You can just pull out the cable as needed, allowing you to easily store the headphones without the hassle of dangling cables. Also, this feature means that the cable is easily replaceable should it get damaged.
The large ear cups go over the ear instead of sit on them, so no pressure is applied onto the ears. The ear pads on the other hand feature really soft and thick memory foam as well as high quality velour material on the pads' surface. These feel really soft on the sides of the head, and allows some air to circulate around the ears, minimizing heat.
A hammock design is used for the headband. Instead of one single headband piece, this has a two-piece design. The top, solid part is what holds the ear cups together while the lower piece is primarily made out of leather and mesh. This softer and more flexible part is what comes into contact with the head, which results in substantially improved comfort over conventional headband designs.
The wide soundstage heightens the feeling of immersion in in-game audio. The top-notch positional audio allows gamers to easily identify sound sources, like the movement of nearby players or the direction that bullets are coming from.
The bass is really powerful yet also tight. The highs are boosted so audio details are quite prominent. The mids, while not as up front as the bass and the highs, are clear and present.
In-game sound effects will come as clear and detailed, while explosions, gunshots and similar sound effects are really powerful, making these really fun sounding gaming or movie headphones.
The large ear cups go over the ear instead of sit on them, so no pressure is applied onto the ears. The ear pads on the other hand feature really soft and thick memory foam as well as high quality velour material on the pads' surface. These feel really soft on the sides of the head, and allows some air to circulate around the ears, minimizing heat.
These are fairly large because of the sizeable ear cups and 2 piece headband design. Also, these are on the heavy side so if you prefer light weight headphones, these might not work for you.
These headphones are quite power hungry and will not produce optimal sound or volume when plugged directly to your phone or laptop. You will need to invest in a separate, fairly powerful amp to get the best sound out of these.
Your choice of amp and DAC can have a noticeable effect on the sound of the HD 800S. You may need to do extra research as to which audio equipment can bring out the best sound from these.
Only a very fine mesh piece covers the large headphone drivers from the outside. These are basically mini speakers so others can easily hear what you are listening to.
The highs are very clear and revealing, so you will be able to hear even the minute details from the audio that you simply will not be able to pick up with lesser headphones.
The mids are also clear and have nice warmth. They are slightly recessed, yet voices and mid range tones will come out full, so the sound is not lean in any way.
The bass is not boomy but still has enough power for a satisfying thump. Also, due to the bass' tightness and speed, there is no bloat from the lower frequencies.
These work really well for gaming as the headphones can accurately render the finest audio details, while explosions sound really big and powerful
The HD 800S has one of the widest sound stages of any headphone today. There is excellent separation between in-game sound sources and you can easily identify where various audio effects are coming from. Not only is this immersive, but it can also give you a competitive edge. With these, you will be able to easily hear footsteps, gunshots, and also tell exactly where they are coming from.
The ear pads feature high quality memory foam as cushions with the surface being premium quality velours. This material combo is also used on the headband. They feel really soft and conform to the contours of your head. Due to the fabric material, some air can move through the pads, minimizing heat and sweatiness.
Despite the massive size of the headphones, Sennheiser was able to keep the weight down by using a special material called Leona, which is very light yet has metal-like toughness.
These headphones do not make unnecessary creaks or flex when moved or held. Aside from the use of Leona on the ear cups and headband, the size adjuster is made of lightweight metal, with fine yet durable stainless steel mesh covering the drivers.
Out of the box, you get a balanced XLR cable and an unbalanced TRS cable. If you have a balanced headphone amp, then the XLR cable will allow you to maximize your amp's performance with these headphones without the need to buy a different (and expensive) cable.
A headphone amp is not required in order for these to pump up good volume and sound details, so these can work well off of portable devices. There is a noticeable improvement in sound quality and volume when used with a proper amp though.
Its closed back design along with the fairly thick, leather-surfaced earpads are very effective at keeping the music in and the ambient noise out. This is very useful in tracking situations, and will also help you focus on the audio even when in a busy, noisy place.
If you have large ears then the small ear cup opening may be a problem. They may feel tight around the ears, or even sit on your ears instead of go over them, which you may find to be less than ideal.
Treble is quite detailed, but lacks a bit of sparkle on the highest frequencies as they are rolled off. The mids are just right, not too forward and not too rich. The bass has good presence and punch, but is not very powerful.
A combination of high quality plastics and metal are used for these so there is minimal flex and rattles. The headphone joints and yoke also have smooth movement, which make these feel premium when held.
Stock cable has an in-line microphone. Not only is this convenient for taking calls while listening to music, but the mic's sound quality is good, with voices sounding clear, full and with good volume.
While the leather surfaces feel soft and smooth on the skin, they also trap heat very well. You may feel the warmth building up quickly around the ears and on the head. This can also be an issue if you sweat a lot.
The use of metal and quality plastics on the headphone construction, as well as the magnets in the drivers contribute to a hefty weight. While this is not a problem to wear for short periods, you may feel some head or neck strain when using the headphones for hours. This also makes the headphones an extra challenge to bring on the go.