Sennheiser HD 8XX vs Sennheiser HD 800 S

Sennheiser HD 800 S wins — Sennheiser HD 800 S wins overall with a 0

Scores: Sennheiser HD 8XX 8.2/10 · Sennheiser HD 800 S 8.5/10

Sennheiser HD 800 S wins overall with a 0.3 point edge, backed by 56mm drivers delivering 4 Hz - 51 kHz response (per Sennheiser specs) and lower measured distortion in RTINGS tests. HD 8XX improves bass by 2-3 dB in the 50-200 Hz range but costs more without matching the 800 S's proven track record. Both require 300 ohm amplification and excel in stationary home use.

Spec-by-spec comparison

	Sennheiser HD 8XX	Sennheiser HD 800 S
driver_size	56mm	56mm
impedance	300 ohms	300 ohms
frequency_response	4 Hz - 51 kHz	4 Hz - 51 kHz
weight	330 g	330 g

Sennheiser HD 8XX

What works

Enhanced bass response over predecessor
Lower distortion at high volumes
Improved comfort with updated headband

What doesn't

Higher price than HD 800 S
Still requires powerful amp

Sennheiser HD 800 S

What works

Reference-level soundstage
Excellent detail retrieval
Proven durability over years

What doesn't

Bass can be lean for some genres
Requires dedicated amplification

Bottom line

Our pick: Sennheiser HD 800 S.

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