Headphones — Sennheiser HD 800 S

The HD 800 S is a legendary open-back over-ear headphone from Sennheiser, a well-established German manufacturer known for accomplished, professionally validated headphone driver engineering, built with an exceptionally wide top-end extension and a demanding impedance. The HD 800 S brings Sennheiser's most storied engineering heritage to a serious open-back over-ear format.

Key specs that matter

Frequency response spans an exceptionally wide 4Hz to 51,000Hz within plus-or-minus 10dB. Connection offers a versatile choice of 4.4mm or 6.35mm jack termination. Sensitivity is notably high at 102dB SPL at 1kHz/1mW, with impedance at a demanding 300 ohms - a figure requiring capable headphone amplification for optimal performance.

Sound and use context

Expect the exceptionally spacious, resolving character Sennheiser's legendary open-back headphone technology is broadly celebrated for, with the exceptionally wide 4Hz-51kHz bandwidth representing the brand's most storied current headphone engineering.

Pairing

The demanding 300-ohm impedance calls for a capable headphone amplifier to achieve optimal dynamic performance, rather than relying on a modest portable device's headphone output.

Alternatives

Other manufacturers' comparable flagship-tier open-back headphones offer alternatives for buyers wanting to compare driver technologies at a similar price point.