Sennheiser HD 800 S vs Sennheiser HD 820
The HD 800 S is a dynamic open-back headphone and the HD 820 is a dynamic closed-back one.
The HD 800 S is 30 g lighter, at 330 g against 360 g.
They need about the same power to reach a loud 110 dB peak, so an amplifier that suits one suits the other.
The HD 800 S lists for $200 less.
$1,999.95
$2,199.95
Side by side
- Driver
- Dynamic
- Dynamic
- Diaphragm
- 56 mm ring radiator with 40 mm in-house wound voice coil
- 56 mm ring radiator, fixed at outer and inner edges
- Driver size
- 56 mm
- 56 mm
- Enclosure
- Open-back
- Closed-back
- Weight
- 330 g
- 360 g
- HD 800 S is 30 g lighter
- Impedance
- 300 ohms
- 300 ohms
- Sensitivity
- 102 dB SPL (1 V)
- 103 dB SPL (1 V)
- Power for 110 dB
- 20.9 mW, 2.50 V
- 16.6 mW, 2.23 V
- About the same
- Drive
- Easy to drive
- Easy to drive
- Frequency response
- 4 Hz – 51 kHz (−10 dB)
- 6 Hz – 48 kHz (−10 dB)
- Made in
- Ireland
- Ireland
- Released
- 2016
- 2018
- List price
- $1,999.95
- $2,199.95
- HD 800 S is $200 less
From each maker’s published figures; sources are on each headphone’s page. Power for 110 dB is worked out from sensitivity and impedance.
Amplifiers that drive both
How the matching worksEach of these has 10 dB or more in reserve above a loud 110 dB peak on both headphones, so one amplifier serves either.
Where to buy the HD 800 S
List $1,999.95
- Headphones.comIn stock online$1,799.95
- Audio46In stock online$1,799.95
- Moon AudioIn stock online$1,799.95
Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works
Where to buy the HD 820
List $2,199.95
Retailer prices checked 2026-10-21. We may earn a commission on purchases. How this works