After first being announced last Spring, the Sennheiser HD 820 has finally debuted at this year’s CES event. The HD 820 is from same family of the existing HD800 – the two models are very similar, but what sets them apart is that the HD820 is a closed-back model with a unique glass transducer cover.

The majority of high-end headphones feature an open-back design, but it limits where people can use it because it does not isolate external noise and others can hear your music. The HD 820 aims to reset the bar on high-end headphones, with the brand claiming them to be “the most transparent-sounding closed-back headphones in the world.” The unique and patent-pending curved Gorilla Glass covers are used for sealing the ring radiator transducers, keeping the exposed look but not necessarily exposing the sound. 

Made in Germany, the HD 820 also sees newly designed ear pads in synthetic leather and a microfibre liner for insulation. The 3.5 mm jack plug is replaced by a 4.4 mm Pentaconn example.