The HDV 820 is a headphone amplifier by Sennheiser. It was released in 2017. It has a built-in DAC (ESS 9028PRO SABRE), so you can play digital sources directly with no separate DAC unit needed. The HDV 820 has an MSRP of $2,749.
Performance Specs
The HDV 820 drives headphones rather than loudspeakers, so its power is quoted into headphone impedances instead of into 8 ohms.
Here are the main highlights of its performance specs:
Inputs and Outputs
Besides the performance specs of the HDV 820, the next important feature set that you have to evaluate is the input and output selections that it offers.
Inputs
Outputs
- Balanced XLR Output
- 1/4 Headphone Output
Balanced connections
HDV 820 has balanced XLR connections on both its input and its output. A balanced cable carries the signal twice, on two conductors of opposite polarity. Interference picked up along the way lands on both equally and cancels when the two are recombined at the far end, so the longer the cable run and the noisier the surroundings, the more the connection is worth. On a headphone output the other benefit is separation: a balanced connector gives each channel its own return conductor instead of the two sharing a common ground, which lowers crosstalk between left and right. Whether a balanced connection also yields more power depends on how the amplifier is built inside - some are balanced end to end, others convert to single-ended internally and deliver the same power either way, so it is worth reading the maker's own wording rather than assuming.
DAC and Digital Music
The HDV 820's built-in DAC allows the connection of digital sources directly, eliminating the need for an external DAC. The DAC chip that is used in the HDV 820 is the
ESS 9028PRO SABRE.
HDV 820 Pros and Cons
Drawn from the published figures on this page, not from listening.
- ✓A built-in DAC takes a digital source directly, with no separate converter to buy or find space for.
- ✗It has no speaker terminals - this drives headphones, not loudspeakers.
HDV 820 External Dimensions and Weight
HDV 820 has external dimensions of (H x W x D) 1-3/4 x 8-13/16 x 12-1/16 inch (44 x 224 x 306 mm ). The unit weighs
2.39 kg (5.3 lbs).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of an integrated amplifier may become an important decision factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of the HDV 820 is approximately 685.4cm2 / 106.2inch2.
- Width: 224.0mm (8-13/16")
- Height: 44.0mm (1-3/4")
- Depth: 306.0mm (12-1/16")
- Weight: 2.39 kg (5.3 lbs)
- Base Surface Area: ~685.4cm2 / 106.2inch2
- Volume: ~3.0 liter / 0.8 gallon
| General |
| Brand |
Sennheiser |
| Full Model Name |
Sennheiser HDV 820 |
| Release Date |
2017 |
| Amplifier Type |
Headphone Amplifier |
| Amplifier Technology |
Solid State |
| Performance |
| Headphone Output Power |
N/A |
| Output Impedance |
N/A |
| Frequency Bandwidth |
10 Hz-100 kHz |
| THD |
|
| Signal to Noise Ratio |
N/A |
| Digital Music |
| Built-in DAC |
Yes |
| DAC Specs |
ESS 9028PRO SABRE |
| Bluetooth |
|
| WiFi |
|
| CONNECTIONS |
| Preamp Outputs |
No |
| Balanced XLR Output |
Yes |
| Headphone Output |
1/4 |
| Removable Power Cord |
|
| PHYSICAL SPECS |
| Height |
44.0mm (1-3/4") |
| Width |
224.0mm (8-13/16") |
| Depth |
306.0mm (12-1/16") |
| Weight |
2.39 kg (5.3 lbs) |
| OTHER |
| Parts Warranty |
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
Does the HDV 820 use vacuum tubes?
No. The HDV 820 is a solid-state amplifier - there are no vacuum tubes in it.
Does the HDV 820 have a built-in DAC?
Yes. The HDV 820 has a built-in DAC (ESS 9028PRO SABRE), so you can feed it a digital source directly without buying a separate converter.
Does the HDV 820 have a headphone output?
Yes. The HDV 820 has a 1/4-inch headphone output on the front panel for private listening.
How much does the HDV 820 cost?
The HDV 820 has a manufacturer's list price (MSRP) of $2,749.
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