Expert Pick #01

Sennheiser HD 800 S.

Patented absorber technology for an incredibly natural, spatial listening experience.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

The Verdict.

9.8/ 10

Gavler Meta-Score

The HD 800 S remains the benchmark against which all reference headphones are measured. Its soundstage is cavernous, its detail retrieval surgical, and its build quality exemplary. The addition of the absorber technology over the original HD 800 tames the treble peak without sacrificing the legendary clarity. For critical listening, nothing else comes close.

E

Elena Vasquez

Head of Audio Curation

Precision Engineering

Ring Radiator

56mm ring radiator transducers deliver the widest soundstage of any headphone on the market.

Precision Build

Hand-assembled in Germany with aerospace-grade materials. Each unit undergoes individual acoustic testing.

Absorber Tech

Patented Helmholtz resonator absorber eliminates the masking effect of a narrow frequency peak.

Technical Specifications

Driver TypeRing Radiator
Frequency Response4 Hz – 51,000 Hz
Impedance300 Ω
Sound Pressure102 dB
Weight330 g

The Scoreboard

Expert Consensus96%
Community Rating94%

Near-universal acclaim from audiophile community and professional reviewers. Minor criticism around comfort for extended sessions due to weight.

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Global Critique

The HD 800 S is the closest you'll get to a live performance from a headphone. The soundstage is unmatched.

Head-Fi

A masterclass in detail retrieval. Every instrument occupies its own space in a vast, three-dimensional image.

What Hi-Fi?

Sennheiser's flagship justifies every dollar of its price tag. A once-in-a-generation product.

Stereophile

The absorber technology finally fixes the one complaint anyone had about the original. Near perfection.

AudioScience Review