Home Headphones Sennheiser HD 800 Sennheiser
Released March 2009
The HD 800 were Sennheiser's 2009 flagship open-back dynamic headphones, with a 56 mm ring radiator driver, suited to critical home listening with a capable amplifier; the HD 800 S replaced them.
Compare with another pair of headphones Compare with… Beats Beats Pro (2010) Audeze LCD-2 (2009) AKG K702 (2008) K361 (2019) K371 (2019) K872 (2016) K712 PRO (2013) K701 (2005) Space 2 (2026) AeroFit 2 Pro (2026) Liberty 5 (2025) AeroFit 2 (2024) Liberty 4 Pro (2024) Space One Pro (2024) P40i (2024) Space One (2023) Liberty 4 NC (2023) Space Q45 (2022) AirPods 5 (2026) AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case (2026) AirPods Max 2 (2026) AirPods Pro 3 (2025) AirPods 4 (2024) AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (2024) AirPods Max (USB-C) (2024) AirPods Pro 2 (2023) EarPods (USB-C) (2023) AirPods (3rd generation) (2021) AirPods Max (Lightning) (2020) AirPods Pro (1st generation) (2019) AirPods (2nd generation) (2019) AirPods (1st generation) (2016) EarPods (Lightning Connector) (2016) EarPods (3.5mm Headphone Plug) (2012) MM-100 (2023) Maxwell (2023) MM-500 (2022) LCD-5 (2021) LCD-GX (2019) LCD-2 Classic (2017) LCD-X (2013) LCD-XC (2013) ATH-R50x (2025) ATH-ADX5000 (2017) ATH-R70x (2015) ATH-M40x (2014) ATH-M50x (2014) Beats 360 (2026) Powerbeats Fit (2025) Powerbeats Pro 2 (2025) Solo Buds (2024) Solo 4 (2024) Studio Pro (2023) Studio Buds + (2023) Fit Pro (2021) Studio Buds (2021) Beats Flex (2020) Powerbeats (2020) (2020) Solo Pro (2019) Powerbeats Pro (2019) Studio3 Wireless (2017) BeatsX (2017) urBeats3 (2017) Powerbeats3 Wireless (2016) Beats EP (2016) Solo3 Wireless (2016) Solo2 Wireless (2014) Solo2 (2014) Powerbeats2 Wireless (2014) Studio Wireless (2013) (2013) Tour2 (2013) Studio (2013) (2013) Executive (2012) urBeats (2012) (2012) Wireless (2011) (2011) Mixr (2011) Solo HD (2010) Powerbeats (2010) (2010) Solo (2009) (2009) Studio (2008) (2008) Tour (original) (2008) AMIRON 100 (2024) DT 1770 PRO MKII (2024) DT 770 PRO X Limited Edition (2024) DT 1990 PRO MKII (2024) Xelento remote (2nd generation) (2022) DT 700 PRO X (2021) DT 900 PRO X (2021) T1 (3rd generation) (2020) T5 (3rd generation) (2020) DT 1990 PRO (2016) DT 1770 PRO (2015) DT 770 PRO (1985) DT 990 PRO (1985) QuietComfort Headphones (2nd Gen) (2026) QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) (2025) QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) (2025) QuietComfort Earbuds (2024) Ultra Open Earbuds (2024) QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2023) QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2023) QuietComfort Headphones (2023) QuietComfort 45 (2021) Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 (2019) QuietComfort 35 II (2017) QuietControl 30 (2016) QuietComfort 35 (2016) QuietComfort 25 (2014) QuietComfort 20 (2013) QuietComfort 15 (2009) QuietComfort 3 (2006) QuietComfort 2 (2003) QuietComfort (2000) Px8 S2 (2025) Px7 S3 (2025) Pi8 (2024) E3 (2023) EXPANSE (2022) STEALTH (2021) AEON 2 Noire (2021) Bathys MG (2025) Azurys (2024) Hadenys (2024) Utopia (2022) Clear MG (2021) Clear Mg Professional (2021) Celestee (2021) Radiance (2020) Stellia (2019) Elegia (2018) Elear (2016) Pixel Buds Pro 2 (2024) Pixel Buds Pro (2022) GS1000 Classic (2026) Hemp Classic (2026) RS1 Classic (2026) SR325 Classic (2026) SR80 Classic (2026) SUSVARA UNVEILED (2024) ANANDA NANO (2023) Arya Organic (2023) HE1000 Stealth Magnet (2023) SUNDARA Closed-Back (2022) ANANDA Stealth Magnet (2022) DEVA Pro (2021) Edition XS (2021) Arya Stealth Magnets (2021) HE400se (2021) HE6se V2 (2020) SUNDARA (2018) SUSVARA (2017) Live Beam 4 (2026) Live 780NC (2026) Tune 780NC (2025) Sense Pro (2025) Tour One M3 (2025) Tour Pro 3 (2024) Live Beam 3 (2024) Live 770NC (2023) Tune 770NC (2023) Tune 720BT (2023) Live Pro 2 TWS (2022) 99 Classics (2nd Gen) (2025) POET (2025) Liric (2nd Gen) (2024) Empyrean II (2023) 109 PRO (2022) Elite (2021) Ear (3) (2025) Headphone (1) (2025) Ear (2024) Galaxy Buds4 (2026) Galaxy Buds4 Pro (2026) Galaxy Buds3 Pro (2024) Galaxy Buds2 Pro (2022) MOMENTUM True Wireless 5 (2026) MOMENTUM 5 Wireless (2026) HDB 630 (2025) HD 550 (2025) HD 505 (2025) HD 620S (2024) ACCENTUM Plus Wireless (2024) HD 490 PRO (2024) HD 660S2 (2023) IE 200 (2023) MOMENTUM 4 Wireless (2022) IE 600 (2022) HD 400 PRO (2021) IE 900 (2021) IE 100 PRO (2021) IE 300 (2021) HD 560S (2020) MOMENTUM 3 Wireless (2019) HD 820 (2018) HD 660S (2017) HD 599 (2016) HD 800 S (2016) MOMENTUM 2 Wireless (2015) MOMENTUM (2012) HD 280 PRO (2003) HD 650 (2003) HD 600 (1997) HD 25 (1988) Ace Ultra (2026) Ace (2024) WH-1000XM4C (2026) WH-CH730N (2026) 1000X THE COLLEXION (WH-1000XX) (2026) WF-1000XM6 (2026) INZONE H9 II (2025) WH-1000XM6 (2025) WF-C710N (2025) LinkBuds Fit (2024) LinkBuds Open (2024) MDR-M1 (2024) WF-C510 (2024) ULT WEAR (WH-ULT900N) (2024) INZONE Buds (2023) INZONE H5 (2023) WF-1000XM5 (2023) MDR-MV1 (2023) WF-C700N (2023) WH-CH520 (2023) WH-CH720N (2023) INZONE H3 (2022) INZONE H7 (2022) INZONE H9 (2022) LinkBuds S (2022) WH-1000XM5 (2022) WF-C500 (2021) WF-1000XM4 (2021) WH-1000XM4 (2020) WH-CH710N (2020) WF-1000XM3 (2019) WH-CH510 (2019) WH-1000XM3 (2018) WF-SP700N (2018) WH-CH700N (2018) WF-1000X (2017) WH-1000XM2 (2017) MDR-1000X (2016) MDR-1A (2014) MDR-1R (2012) MDR-7506 (1991) MDR-CD3000 (1991) MDR-R10 (1988) MDR-V6 (1985) Arctis Nova Pro Omni (2026) Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (2024) EAH-AZ100 (2025)
Type Over-ear
Noise cancelling No
Battery –
With case –
Best codec Wired
Weight 330 g What reviewers say Reviewers agree the headphones sound superbly detailed, precise and balanced, with deep, solid bass, and stay comfortable over long sessions. TechRadar found them expensive, and What Hi-Fi? found them slightly sterile beside a Grado rival it judged more realistic and open, and noted enough sound leakage to disturb others in the room.
From whathifi.com and techradar.com
Sound
Type Over-ear
Noise cancelling No
Driver size 56 mm
Back Open
Impedance 300 ohms
Bluetooth codecs None (wired)
Drivers 56 mm ring radiator dynamic transducer with 40 mm voice coil and 42 mm magnet; 14 – 44,100 Hz (–3 dB), 6 – 51,000 Hz (–10 dB); 102 dB SPL at 1 kHz (1 Vrms); THD 0.02% (1 kHz, 1 Vrms); diffuse-field equalised; max. 500 mW long-term input power (EN 60268-7) Battery
Listening time (maker's claim) No battery (wired) Design
Weight 330 g
Headphone cable Yes
Fit and ear tips Over-ear (circumaural), open-back; contact pressure approx. 3.4 N ± 0.3 N; handcrafted microfibre ear pads; metal headband with inner damping element; silver finish
Works with Detachable 3 m silver-plated OFC cable, symmetrical, Kevlar reinforced, with gold-plated 6.3 mm stereo jack plug Pros and cons Pros + 56 mm ring radiator driver; 6 Hz to 51 kHz (–10 dB)+ Low THD of 0.02% (1 kHz, 1 Vrms)+ Light contact pressure of about 3.4 NCons − 300-ohm impedance calls for a capable headphone amplifier− Came with a 6.3 mm cable only; the balanced XLR-4 cable was an optional extra− Open back leaks sound and lets outside noise inNewer model: HD 800 S .
