Sennheiser HDV 820 digital headphone amplfier

Description

Product highlights
high-performance desktop headphone amp
built to drive high-end headphones like the open-back Sennheiser HD800 S and closed-back HD 820
anodized black finish, balanced XLR inputs, and natural, precise sound help complement the HD800 S headphones
sophisticated metal housing protects against signal interference and vibration
volume and input controls machined from solid metal for long-term reliability
engineered and assembled at Sennheiser's headquarters in Germany
symmetrical (balanced) circuitry throughout reduces noise and distortion for maximum sound quality
premium ESS Sabre32 digital-to-analog converter for detailed, dynamic sound
plays PCM digital audio files up to 32-bit/384kHz and DSD files up to 12.3 MHz
rear-panel 5-stage gain switch for optimized use of low impedance headphones
digital audio inputs: one optical (Toslink) and one coaxial
USB (Type B) input for connecting a computer
1 pair symmetrical (balanced 3-pin XLR) line-level inputs
1 pair asymmetrical (unbalanced RCA) inputs
1 symmetrical (balanced) 4-pin XLR headphone output
combination headphone output
1 balanced 3-pin XLR output
1 unbalanced 1/4" headphone jack
2 balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs
1 pair symmetrical (balanced 3-pin XLR) preamp outputs for connection to a compatible audio component
plays up to four pairs of headphone simultaneously
dedicated Sennheiser USB Windows driver required for playback on a PC (available for free on Sennheiser's website )
no driver required for MacOS (latest version recommended)
detachable AC power cord
THD: less than 0.001%
frequency response: 10Hz to 100,000 Hz
8-15/16"W x 1-3/4"H x 12-1/4"D
weight: 5 lbs.
warranty: 2 years
What's in the box
Headphone amplifier
6' AC power cord (IEC 3-prong)
Instruction Manual and driver software on USB Flash Drive
Microfiber cleaning cloth
Quick Guide
Safety Guide
About this item
Written by Crutchfield's Jeff Miller
A sophisticated metal housing protects the precious vitals inside the Sennheiser HDV 820 headphone amp. Rich sound gets richer How do you make one of the best headphones on the market even better? If you're Sennheiser, you buildtheHDV 820 headphone amp to play upall the strengths of your flagship HD 800 S'phones . The most obvious matches between the two are in thecosmeticsand the connectivity- this is one of the fewamps we offer that can accept a balanced XLR4 headphone cable. But this powerful desktop amp also drives theHD 800 S headphones to perform at their top potential. Sennheiser designed this amp toaccentuate the sonic advantagesof the HD 800 S. The HDV 820 spreads out the headphones'large soundstageeven wider. And together, the pair deliversairy, musicalhighsalong withtaut, detailedmidsandasweet helping of bass precision. Crystal-clear, low-distortion sound for all Of course, you can use theHDV 820with any set of wiredheadphones that would benefit from clean, controlled power. Which I think coversmost of them! Sennheiser uses a symmetrical circuitry design to keep the left and right channel signals completely independent of each other. This practically eliminatesinterference, so your headphones will better handle large sonic peaks in your music- withoutdistorting. Sennheiser also includes a 5-stage gain switch toproperly match up the power output with your headphones' impedance. That meansthis amp plays nice with all types of headphone models. The ins... A headphone amp canonly be as versatile as its connections- and the HDV 820 is ready for all types of music sources. You'll find balanced and unbalanced analog inputs along withoptical, coaxial, XLR, and USB inputs for your digital gear. Apremium ESS Sabredigital-to-analog converter effortlessly handles high-resmusicfiles up to 32-bit/384kHz. ...
and outs This amp will power up to four pairs of headphones simultaneously- a helpful feature here at Crutchfield where we often compare different headphones. There is afour-pin XLR output, along with a Neutrik combination socket standard thatwill accept a 3-pin XLR or a 1/4" headphone plug. The HDV 820 also has a stereo pair of 3-pin XLR outputs on the back. So you canuse itas a standalone preamp/DAC if you havecompatible audio gear. What's the deal with thosenew 4.4mm headphone jacks? On the front, there are also two balanced 4.4mm headphone outputs. At first glance, I admittedly mistook them for1/4" unbalanced headphone outputs. This heavy-duty connection is actually the new industry standard for balanced headphone operation. And it iskind of exciting to see them on a Sennheiser headphone amp. Here's why: Sony originally developed this standard - and right now their MDR-Z1R headphones are the only model we carry that can connect without an adapter. But now that twoheavy-hitters from the categoryhave adopted this standard, we should see other headphone companies embrace it. That's good for performance, because this connection promises to below in noise anddistortion. And hopefully moving to a new standard will mean fewerproprietary cable connections for you and I to sort through! In January 2018, Sennheiser announced their new closed-back HD 820 headphones at the CES show in Vegas. These forthcoming high-end 'phones will also take advantage of this special new 4.4mm connection.