Gimp_Ninja t1_iycxxv8 wrote on November 30, 2022 at 2:01 PM

I have the 8XX, which is the bastard half-brother of the 800S that the audiophile community keeps locked in a closet under the stairs, and while the 560S is a technically impressive headphone, the 8XX easily bests it in every category of technical performance (and I like the sound profile too, but that's controversial). I suspect the 800S will really impress you, especially since you're listening to classical music.

BUT the question of whether it's worth it is different than whether it's better. It's 10X more expensive. Headphones are a product of diminishing returns, and you will probably not think the 800S sounds 10X better than the 560S. But it might sound 2X or even 3X as good to you. What you could always do is save up the money, and buy a set from somewhere with a good return policy. If you're not blown away, send them back and be happy with your 560S.

Lapralapso OP t1_iydh1jh wrote on November 30, 2022 at 4:18 PM

I have been eyeing the 8XX actually. If the sound compared to an 800S is only a LITTLE “worse”, to the point where the differences are very slight, then I don’t mind saving $500 and buying an 8XX instead. Have you EQ’ed the 8XX at all? I keep hearing that EQ is “mandatory” on these.

And honestly? If these sound even just twice as good for 10x the price, I am more than willing to pay.

Gimp_Ninja t1_iyefz1g wrote on November 30, 2022 at 8:02 PM

I haven't messed with EQ on my 8XX. I'd be glad to try it out sometime soon and report back if you're truly interested. I'm a bit of a purist for the most part, except for my DT990. I appreciate the differences in the way my headphones sound and I like to swap them out depending on my mood. I do kind of wish I'd spent a little more on the 800S just because of all of the talk about how much better it is, but I find the 8XX to be fun in its own way. There's a lot of criticism of the 4-5dB scoop in the upper mids, which can make vocals sound a little distant, but it doesn't bother me nearly as much as the peaky treble on the 560S that nobody else seems to be bothered about. I think people were hoping the 8XX would be more like the 6XX where there was actually very little change in the sound from the 650, and the disappointment really soured the 8XX.