These had an uncanny ability to play quite loudly yet with no perceivable increase in distortion. The visceral bass was also amazing. I was not expecting to have such good bass.
I can relate to your findings. I spent two hours alone with it, thought it sounded very solid and cohesive with very strong clean bass. Mids and highs were clean but not as smooth and organic as I like. Vocals sounded odd to me, certainly something off there.
It wasn't the DAC bro. I have not heard the HE1 yet, but many who have talk about the system being brutally honest with regard to the recordings it plays. The sibilance you heard was most likely from the recording. It's an 8 chip DAC on a "no expense spared" system. I read an excellent, long review on HeadFi (Fidelity King, listened for 1 hour in San Fran) who said the HE1 ruins the enjoyment of most recordings because it brings out all their faults.
8 chips or not. They use a Sabre Dac, the very same dac you can get off their Sennheiser amp. I read about it and it was confirmed it is indeed the same dac they use with their HDV820 amps. Don't know what they were thinking when they decide to built the greatest headphone in the world and put a Sabre dac in it. They should let companies like Denafrips or Chord to design a dac for it.
Very nice. I wonder one thing, you have an amazing headphones/amps, have you thought about getting simular high-end speakers to the computers? Like b&w 805s/d or LS50 or why not genelec. Do you prefer headphones to speakers in general? Very much like the variety of topics on your vids.
I dont spend much time on Head-Fi any more, Tristan, but has anyone posted a single *owners* report yet ? All I've seen is impressions from folks like yourself who've had the good fortune to hear it at Sennheiser's behest. Even for those with 55K USD, there seems to be a process for buying the thing - any thoughts on that ? Thanks for the vid.
I agree that they're unlikely to be making YT vids, but you and I have both been kicking around Head-Fi long enough to know that there are members who claim to own (as in paid for, not review samples) pretty much every flagship headphone with similarly expensive amps and DACs. Its ironic that many of us got into headphones because they were seen as a cheaper alternative to speaker systems ;)
The dac is probably a throw in to curb criticism of a lack of it in such an expensive system. The owners of this thing probably will have an array of dacs waiting to feed it.
So they charge $55k for it and put in a rubbish dac that they in their HDVD820? They should just hire company like Chord or Denafrips to make the dac part for them.
So they demoed their 55K flagship headphone system, basically Sennheiser's Bugatti Veyron, with a laptop running *iTunes* as the source ?? Seriously - who the hell is Sennheiser entrusting their legacy to in the US - Goofy ... ? OK - thats a little harsh - even Goofy could install F2K on Windows or the trial version of one of the Mac playback apps. Mind boggling.
It's certainly one of the best headphone systems I've heard. In terms of overall systems however, I've heard better, such as: instagram.com/p/BcL_4t0HZy_/
![[DRIP] ‘CLIK CLAK’ PREVIEW](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bcxkcOSbpac/mqdefault.jpg)
These had an uncanny ability to play quite loudly yet with no perceivable increase in distortion. The visceral bass was also amazing. I was not expecting to have such good bass.
Very cool review, interesting point about the DAC. I believe the same DAC is used for the HDV820 amp, which is crazy.
I can relate to your findings. I spent two hours alone with it, thought it sounded very solid and cohesive with very strong clean bass. Mids and highs were clean but not as smooth and organic as I like. Vocals sounded odd to me, certainly something off there.
Satfgk How did you get two hours with it? Nice.
It wasn't the DAC bro. I have not heard the HE1 yet, but many who have talk about the system being brutally honest with regard to the recordings it plays. The sibilance you heard was most likely from the recording. It's an 8 chip DAC on a "no expense spared" system. I read an excellent, long review on HeadFi (Fidelity King, listened for 1 hour in San Fran) who said the HE1 ruins the enjoyment of most recordings because it brings out all their faults.
8 chips or not. They use a Sabre Dac, the very same dac you can get off their Sennheiser amp. I read about it and it was confirmed it is indeed the same dac they use with their HDV820 amps. Don't know what they were thinking when they decide to built the greatest headphone in the world and put a Sabre dac in it. They should let companies like Denafrips or Chord to design a dac for it.
Could you give a percentage of how much better the HD1 was over the HD800 S/HDV820 combo? I'm very curious about that amp. 10% difference?
Tom Brennan That’s quite difficult to quantify however if the HE-1 is 100, I would say the HDV820 with HD 800 S is about 75 or 80.
phototristan Thanks, that's not bad at all considering the price difference.
Very nice. I wonder one thing, you have an amazing headphones/amps, have you thought about getting simular high-end speakers to the computers? Like b&w 805s/d or LS50 or why not genelec.
Do you prefer headphones to speakers in general?
Very much like the variety of topics on your vids.
keyboard builder Yes, see th-cam.com/video/R1BLPf19o_o/w-d-xo.html
I dont spend much time on Head-Fi any more, Tristan, but has anyone posted a single *owners* report yet ? All I've seen is impressions from folks like yourself who've had the good fortune to hear it at Sennheiser's behest. Even for those with 55K USD, there seems to be a process for buying the thing - any thoughts on that ? Thanks for the vid.
Arthur Watts I doubt they’re selling very many of them and the type of person that buys this is not the type of person that makes TH-cam videos.
I agree that they're unlikely to be making YT vids, but you and I have both been kicking around Head-Fi long enough to know that there are members who claim to own (as in paid for, not review samples) pretty much every flagship headphone with similarly expensive amps and DACs. Its ironic that many of us got into headphones because they were seen as a cheaper alternative to speaker systems ;)
The dac is probably a throw in to curb criticism of a lack of it in such an expensive system. The owners of this thing probably will have an array of dacs waiting to feed it.
funkrafty owners of this thing probably have no idea about audio at all
Are the Mr speakers Mr speakers alpha prime worth buying if I have a he500?
Simply gorgeous
So what songs were on your playlist when you tried it out?
magdavelas Tom Petty Room At The Top, Donald Hagen Morph The Cat, Daft Punk latest album and Sara Bareilles, also Whiplash soundtrack.
So they charge $55k for it and put in a rubbish dac that they in their HDVD820? They should just hire company like Chord or Denafrips to make the dac part for them.
Great review. They should have used a Chord Dac.
It’s me or you’re a bit dissaponted?
it was a fun experience.
It was indeed. Thanks for bringing the live tracks, I’ll have to get those.
Any chances of reviewing the Hifiman Shangri-La?
If they or someone sends me one to review, yes.
@@phototristan what's the wait time to get them back.
@@davidmthekidd I usually try to return review items within 30 days.
So they demoed their 55K flagship headphone system, basically Sennheiser's Bugatti Veyron, with a laptop running *iTunes* as the source ?? Seriously - who the hell is Sennheiser entrusting their legacy to in the US - Goofy ... ? OK - thats a little harsh - even Goofy could install F2K on Windows or the trial version of one of the Mac playback apps. Mind boggling.
Arthur Watts They also had the Tidal app available as well and I suppose I could’ve found some of the MQA files on there if I had more time.
So is it the best thing you've ever heard???
It's certainly one of the best headphone systems I've heard. In terms of overall systems however, I've heard better, such as: instagram.com/p/BcL_4t0HZy_/
I tried those, didn't impress me.
Cuz your ear can't tell the difference lol
can you pick me up a couple?
Beakerzor it weighs 45 pounds so I could literally probably only pick up one.
Do you even LIFT!? lol
Good video man. Keep it up!