"A Real Gem" of a Next Generation Digital Headphone Amp
Sennheiser's HDV 820 is the next generation of its acclaimed digital headphones amplifier, designed to complete the Sennheiser audio experience and perfectly complement its high-end audiophile headphone range for the ultimate acoustic performance.
There are two things that mark a quest for perfection: It is never completed, and it has the potential to bring out the most extraordinary things with the power to shape the future within its field. Enter the HDV 820, which will surely change the way you listen to and experience your music. That is, if you are lucky enough to possess headphones capable of turning the extremely high-quality audio signal delivered by the HDV 820 into an aural quality just as supreme.
"Sennheiser has introduced a real gem here," reports Dave Hanson, enjoythemusic.com, November 2017. "It's a fun sounding piece of equipment and I feel like this is a piece I'll be recommending frequently in the near future. If you're looking for a slightly warm and lush do-it-all piece that can add some musicality while keeping pace with your most resolving headphones, definitely give this one an audition."
"The Sennheiser HDV 820 headphone amplifier/DAC offers a detailed and focused output. It's relative low noise performance in its single-ended configuration is surpassed in spades during XLR use," notes Paul Rigby, theaudiophileman.com, October 7, 2017
The Mission: Make the Best Even Better
When you have engineered audio components that represent the state of the art, going one better is the most rewarding task we at Sennheiser can think of. It was the task we set out on when we designed the HDV 820. Pioneering into new technological territory, we found still more sonic truth to bring to our most demanding clientele.
Unsurpassed Technology
The heart of the new HDV 820 is a formidable ESS SABRE32 DAC (digital-to-analog converter) that surpasses the previous generation with an even higher resolution of 32 bits and a sampling rate of up to 384 kHz. The amplifier is also capable of playing DSD256 files of up to 12.3 MHz. It has USB, optical, and coax digital inputs.
With a breadth of audio outputs that include XLR3, XLR4, 6.3 mm- and a 4.4 mm Pentaconn jack, it is easy to find the optimal way to connect your headphones with the HDV 820. It performs brilliantly with digital sources, whether optically, coaxially, or via USB, and features balanced (XLR) and unbalanced (RCA) analog inputs. The HDV 820 also comes supplied with a dedicated, country-specific power cable.
The Design Gives the Eyes a Taste of How It Sounds
Fittingly for an audio component that delivers such an incredibly pure sonic experience, the HDV 820 has also been created to delight visually. It features a new anodized black finish with white LED lights that has been designed to perfectly complement the latest version of our flagship high-end headphone, the HD 800 S - by the way, an ideal partnership for the ultimate audiophile listening experience.
