly wouldn't trade in an HD800 for an HD800S certainly when I would have to pay a premium for that. In fact ... I suspect an HD800 on Kameleon will sound better than an HD800S on Kameleon as the amount of bass will be the same (normal levels) but the S version will show more bass distortion (read this as ; warmer and slightly less 'tight' bass) Granted the black paint and extra cable are nice, maybe the paint doesn't come off as easily as well. The HD800 is notrious, mine has paint coming off as soon as it bumps against something. Fortunately I only listen to them and when on my head I don't see them. Needing reading glasses to examine everything closer than 1 meter I don't really notice it though. On the Kameleon they gain 'weight' and 'body' and loose the 'bright' character. Those that heard it say they were surprised the wide soundstage wasn't affected and that it totally didn't sound like a 'standard' HD800 .... and that's a good thing. I know many people love the stock HD800 but I am certainly not one of them.
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shiro
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Post by shiro on Jan 1, 2017 13:36:47 GMT
Jeez, considering the price you'd think Senn could afford a gram or two of decent paint.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Jan 1, 2017 14:10:59 GMT
The same can happen with the hd6xx; especially if you stretch the band to enthusiastically to lessen the grip. The paint flakes off the headband which also a pity.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 1, 2017 18:43:03 GMT
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jello
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Post by jello on Jan 2, 2017 1:18:01 GMT
Private sale on forums circa £550-600. Trade-in or ex-demo pairs sold by a dealer (ex-demo pairs sometimes have full 5 yr warranty) roughly £700-800 from what I've seen.
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oldson
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Post by oldson on Jan 8, 2017 17:18:57 GMT
i will bide my time and wait for a good forum sale item. since last night my headphone requirements have altered slightly...... wanted to relax in the lounge with my x1 and d2000 but this was short lived due to the denon's none existent isolation. so a good sounding headphone for portable use is now higher up the pecking order for me, but will still keep an eye out for a good deal on a used hd800.
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Post by tunkejazz on Aug 3, 2017 19:02:43 GMT
I finally managed to source and "almost new" HD800 for ~650 EU and now I am waiting for the components to build the Kameleon filter module.
So far I have used the filter from my HD650 that simply adds a bit more sub-bass and seems to leave the rest of the FR untouched. I thought I would not be able to listen to them in stock form, but I actually like them with the HD650 filter. I agree that I would prefer not having the 6kHz resonance peak, but I added the 1ply of toilet paper as mentioned by Frans and it helps significantly to reduce it. The extra bass from the HD650 is very welcomed :-)
First impressions are surprisingly positive, even without the dedicated HD800 filter. After listening for 1hour last night, I went back to my HD650 and I preferred the former. Will see if my impressions are the same after the session tonight!
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Post by tunkejazz on Sept 1, 2017 11:50:18 GMT
I just finished soldering the HD800 filter. I made a small modification in C5, to have a tad more bass (220 nF instead of 330 nF) :-) The result is incredible. These cans separate instruments better than my filtered HD650, but having roughly the same amount of bass and rumble. With the filter, they are not tiring at all.
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Rabbit
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Post by Rabbit on Sept 1, 2017 14:46:49 GMT
I'm very jealous. Love the hd650 filtered but it sounds like the hd800 is another step up. ........ one day.
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