The Sennheiser HD 820 are decent headphones for critical listening, but they fall short of the HD 800 S. They offer a top-notch construction and a cosy over-ear fit that you may use for hours. Since they are only intended for critical listening, their closed-back ear cups also give them a slight edge over the HD 800 S in terms of versatility. Unfortunately, although having somewhat more bass on average, they do not sound as fantastic as the HD800 S overall, which is unfortunate given their significantly higher price. you will read our article on Sennheiser HD 820 review.
Design
The HD 800 and HD 820 from Sennheiser share a similar design. They appear techy rather than traditional, whereas many high-end pairs have wood parts to appear blatantly affluent. However, a few things have changed. While the back of the enormous dynamic drivers appears to be exposed, it isn’t because the fine silver grilles on the back of each cup have been replaced by even closer-fitting black grilles. Over it is a curved Gorilla Glass plate. There is still a physical wall separating the enclosure from the outside world, despite the fact that you can see the (outer) inner workings. Even if this is Sennheiser bragging, it still looks very cool. The pads have also undergone some changes. The Sennheiser HD 820’s padding is made out of soft velour in the areas that touch your ears in place of velour and a sound-absorbing synthetic leather border around the outside. Although the Sennheiser HD 800 S’ open design provides significantly better isolation, this improvement is only meant to lessen the impact of indoor noises and leakage. The Sennheiser HD 820’s isolation and leakage are subpar in comparison to many closed-back headphones, making the idea of using them on a commute absurd. A balanced jack, 6.3mm wire, and a balanced XLR cable are among the three cables included in the box, and they are all of a respectable length. You should be aware that there is no 3.5mm phone cable. A Sennheiser engineer would probably look disgusted if you complained to them about this. Much like there are portable players and headphone amps that can handle the HD 820, it would be like sprinkling ketchup on a meal prepared by a Michelin-starred chef. The Sennheiser HD 820’s closed-back or semi-closed design causes your ears to warm up a little bit more than an open-back alternative. However, because we are testing the headphones in London in the middle of a chilly, rainy November, this is obviously not a problem. There isn’t a complicated headband like the Blue Ella’s here. There is only one adjustable band, and the padding is fairly thin but functional. To try to prevent creating a pressure spot right at the top of your head, a small portion of the Centre is cut out. The Sennheiser HD 820’s 360g weight (minus cables) is distributed fairly evenly thanks in part to the large pads’ medium-firm grip on your head, which handles a significant portion of the task of keeping the headphones in place.
Sennheiser HD 820 review: Comfort
A concave piece of Gorilla glass covering the quite elegant-looking drive unit can be seen in the HD 820’s earcups. That driver is essentially the same as that found on the open-backed HD800Ses, which are quite good. In order to avoid the drawbacks of a closed design, the sound coming out of the back of the device reflects off the curved glass and is directed towards sound-absorbing chambers (in theory at least). The remaining headphones are standard Sennheiser models. They are elegant and well-made, and they are strong enough to last for many years. The materials feel sturdy, from the metal on the headband and microfiber earpad to the plastic on the earcup. These Sennheiser headphones are quite large but only weigh 360g. The carefully shaped ear cups, the light but never loose clamping pressure, and the fact that the HD 820s never overheat our ears all contribute to long-term comfort. Three different cables are offered with these headphones. All of them are three metres long, which is as good a sign as any that the HD 820s are meant for residential use (if the cost and size aren’t enough of a hint). There are two balanced choices, one using the more recent 4.4mm Pentaconn standard and the other using an XLR4 connection on the amp end. A typical 6.3mm jack is present on the third lead. Such expensive headphones unquestionably call for a top-notch source and amplifier. We advise using a device that is superior to your smartphone to hear the Sennheisers at their best.
Noise cancelling
This model was created to provide the best closed-system audiophile headphone sound qualities imaginable. Sennheiser attributes this to repeated customer demands, many of which come from Asia. The benefits of closed designs with their enhanced noise isolation from the environment are particularly noticeable in confined living spaces. It’s also nice that the devices of your roommates don’t leak as much sound. Due to the need for closed systems to prevent monitor signal spillover into the microphone during recording, this latter feature also makes such headphones ideal for professional working environments. also you will learn our article on Sennheiser HD 820 review.
Sennheiser HD 820 review: Audio performance
The HD 820 have the same 300 impedance as their open-backed predecessors and employ a pair of 56mm dynamic drivers to produce sound. The sound was outstanding across the whole frequency range when we tested them with a variety of listening materials using the balanced XLR output on a Sennheiser HDV 820 headphone amp. We’d even say that these closed-back headphones are some of the most neutral-sounding ones you can purchase. The HD 820 sounds more balanced and less bassy than the Fostex TH900 MkII and the Audeze LCD-XC, without having an overly warm signature. Even so, the HD820 falls short of the open-backed HD 800 and HD 800S’s nearly flawless mid-range reproduction. On the other hand, the high mids feel a little enhanced, and the lower mids sound a little constrained around 300Hz. In Baby D’s Let us Be Your Fantasy (Platform 16 Remix), where the instrumentation slightly overpowers the vocals, a 1KHz boost is particularly audible. Bass is also fantastic on its own own. The HD 820’s low end has excellent low-end extension and a precise and well-controlled mid-bass shunt. In comparison to the HD 800 and HD 800S, it has a much more polished and weighty sound. However, these drivers don’t deliver as much thrill as other closed-back headphones. In contrast to the HD 820, the Japanese cherry birch wooden cups of the Fostex TH900 MkII produce a meaty sound for Chris Brown’s Loyal. we’d recommend the Fostex if you like basslines that punch hard and precisely. The HD820’s high-end reproduction is one of its strongest points. When you listen to Great Spirit by Armin van Buuren vs. Vini Vici featuring Hilight Tribe, you’ll be bobbing your head from side to side. The HD 820 offer an exceptionally clean and crisp treble response that isn’t tiring to the ears, just like their open-back siblings, and there isn’t a hint of the sibilance that plagued the original HD 800. also you will check our article on Sennheiser HD 820 review, But the HD 820’s ability to reproduce soundstages is what really stands out in our opinion. Thanks to its substantial drivers, it has a broad and deep soundstage and exhibits exceptionally superb instrument separation. Positional cues in games are excellent, and Bruno Mars’ Locked Out Of Heaven had perfect instrumentation and vocal performance. Although the HD820 comes incredibly close for a closed-back design, the HD 800 and HD 800S sound even wider and airier. This is what distinguishes open-back and closed-back headphones.
Sennheiser HD 820 review: Price and availability
Costing £1,100 and £1,400, respectively, the HD 800 and HD 800S are pricey headphones. The HD 820 pushes the bar even higher and costs a staggering $2,000. There are several other flagship models to take into account if you’re willing to spend more than $1000 on a pair of headphones. The Audeze LCD-3 at £1,600 and the Sony MDR-Z1R at £1,650 lead the open-backed competition, while the Fostex TH900 MkII at £1,150 and the Audeze LCD-XC at £1,600 are respectable closed-back rivals.
Conclusion
Suitable for impartial listening. These headphones have a relatively well-balanced sound and, on average, a little more bass than the Sennheiser HD 800 S. They are pleasant to use for hours at a time. Unfortunately, they do not sound as excellent overall, and their bass is very prone to differences between listeners. Despite having a closed-back design, they have a sizable soundstage, but it is not even close to the HD 800 S’s size. They also have a slightly too forward mid-range. The lower mid-range dip leaves a hole in the audio reproduction of the instruments while pushing them forward in the mix.
