Audio T Verdict
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are not simply a more expensive version of the HD 600-series formula. Their huge 56mm Ring Radiator transducers, angled presentation and completely open construction create a sense of scale that is genuinely unusual for a pair of headphones.
What really sets them apart is space. Recordings are spread across an exceptionally broad and clearly defined stereo image, making it easier to hear the size of a venue, the position of individual performers and the acoustic information surrounding them. Sennheiser's absorber technology also helps smooth the more prominent high-frequency resonances associated with the original HD 800, giving the S version a more balanced and cohesive presentation.
They are still incredibly revealing headphones. Poor recordings will not suddenly become beautiful and a mediocre headphone output can quickly become the weakest part of the system. Partner the HD 800 S properly, though, and they remain one of the most impressive ways of listening deeply into a recording without introducing the listening-room acoustics that come with loudspeakers.
Important: Fully Open-Back Headphones
The HD 800 S are among the most open headphones Sennheiser makes. They provide virtually no isolation from surrounding sound and will leak a considerable amount of music into the room. They are designed for serious listening in a quiet environment rather than commuting, offices or listening beside somebody who needs silence.
Sennheiser HD 800 S Open-Back Headphones
The Sennheiser HD 800 S are reference-class open-back headphones built around one of the company's most distinctive transducer designs: a 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic driver.
Rather than using a conventional diaphragm driven principally from its centre, the HD 800 S transducer uses an annular or ring-shaped diaphragm supported at both its inner and outer edges. A 40mm voice coil drives the diaphragm through a V-shaped groove, helping combine the air-moving capability of a large transducer with the rigidity and control needed for low distortion.
Sennheiser then combines the Ring Radiator with patented absorber technology, vibration-controlled construction, angled acoustic presentation and completely open earcups to create an exceptionally large and revealing stereo soundstage.
- Reference-class open-back headphones
- 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducers
- 40mm internally wound voice coils
- Ring diaphragm supported at inner and outer edges
- Sennheiser acoustic absorber technology
- Designed to reduce frequency masking
- Vibration-damped acoustic chassis
- Inert headband damping element
- Angled sound presentation
- 4Hz to 51kHz frequency response
- 300-ohm nominal impedance
- 102dB SPL at 1V
- Less than 0.02% THD
- Exceptional stereo soundstage
- Microfibre ear and headband padding
- Dual-axis articulating earcups
- Adjustable metal headband
- 330g headphone weight
- Detachable symmetrical cables
- 3m 6.35mm unbalanced cable supplied
- 3m 4.4mm balanced cable supplied
- Gold-plated source connectors
- Developed in Germany
- Precision-built in Ireland
The 56mm Ring Radiator Transducer
The Ring Radiator is fundamental to what makes the HD 800 S different from more conventional dynamic headphones.
A very large diaphragm can move plenty of air, but simply increasing diameter also makes keeping the surface rigid and controlled more difficult.
Sennheiser tackles this by using a ring-shaped diaphragm secured at both the outer circumference and the inner edge.
Why a Ring Rather Than a Conventional Diaphragm?
The diaphragm is driven near the centre of the ring by the voice coil while both sides of the annular membrane remain mechanically supported.
This arrangement allows Sennheiser to make use of the large radiating area while controlling unwanted deformation of the diaphragm as it accelerates and decelerates.
The result is designed to provide:
- Large air displacement
- Fast transient response
- Controlled diaphragm movement
- Very low distortion
- Extended low and high frequencies
- Excellent low-level detail retrieval
40mm Voice Coil
The Ring Radiator is driven by a large 40mm voice coil wound by Sennheiser to closely controlled specifications.
The voice coil acts on a V-shaped groove positioned around the diaphragm, distributing the driving force around the ring rather than concentrating it entirely at one small central point.
4Hz to 51kHz Frequency Response
Sennheiser specifies a frequency response extending from 4Hz to 51kHz.
That does not mean listeners are expected to hear ultrasonic frequencies. More useful is the fact that the transducer has been engineered with considerable bandwidth beyond the central audible range rather than being pushed towards its physical limits during normal listening.
Exceptionally Low Distortion
Total harmonic distortion is specified below 0.02% at 1kHz and 1V RMS.
Low distortion is particularly important in a headphone designed for analytical listening because unwanted harmonics can mask subtle information already present in the recording.
The HD 800 S are intended to reveal those small details rather than add additional information of their own.
Patented Absorber Technology
One of the most important differences between the HD 800 S and the original HD 800 is Sennheiser's absorber technology.
The absorber controls resonant energy that can otherwise create pronounced peaks in the frequency response.
This is particularly important because a strong resonance can make quieter information at a nearby higher frequency harder for the human ear to perceive.
What Is Frequency Masking?
Frequency masking occurs when one sufficiently strong sound makes a quieter nearby frequency more difficult to hear.
The information is still physically present in the recording, but the louder frequency effectively obscures it from our perception.
Sennheiser's absorber is designed to reduce resonant peaks before they can produce this masking effect.
Why the Absorber Matters
The absorber is not simply an attempt to make the HD 800 S sound less bright. By controlling particular resonances, Sennheiser aims to make quieter high-frequency information easier to hear while creating a smoother and more balanced overall response than the original HD 800.
HD 800 S Compared With the Original HD 800
The original HD 800 established the fundamental Ring Radiator design and exceptionally broad soundstage that define the series.
The HD 800 S retained that architecture but introduced acoustic absorption to control resonant peaks and produce a more balanced presentation.
The intention was refinement rather than throwing away what made the original headphone special.
Our own Audio T team described the S version as more natural and cohesive, while retaining the precision and huge sense of scale associated with the original design.
An Enormous Stereo Soundstage
The HD 800 S are particularly famous for the sheer scale of their stereo presentation.
Rather than placing everything immediately inside or beside the listener's head, they can create a much broader impression of the recording space.
This can be especially revealing with:
- Classical orchestras
- Live recordings
- Jazz ensembles
- Acoustic recordings
- Film scores
- Recordings made in churches and concert halls
- Well-produced electronic music
Hear the Recording Venue
A high-quality recording contains more than the direct sound of instruments and voices.
Reflections, reverberation and tiny differences in arrival time tell us something about the space in which the performance took place.
The open construction, low distortion and broad imaging of the HD 800 S make those spatial cues particularly easy to follow.
Angled Acoustic Presentation
The transducers are positioned so that sound reaches the ears at an angle rather than firing directly across the sides of the head.
This more closely resembles the way sound arrives from a pair of loudspeakers positioned in front of a listener.
The arrangement helps create:
- Greater stereo width
- More precise image placement
- Improved sense of front-to-back depth
- More natural spatial perspective
- A less obviously headphone-bound presentation
Completely Open Earcups
The rear of each driver is open to the surrounding air.
This allows rearward sound energy to escape instead of reflecting around a sealed enclosure and interacting with the diaphragm again.
The open architecture is central to the HD 800 S sound, but inevitably makes them unsuitable where isolation is required.
These Really Do Leak Sound
At normal listening levels somebody sitting nearby is likely to hear a significant amount of what you are playing. Likewise, conversation, television and other room noise will reach you easily. The HD 800 S need a quiet listening environment to justify what they can do.
Vibration-Damped Chassis
The transducer system is mounted within a chassis designed to prevent unwanted mechanical vibration from contaminating the signal.
Sennheiser uses purpose-built composite materials and an inert damping element within the headband to reduce energy travelling through the structure of the headphones.
The aim is to let the transducer produce the movement while the rest of the headphone remains as mechanically quiet as possible.
An Inert Headband Insert
The headband is not merely there to keep the earcups on your head.
Its internal damping element forms part of Sennheiser's mechanical-control strategy, helping reduce vibration travelling from one side of the headphone structure to the other.
300-Ohm Impedance
The HD 800 S have a nominal impedance of 300 ohms.
This is the same broad impedance territory occupied by Sennheiser's HD 600, HD 650 and HD 660S2, but the HD 800 S are sufficiently revealing that the quality of the amplifier becomes particularly important.
A headphone output can make them loud without necessarily making them sound their best.
102dB SPL at 1V
Sennheiser specifies 102dB SPL at 1V.
The combination of 300-ohm impedance and this sensitivity means the headphones benefit from an amplifier capable of providing a healthy voltage swing with low noise and distortion.
A Good Headphone Amplifier Is Strongly Recommended
The HD 800 S are not the headphones we would choose if the plan is simply to plug them into whatever headphone socket happens to be available. A good dedicated headphone amplifier, DAC/headphone amplifier or carefully designed integrated amplifier can make a substantial difference to control, dynamics, tonal balance and overall musical involvement.
Sennheiser HDV 820 Partnership
Sennheiser's own HDV 820 headphone amplifier has been designed specifically to partner high-performance Sennheiser headphones including the HD 800 S.
It provides both conventional and balanced outputs, including 4.4mm Pentaconn, allowing the supplied balanced HD 800 S cable to connect directly.
The HDV 820 is not the only suitable amplifier, of course. Audio T stocks a variety of headphone amplifiers and DACs that can be compared according to your source equipment, preferred presentation and budget.
4.4mm Balanced Cable Included
The current HD 800 S package includes a three-metre symmetrical cable terminating in a gold-plated 4.4mm balanced connector.
This allows direct connection to suitable balanced headphone outputs without requiring an additional cable purchase.
6.35mm Cable Included
A second three-metre cable terminates in a conventional 6.35mm unbalanced stereo plug.
This provides compatibility with the traditional full-sized headphone output found on many:
- Integrated amplifiers
- Dedicated headphone amplifiers
- DAC/headphone amplifiers
- AV receivers
- Professional audio interfaces
Does Balanced Automatically Sound Better?
No.
The benefit of using the 4.4mm cable depends on the amplifier connected to it.
Some headphone amplifiers provide their optimum circuit configuration, more voltage or greater output through their balanced connection. Others perform equally well from the conventional socket.
The quality of the amplifier matters more than choosing a connection simply because it is labelled balanced.
Detachable ODU-Style Connections
The HD 800 S use secure detachable connectors at each earcup rather than a permanently fitted cable.
This supports long-term ownership because a cable can be replaced independently if it eventually becomes damaged.
Sennheiser continues to list replacement 6.35mm and other HD 800-family cable options.
Replaceable Earpads
Genuine HD 800-series replacement earpads remain available through Sennheiser's service network.
That matters on a premium headphone designed to remain in service for many years because cushions inevitably compress and wear with prolonged use.
Replaceable Headband Padding
The headband pad is another replaceable component.
Sennheiser's service catalogue also identifies other structural parts for specialist servicing, helping support ownership beyond the life of the most frequently worn consumable components.
Microfibre Contact Surfaces
The earpads and headband contact surfaces use soft microfibre material designed for extended listening comfort.
Unlike a heavily sealed closed-back headphone, the open earcups also allow plenty of airflow around the ears.
Large Circumaural Earcups
The HD 800 S have exceptionally large around-ear enclosures.
The pads sit around rather than on the ears, helping reduce direct pressure on the outer ear during longer listening sessions.
Dual-Axis Articulation
Each earcup can articulate on two axes so that it settles naturally against the shape and angle of the listener's head.
This allows the large earcups to establish an even fit without requiring excessive clamping force.
330g Weight
Despite their physical size, the HD 800 S weigh approximately 330g without the cable.
Sennheiser uses carefully selected composites and metal components to provide rigidity without making the headphones unnecessarily heavy.
Developed in Germany, Built in Ireland
Current HD 800 S production reflects Sennheiser's modern manufacturing structure.
The design and engineering originate in Germany, while current headphones are precision-built at Sennheiser's facility in Ireland.
This is worth clarifying because much older HD 800 S material refers to German manufacture from an earlier period of the product's life.
HD 800 S or HD 660S2?
HD 800 S
- Fully open-back
- 56mm Ring Radiator transducers
- 40mm voice coils
- 300-ohm impedance
- 4Hz to 51kHz response
- 102dB SPL at 1V
- Less than 0.02% THD
- Patented absorber technology
- Exceptionally broad soundstage
- Highly revealing presentation
- 330g
- 3m 6.35mm cable supplied
- 3m 4.4mm balanced cable supplied
HD 660S2
- Fully open-back
- 38mm dynamic transducers
- 300-ohm impedance
- 8Hz to 41.5kHz response
- 104dB SPL at 1V
- Less than 0.04% THD
- Strong sub-bass extension
- More intimate presentation
- Warmer overall character
- 260g
- 1.8m 6.3mm cable supplied
- 1.8m 4.4mm balanced cable supplied
Which Should You Choose?
The HD 660S2 are likely to appeal more if you enjoy the intimate 600-series presentation, strong vocal reproduction and a warmer sense of low-frequency weight.
The HD 800 S take a fundamentally different approach. Their defining strengths are soundstage scale, separation and the ability to expose extremely fine spatial information within a recording.
They are not simply an HD 660S2 with a bigger specification and higher price.
HD 800 S or HD 600?
HD 800 S
- 56mm Ring Radiator transducer
- 300-ohm impedance
- 4Hz to 51kHz
- 102dB SPL
- Less than 0.02% THD
- Extremely wide soundstage
- Acoustic absorber technology
- 4.4mm balanced cable included
- 330g
- Flagship reference design
HD 600
- 42mm driver assembly
- 38mm diaphragm
- 300-ohm impedance
- 12Hz to 40.5kHz
- 97dB SPL
- Less than 0.1% THD
- More intimate stereo image
- Classic neutral tonal balance
- 260g
- Established reference benchmark
Why Would Somebody Prefer the HD 600?
Price aside, bigger is not automatically better.
The HD 600 have a more intimate presentation that some listeners prefer, particularly for vocals and recordings where an enormous soundstage is not the priority.
The HD 800 S make more sense when you want to investigate recording space, separation and fine spatial detail at a substantially higher level.
HD 800 S or HD 820?
HD 800 S
- Fully open-back
- 56mm Ring Radiator
- 300-ohm impedance
- 4Hz to 51kHz response
- 102dB SPL
- Less than 0.02% THD
- Virtually no isolation
- Substantial sound leakage
- Maximum openness and scale
- 330g
HD 820
- Closed-back
- 56mm Ring Radiator
- Concave Gorilla Glass reflectors
- 300-ohm impedance
- 6Hz to 48kHz (-10dB)
- Much greater passive isolation
- Reduced sound leakage
- Designed to retain spaciousness within a closed enclosure
- 360g
- Better suited to shared listening spaces
Open or Closed?
The HD 820 use the same broad Ring Radiator concept but place the transducers behind curved glass reflectors in a closed enclosure.
Choose the HD 800 S when the listening room is quiet and the priority is maximum openness and spatial scale.
Choose the HD 820 when isolation and lower sound leakage matter enough to justify moving to a closed design.
Outstanding for Classical Music
Large orchestral recordings can make particularly good use of the HD 800 S soundstage.
Individual sections are easier to locate across the stereo image, while hall reverberation and acoustic scale help communicate the size of the recording space.
Outstanding for Live Recordings
Good live recordings contain huge amounts of spatial information beyond the direct performance.
Audience ambience, room reflections, stage dimensions and microphone placement can all become unusually apparent through the HD 800 S.
Excellent for Acoustic Music
The low distortion and fine transient response also suit acoustic instruments where attack, resonance and natural decay are critical to recognising the instrument itself.
Excellent for Film and Gaming
The enormous soundstage and precise directional information can work extremely well for films and gaming from a suitable stereo headphone source.
There is no microphone and they are not marketed as a gaming headset, but their ability to position sound accurately can be extremely effective.
Extremely Revealing of Recordings
The same transparency that makes an excellent recording sound spectacular can expose a poor one very quickly.
Heavy compression, aggressive mastering, microphone problems and excessive high-frequency energy are not automatically softened or disguised.
That is an important part of choosing the HD 800 S rather than simply assuming their flagship status means every recording will sound more flattering.
Extremely Revealing of the System
Source equipment becomes important too.
The HD 800 S can make differences in DACs, amplification and recording quality relatively easy to identify, making them useful as a reference when building or upgrading a dedicated headphone system.
No Batteries, DSP or Software
The HD 800 S are completely passive wired headphones.
There is no Bluetooth connection, rechargeable battery, app, firmware or digital signal processing built into the headphone.
The final result therefore depends heavily on the recording and the equipment connected upstream.
Who Are the Sennheiser HD 800 S For?
- Serious home hi-fi listeners
- Listeners wanting an exceptionally wide headphone soundstage
- People who value precise stereo imaging
- Classical and orchestral music listeners
- Fans of live and acoustic recordings
- Listeners who enjoy investigating recording detail
- Owners of high-quality headphone amplifiers
- Dedicated DAC and headphone-amplifier systems
- Listeners wanting a balanced 4.4mm cable supplied
- People wanting replaceable cables and earpads
- Listeners with a genuinely quiet listening environment
- Customers building a reference headphone system
Who Are They Not For?
- Commuters
- Shared rooms where sound leakage is a problem
- Listeners wanting Active Noise Cancellation
- Customers wanting Bluetooth
- Very noisy environments
- People wanting a forgiving headphone for poor recordings
- Listeners who prefer a very intimate soundstage
- Customers using very basic headphone outputs
- People wanting a built-in microphone
- Listeners looking for compact portable headphones
Key Features
- Sennheiser HD 800 S
- Article number 506911
- Reference-class headphones
- Open-back acoustic design
- Around-ear / circumaural fit
- Dynamic transducer principle
- 56mm Ring Radiator transducers
- 40mm voice coils
- Annular diaphragm construction
- Patented absorber technology
- Reduced frequency masking
- Vibration-damped chassis
- Inert headband damping insert
- Angled acoustic presentation
- 4Hz to 51kHz frequency response
- 300-ohm nominal impedance
- 102dB SPL at 1V
- Less than 0.02% THD
- 10.5mT magnetic field
- Exceptionally wide soundstage
- Precise spatial imaging
- Microfibre earpads
- Microfibre headband padding
- Dual-axis articulating earcups
- Adjustable metal headband
- 330g headphone weight
- Detachable symmetrical cables
- 3m 6.35mm unbalanced cable
- 3m 4.4mm balanced cable
- Gold-plated source plugs
- Replacement earpads available
- Replacement headband padding available
- Replacement cables available
- Developed in Germany
- Precision-built in Ireland
- No Bluetooth
- No battery
- No Active Noise Cancellation
- No microphone
- No app required
- 24-month manufacturer's warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Are the Sennheiser HD 800 S still current?
Yes. The HD 800 S remain part of Sennheiser's current HD Series, open-back and audiophile headphone ranges.
Is it HD800S or HD 800 S?
Sennheiser's official current product styling is HD 800 S.
Are the HD 800 S open-back?
Yes. They use a fully open acoustic design.
Do they block outside noise?
Very little. Their open construction deliberately provides minimal acoustic isolation.
Do they leak sound?
Yes, considerably. They are intended for private listening in a quiet room rather than listening beside somebody who needs silence.
What size transducers do they use?
The HD 800 S use 56mm Ring Radiator dynamic transducers.
What is a Ring Radiator?
Instead of a conventional diaphragm supported principally around its outer edge, the Ring Radiator uses an annular diaphragm fixed at both the inner and outer edges. A 40mm voice coil drives the diaphragm around a V-shaped groove near the centre of the ring.
What size is the voice coil?
40mm.
What does the absorber technology do?
It controls resonant energy that can produce frequency masking, helping prevent louder resonances from obscuring quieter detail at nearby frequencies.
Is the absorber technology the main difference from the original HD 800?
It is one of the most important acoustic changes. The HD 800 S retain the fundamental Ring Radiator architecture but add absorber technology and revised tuning for a smoother, more balanced presentation.
What is the frequency response?
4Hz to 51kHz.
What impedance are the HD 800 S?
300 ohms.
How sensitive are they?
Sennheiser specifies 102dB SPL at 1V.
What is the total harmonic distortion?
Less than 0.02% at 1kHz and 1V RMS.
Do I need a headphone amplifier?
A capable headphone amplifier is strongly recommended. The HD 800 S are 300-ohm reference headphones and are sufficiently revealing that amplifier quality can have a major influence on their final performance.
Can I use them with an integrated amplifier?
Yes, provided its headphone output is capable of driving 300-ohm headphones properly.
Can I use them with a phone?
Physical connection may be possible through suitable equipment, but most basic phone adapters are not an ideal partner for getting the best from the HD 800 S. A proper DAC/headphone amplifier is generally more appropriate.
What cables are included?
The current Sennheiser package includes a 6.35mm unbalanced cable and a 4.4mm balanced cable.
How long are the cables?
Sennheiser specifies a cable length of three metres.
Is the 4.4mm balanced cable included?
Yes.
Does the HD 800 S still come with an XLR cable?
The current Sennheiser UK package specification lists 6.35mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced cables. Some older package configurations and accessory listings reference XLR connections, so check the current box contents rather than relying on historical information.
Does balanced automatically sound better?
No. Whether the balanced output provides an advantage depends on the design of the headphone amplifier being used.
Are the cables detachable?
Yes. Each earcup has its own detachable cable connection.
Can replacement cables be purchased?
Yes. Sennheiser continues to list replacement and alternative HD 800-family cable options.
Can the earpads be replaced?
Yes. Genuine replacement HD 800-series ear cushions remain available.
Can the headband padding be replaced?
Yes. Sennheiser's service catalogue lists replacement headband padding for the HD 800 family.
How much do the HD 800 S weigh?
Approximately 330g without the cable.
Where are the current HD 800 S made?
Sennheiser currently describes the HD 800 S as developed in Germany and precision-built at its Ireland manufacturing facility.
Were older HD 800 S made in Germany?
Yes. Historical material, including an Audio T article from 2016, documents German manufacture at that time. Current production information specifies Ireland.
Are the HD 800 S good for classical music?
They are particularly well suited to orchestral and acoustic recordings because of their extremely broad stereo image, precise instrument placement and ability to reveal room ambience.
Are they good for rock and pop?
They can be excellent, particularly with good recordings, but their revealing nature means aggressive or heavily compressed masters are unlikely to be disguised.
Are they good for gaming?
Their large soundstage and positional accuracy can work extremely well for gaming, although they have no built-in microphone and are designed primarily as hi-fi headphones.
Are they suitable for commuting?
No. They provide almost no isolation, leak substantial sound and are physically large.
Do they have Bluetooth?
No.
Do they have Active Noise Cancellation?
No.
Do they require charging?
No. They are completely passive headphones.
What is the difference between HD 800 S and HD 660S2?
Both are open-back 300-ohm headphones, but the HD 800 S use much larger 56mm Ring Radiator transducers and create a substantially wider stereo soundstage. The HD 660S2 have a warmer, more intimate presentation with a stronger focus on sub-bass and the familiar HD 600-series character.
What is the difference between HD 800 S and HD 600?
The HD 600 provide a more intimate neutral reference presentation using the established 600-series platform. The HD 800 S offer considerably greater spatial scale, lower distortion and a much larger Ring Radiator transducer system.
What is the difference between HD 800 S and HD 820?
The HD 800 S are fully open, while the HD 820 use a closed enclosure with concave glass reflectors. The HD 800 S provide maximum openness, while the HD 820 offer substantially greater isolation and lower sound leakage.
How long is the manufacturer's warranty?
The HD 800 S currently fall within Sennheiser's 24-month consumer warranty category, subject to the applicable warranty terms and proof of purchase.
What comes in the current box?
Sennheiser currently lists the HD 800 S headphones, cable with 6.35mm jack plug, cable with balanced 4.4mm jack plug and manual.
Related Sennheiser Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy the Sennheiser HD 800 S From Audio T?
At this level, choosing the right headphones is only part of the system. The HD 800 S are transparent enough to make amplifier and source matching particularly important, and their huge soundstage will not necessarily suit every listener simply because they sit high in the Sennheiser range.
Audio T can help you compare the HD 800 S with alternatives such as the HD 660S2 and HD 820, as well as partner them with a suitable DAC or headphone amplifier. We can also demonstrate the differences between conventional and balanced connections where suitable equipment is available.
- Friendly specialist headphone advice
- HD 800 S demonstrations where available
- HD 800 S and HD 660S2 comparisons
- HD 800 S and HD 820 comparisons
- Headphone amplifier matching
- DAC and headphone amplifier advice
- 300-ohm headphone guidance
- 4.4mm balanced connection advice
- Sennheiser HDV 820 system matching
- Replacement cable and earpad advice
- Part-exchange advice where applicable
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store if you would like to arrange a demonstration or discuss the best source and headphone amplifier to partner with the Sennheiser HD 800 S.