HD800 what other headphones have been compared to for the past 10 years

I own quite a few mid to high level headphones as well as the HD-800S . Hands down this is the most accurate and detailed set of headphones under 4K. Each headphones have their own signatures some are dark and some are bright these are just accurate . Paired with a quality amp you will hear the smallest details missed in even the most expensive speakers . I currently use wa-22 and McIntosh MHA-100 and wow I have also used a Jotunheim and was extremely impressed . I feel the HD-800 a better pair of headphones than the HD-800S and far far better than the LCD-3 . For the past 10 years every set of headphones has been compared to the HD800 and for a good reason . I feel these have gotten a bad rap with having little bass and a 6K spike because these only reproduce what is there. They don't mask 6k like others which makes me wonder what else are those other leaving out and to create bass even the experts agree it's with a price of higher distortion . I feel the hd800 require little amplification compared to other 300 ohm headphones. MY LCD-3 require as much or more power than my HE-6 and my LCD-3 are 110 ohms. I have done side by side with my HD800 vs my HD-800s using my MHA-100 and I found that my HD-800 are much better. I increase the Bass gain by as much as 5.0 db's the bass on my HD-800S start to sound muffled and distorted compared to the super clean tight aggressive bass I hear on my HD-800. So whatever Sennheiser did to increase the bass does not hold up when the bass is increased by either tone control or EQ. Also what Sennheiser did to eliminate the 6K spike also removed some of the high end crispness that the HD-800 have. I noticed this the most on Hearts crazy on you with the HD-800 I hear the smallest picking and plucking of Nancy's Guitar Greatly reduced and muffled by the HD-800S . Don't get me wrong the HD-800S is very detailed compared to other manufactures but compared to HD-800 I feel they sacrificed the accuracy detail and crispness. To gain bass the increased the distortion, to eliminate " the 6K spike " the eliminated some quality.Read full review

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