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Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Headphones
$1999.95
01 / 07
Sennheiser HD 820 Closed-Back Headphones
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$1999.95
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keyboard_arrow_downJonnyModena
225
Jun 13, 2020
I understand that the $300 worth of Drop points are included. With that said, this is not what I personally come to Drop for. And looking at the comments, I don’t think I am alone. We don’t want points. We want products with a significant price “drop”. It can’t get any clearer than that. I hope this message reaches someone in the company who genuinely cares about this community. Because you are losing us slowly. And that would be a shame.
Alex_May
164
Jun 9, 2020
I guess, the Drop has forgotten what made the Massdrop so unique. The marketing genius was in rebranding of the overpriced but quality products and selling them for half the price that seems more realistic. Or creating a community around some new and unique products so that we take part in their creation. And now the Drop wants us to pay the same price as in retail shops but then wait for 1.5 months until it's delivered? Seriously, Drop?
jaffe
272
Jun 11, 2020
you can't convince these entitled dummies of anything other than that their imaginary bargain land has gone to hell.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Jun 13, 2020
jaffeI meeeeeeean, this is what it costs. For some, it’s worth buying or saving for, based on what they’ve heard and how well it was differentiated and it’s advantages communicated, and for others, they either don’t want it or can’t justify the cost.
I can justify the cost in my mind, but financially I can’t afford it (Call me a pleb, go on, SAY IT, WATCH MY FACE SHOW PROFOUND SADNESS! 😅). I’m trying to walk the middle ground, to manage expectations that realistically a lower cost model would have to be lower cost to produce. On Sennheiser’s side, I don’t know if the product page and marketing was enough to establish that the value was worth the price.
I saw Axel Grell speak about the development of this headphone at a CanJam, and it was super educational about headphone design in general. Sure, it made me appreciate the HD 820 more, but it also made me wonder about how other engineers seal their headphones, and appreciate how bad simply putting a bubble over the back of an open headphone would sound.
https://youtu.be/CB-SCA1reqE
EDIT: The above link goes to an (interesting, but OT) video about proper temperatures for cooking pans. I thought I could find the video I was looking for, but it’s proving tricky!
https://youtu.be/N5KVFg41x2s
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sennheiser-hd820-measurements.890802/
EDIT EDIT: Win! Head-Fi made a nice recording, and Jude covered it in detail. Axel’s presentation above and Jude’s article and measurements below.
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/sennheiser-hd820-measurements.890802/
EDIT EDIT: Win! Head-Fi made a nice recording, and Jude covered it in detail. Axel’s presentation above and Jude’s article and measurements below.
(Edited)
ComTlancy
75
Jun 9, 2020
What a massive disappointment... Drop is just selling out their audiophile page as a store front to Sennheiser and completely missing the point of why I shop here so much in the first place. Pass, someone call me when they actually collab again and make a good product.
jaffe
272
Jun 11, 2020
You are an entitled NIMBY twit. You don't have any say in what the site was "made for" that's just something you made up in your mind and further proof of your pathetic entitlement. I don't see your whining as criticism I just see it as a manifestation of your entitlement. I'm sorry that you can't afford it, now piss off. This is the best deal that you're going to get on this product right now.
ComTlancy
75
Jun 11, 2020
jaffeBut, that was literally the original intention of the site... You're entitled to your opinion though and I'm entitled to mine. Sorry you're so angry over me being an "entitled NIMBY twit" because I have a differing opinion than yours lol
lok777
50
Jun 11, 2020
I sold my pair of lcd-2s about a month ago, i am not going to spend over 150 on another set of headphones I just do not think they are worth the money. I was just curious what people thought of the deal, since drop also has a a pair of HD598's going for 200, and momentum 3s going for 400- you guys must think those are great deals too since you get the extra points :)
ShaunLee
49
Jun 10, 2020
https://en-us.sennheiser.com/high-end-headphones-audiophiles-hd-820
if Drop sells a product the same price as the official website (I believe there are some other sites selling it for cheaper, Canada official website sells it for cheaper as well), i dont know what's the point for Drop to open? is it just a hifi discussion forum?
Evshrug
3772
Community
Jun 13, 2020
Ok, you explained your background and position very well, which will help to explain things from within your framework. Thanks! I totally respect where you’re coming from and the knowledge that would give you.
As a a distributor/retailer of electronics you know that some products have better margins than others. For a long time, the HD 600 and HD 650 (and original 1990’s HD 580) driver was the best Sennheiser could make, and while they could have changed the tuning and sold it as “better” (which is sort of what the HD 650 was, but it was priced about the same), they already had achieved the tuning they wanted and they didn’t want to use some “gimmick” that didn’t serve a benefit. This is where your “it’s a headphone” comment was correct, and a long time passed that Sennheiser couldn’t something significantly different that would surpass that “heart” developed for the HD 580.
But you’re assuming the HD 820 is really cheap to make, about the same as the HD 6XX, and the additional cost to make a closed headphone that still sounds open are inconsequential, and then that the higher price is just an appreciation of “art” or perceived value... that’s a lot of assumptions. I don’t know the margins exactly, but I do know that the HD 800S and HD 820 actually have far worse margin than the HD 650 and HD 600. A sub $1000 HD 800S simply by slicing margin is not reasonable, less so an HD 820. It’s not just better design due to R&D, but they simply cost more to make and have a lower successful production yield due to the increased complexity – we can’t get something for nothing. With that being true, there is a lot of hard evidence out there and maybe watching some of the factory tour videos, design seminars at trade shows, and patents submitted might satisfy the truth-seekers.
I do think you hit on another really good point to consider. The HD 650 and 600 are very good headphones, better than headphones using off the shelf parts made from automated processing, and people love them. So, like you were indirectly implying, any additional cost of adapting the closed-back R&D to the 820 to an HD 6XX would easily be amortized in a short time.
The HD 820 represents two things:
- sealing an open headphone with less compromises than arguably ever before, and
- Sennheiser’s “all the stops pulled Flagship” or “best headphone” (closed).
(Edited)
jkhmonkey
95
Jun 20, 2020
EvshrugI'm going to take a guess here, and by that a complete shot in the dark, but Sennheiser may also be reluctant to Drop making a "budget" HD8xx due to issues of the worth of brand recognition among the public.
Companies want to have a super-high end product to show off their technical expertise and quality. It's the psychology of a common consumer where if they see good reviews and feedback of the company's high-end products, they would assume that the more budget offerings that's more within their price range would also be of high quality. They may want to avoid degrading this view by allowing budget versions of their luxury items. Until Sennheiser released a new flagship that they consider to be better than their 800 series, I would be surprised to see a collab.
I would say this is similar to how Apple almost never allows any substantial discounts on their products (at least in Canada; maybe you folks in the US have a better chance of getting deals). They want their brand to be seen as a company that produces high quality, luxury items, and this marketing strategy has worked out very well for them.
Other examples would be car industries with the prototype models, or limited edition models that nearly nobody will be able to afford, or the cutting edge TV technology shown off at trade shows, that once again, not many people would be able to afford.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Jun 11, 2020
Hmm, I also have a pair of Ety ER-6i (my first hifi “Headphones”), so I know they stick out a little. I also play mobile games while lying on my back, and I’ve been using my PC37X (first review of it on Drop is mine), but I couldn’t wear them and lie on my side, if you know what I mean. I don’t have problems wearing headphones and lying on my back, but I think part of that is my pillows are pretty firm and I don’t skink deeply into them (I use a firm Serta from Walmart... I tried more expensive pillows and memory foam but I still prefer my Serta). While lying back in bed and using my iPad, I usually prop my head up by folding my pillow in half :D
I don’t think I could lay “on” any headphones on my side, not even with Koss KSC75 ear clip headphones or those “meant for sleep” things that look like sweatbands with headphone drivers inside (because I’m picky), and those pillows with headphone drivers all sound awful (though maybe you could DIY something interesting, cutting up a closed headphone and putting the earcup inside the pillow? Still would have a hard “thing” you’re laying on). The best choice, IMO, is an extremely thin in-ear-monitor.
Among the universal IEMs, I recently tried a really cheap Chinese-Fi IEM, the BLON BL-03, which had smooth contours and was quite low profile, which should be more comfortable than average. I also really liked a single-driver IEM that looked like a crescent moon from Alclair, that should be better sounding. Probably the best option would be a custom IEM with a single driver - I’ve seen some brands specifically offering low-profile IEMs for comfort, though the brand I’m thinking about specifically (Custom Art) and others have revamped their product lines since I looked. If there is a brand of CIEM that interests you (please pay them money to support their business? Even if it’s cash), it might be best to call them and speak with a sales rep, and tell them you’re specifically looking for something low profile to wear and lay on.
JimJimJimmy
27
Jun 10, 2020
I have a pair of £100 headphones, I seriously doubt these are 20 times the quality.
This isn't why I come to this site, at all. It's supposed to be a better deal here, not just a showroom for things I can't justify spending lots of money on.
JimJimJimmy
27
Jun 11, 2020
This isnt the same account I started with, lost the password for my old one a long time ago. Your confusion is understandable.
For clarity, I have a pair of DT770s and some K702s so nothing super high end but also decidedly not mainstream.
Peace and love.
oager
27
Jun 11, 2020
Hmm, yeah so these headphones are definitely not worth it, but I'll give $1900 for your ears if your looking to sell.. As long as your hearing is better than mine :).
s2030081
67
Jun 9, 2020
Napoleonove7The whole 75th campaign has been disappointing so far, even the HD25 limited edition is not so attractive to me.
I expected this spotlight event to be dull but this is unexpectedly bad in reality...
glkparanoid
15
Feb 10, 2021
Want to learn why DROP chose to price at $2000, even higher than the $1849 at Amazon.
ElectronicVices
2937
Feb 19, 2021
Every time they have "full manufacturers warranty" listed in the details... like this particular Drop.
Evshrug
3772
Community
Feb 19, 2021
So, I’m learning. I’ll reply again when I find more details...
Apparently there is a distinction between stock Sennheiser products (like this one) and exclusive, special order products (like the HD 8XX). But like @ElectronicVices said, the drop listing will state if it’s sold with full manufacture’s warranty, like this one does.
(Edited)
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