Product Comparison: Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Focal Elear

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Best Pick

Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System

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Focal Elear Open-Back Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

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General Specifications

Brand

Sennheiser

Focal

Model

HD 800 S

Elear

Origin

Germany

France

About the Product

The HD 800 S breaks down the barrier between audio recording and playback equipment, connecting the listener directly to an artist’s original performance. Thus, the power of emotion is delivered through music.

High-Fidelity Open-Back Circum-Aural Headphones Elear is an open back pair of headphones featuring numerous innovations from Focal which are key to their outstanding acoustics performance. Elear offers the worlds first wide range loudspeaker built-in to a pair of headphones.

Size & Weight

Height

13.8 in.

12.83 in.

Width

10.7 in.

10.24 in.

Depth

5.7 in.

6.45 in.

Weight

11.7 oz.

15.84 oz.

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

What customers say about "Size & Weight"

Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System

The build quality is space age, solid and light. You don't want something made out of lead and steel.
Comfort is easy to describe; they're very light, but also the headphone cup itself is ear-shaped, rather than circular, like every other pair of headphones I have.
The headphones are very light and comfortable. The padding is also spaced very far from your ears which I think also helps acoustically.
They are unbelievably light, with cushions that are not overly large but still very comfortable, making it easy to forget that i'm even wearing them.
Any head motion shifts the entire weight which results in annoying discomfort.

Focal Elear Open-Back Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

The weight didn't seem too bad and definitely seemed worth it once you get a look at them. They are beautiful headphones!
Despite the weight of these cans, once you put them on your head they balance well and you don't feel the weight.
Build-wise these headphones are overall nice. They are light, but sturdy if that makes sense.
They are light enough to wear around the house where the nice portable digital DAC with MQA, including streaming MQA on Tidal.
Very comfortable, although a bit heavier that some of the others I own, the weight is well distributed and the ear pads feel great.

Features

Type

Wired

Sensitivity

102 dB

104 dB

Min. Frequency Range

4 Hz

5 Hz

Max. Frequency Range

51 kHz

23 kHz

Impedance

300 Ω

80 Ω

Driver Diameter

2.2 in.

1.57 in.

In-Line Remote

Microphone

Extras

Metal parts, Uncovered earcups, Ear pads of microfiber fabric, XLR-4 connector, Ergonomic Ear Cups, Damped Headband, Two Cables Included

Leather headband, Memory foam cushion earpads, Mechanical design, Rigid carrying case, OFC cable

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

Sennheiser HD 800 S

Focal Elear

What customers say about "Features"

Sennheiser HD 800 S Reference Headphone System

Soundstage, instrument separation, imaging, highs mids lows everything about the sound will blow your mind.
Sound is what I expected out of Sennheiser - bright and super clear but not strident, firm and defined lows, rich mids that are beautifully balanced.
This is a VERY comfortable headphone - no complaints. Love the padding material!
Very high end quality. Demands delicate handling but extreme level of detail was put into the design and creation of this piece.
One downside of which to be aware is that these are open-back headphones which means the driver is pumping just as much energy straight out the sides of the cups as into your ear.

Focal Elear Open-Back Over-Ear Headphones (Black)

The frequency range of these cans are very smooth sounding.
The bass is smooth and punchy; bass heads rejoice. These immediately surprised me when I began playing a song.
I really like the bass and highs, however the mid range is just ok. The mids are not balanced with the rest of the frequency.
Unfortunately, the high frequency range is pretty much absent - it completely lacks the sparkle at the top.
The driver was poping like it wanted to break. Its pop/ crackling sound.

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty

2 year(s)

1 year(s)

Certifications