Sennheiser HDVD 800 headphone amplifier and digital processor

23.10.2015
Sennheiser HDVD 800
Sennheiser HDVD 800

Preamble

I feel slightly uncomfortable at speaking of a product by Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG, a German brand world leader in manufacturing headphones and microphones. Founded in 1945 by Fritz Sennheiser, the production plant of Wedemark-Wennebostel in the district of Hannover has been the protagonist, in the last fifty years, of the technological and qualitative innovation in the field of professional and consumer electronics. Most probably, without them, we could not be able to speak now of “open headphones” or we will speak about in a different way. I remember very well when, in the 70’s, I begged my father to buy me the HD414, a true aesthetic and functional revolution in the headphone listening. At a certain point, though, some devoted engineers at Sennheiser’s must have thought that it was time to make also the amplifiers! Their amazing Orpheus threw itself headlong into the Hades, enlighten the path with the feeble light of the tubes, seeking for Eurydice that was waiting with the headphones on her beautiful hair!

 

Sennheiser describes as follow the HDVD 800

From their website: “with Sennheiser’s HDVD 800, sound is perfect. The HDVD 800 is able to connect with digital sources and is equipped with a high-quality Burr-Brown digital/analog converter (DAC) that converts digital audio data into analog signals with a resolution of 24 bits and a sampling rate of up to 192 kHz. This enables the HDVD 800 to transmit the entire frequency spectrum of high-end audio sources without any loss of frequencies. Designed and manufactured in Germany, this high-end, solid-state amplifier harmonize perfectly and deliver an ultimate acoustic performance when paired with any of Sennheiser’s audiophile headphones.”

Doubt of the reviewer: are we talking about a DAC with a very good headphone output or about a good headphone amplifier with a dedicated DAC? You can object: what is the difference anyway?

Do they have the same doubt at Sennheiser’s, or is it something done on purpose? I will try to found it out.

 

Out of the package

An elegant and solid carton box in black and light blue containing: the HDVD 800, a safety guide, a quick start guide and a CD containing the user manual and the Windows drivers. Nothing else. Evidently, is the audiophile audience that has to choose the suitable cables, starting from the mains!

 

From the technical point of view

Sober, elegant, strong and functional: adjectives more than deserved. Suitable room for maneuver and a small coquettish concession: the transparent window on the top to peer at the inside. On the front fascia there is the on/off button and the sockets for four sets of headphones, two balanced XLR-4 and two unbalanced 6,3 mm jack stereo. On the right, the selector for the inputs: AES, coaxial S/PDIF, optical TOSLINK, USB, unbalanced, balanced. Moreover the volume knob. On the back panel, there is a complete series of I/O connectors: a left-right XLR analogue input, a small trimmer to adjust the gain of the input signal, a left-right RCA analogue input, a left-right XLR analogue output, USB, S/PDIF coaxial RCA, AES/EBU and the IEC socket for the mains cable. What is missing is an unbalanced RCA output. In case of need, there are anyway two small XLR female/RCA female adaptors.

Considering all the balanced XLR connectors and the AES/EBU interface, I think that the device has been thought for the pro, where is required a “reference” quality for the headphone listening, presumably in the recording studios. But, of course, it is also suitable for the “advanced” audiophiles!

The overall quality is very good without any uncertainties in the connection workability, selection, adjustment and installation of the Windows drivers.

There is just one PCB with SMD components. The power supply is switched-mode and a series of stabilizers and voltage regulators deal with the supply of the required tensions to the various sections of the circuit. The DAC chip is the Burr Brown PCM1792 made by Texas Instruments and, as far as the operational amplifiers are concerned, I bring to your attention the OPA2134UA always by Burr Brown and the OP275G. The potentiometer is by ALPS.

 

Listening test

I must admit it: if after two hours of listening test I cannot find a fault in an audio component and, at the same time, no striking quality, it gets on my nerves! I bring into question my judgement skills, I start losing my self-assurance and a tic hits my left eye. After a short break, I start speculating. The first consideration is that the two hours with my trusty HiFiMan HE-400 literally flew. No listening fatigue, no need to turn down the level of the volume. Well, now I will try to test it with different musical genres, different headphones and sources, both digital and analogue.

The first test is with the HDVD 800 utilized as numeric decoder in a system composed as follows: digital source > DAC > power amplifier > loudspeakers.

Without hesitation: I have tested many implementations of the BB PCM 1792, for sure beyond the intrinsic qualities of the chip. The outcome depends a lot on the overall project. In our case, my judgment is positive! Impressive linearity and all the frequency ranges served very well. Spatiality, detail and dynamics completely dependent on the recording. If things are well done, everything comes out.

I find great the ability of unravel the sounds in the full sonorous tone of orchestra and instruments. All the musical genres are suitable. There is no wink to euphony or to special effects. If you are looking for a sound strongly characterized in an element, you have to choose something else. In my opinion, the S/PDIF has a more coherent and soft sound with respect to the USB handling, and without losing any detail.

From a drawer I take out my old AKG K260. Dynamic headphones with an impedance of 600 ohms. They can be pushed with very little power, but they are amazing only if the amplifier can drive them properly.

Few instrumental passages to understand that all is well: great is the low range in terms of depth and articulation. The mid-high range is well focused. In this case, the gentle character is in the transducers, as further proof of the neutrality of the amp.

Now, it is time to test the hardest but well performing HifiMan HE-6.

The nominal impedance is 50 ohms and the sensitivity is very low, that is 83,5 dB. The good news are that the HDVD 800 hasn’t shown, even at very high volume, the distortion I have seen in other amps. Overall, the level of the sound pressure, without tonal hardening, is a little low. Things get better by using the balanced output. The volume increases and the headroom improves itself. Unfortunately, as a general outcome, I advise against this match amp-headphones.

 

Last test with the “sweet” Denon AH-D5000, headphones that I like very much because you can use them for a long time, although they are not on top as far as linearity and tone rigor are concerned. The linear and rigorous character of the Sennheiser matches very well with the amber color of the Denon. In this case test passed.

 

Family…reunification!

Before ending this article, I have had the chance, thanks to Giuseppe Castelli, to test the HDVD 800 with its ideal partner, the Sennheiser HD 800 headphones. Obviously, the driving is smooth and optimal. The amazing virtual stage of these headphones is filled properly. Where other amps seem to dig the scene, to make some elements of the sound remote and hidden, and others seem to fill the space with bulky ornaments, the HDVD 800 finds the right furniture. We have just to enjoy the small/big concert hall that we have in our mind.

 

Final assessment

Many have already understood it, others denies the evidence, but high fidelity, especially of a certain level, is…a personal taste. Consequently, I think that some can appreciate this DAC and headphone amp by Sennheiser while others can be disappointed. I personally believe that the approach at the “question” of this HDVD 800 is correct, honest and functional. If you like the linearity, the versatility and you are not looking for special effects and tonal euphony in a specific sector of the audio spectrum, give it a little thought.

 

Selection of played music

Dave Matthews Band - Away From The World (CD 2012)

Pink Floyd - The Wall Experience (CD 2012)

Orchestral Spectaculars - Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel (Telarc CD 2002)

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue / West Side Story, Bernstein & Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Grammophon (LP)

Peter Gabriel - OvO (CD) - Up (CD 2002)

Ben Harper - Fight for your mind (CD-1995)

Vangelis - Blade Runner Trilogy: 25th Anniversary (CD 2007)

Leonard Cohen - Popular Problems (HD Tracks 24/96 2014)

Ryuichi Sakamoto - Cinemage (CD 1999)

Radiohead - In Rainbows (CD 2007)

 

SCHEME SUMMARY

top score ✳✳✳✳✳ ReMusic Sparks

 

Timbric: ✳✳✳✳ | Linear and rigorous, if you like the recording to command…here you will be satisfied!

Dynamics: ✳✳✳✳1/2 | If there is in the recording…you can hear it!

Detail: ✳✳✳✳1/2 | If there is in the recording…you can hear it!

Versatility: ✳✳✳✳✳1/2 | Very high. Considering the four headphone outputs and all the digital and analogue inputs, it would be completed with the adding of a variable line output.

Image: ✳✳✳✳1/2 | Very wide in all the spatial directions.

Rate: ✳✳✳✳ | The DAC has no problems. Very important for the outcome is the match with the right headphones.

Appearance and functionality: ✳✳✳✳ 1/2 | Sober, elegant and functional.

Price/quality ratio: ✳✳✳✳| The price is a little high, but if you consider what you can find in the shops and the overall high value of the device you won’t be disappointed.

 

 

Official technical specifications

Dimensions: approx. 216x55x324 mm (WxHxD)

Frequency response: 0.3Hz to 100kHz (-3dB)

THD, total harmonic distortion: < -110 dB (1kHz / maximum gain)

Weight: 2,2Kg

Analogue input XLR-3: Max. input voltage 20dBV / Input impedance 10kOhm
Analogue input RCA: Max. input voltage (eff) 14dBV / Input impedance 10kOhm
Digital SPDIF(RCA): Max. sampling frequency 192kHz /AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution 24bit
Digital SPDIF (TosLink): Max. sampling frequency: 88,2kHz (AES3-compatible) Max. resolution: 24bit
Digital AES/EBU (XLR-3): Max. sampling frequency: 192kHz (AES3-compatible) / Max. resolution: 24bit
USB (USB-B) USB standard: USB 2.0 / USB 3.0 USB audio class: USB Audio 2.0

Power consumption: 9W

Input voltage range: 100-240V AC / 50-60Hz

 

Official Italian dealer: to Exhibo website

Official current price in Italy: 1,999.00 EUR

Associated equipment: to Mauro Cittadini’s system

 

 

by Mauro
Cittadini
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