Sennheiser HD800 S Review | 93 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£1,580
  • Avg. price in US: ~$1,800
  • Form factor: over-ear
  • Connectivity: wired
  • Battery life: N/A hours
  • Active noise cancellation (ANC): no

Sennheiser HD800 S review. Compare 93 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among headphones and if it is worth buying.

4.7

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the headphones' quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best headphones on the market.

Score components:

80.0%

3.7

Technical Score

20.0%

9.0

User score

Poor
3.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

4.3

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

5.8

Design

8.0%

2.9

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

1.2

Calls & Controls

Poor
9.0

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

9.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(475)
amazon
4.7
(41)
amazon
3.9
(28)
amazon
3.7
(6)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(475)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(41)
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(28)
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(6)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 0.2
    Gaming

    Score components:

    35.0%

    0.0

    Audio latency

    25.0%

    0.0

    Low-latency game mode

    20.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

    12.0%

    0.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    8.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

  • 0.7
    Travel

    Score components:

    28.0%

    1.0

    Active noise cancellation (ANC)

    24.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    18.0%

    2.5

    Weight

    16.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    14.0%

    0.0

    Ambient sound mode

  • 0.2
    Calls

    Score components:

    28.0%

    0.0

    Noise-canceling microphone

    24.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

    18.0%

    0.0

    Multipoint support

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    14.0%

    0.0

    Companion app

  • 1.8
    Workout

    Score components:

    28.0%

    2.5

    Weight

    24.0%

    1.0

    Water resistance

    20.0%

    4.0

    IP rating

    16.0%

    0.0

    Battery life

    12.0%

    1.0

    Can be used as a headset

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is a reference-class open-back dynamic headphone featuring massive 56mm Ring Radiator transducers and patented absorber technology to eliminate frequency masking. Boasting an expansive frequency response of 4 Hz – 51,000 Hz, a high impedance of 300 Ω, and a low total harmonic distortion of <0.02%, it is precision-engineered for analytical listening. Main pros include its industry-leading wide soundstage, surgical imaging accuracy, and lightweight 330g design with plush microfiber earpads for exceptional long-term comfort. However, its high impedance necessitates a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance, and its lean bass response and occasional treble brightness may be fatiguing or insufficient for bass-heavy genres.

Technical Specifications of Sennheiser HD800 S

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the headphones' technical performance, covering key areas such as sound quality, noise cancelling, microphone performance, battery life, comfort, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare headphones based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

52.0%

4.3

Sound

20.0%

2.7

Features

10.0%

5.8

Design

8.0%

2.9

Connectivity

6.0%

1.0

Battery

4.0%

1.2

Calls & Controls

3.7
Sennheiser HD800 S has a technical score of 3.69 points, which is lower than that of 91% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the headphones.

When it matters: When you want to understand how headphones perform in real listening and how reliable they are in terms of comfort, audio quality, battery life, and long-term use.

Score components:

70.0%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

9.4

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(475)
amazon
4.7
(41)
amazon
3.9
(28)
amazon
3.7
(6)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(475)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(41)
Amazon_logo.png
3.9
(28)
Amazon_logo.png
3.7
(6)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.0
Sennheiser HD800 S has a user score of 8.97 points, which is higher than that of 84.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the headphones.
When it matters: When you prefer headphones that have already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
9.4
Sennheiser HD800 S has a popularity of 9.4 points, which is higher than 70.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.7

Overall score

40.0%

2.2

Price

4.0
Sennheiser HD800 S has a quality-to-price ratio of 4 points, which is lower than 98.1% of products in this category.
Active noise cancellation (ANC)
What it is: Reduces background noise using active technology
When it matters: When blocking office, travel, or aircraft noise is a priority.

Importance: HIGH

no
Sennheiser HD800 S does not support active noise cancellation. 27.4% of headphones support active noise cancellation.
Driver type
What it is: Type of speaker driver technology used
When it matters: When the underlying sound character and driver technology matter to you.

Importance: MEDIUM

dynamic
Driver size
What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

Importance: MEDIUM

56 mm
Sennheiser HD800 S uses a driver size of 56 mm, larger driver size than 96.5% of headphones and equal to 0.2% of headphones.
Number of drivers
What it is: Total number of speaker drivers per earcup
When it matters: When multi-driver designs are part of your buying criteria.

Importance: LOW

1
Sennheiser HD800 S uses 1 drivers, equal to 96% of headphones.
Lowest frequency
What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=10 Hz

4 Hz
Sennheiser HD800 S reaches a lowest frequency of 4 Hz, lower lowest frequency than 97.2% of headphones and equal to 2.1% of headphones.
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Noise-canceling microphone
What it is: Built-in microphone reduces background noise during calls
When it matters: When you take calls in busy spaces and want your voice to stay clearer.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Can be used as a headset
What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Sennheiser HD800 S is not headset-ready, while 15.3% is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
Number of microphones
What it is: Total number of built-in microphones
When it matters: When call pickup quality and beamforming support matter to you.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=2

N/A
Boom microphone
What it is: Includes detachable boom microphone for voice clarity
When it matters: When you need stronger voice clarity for gaming, streaming, or work calls.

Importance: LOW

N/A
Microphone SNR
What it is: Signal-to-noise ratio of the microphone
When it matters: When call clarity matters and you want your voice picked up more cleanly instead of buried in background hiss.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >80 dB

N/A
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Connectivity
What it is: Available connection methods (wired, wireless, Bluetooth, etc.)
When it matters: When the headphones need to match how you listen across wired and wireless devices.

Importance: HIGH

wired
Sennheiser HD800 S supports wired connectivity, equal to 52.6% of headphones.
Bluetooth version
What it is: Version of Bluetooth technology supported
When it matters: When wireless stability, efficiency, and feature support matter more than treating Bluetooth as a box-check spec.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=5.0

N/A
Maximum Bluetooth range
What it is: Maximum wireless operating distance from source device
When it matters: When you move around rooms and want fewer dropouts from your source device.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=10 m

N/A
Audio latency
What it is: Delay between audio and video in wireless mode
When it matters: When you watch video or play games and need sound to stay in sync.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: <60 ms

N/A
Multipoint support
What it is: Supports simultaneous connections to multiple devices
When it matters: When you switch often between a phone and a laptop during the day.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
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Ambient sound mode
What it is: Allows external sounds to pass through for awareness
When it matters: When you need to stay aware of traffic, voices, or announcements.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
EQ support
What it is: Allows customization of sound profile via equalizer
When it matters: When the stock tuning is not enough and you want to shape bass, mids, or treble to match your taste.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
Sennheiser HD800 S does not support EQ customization. 23.3% of headphones support EQ.
Companion app
What it is: Dedicated mobile app for customization and updates
When it matters: When software customization, updates, and extra controls matter.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Adjustable ANC levels
What it is: Allows adjustment of noise cancellation intensity levels
When it matters: When you move between quiet rooms, offices, streets, and public transport and do not want one ANC setting for every situation.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=4

N/A
Voice assistant support
What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

Importance: LOW

no
Sennheiser HD800 S does not support voice assistants. 60.9% of headphones support voice assistants.
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Battery life
What it is: Playback time on a single charge
When it matters: When you commute, travel, or work long shifts and do not want charging breaks to interrupt listening.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >45 hours

N/A
Battery life with ANC
What it is: Playback time with active noise cancellation enabled
When it matters: When you plan to keep noise cancellation on for most of the day.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >40 hours

N/A
Charging time
What it is: Time required for a full battery charge
When it matters: When you often need the headphones ready again after short breaks.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <=2 hours

N/A
Quick charge
What it is: Provides quick playback time with short charging period
When it matters: When a short top-up needs to deliver useful playback before you leave.

Importance: MEDIUM

N/A
Battery capacity
What it is: Total energy storage of the internal battery
When it matters: When you are estimating how much battery headroom the design may have before relying only on the official runtime claim.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=720 mAh

N/A
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Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: MEDIUM

Sennheiser
Form factor
What it is: Overall design type of the headphones (over-ear, on-ear, in-ear, etc.)
When it matters: When comfort, portability, and isolation depend on the overall headphone style.

Importance: HIGH

over-ear
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the headphones
When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: <150 g

330 g
Sennheiser HD800 S weighs 330 g, heavier than 87.6% of headphones and equal to 1% of headphones.
Acoustic design
What it is: Type of acoustic design (open-back, closed-back, semi-open)
When it matters: When you need the right balance of isolation, leakage, and soundstage.

Importance: HIGH

open-back
Clamp force
What it is: Amount of clamping pressure applied to the head
When it matters: When comfort and fit security matter during long sessions.

Importance: MEDIUM

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Sennheiser HD800 S vs the average headphone

  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    Sennheiser HD800 S has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average headphone does not. 22.9% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
    What it is: Certified for high-resolution audio playback
    When it matters: When official support for high-resolution playback matters to you.

    Importance: LOW

    Sennheiser HD800 S has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average headphone does not. 22.9% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 16 mm larger driver size
    Sennheiser HD800 S uses a larger driver size than the average headphone (56 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
    What it is: Diameter of the speaker driver unit
    When it matters: When you want extra hardware context behind how the headphones may handle bass weight, scale, or overall presentation.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sennheiser HD800 S uses a larger driver size than the average headphone (56 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.56 mm vs 40 mm
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
    What it is: Lowest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When deeper bass extension matters for your music or movie listening.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <=10 Hz

    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.4 Hz vs 18 Hz
  • 31,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (51,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
    What it is: Highest audio frequency the headphones can reproduce
    When it matters: When treble extension and overall frequency reach matter to you.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: >=24000 Hz

    Sennheiser HD800 S has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (51,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.51000 Hz vs 20000 Hz
  • 0.28 % lower distortion
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (0 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
    What it is: Percentage of harmonic distortion in audio output
    When it matters: When cleaner sound reproduction matters at louder volumes.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <=1%

    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (0 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.0.02 % vs 0.3 %
  • 10 mm more spacious earcup height
    Sennheiser HD800 S offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (70 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
    What it is: Internal height of the earcup cavity
    When it matters: When larger ears need enough space inside the earcups.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sennheiser HD800 S offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (70 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.70 mm vs 60 mm
  • Open-back design
    Sennheiser HD800 S uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones use an open-back housing that lets air and sound pass through more freely than a closed design.
    When it matters: When you listen in quiet places and care more about spacious sound than blocking outside noise or preventing sound leakage.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sennheiser HD800 S uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
  • 1.8 m more useful cable length
    Sennheiser HD800 S offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
    What it is: Length of the supplied audio cable
    When it matters: When your desk, TV, or audio setup needs more or less movement range.

    Importance: LOW

    Sennheiser HD800 S offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.3 m vs 1.2 m
  • 10 mm more spacious earcup height
    Sennheiser HD800 S offers more spacious earcup height than the average headphone (70 mm vs 60 mm). The average headphones offer an inner earcup height of 60 mm.
  • 1.8 m more useful cable length
    Sennheiser HD800 S offers a more useful cable length than the average headphone (3 m vs 1.2 m). The average headphones have a cable length of 1.2 m.
  • Open-back design
    Sennheiser HD800 S uses an open-back design, while the average headphone does not. 9.3% of headphones have an open-back design.
  • Hi-Res Audio certification
    Sennheiser HD800 S has Hi-Res Audio certification, the average headphone does not. 22.9% of headphones are Hi-Res Audio certified.
  • 16 mm larger driver size
    Sennheiser HD800 S uses a larger driver size than the average headphone (56 mm vs 40 mm). The average headphones use a driver size of 40 mm.
  • 14 Hz lower bass extension
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower lowest frequency than the average headphone (4 Hz vs 18 Hz). The average headphones reach a lowest frequency of 18 Hz.
  • 31,000 Hz higher treble extension
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a higher highest frequency than the average headphone (51,000 Hz vs 20,000 Hz). The average headphones reach a highest frequency of 20,000 Hz.
  • 0.28 % lower distortion
    Sennheiser HD800 S has a lower total harmonic distortion than the average headphone (0 % vs 0.3 %). The average headphones have total harmonic distortion of 0.3 %.
  • 51.4% higher weight
    Sennheiser HD800 S is heavier than the average headphone (330 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
  • No passive noise reduction
    Sennheiser HD800 S does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • Not headset-ready
    Sennheiser HD800 S is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • No voice assistant support
    Sennheiser HD800 S does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • No passive noise reduction
    Sennheiser HD800 S does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones reduce outside noise through physical sealing, fit, and materials rather than active electronics.
    When it matters: When you want better isolation from fit and seal alone, even with ANC turned off or not available.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sennheiser HD800 S does not offer passive noise reduction, while the average headphone does. 82.7% of headphones have passive noise reduction.
  • 51.4% higher weight
    Sennheiser HD800 S is heavier than the average headphone (330 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.
    What it is: Total weight of the headphones
    When it matters: When long listening sessions make wearing comfort more important.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Good value: <150 g

    Sennheiser HD800 S is heavier than the average headphone (330 g vs 218 g). The average pair of headphones weighs 218 g.330 g vs 218 g
  • No voice assistant support
    Sennheiser HD800 S does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
    What it is: Compatible with voice assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant
    When it matters: When hands-free control is part of your daily routine.

    Importance: LOW

    Sennheiser HD800 S does not support voice assistants, the average headphone does. 60.8% of headphones support voice assistants.
  • Not headset-ready
    Sennheiser HD800 S is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
    What it is: Shows whether the headphones can handle voice chat and calls in addition to normal audio playback.
    When it matters: When one pair needs to cover music, calls, meetings, and gaming chat.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    Sennheiser HD800 S is not headset-ready, while the average headphone is. 84.7% of headphones can be used as headsets.
  • 17.56x more expensive
    Sennheiser HD800 S is more expensive than the average headphone (£1,580 vs £90).
    Sennheiser HD800 S is more expensive than the average headphone (£1,580 vs £90).£1,580 vs £90
  • 69.7% worse value for money
    Sennheiser HD800 S has worse value for money than the average headphone (3.97 vs 6.736).
    What it is: An indicator that combines the headphones' overall rating with their cost.
    When it matters: When you are looking for headphones that offer a strong balance of performance, features, and price.
    Sennheiser HD800 S has worse value for money than the average headphone (3.97 vs 6.736).3.97 vs 6.74

Graphic comparison of Sennheiser HD800 S and

Attribute category
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Third-party reviews

What customers like about Sennheiser HD800 S?

  • Industry-leading soundstage width and depth, often described as speaker-like or holographic
  • Exceptional comfort and lightweight design (330g), suitable for long listening sessions
  • High level of detail retrieval and transparency, revealing fine nuances in recordings
  • Improved treble response over the original HD800, with a built-in absorber to reduce harsh peaks
  • Excellent pinpoint imaging and instrument separation
  • Highly durable build quality using aerospace-grade materials

What customers dislike about Sennheiser HD800 S?

  • Lacks sub-bass impact and 'slam,' which can make genres like EDM or Hip-Hop feel thin
  • Highly dependent on high-quality amplification (300 ohms) to reach full potential
  • Open-back design offers zero noise isolation and significant sound leakage
  • Extremely revealing nature can make poorly recorded or compressed tracks sound unpleasant
  • High price point and expensive proprietary replacement cables
  • Large earcups may feel loose or slide off if the wearer leans forward

Expert reviews

A
audiomatome.com
31/08/2025

The Audiomatome review praises the Sennheiser HD800S as an exceptional audio system, highlighting its unparalleled, massive, and holographic soundstage for immense immersion. Key pros include the lightweight (330g) design with comfortable D-shaped earcups, combined with excellent micro-detail retrieval, natural vocals, and fast, precise instrument separation. Conversely, the review...Read more

M
majorhifi.com
16/08/2024

The Sennheiser HD800S remains a legendary, world-class reference headphone that holds its ground in the modern market thanks to its exceptional engineering and unmatched spatial presentation. Built with aerospace-grade vibration-damping materials and a unique 56mm Ring Radiator transducer, its physical design directly translates into its acoustic strengths. The headphone is a...Read more

H
headphoneer.com
25/07/2024

The Sennheiser HD800S remains a benchmark in high-fidelity audio, celebrated for its massive, holographic soundstage and exceptional detail retrieval. Built primarily from lightweight plastic with user-replaceable microfiber pads, it offers top-tier wearing comfort. Its sound profile is balanced and highly neutral, featuring an airy upper end, linear sub-bass extension, and...Read more

R
rtings.com
12/06/2023

The Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones are praised for exceptional audio reproduction accuracy, featuring an open-back design that creates an incredibly wide, immersive, and speaker-like soundstage. These lightweight, comfortable headphones offer superior breathability and a durable, sturdy build, making them ideal for long-duration critical listening sessions. RTINGS.comHowever, the...Read more

A
audiosciencereview.com
15/12/2020

The Sennheiser HD800S is a solid yet remarkably lightweight headphone that offers excellent build quality and exceptional long-term wearing comfort. Structurally, it features exceptionally large ear cups that fit optimally without fuss, paired with a long, robust, and lightweight cord terminated with a high-quality 1/4-inch connector. In listening tests, the reviewer highlighted a...Read more

E
expertreviews.co.uk
18/12/2018

The Sennheiser HD 800S open-back headphones provide an outstanding sonic experience that rectifies the few shortcomings of their legendary predecessor, the HD 800, for a price of £1,400. Their biggest strength lies in an unparalleled, expansive soundstage with exceptional instrument separation and a highly refined, accurate midrange. Sennheiser successfully smoothed out the sibilant...Read more

M
majorhifi.com
07/04/2016

The MajorHiFi review describes the Sennheiser HD800 S as an endgame open-back headphone that improves upon its predecessor with superior articulation, higher resolution, and a refined, expansive soundstage. Key enhancements include a more graceful, less piercing treble response, alongside detailed, linear low-end performance and excellent comfort for long listening sessions....Read more

S
soundstagesolo.com
01/04/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is a revoiced, open-back headphone designed to deliver a more natural, full, and forgiving tonal balance compared to its notoriously bass-light predecessor, the HD 800. According to factory specifications, it introduces an extra 1.5dB of bass below 150Hz and attenuates mid-treble output by 3dB to round out its sound profile. Hand-built in Germany with massive...Read more

W
whathifi.com
11/04/2016

The Sennheiser HD800S open-back headphones offer sensational sound quality, representing a clear performance step up from the original HD800 model. Priced at £1200, these domestic headphones weigh a relatively light 330g and are built using a durable, modern combination of metal, high-quality plastics, and comfortable microfibre cloth ear pads. Their technical design features a...Read more

H
head-fi.org
03/01/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is praised for its exceptional, expansive soundstage and lightweight, comfortable fit, offering a balanced and highly detailed, neutral sound profile ideal for orchestral music and gaming. These open-back headphones are recognized for their durable, high-quality construction, providing long-term reliability for heavy use. Conversely, the review notes that the...Read more

B
bonedo.de
21/03/2018

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back, over-ear dynamic headphone that delivers an exceptionally natural and uncolored frequency response alongside reference-grade spatial imaging. Weighing a relatively light 330 grams without cables, it features a unique "RoboCop-style" design made from a blend of metal and plastic, paired with breathable, comfortable microfiber padding....Read more

H
hifi-regler.de
21/04/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800 S headphone review by STEREO magazine highlights its musical evolution and outstanding performance. A major pro is its enhanced musicality and emotional warmth, which fixes the slight treble peak and coldness found in the original HD 800. The review strongly praises the inclusion of a 4-pin symmetrical cable, which significantly boosts dynamics, openness, and...Read more

M
miniklangwunder.de
04/01/2019

The Sennheiser HD800S is an open-back, over-ear flagship headphone featuring a 300-ohm impedance and exceptional engineering that makes it remarkably easy to drive, even showing strong scaling potential with high-end desktop sources like the RME ADI-2 DAC. Architecturally, it stands out for its outstanding build quality, featuring tight tolerances, highly durable materials, and...Read more

K
kopfbox.de
12/12/2017

Overview The Sennheiser HD800S is an open-back, over-ear dynamic flagship headphone handcrafted in Germany and priced at approximately €1,600. It features massive 56mm drivers and utilizes a specialized absorber technology to prevent lower frequencies from masking higher ones, resulting in a cleaner sound reproduction. Boasting a futuristic matte black design made from premium,...Read more

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lowbeats.de
22/06/2016

The LowBeats review crowns the Sennheiser HD 800 SGo as a five-star, reference-class masterpiece, highlighting its extraordinary detail, natural openness, and expansive spatial soundstage. It improves upon the original model by using an acoustic absorber system to tame harsh treble peaks, providing a more balanced sound along with premium comfort and a matte black finish. However,...Read more

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kopfhoerer.de
03/02/2021

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back, over-ear reference headphone handcrafted in Germany that delivers a top-tier, analytical sound experience tailored for audiophiles and professional audio engineers. A major strength of this model is its breathtaking detail resolution across the entire 4 - 51,000 Hz frequency spectrum, which offers exceptional transient response and a...Read more

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hifi.de
31/12/2022

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back, over-ear flagship headphone designed for meticulous home audio listening, retailing at a premium price point of €1,799 (with street prices around €1,600). Boasting an exceptionally large 56mm driver engineered with a specialized absorption technology, it prevents deep bass frequencies from masking delicate high-frequency details. The sound...Read more

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lesnumeriques.com
07/04/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back, circumaural Hi-Fi headphone that earns a perfect 5/5 rating for its exceptional, surgical-yet-musical sound quality. Weighing 330 grams, it features an incredibly lightweight and robust German-built design combining plastic and metal components, paired with highly comfortable microfiber ear cushions that excel during long listening sessions....Read more

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zococity.es
09/06/2025

The Sennheiser HD 800S headphones are highly praised by users for delivering an open, natural, and transparent soundstage with exceptional clarity, 3D instrument positioning, and musical resolution. Reviewers highlight their extraordinary comfort, making them suitable for long listening sessions even for individuals with large heads or sensitive ears. The build quality is excellent,...Read more

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misauriculares.com
11/04/2019

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back dynamic headphone priced around €1500–€1700 that excels at orchestral music, classical genres, and jazz due to its immense, three-dimensional soundstage and outstanding technical capabilities. The reviewer praises its exceptional instrumental separation, sharp macro and microdynamics, and a highly realistic, analytical timbre that reveals the...Read more

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gouforit.com
10/04/2026

The Sennheiser HD800S is highly praised as one of the best open-back headphones currently available on the market, justifying its premium price tag of over 1,000 euros for audiophiles seeking critical listening. Manufactured in Germany with aerospace-grade materials, these 330-gram headphones feature huge earcups with handmade microfiber pads and a 56mm dynamic transducer,...Read more

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tnt-audio.com
15/07/2020

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is an open-back dynamic headphone that functions as a highly detailed, comfortable flagship model designed strictly for home use due to its high 300-Ohm impedance and sound leakage. Developed to address the polarizing, overly bright treble and thin bass of its legendary predecessor (the HD 800), this model sacrifices extreme analytical detail for a more...Read more

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ilgazeboaudiofilo.com
13/09/2016

The Sennheiser HD800S represents a significant professional upgrade over the original HD800, particularly in its frequency response, which spans from 4 to 51,000 Hz compared to the predecessor's 6 to 51,000 Hz. Audiophile reviewers and industry professionals note that Sennheiser successfully corrected the cold, "glacial" tonality of the older model by introducing a warmer, more...Read more

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hdphonic.com
12/09/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800 S is reviewed by HDPhonic as a masterful, "plug-and-play" evolution of its legendary predecessor, successfully bridging the gap between audiophile listening and professional audio mastering. The primary pros highlighted are the integration of an innovative Helmholtz resonator that effectively eliminates the piercing 6 kHz treble peak of the original model,...Read more

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ziogiorgio.it
07/07/2016

The ZioGiorgio.it review highlights the Sennheiser HD800S as an exceptional open-back dynamic headphone, noting a major performance leap over the original model thanks to a 56mm driver, an innovative resonance-absorption system, and comfortable Alcantara earpads. It delivers a highly balanced, pure audio presentation with an impressive 4 to 51,000 Hz (-10 dB) frequency response,...Read more

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rkdl.nl
12/02/2025

The RkdL.nl review highlights the Sennheiser HD800S Auric Dinamico as a legendary, reference-class open-back headphone that secures a permanent spot in the audiofiele hall of fame. The primary pros of this model include its advanced 56mm Ring Radiator technology and highly precise, angled drivers that deliver an unparalleled, speaker-like natural spatial soundstage and highly...Read more

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fwdmagazine.be
29/03/2016

The Sennheiser HD 800S builds on its iconic predecessor, the HD 800, by offering a black-matte aesthetic and making critical acoustic adjustments to resolve earlier criticisms. Sennheiser integrated absorber technology from their IE 800 earphones to effectively dampen a notorious 6 kHz frequency peak, significantly reducing the harsh, sibilant "sss" sounds that bothered previous...Read more

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