When comparing Sennheiser HD 800S vs Onkyo W800BT, the Slant community recommends Sennheiser HD 800S for most people. In the question“What are the best headphones?” Sennheiser HD 800S is ranked 11th while Onkyo W800BT is ranked 102nd. The most important reason people chose Sennheiser HD 800S is:
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.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Extremely detailed highs, warm and clear mids with tight and accurate bass
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.
Pro Highly detailed sound with one of the widest soundstages
These headphones sound very immersive. Aside from the highly detailed sound and powerful yet tight bass, the soundstage is very wide, which only a few headphones can match , if any at all.
Pro Relatively lightweight
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.
Pro Very wide sound stage
The HD 800S has one of the widest sound stages of any headphone today. There is excellent separation and you can easily identify where various sounds are coming from and can be very immersive.
Pro Solid build quality
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.
Pro Comes with two high quality cables
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.
Pro Really comfortable to wear
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.
Pro Clean and airy highs, warm and natural sounding mids with punchy bass
Instead of being bloated and overpowering, the bass is punchy and fast so while these will not be able to produce a lot of rumble. Thump should be satisfying for most users. The highs are nice and airy with a lot of detail yet never become harsh, so these are not fatiguing to listen to. The mids sound very natural and jump out just enough to make vocals and guitars very easy to hear and appreciate.
These should work best for more vocal and instrument focused genres like jazz, rock, classical and the like. Bass heavy tracks will still sound good with these, though these headphones will not be able to give the deep bass that bass lovers will be after.
Pro Carrying case functions as portable charger
The carrying case has an internal battery, and with a full charge, can supply the headphones with 5 full charges on the go.
Pro Good soundstage width
The soundstage that these produce gives the music an open feel with good instrument separation. This quality will help give the listener an immersive music listening experience.
Cons
Con A decent amp is needed to power these properly
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.
Con Leaks a lot of sound
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.
Con Can be picky with DACs/amps
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.
Con No remote control
The button on the W800BT only allows for powering on or off the device. Users will not be able to adjust volume, play/pause tracks or accept/end calls. This can be quite inconvenient, especially when you need to use the aforementioned functions when on the go.
Con Battery life is not very good
From a full charge, the W800BT can only last around 2 to 3 hours of playback time before you need to put them back into the case to charge.