Closed-back headphones can be great, but they cant match the expansiveness and transparency of their open brethren.
Despite questionable decisions that $2,400 price tag particularly stings it sounds like nothing else Ive heard.
A history lesson for those not in the know.
The HD820 is essentially a closed-back variant of Sennheisers venerable HD800, and its refined revision, the HD800S.
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And what a gorgeous design it is.
Subjectivity acknowledged, but the HD820 are the prettiest headphones Ive used.
The headphone, despite its size, is remarkably comfortable.
I can use them late at night while my girlfriend is sleeping.
I cant say that for the vast majority of top-of-the-line headphones.
Because the drivers remain the same, HD820s new acoustics have everything to do with its chassis.
The HD820 soundshugefor closed-back cans.
Heck, it sounds bigger than plenty of open-back headphones.
Mids and highs are both detailed impeccably transparent, and I appreciate the slightly tamer treble on the HD820.
It will still reveal bad recordings like a hot knife through butter.
Bass, on the other hand, I believe is a clear improvement.
Its far from a bassheads standards, but the HD820 has plenty of slam when called for.
And to my ears, the bass remains fast and articulate, never intruding on other frequencies.
Id argue the increased low-end authority makes the HD820 a much more versatile headphone overall than its predecessors.
Its also worth noting that if youdowant some more bass, the HD820 responds very well to an equalizer.
The sound isnt perfect.
Some might see this transparency as making the headphone less engaging.
I have some issues with its design too.
This affects bass frequencies in particular and can have a real impact on how your music sounds.
Besides, sometimes Iamcrazy enough to walk around outside with giant, $2,400 headphones.
But you mightve already guessed the HD820s biggest problem: its price.
But maybe none of that matters.
The HD820 is one of relatively few closed-back flagship headphones.
The isolating design helps me immerse myself in music when theres background noise around me.
It means I wont disturb others when blasting music.
Even among closed headphones, they sound like nothing else Ive tried.
Brief auditions of other TOTL cans tell a similar story.
Sonys Z1R goes for a similar price.
Plenty of open headphones sell for higher.
Point is, it pays to be different.
No, its not a closed HD800S, but to my ears, its something arguably better.
