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. ..
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enormous dynamic drivers appears to be exposed, it isn’t because the fine silver grilles on the back of each cup have been replaced by even closer-fitting black grilles.
The Sennheiser HD 820 is a very cool phone that has a curved Gorilla Glass plate and sound-absorbing synthetic leather border around the outside.
Despite the Sennheiser HD 800 S’ open design providing 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.
The Sennheiser HD 820 is one of the most popular headphones on the market, and for good reason. It has a balanced jack, 6.3mm wire, and a balanced XLR cable included in the box. The closed-back or semi-closed design causes your ears to warm up a little bit more than an open-back alternative. ..
The Sennheiser HD 820 headphones are comfortable to wear, even in cold and rainy conditions. The headband is adjustable, and the headphones have large pads that distribute the weight evenly. There is a small cutout in the Centre of the headband to prevent pressure from building up on one spot. ..
Sennheiser HD 820 review: Comfort
The HD 820’s ear cups are covered in a concave piece of Gorilla glass. This design is supposed to avoid the drawbacks of a closed design, by directing sound towards sound-absorbing chambers. The remaining headphones are standard Sennheiser models. ..
The Sennheiser HD 820 headphones are well-made, elegant, and comfortable. They are strong enough to last for many years, and the materials feel sturdy. The HD 820s are large but only weigh 360g. The carefully shaped ear cups, light but never loose clamping pressure, and the fact that the HD 820s never overheat our ears all contribute to long-term comfort. ..
The HD 820s are designed for residential use and come with two balanced options, 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 closed-system audiophile headphone model was created to provide the best noise isolation and closed-system audio quality possible. The benefits of this design are particularly noticeable in confined living spaces, as well as in professional working environments. Additionally, you will learn about the Sennheiser HD 820 review in this article.
Sennheiser HD 820 review: Audio performance
The HD 820 headphones have a 300 impedance, which is the same as their open-backed predecessors. They 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.
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. ..
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.
The Sennheiser HD820 offers an exceptionally clean and crisp treble response that isn’t tiring to the ears, just like their open-back siblings. There is also no hint of the sibilance that plagued the original HD800. ..
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
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
These headphones are good for people who want a well-balanced sound and a large soundstage. However, they do not have the best overall sound quality, 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.
