Oh thanks! Somehow I missed that. He also mentions that the sound is highly position dependent, which is surprising to me. Maybe if you get the driver too low something gets in the way. I know that Grell mentioned the driver is low so that it doesn't rest on your cheekbone and cause any bone conduction. So maybe the issue is the opposite and it sits high for Resolve. I have so many questions that won't be answered for a month!
Yeah, and it’s positioned forward of your ear canal and angled back. That, plus the unusual % of how open the baffle is, are the major innovations/unique things about this headphone.
I think Evshrug mentioned something in his review as well, about the sound changing noticeably depending on how you position the ear cups and how the headband rests on your head.
Thanks for the shout out!
With a driver that’s “flat,” firing directly into your ear canal, pretty much the only sweet spot is wearing it so the driver is centered directly over your ear canal and concha. But when a driver is angled and forward of your ear, it’s interacting much more with your whole ear surface, and finding a sweet spot can make a substantial difference.
It’s not hard though! If you know to look for it, you’ll find the sweet spot as soon as it sounds good
The most placement-sensitive headphone I’ve ever heard (besides ear speakers) was the HD 820, it especially made a difference in the bass, but once I got used to finding that sweet spot a few times it started automatically feeling like the “correct” way to wear the headphones!
@Evshrug In your personal opinion, do you think it makes sense to own the OAE1, if one already has a HD800 setup that works satisfactorily with bass eq'ed in? I am in a dilemma whether to order the OAE1, given that I regularly use the HD800 for music and quite happy with it. What else could the OAE1 bring to the table that I cannot get using a HD800 and hardware eq (I mean Schist Loki)? I understand it could mean a lot for those who are looking for a lower price alternative to HD800. Thank you for your feedback in advance.
I think I need to get a Loki
Personally, I think the OAE1 is easier to listen to and more comfortable than the HD 800. I don’t have a universal EQ for it, and I like the HD 800’s default tuning, but sometimes I want something that is a little less bright, and the bass response of the OAE1 is surprisingly fun.
But the HD 800 was my last “holy grail” headphone, and only the third Sennheiser I ever owned (the first being really cheap and I forgot it was a Sennheiser). I used to love airy headphones that pushed things just shy of too much (and, more than that, I loved the sensation of soundstage and imaging). Once I got the HD 800, I kept it, and I still use it, but I started exploring other flavors to compliment it. Now, I’m more of a collector than a “best headphone” kind of guy. The HD 800 remains exciting and it can surprise me, but honestly I don’t use it as much.
