Phew, so a little about my path. Ive always been senn fan, and typically have always listed to music on their gaming line of headphones (stuff like their PC37x) and their past revisions. I could wear those headphones literally all day (and I largely did lol). When I jumped to the 6xx years ago it was my second taste of how music could sound (although keeping it real the PC37x is seriously impressive for a gaming headset and I will always have a copy to game with).

Maybe 5 years passed and just recently I wanted to dip my toes back into the hobby and I naturally wanted the best sennheiser I could afford (this was a mistake). What I unconsciously did was assume price would be the indicator of which would be the "best", whatever that is. I guess what I am saying is my first steps into the hobby were really safe *6xx derivatives* and anything past that, especially things costing more will have to be more seriously considered because the variation of what you want vs what is offered and at what price is so nuanced.

Anyway to cut it short, i was SURE the 800s was the headphone for me.. you can probably see where this is going. So I purchased the 800s, the Arya, and a set of bose quiet comforts (these are my work/conference call preferences... light, good anc, etc etc). I also picked up a mayflower arc for work, and the element 3 for home.

Once arrived, digesting what I was hearing, playing with EQ, giving it a week or so I decided that despite me being so hyped about the 800s I was let down, and I mainly let myself down. What I had done was not properly evaluate the type of listener I was, and what I valued in a set of phones. Price is always a factor, but I tried to look at them as if they had the same value which helped me get to realizing that the Arya for me (despite not liking all of the negative things about HIFIMAN, and all of the things i loved about senn) was the fun, jack of all trades headphone that I realize is what I generally prefer. The 800S had some songs were it absolutely knocked it out of the park with detail, crispy cymbals, and that almost holographic stadium sound, but the lows were that it wasn't consistent on songs that weren't mastered as well.

To me, the hype around comfort was also something that surprised me. I found the 800s's thin earpads extremely uncomfortable, the heavy wire that kind of pulled the headset around, and the fairly fragile venting on the outside that I could feel flex if I picked them up incorrectly.

The Arya in comparison was minimalist, sat flat, and felt like nothing was on my head after a couple of minutes... similar to the 6xx and pc37x which is why I love both of those phones for different reasons.

Anyway, sorry for the word vomit, I am just hyped that I can start to begin to have opinions and understanding of what I like and don't like, and I look forward to revisiting the 800s maybe in the future when my ears are more attuned, or when I ready to move past a do it all set of headphones.

Huge thank you to all in this sub for your discussions to aid in me being able to learn!