Sennheiser HD820 headphones build upon the exceptional reputation of the HD800s in creating possibly the world’s finest closed back headphones.
Sennheiser: one of the world’s “power brands” when it comes to headphones, in particular. Sennheiser’s exceptional range of headphones is crowned by the rarified and esoteric HE1 Orpheus headphones system, and the rather more attainable, and highly acclaimed HD800S.
Now, Sennheiser takes that high-end technology and turn their hand to improving the world of closed-back headphones with the Sennheiser HD820 model…
An Open and Closed Case?
The debate over which style of headphones, open or closed back, is the “best” design has raged for decades; however, there can be no denying that both styles of headphones offer significant advantages of their own.
Closed back headphones seal the listener’s ear within a closed cup, creating a sealed chamber into which sound is injected. The advantages of a closed back headphone are that it seals external sounds from the listener, as well as preventing sound leakage into the environment.
It is for those reasons, that closed back headphones are the preferred choice for those who listen or monitor in noisy environments. Recording engineers favour closed-back headphones, and for those listening in a crowded or noisy environment such as a train carriage, or those wishing not to disturb others around them, closed-back headphones are an excellent choice.
The significant disadvantage of closed back headphones is that sealing the ear in a closed cavity often results in an unnatural listening experience. Most would agree that open-backed headphones offer a more airy, diffuse listening experience, more akin to listening to loudspeakers.
If only closed back headphones could be made to sound as airy as open-backed models, with all the advantages of a closed back design? Well, thanks to Sennheiser, that’s now a possibility…
Sennheiser HD820
Sennheiser is renowned for manufacturing exceptional closed and open backed headphones; their HD25 closed back headphones can be found on the heads of DJ’s and sound engineers alike. Meanwhile, models such as the HD660S and HD800S have defined what an audiophile headphone should be, through use of open-backed technology.
Recognising a need for a closed back headphone which is the sonic equal of their HD800S model Sennheiser have recently released the HD820 model. The HD820 aimed to create the most transparent sounding closed back headphones ever made; to this end, there’s some very clever engineering involved.
The HD820’s breakthrough has been achieved through a special and visually arresting innovation; Sennheiser’s legendary Ring Radiator transducers (as featured on the HD800S) are fitted with unique covers made from Corning’s durable, lightweight and scratch resistant Gorilla Glass.
The concave glass reflects the sound waves from the rear of the transducer to an absorber, which results in minimal resonance, and helps in creating the same diffused listening experience as in an open-backed headphone.
At the same time, the HD820 benefits from the sound isolation advantages of a closed back headphone design, as well as adding a hugely stylish and eye-catching take on the Sennheiser HD headphone paradigm.
The Complete Package
In the Sennheiser HD820 then, we find a headphone which is at home in all arenas: whether it’s the office, commuting on the train, the recording studio or listening at home in pristine quality without disturbing those around you. The Sennheiser HD820 promises to be a headphone for all occasions.
Sennheiser includes a range of connections as standard including a conventional 1/4″ unbalanced jack plug connection, a 4.4mm balanced pentacon connector, and a balanced XLR-4 connector. For those seeking the perfect partner in terms of headphone amplifiers, one need look no further than Sennheiser’s own HDV820.
Looking for your first pair of true audiophile headphones, but need something which can adapt to every situation? Finding it difficult to justify an open-backed headphone for home listening as well as a closed-back design for commuting? You may just find that the Sennheiser HD820S closed-back headphone is the perfect solution.