The open-back design in the headphone market is generating plenty of noise for now. That could probably be because it can provide you with eloquent audio quality. The closed-back models insulate the audio performance from external sounds if you look at the closed-back models.
You would notice that most of the models in the market are closed-back. There is no surprise that professional gamers prefer using closed-back headphones. We find they use them to enable you to listen to music and have plenty of noise isolation.
Likewise, the open-back units are suitable for users who don’t mind compromising on the audio quality. Sometimes the blotched sound quality due to the closed design can be highly annoying.
With the open design, the noise from inside and outside gets balanced. The development of acoustics is vastly improved in them. Today, you will be seeing the Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphone vs Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphones.
Though it is a closed-back design, we were not convinced about its capabilities. Can it actually provide you with what you want? There is only one way to find out, to read this post. The model offers you with amazing sound performance, but not better than top-end Bose models.
The build quality is fantastic; it comes with amazing comfort too. You can now put on the headphones for a long period of time. Its bass is just about good, not impressive at any point. The headphone does not sound exceptional as some of the others.
This was worrying due to the price point of under $2000. Similarly, the Sennheiser HD800S headphone comes with a comfortable feel to them. The unit appears quite elegant and premium in design.
It is lightweight, and you can wear them for a prolonged period of time. Like the open-back models, they are not quite versatile, which was disappointing. Our tester felt that these headphones were not suitable for outdoor usage.
We were quite stunned to know that the crowd loved the headphone due to the design. Sennheiser normally does not produce exceptionally designed models, but this one was different.
The German engineering was truly amazing in this unit. You may not get to hear any sort of a creak of imperfection in them. A notable feature of these products is that they come in powerful boxes announcing their entrance.
 |  |
|---|---|
| Sennheiser HD 820 | Sennheiser HD 800S |
| PROS | PROS |
| The design is elegant to look at. The model can be worn for several hours without discomfort. It is durable and does not break upon falling. The audio reproduction is exceptional. It comes with a 2-year warranty period. | The build quality is second to none. The model is composed and refined. It comes eloquently balanced, and the presentation is good. The sound is detailed and articulate. It has a sufficient frequency response. |
| CONS | CONS |
| The design of the model is sensitive to ambient noise. | You’ll need a good source and amplification to hear what they can really do. |
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Design & Comfort
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphone is almost the same in comfort & design as its counterpart. The only difference being it is a closed-back model. The yokes and the headband are almost the same.
In this unit, the hinges of the unit are quite thick, and there is ample support on the earcups as they come with denser earcups. You can note that it has gorilla glass backplates, which enable you to see the dynamic drivers that are present inside.
The model appears amazing and ideal for audiophiles. It also comes with a cool glass back design. The unit is slightly bulky for some users, but it may not be suitable for outdoor use since they are a closed-back design model.
Sennheiser models are usually quite comfortable and come with a durable design in them. The padding present there is spectacular. They can be worn for several hours at the most. No, it does not make your ear warm when you continuously wear them for several hours.
We felt that they are not breathable compared to other open-back design headphones. The Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphone comes with a decent comfort & design feature. They come with humungous earcups, and the headband is massively padded.
That is a nice thing to know and observe. It is produced from high-grade plastic material. You can see that they are heavier than most other units like the Hifiman Sundara or HD 700. They are able to offer you with a powerful hearing experience.
It is slightly heavy, and you may not want to have them on for several hours of gaming. A comfortable open-back model could come in the form of the Philips SHP9600. There are no buttons present on them, making them quite airy.
The unit is very spacious, and the ventilation is not blocked, unlike in the other model. This is the main advantage of using open-back units. Your ears are kept quite cool and pleasant for those hours of usage if you want to.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Build Quality
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphone comes with the elegant build quality. You cannot fold them like other models. But the build is like a rock and does not get damaged at all.
We were not happy that the maker did not offer you a case to keep it. They feel robust and nice to hold and handle. It is produced from plastic and some metal placed here and there on it. You can also find that there is some gorilla glass used.
We were delighted to use the headband of the model as it is produced from a metal having yokes made from plastic. You may want to know that the hinges that come swivelling are not very sturdy.
The rest of the designs are not damaged worthy. It may not be suitable for outdoor activities. We have already mentioned it in the previous paragraphs itself. The model has a detached cable that can be locked if you want.
However, this aspect of it can make it get damaged if yanked in a hurry. The Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphone is a splendid unit like the other one discussed here. It is quite large and comes with massive earpads on it.
They do not take up plenty of space and might not fit inside a handbag. You can use the box, but it is quite large for regular usage. Our tester felt that they appeared like a top-end model in the market.
Its earcups are designed with padding materials that are quite sublime. You can see the pin keeping the joints in place can be broken at times. They come infused with more plastic found in the design for the price rate that may not be something everybody might appreciate.
Similar to the counterpart here, they are not ideal for physical use. They may come out during intense practice and outdoor activities. Besides, they can slide down when you are moving around even slowly.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Audio Performance
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphone has a frequency response consistency that is disappointing. If you have long hair or wear glasses, then the sealing can come awkward, resulting in indifferent audio quality.
You can experience some changes in the amount of bass produced due to the size of your head. Its treble was fantastic, and the frequent infusion of the audio was terrific. However, you would want to know that the 5dB dip around 3.5KHz may affect the detail.
The isolation of the model was alright. We did not see the isolation affecting the sound. However, you can hear machines, vehicles on the road, and other kinds of sounds. This was quite surprising for a closed-back designed unit.
Its sound leakage is around 300Hz and 6KHz. The Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphone comes with a frequency response consistency that is quite good. It has good bass and amazing sound quality to it when you listen to any kind of genre.
It has an outstanding soundstage. Yes, the 10KHz notch in there may be quite deep, but you can note a shift in the frequency. We found that the performance was much better than other models in the market, including the Philips Fidelio X3.
Because of their design, the isolation was not up to the level we expected for the price range. Besides, they do not come with any isolation, and all kinds of sounds can come inside easily. Closer to the 10dB of isolation is achieved, that is accepted.
The leakage’s performance is bad due to the open-back design. It has plenty of leakages. So, if you want to use it in offices, you better keep an eye on your colleagues as they can get disturbed if you listen in medium to high volumes.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Microphone Performance
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphones do not have a microphone. If you want to own a unit that comes with a wired headphone with a powerful n-line microphone, then the Bose QuietComfort 25, Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II, and the Apple EarPods are ideal options.
We could not record the recording quality & noise handling features too. Similarly, the Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphones do not have a microphone. If you want to purchase the wired headphone having a microphone, then the Bose QuietComfort 25, Bose SoundTrue Around-Ear II, and the Apple EarPods would be ideal options.
Because they do not come with the mic, the recording quality & the noise handling features could not be tested. Is this going to be a major flaw in it? Our tester does not think so because you can still use the other available features with the models.
The comfort and build quality make up for the fact that there are no microphones on it. Hence, we have given you some other options to choose from Bose and Apple. You can select depending on your budget and preference.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Compatibility
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphones do not have a Bluetooth connection. You can choose the Bose QuietComfort 35 II when you require wireless headphones.
It comes with negligible latency. The unit is ideal for indoor and gaming purposes. We may not recommend them for outside purposes. It has a 1/4″ TRS audio cable that does not come infused with a remote.
It means the audio connection is offered when you work or operate on gaming consoles. It does not come with the dock either. If you are keen on using a headphone that is exceptional for watching movies, you can use the SteelSeries Arctis 7.
Besides, there is no option for using the app or any software of that kind. You cannot make use of the added customization options. Likewise, the Sennheiser 800S Over-the-Ear headphones are wired and do not have Bluetooth connectivity.
We suggest that you make use of alternative options like the Bose QuietComfort 35 II. Otherwise, you can also opt for the open-back HiFiMan ANANDA-BT Wireless model. It comes with a negligible latency that is ideal for gaming and in-house use.
The 1/4’TRS audio cable does not have a microphone. Its audio is provided when you can connect to the gaming consoles. It does not come with the dock. When you want to use a headset with a dock for watching games and movies, the SteelSeries Arctis 7 is good.
A good alternative would also be the Stax SR-L300 headphone. They come with exceptional open sound and electrostatic drivers, unlike those that come with dynamic drivers on HD800S that are alright but not as good as the other ones.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Price
The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphones are priced under $2000. The unit comes with splendid features like reference-grade sound, offering you an immersive listening experience.
The sound isolation is also good. It has unique frequency absorber systems and glass reflectors that offer wide open characteristics. The soundstage is good too, with 56mm ring radiator transducers and glass reflectors for rich detail and soundstage.
Sennheiser models come with a stupendous warranty period of 2-year after purchase. The Sennheiser HD 800S Over-the-Ear headphones are priced under $1600. There is a huge price difference of $400, which might change the winner in the end.
There is the 4Hz – 51kHz frequency response. You can expect a stunning comeback from the headphones. You also have the 300 ohms impedance for effectively conducting the power. There is a dynamic transducer design present in the unit for reference-grade audio.
You’ll need a good source and amplification to hear what they can really do.
Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S: Verdict
We have concluded our comparison review on the Sennheiser HD 820 vs 800S headphones. We hope that you liked what you read and could make up your mind. If not, then you might want to read it again.
Comparing two models from the same maker, Sennheiser, in this case, can be quite strenuous and challenging. It becomes quite a nightmare for us to choose the winner between the two units.
That is because each of them is pretty excellent in its own way. The Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Stereo Over-Ear headphones come with decent features. The fitting and the build quality are phenomenal.
This unit is fantastic for neutral listening. You can wear them for a prolonged period of time. The bass and the sound are quite nicely balanced. It is slightly better than what is found on the 800S model.
Our tester felt that the bass could be quite inconsistent at times. When you give it to your friends or few people use it, there are some opinions. Not everybody in our group was convinced about the bass.
If you are particular on the bass aspect of it, we suggest you look elsewhere. Its soundstage is quite large for the design that it comes with. However, we can say that it is not spacious as the counterpart discussed in here.
Its mid-range is kind of forward too, which may not suit most listeners. The instruments are made to come out of the regular mix, decreasing the audio reproduction. We were quite satisfied with the deeper bass present in the HD 820 model.
The Sennheiser HD800S Over-the-Ear headphones come with the best audio reproduction. These have a good mid-range that is appreciated. It is not too loud or forward. It comes with just the right amount of flavor in it.
You can find that there is a mild dip in the low-end thump. This causes a reduction in the rumble that can occur. You can also see that the audio performance is almost on par with the Hifiman Ananda or Sundara.
Our winner in this review between the Sennheiser HD820 Closed-Back vs HD800S Over-the-Ear models is the HD800S headphone. The unit is infused with outstanding features like stunning materials providing luxurious comfort and a 2-year warranty.
James Smith has always been intrigued by electronic products since his childhood. After his post graduation in electronics from a popular university, he decided to pursue a career in the electronics sector. But his calling for writing about these marvellous pieces of work got the better of him. That is how UBG was started. With a writing career spanning more than 12 years, James has worked on several hundred product reviews. During his free time, he like to spend time with his pet dog and relax in the swimming pool.