Sennheiser HD 800 S Wired Open-Back Audiophile Over-Ear Headphones - Black

The Sennheiser HD 800 S are wired open-back audiophile over-ear headphones, the updated version of Sennheiser's HD 800 reference model. Each ear cup holds a 56 mm ring radiator dynamic driver with a 40 mm voice coil, angled towards the ear so the music seems to form around you rather than between your ears. An absorber system first used in the IE 800 earphones damps the resonance peaks that can mask quiet high notes. Sennheiser lists a 4 Hz to 51 kHz response, 300 ohm impedance and distortion of 0.02 percent or less.

The drivers sit in stainless steel housings on a metal headband with a damping insert that keeps vibration away from the ear cups. The ear pads are handmade from microfibre. They and the microfibre headband padding can be replaced, and the ear cups turn on two axes to follow the shape of your head. They weigh about 330 g without the cable. Two 3 m silver-plated copper cables come in the box, one with a 6.35 mm plug and one with a balanced 4.4 mm plug, along with a storage box. Sennheiser develops the HD 800 S in Germany and builds it by hand at its plant in Tullamore, Ireland.

At 300 ohm the HD 800 S need a proper headphone amplifier to sound their best, and a phone or laptop socket will not drive them well. Being open-backed, they let outside sound in and let people nearby hear your music, so they suit a quiet room more than travel. There is no microphone or remote, and connecting to a 3.5 mm socket needs an adapter that is not included.

Pick the cable that suits your amplifier: the 6.35 mm cable for a standard headphone socket or the 4.4 mm cable for a balanced output. To change cables, hold the ear cup and pull each connector straight out, then line up the L and R marks on the new connectors with the ear cups and push them in until they click. Turn the amplifier volume down before you plug in, put the headphones on with the L and R marks on the correct sides, and use the scale on the headband to set both sides to the same length. A headphone amplifier is recommended; a 3.5 mm socket works with a standard adapter, sold separately. After listening, put the headphones back in the storage box, and hang the cables unwound for the first few days so they settle.

Sennheiser HD 800 S headphones, 3 m cable with a 6.35 mm stereo plug (unbalanced, fitted at the factory), 3 m cable with a 4.4 mm stereo plug (balanced), storage box and instruction manual. No 3.5 mm adapter, XLR-4 cable or headphone amplifier is included.

Sennheiser gives the first owner a two-year warranty from the date on the invoice when this product is bought new from an authorised Sennheiser dealer in India. A defect in materials or workmanship in that period is repaired, or the product or faulty part replaced, free of charge at Sennheiser's choice. To claim, contact Sennheiser India customer support or visit a Sennheiser service centre with the original invoice, as every claim needs it. Detachable cables and other accessories in the box, the ear pads, normal wear and tear, damage from misuse or accidents, and products opened or repaired by anyone other than an authorised service partner are not covered.