Sennheiser launches new flagship headphones, the HD 800 S, and moves into the 3D-audio space with Ambeo

[ZugZwang]

With virtual reality just around the corner it seems everyone is concerned with the visuals, but what about audio? Sennheiser has you covered, today Sennheiser announced the replacement for its award-winning HD 800 headphones and unveiled Ambeo 3D which combined with their recently announced VR mic will bring you the best VR audio for total immersion.

 

The HD 800 S earcups are now have a matte-black finish and retains the same 4 to 51,000 Hz frequency response as the old HD 800 but now have a 56mm transducer. The HD 800 S will retail for $1699.95.

 

 

Like previously announced immersive audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, Ambeo 3D will feature an upmixer that will take native two-channel content and upmix it to an immersive presentation. While those other 3D audio formats are focused on home theater, it appears as though Sennheiser’s 3D audio format will be targeting music, gaming, and augmented reality simulations

 

 

Sennheiser will feature a virtual-reality microphone. Unlike traditional microphone designs, the new mic will capture high-quality audio in four quadrants. Sennheiser says the mic was designed in coordination with VR content producers

 

 

http://www.techhive.com/article/3019706/home-audio/sennheiser-launches-new-flagship-headphones-the-hd-800-s-and-moves-into-the-3d-audio-space-with-amb.html

 

 

[ivan134]

I'll take 5.

[Bouzoo]

3D-audio space? So basically a good 9.1 surround in headphones? How does that even sound?

You pick a VR headset and this and you don't need RL anymore. 

[eLucid]

Hmm, time to sell my hd800's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not.

[Maslofski]

3D-audio space? So basically a good 9.1 surround in headphones? How does that even sound?

You pick a VR headset and this and you don't need RL anymore. 

 

 well, no game dev will properly support it or the classic no Z axis are my predictions against that

[SurvivorNVL]

I'm still annoyed that they made -slight- improvements to the HD800 and decided to charge so much more for them.  Beyer updated the T1 and didn't make a massive price jump for the tiny improvements.

[Deli]

People think they need a $1,700 headphones for VR??

[RazrLeaf]

The HD 800 S earcups are now have a matte-black finish and retains the same 4 to 51,000 Hz frequency response as the old HD 800 but now have a 56mm transducer.

The HD 800 had a 56mm transducer as well.

[Sephiroth]

If only this meant the HD 800 would have a significant drop in price

[patrickjp93]

The HD 800 had a 56mm transducer as well.

No, only one of the limited edition runs did. The normal one is 50 or 52. I forget which.

[RazrLeaf]

No, only one of the limited edition runs did. The normal one is 50 or 52. I forget which.

Always had 56mm drivers (and a 40mm coil and a 42mm magnet). I'll link a few sources, including one from Sennheiser themselves.

 

http://en-us.sennheiser.com/global-downloads/file/5195/True_Sound_Brochure.pdf

http://www.techradar.com/us/news/audio/hi-fi-radio/discover-how-sennheiser-makes-headphones-586213

http://www.cnet.com/products/sennheiser-hd800/

 

This link is to the manual. Page 3 also states 56mm drivers. https://www.manualowl.com/m/Sennheiser/HD-800/Manual/358294

[EmeraldKiwi]

You're telling me that both headphones, new and old, go down to 4 hertz? Just imagine what that would sound like.

[theninja35]

"Dad, can we sell the car?"

 

"Why?"

 

"Well I want these headphones here!"

[patrickjp93]

You're telling me that both headphones, new and old, go down to 4 hertz? Just imagine what that would sound like.

You can't. It's outside of human hearing range. Even the record holder for lowest hearing ears is like 14-16 Hz. I could hear up to 22KHz, and the human average is 20Hz to 20KHz. Having a response range much outside that is just pointless.

[EmeraldKiwi]

You can't. It's outside of human hearing range. Even the record holder for lowest hearing ears is like 14-16 Hz. I could hear up to 22KHz, and the human average is 20Hz to 20KHz. Having a response range much outside that is just pointless.

Well, the concept still stands. Just image a super low frequency playing. That would be awesome. I wonder if any normal music goes down that far.

[TroubleKlef]

I'm still annoyed that they made -slight- improvements to the HD800 and decided to charge so much more for them.  Beyer updated the T1 and didn't make a massive price jump for the tiny improvements.

 

The actual price will probably greatly differ than the MSRP.

 

HD700s are only $450 on Amazon currently with an MSRP of $1000.

[deviant88]

3D-audio space? So basically a good 9.1 surround in headphones? How does that even sound?

You pick a VR headset and this and you don't need RL anymore. 

Like shit because music and most videos youtube /netflix etc are 2.0 stereo, your 5.1/7.1/9.1 is pointless since you get 2 channels spread on multiple channels.

Only original dvd/bluray movies will have 5.1 + audio channels in them.

[Curufinwe_wins]

You can't. It's outside of human hearing range. Even the record holder for lowest hearing ears is like 14-16 Hz. I could hear up to 22KHz, and the human average is 20Hz to 20KHz. Having a response range much outside that is just pointless.

Well that kinda is and isn't true.

Sounds below the auditory threshold then just become beats instead of tones. We go from recognizing a distinct sound to acting as a LLD.

But then technically the sound we do hear as the (present) beats is the underlying tones of whatever is producing the low frequency sound. If you could produce a perfectly pure fundamental node at such a low frequency, we couldn't hear it (hence lab tests vs being able to hear a 1hz "tone" on YouTube)

So yea...

[Real_PhillBert]

Posting a thread about a new product without a picture of it should be a bannable offense...