i love my 6xx, i daily my 800s now, but i had to eq up the bass a fair bit. Stock i think the 600 series is the best. Always disappoints me that i feel like i have to eq the 800s, sound stage is amazing though.

I never really understood speaker-like soundstage, maybe i need better speakers

Once you hit a certain level of audio gear, you start getting diminishing returns. This is true with almost anything.

Shouldn’t I be preferring the 800 S. I’m kinda confused by all of this.

It’s perfectly normal to prefer one sound signature over another, even if it’s a much more expensive headphone.

You’d be forgiven for thinking that compared to the HD600 series the HD800 would be a straight upgrade, the same but more and better. But it’s a different animal entirely, and the 600 series arguably still does certain things better than the 800.

Youve got two options, give it some time and learn to appreciate it for what it is, learn it’s strengths and weaknesses. Or if you’re able to, return it and save a whole heap of money. It’s your choice.

If you like the sound of 6x0s, you should go ZMF’s, not 800s… (Focal is also a decent alternative… but the timbre doesn’t feel the same)

One would naturally assume that the 800s is a refinement of the sound of the 6X0 models but they have almost nothing in common. If you prefer the sound of your 660s you prefer the sound of your 660s and there’s nothing wrong with that. You certainly aren’t the first person to not be thrilled with the 800s.

It’s hard to sort through all the hyperbole in this hobby, especially regarding things like soundstage. I just try to find sound signatures that personally excite me and ignore the voices that wax poetic about aspects of a piece of gear.

Yeah, bigger number is not always better. Especially in the audiophile world.

At the end of the day, each headphone is really a package of compromises, and no one set will be able to do it all. If you are able to keep both, and appreciate them for their respective strengths, then that might be best.

I think I might have had too big expectations for the sound stage where it would have felt more “speakerlike”.

Yep exactly. The claims of being “speaker like” are quite exaggerated - they can sound “wide” to some, but they are still very much headphones.

I also have both of them and I think it’s a perfect duo: 660s have more intimacy, pushed mids and more bass, while 800s is on a higher level of clarity, separation and soundstage. They’re both great headphones, but my path of appreciation was different.

660s was my first love as an audiophile grade device and 800s - one of the last steps in this hobby. Both of them are extremely comfortable, but 660s wins by a small margin - because of the headband and more “pillow around your ears” feeling. I would never sell these combo of cans, they’re a perfect couple.

The 660s roughly follows the more common Harman curve, while the 800 s follows the diffuse curve. Switching between the two will be jarring and it will take listening to the 800 s exclusively for a few days will give you a better idea how you like it.

Both curves are meant to simulate the experience of real speakers in a real room, but the room and setup are different.

So I am a Planar guy normally, to include that most of my cans are open back planars. I have two dynamic driven pairs, One open back and one closed. The open back are the HD6XX I actually did not like the 6XX when I initially got them. There was so much content put out about them that I was expecting a dream like experience. Stopped using them after a couple weeks. Q couple months later decided to give them another try and did some critical listening, and through their factory sound profile and some small tweaking of Oratorys profile for them,I was able to find a more clear and detailed sound profile with some emphasis on Sub Bass regions that fit my vibe.

I do have a question though, regarding your 660S. For me, what would you say are the best qualities of your listening experience with the 660s. In your opinion alone, what are it’s best positive notes. What music genres are best ran through the pair…what are the negative constraints or what does it lack in tonality? Ive read countless reviews and YouTube videos, but I myself like hearing different opposing views and opinions from each person I engage with. Its for that reason that I am able to research and then make an informed decision on my purchases. I am looking to get another pair of dynamic drivers, and the 660s were a pair on the horizon for me. So getting any input from another savant for audio is greatly appreciated

Not an uncommon opinion. I also like the signature of the 600 series better.

Whenever you get new headphone, they will sound off due to your brain being trained to like your last set. Use the HD-800S for a few days by themselves, THEN compare the two headphones.

To be honest I’m not even interested in trying the HD800 because from how I understand their sound signature, there’s no way that’s for me. Maybe fun as a novelty, and I’m sure it’s well made. But that’s about it.

After eq,the hd800s basically does everything better imo