Chances are you’ve spied the Sennheiser HD800 cans before. They’re the German audio fanatic’s hottest ever headphones, packing stunning sound quality and gorgeous looks. There’s just one small issue. They cost a grand. So you have to ask whether it’s worth fronting up a thousand big ones so you can listen to your poodle rock collection as it was meant to sound. Read our Sennheiser HD800 review now and we’ll help you make your mind up.
We know what you’re thinking: getting the better half to agree to a new hi–fi worth £1,000 is nigh-on impossible, so a pair of headphones doesn’t bear thinking about. Yes the Sennheiser HD800s are pricey. But they’re also the best sound spitters we’ve ever, ever had the pleasure of lumping over our lugholes.
Sennheiser says its aim was to make the HD800s reproduce sound exactly as it is when it comes from a musical instrument or voice. That’s ambition on an unimaginable scale. And we have to say they do truly pull it off. Sling these on and you’ll feel like you’re actually in the studio, hearing tunes being laid down as they’re recorded. The 56mm diaphragm and virtually non-existent distortion, coupled with the teflon connectors ensure sound quality is unrivalled.
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Cable freaks will be bowled over by the Sennheiser HD800s wires, which are Kevlar-strengthened and oxygen-free. Those who think this sounds over the top would be advised to head down to your nearest high-end hi-fi dealer and try a pair yourself. The difference between these and, say, the excellent Monster Beats by Dr Dre is marked. And they are amazing.
Of course, there are caveats. Leakage is insane thanks to the open–backed design. But then the Sennheiser HD800s are not designed for being yanked out on the train and plugged into your iPod nano. For one you’ll be quickly done over for having such pricey kit. And the fact is compressed music sounds suckey through them. The Sennheiser HD800s are made for CDs and SACDs.
If you’ve got a spare £1,000 kicking about under the mattress, get the Sennheiser HD800s now. If not, be safe in the knowledge that these are the greatest headphones of all time.
