Editor's Note: John Crabbe was Editor of Hi-Fi News & Record Review when I joined that magazine as a lowly editorial assistant in September 1976. At the end of 2007, I had asked Steve Harris to interview John for Stereophile, as part of an ongoing project to create an oral history of high-end audio (footnote 1). Sadly, John passed away in December 2008—see "As We See It" and "Industry Update," in our March issue. We are publishing Steve's interview as a tribute to a man from whom I learned my craft as an audio magazine editor.—John Atkinson

Sennheiser's long-awaited (seven years) HD800 sure isn't subtle&#151;at least, not in appearance. The HD800's large earpieces are made from a combination of absorbing composites and functional metal accents, and are <I>huge</I>. Of course, they have to be to house the 56mm ring-radiator transducers&#151;and to mount them so they're firing "back" to your ears from the front. Also not subtle is the price: $1399.95.

Sennheiser's long-awaited (seven years) HD800 sure isn't subtle&#151;at least, not in appearance. The HD800's large earpieces are made from a combination of absorbing composites and functional metal accents, and are <I>huge</I>. Of course, they have to be to house the 56mm ring-radiator transducers&#151;and to mount them so they're firing "back" to your ears from the front. Also not subtle is the price: $1399.95.

Sennheiser's long-awaited (seven years) HD800 sure isn't subtle&#151;at least, not in appearance. The HD800's large earpieces are made from a combination of absorbing composites and functional metal accents, and are <I>huge</I>. Of course, they have to be to house the 56mm ring-radiator transducers&#151;and to mount them so they're firing "back" to your ears from the front. Also not subtle is the price: $1399.95.

Sennheiser's long-awaited (seven years) HD800 sure isn't subtle&#151;at least, not in appearance. The HD800's large earpieces are made from a combination of absorbing composites and functional metal accents, and are <I>huge</I>. Of course, they have to be to house the 56mm ring-radiator transducers&#151;and to mount them so they're firing "back" to your ears from the front. Also not subtle is the price: $1399.95.

Sennheiser's long-awaited (seven years) HD800 sure isn't subtle&#151;at least, not in appearance. The HD800's large earpieces are made from a combination of absorbing composites and functional metal accents, and are <I>huge</I>. Of course, they have to be to house the 56mm ring-radiator transducers&#151;and to mount them so they're firing "back" to your ears from the front. Also not subtle is the price: $1399.95.