That was fast! I'll buy Nik's HD800 when they become available.

I wouldn't mind them being fugly, if they didn't also look like they'd break if you looked at them the wrong way.

Not sure if anyone posted this:

Sennheiser Worldwide: Microphones, Headphones and Wireless Systems

Official Sennheiser page.

They're fat bastards, aren't they?

Get on mah heed!

I've been thinking that there was also a strong rumor that some HD680 were going to be released. Someone even posted a link to Sennheiser USA site where there was a blank page ready to hold 680s. I wonder, were that true, if in a few months Sennheiser will be releasing this new ring radiator driver into a more classic frame a la HD6xx for a more affordable price.

Maybe they'll just wait to have everyone on the planet raving about the new driver and its wonderful sound, and after a few hundred units are sold, then releasing the new technology for the masses.

Anyone betting?

heheh...already showed up on amazon

Rumor has it that Amazon isn't going to be allowed to sell them directly. The way I understand it they will only be distributed through Authorized dealers, kind of like Grado.

Did you see the additional pictures?

Sennheiser HD800 cable on Flickr - Photo Sharing!

They are showing them at CES with Benchmark as DAC and heaphone amp for a Meitner. I love it. Jude say's the Meitner it source and the DAC1 is an amp but that's a plain Jane DAC1 so that's impossible.

My wife has already agreed. She's awesome.

Rumor has it that Amazon isn't going to be allowed to sell them directly. The way I understand it they will only be distributed through Authorized dealers, kind of like Grado.

I find that hard to believe to be honest. Sennheiser would probably piss off a source of a lot of sales for them if they pulled that with Amazon. I could be wrong though.

I'm almost tempted to pre-order from them.

Well they are 'hand made'.

I find that hard to believe to be honest. Sennheiser would probably piss off a source of a lot of sales for them if they pulled that with Amazon. I could be wrong though.

It's clearly a different product category than the HD580/600/650 so the rules may indeed be different. Amazon's gig is to sell so much of something they can discount it and Sennheiser might not want to see their brand new headphone immediately discounted. And I don't think sales numbers are going to be all that high, or at least high enough that Amazon would be a major player. It's not like Amazon carries every headphone (no Stax, for example).

Nate, your job is to arrange a group buy with Tyll.

It's clearly a different product category than the HD580/600/650 so the rules may indeed be different. Amazon's gig is to sell so much of something they can discount it and Sennheiser might not want to see their brand new headphone immediately discounted. And I don't think sales numbers are going to be all that high, or at least high enough that Amazon would be a major player. It's not like Amazon carries every headphone (no Stax, for example).

They have them for pre-order which means that I would think they would have already discussed this, they certainly don't put up preorder on every new high end lens that comes out only the ones they will sell. If they have to cancel the orders of people for a product they believe they are getting I think they might be pissed. But as you say the price range is different.

I agree with Nate it's not like a $1400 pair of headphones has any mass market appeal so for Senn it probably makes sense to limit it "authorized" distributors. They're just doing what most companies in the world of "high-end" audio have been doing for decades.

Nate, your job is to arrange a group buy with Tyll.

Agreed. Especially if he can get us a better price.

They are getting bought by me now I'm haggling about price

I agree with Nate it's not like a $1400 pair of headphones has any mass market appeal so for Senn it probably makes sense to limit it "authorized" distributors. They're just doing what most companies in the world of "high-end" audio have been doing for decades.

Amazon sells 8k cameras and other expensive stuff that's not "mass market" so I find that one a rather weak argument. That said Nates "rumor" may come from Tyll and then be right. I'm just really surprised that Amazon would put up a pre-order with a stock photo they got from someone (Sennheiser maybe?) and not actually sell the product.

Agreed. Especially if he can get us a better price.

<snip>

If he can't, he's fired.

If he can't, he's fired.

Oh snap, it's a sad day when you get fired by your lawyer.

And Dreadhead, Amazon can put up a preorder for whatever they want and the find a distributor much like Buy.com operates. They are, in essence just a huge reseller. There is also the issue of initial supply limits and who Sennheiser would rather have selling those initial units. And I'd argue there's a hell of a lot larger market for high dollar camera gear than headphones.

Oh snap, it's a sad day when you get fired by your lawyer.

And Dreadhead, Amazon can put up a preorder for whatever they want and the find a distributor much like Buy.com operates. They are, in essence just a huge reseller. There is also the issue of initial supply limits and who Sennheiser would rather have selling those initial units. And I'd argue there's a hell of a lot larger market for high dollar camera gear than headphones.

We shall see. It's all conjecture on both sides at this point.

At least the headphones are real

Oh snap, it's a sad day when you get fired by your lawyer.

<snip>

You're fired!

I still want the HD 800 replacement cable.

Oh snap, it's a sad day when you get fired by your lawyer. <snip>

My lawyer is my wife so I'd be doubly screwed

the stock cable looks pretty nice though. oxygen free copper, tickles my audiophile bone.

oxygen free copper, tickles my audiophile bone.

Dude, that's not what you're supposed to use the cable for... there are other forums for that shit.

You're fired!

I still want the HD 800 replacement cable.

Where's my severance package!

I'd rather buy a used HE60 for this price.

Shouldn't be too long before the HE60 killer comments get made. That'll push down the market price a bit for you