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Balanced HD800 Impressions - Page 2

post #16 of 226
6/16/09 at 1:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vcoheda View Post
^^ the ZDT isn't really a balanced amp though.
I still think the balanced drive (dual differential transformer driven output) is where the main benefit comes from. I listened to the Eddie Current BA and ZD at CanJam and both were quite good with HD800, so I decided to stick with the ZDT since I need the 8-watt SET amp capability for my K1000 and Stax SRD-7 Pro.

I also listened to the EC HD2 which uses input and output transformers to take balanced input as well, but it uses SE at the gain stage/volume control like the ZDT, and it was great sounding. I already have a Jensen Transformers input transformer for taking XLR input and converting it to RCA, so my ZDT will be close to the HD-2 (except for the Electraprint output transformers instead of Tango transformers).

The ZDT or HD2 may have slightly less channel separation than the BA (or W22 or TTVJ 307A), but it will still be very good with full balanced drive and control.
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post #17 of 226
6/16/09 at 1:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by elrod-tom View Post
Very nice. Thanks for doing this, as it's a particular interest of mine.

Has anyone heard a stock cable reterminated as balanced? I'm curious how it measures up.
I did. All the pairs of HD800 that Ray Samuels had at CanJam were stock reterminated. They sounded great through the B-52 and Apache, extreme improvement over stock in all of the areas mentioned in this thread (except when listening to the SE version of the DNA Sonett/Naim CD5x combo which just blew me away). I haven't received my APureSound balanced cable yet so I have no basis of comparison with the stock reterminated cable I heard. Once I receive it I can hopefully provide more insight.
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post #18 of 226
6/16/09 at 4:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by scootermafia View Post
Holy God, is that Voice cable hardwired? I guess it may as well be, as for $1400 you'd never need to remove it.


There are 2 versions of the Voice cable: one hardwired and one connector version (which isn't out yet). They both cost the same, I guess the cost of the connectors compensate the work needed to hardwire the cable. According to SAA, going hardwired gives noticeable sonic advantages on high end setups: the connector version should give around 85% of the hardwired performance.
Ofc, going hardwired makes you loose some flexibility, which some might prefer (what if a HD850 comes out? you would have to send your HD800 back to swap the cable ). Going hardwired means you won't be able to do comparisons with other cables anymore, and some might be interested in doing this.
The white cable looks gorgeous (I just don't like the look of the xlr connectors, but if they sound good...), but I'm getting the hardwired black version with Furutech Rhodium XLR connectors...it should be more dirt-proof.
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post #19 of 226
6/18/09 at 4:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by HeadphoneAddict View Post
I still think the balanced drive (dual differential transformer driven output) is where the main benefit comes from. I listened to the Eddie Current BA and ZD at CanJam and both were quite good with HD800, so I decided to stick with the ZDT since I need the 8-watt SET amp capability for my K1000 and Stax SRD-7 Pro.

I also listened to the EC HD2 which uses input and output transformers to take balanced input as well, but it uses SE at the gain stage/volume control like the ZDT, and it was great sounding. I already have a Jensen Transformers input transformer for taking XLR input and converting it to RCA, so my ZDT will be close to the HD-2 (except for the Electraprint output transformers instead of Tango transformers).

The ZDT or HD2 may have slightly less channel separation than the BA (or W22 or TTVJ 307A), but it will still be very good with full balanced drive and control.


Most helpful; gracias. -Tim
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post #20 of 226
6/18/09 at 12:34pm
Really nice! Thanks for doing the comparison.
The SAA cable looks really nice. A bit bulky though, and certainly not inexpensive..
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post #21 of 226
6/28/09 at 9:17am
I would love to hear the balanced hd800 and see how it improves over stock Which I have heard in the past.
Greetings, Anouk,
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post #22 of 226
8/4/09 at 2:01pm
Finally, it's here! My Voice-balanced HD800 got into my house today. Will post some photos once I'll have some times. The cable looks impressive and is very light and flexible, and 0 microphonics (something I can't say about the HD650 Equinox I own...not that this has ever been an issue as I stay still when listening). First impressions tell me this headphone sounds gorgeous, completely another story compared to the HD650 which served me so well in the past years.
Bass is full and present and it doesn't cover the rest of the spectrum like the HD650 (unbalanced most of all) sometimes did. Can't really understand the critics about these headphones having no bass: there is plenty, maybe not enough to satisfy bass-oriented ppl, but more than enough to sound believable, which is what I want.
I don't think it does sound thin at all, something some said. Maybe balancing it helps, or is it the amp? Don't know...
The heapdhone is fast, blazingly fast compared to the HD650, but it doesn't sound fatiguing at all, at least from my very short tests so far. I really can't stand the GS1000's stridency when an orchestra grows in size and loudness..this is nowhere to hear with the HD800 so far. More coming...
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post #23 of 226
8/4/09 at 2:38pm
Thread Starter 
nice. look forward to pics/impressions.
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post #24 of 226
8/4/09 at 7:50pm
Fafner,

Congrats on the new cable. I'll be looking forward to more impressions.
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post #25 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:19am
I assume you got the hardwired version?
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post #26 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianS View Post
I assume you got the hardwired version?


Yeah, I got recommended to opt for it for sonical reasons. I own an HD650 with a balanced Equinox cable, and during these years I never needed to switch the cable as I always listened to it from my B52, thus I don't really need the detacheable solution. Just to be safe, I ordered a balanced to single-ended adapter which isn't here yet.

I'll post a pair of pics and some more impressions once I'll have some time. So far I could try the HD800 just for about 30 minutes with 2 CDs (Mahler's 2nd with Abbado at Lucerne and Strauss's Alpine Symphony with Thielemann) and I'm impressed of what I heard. Such a more majestic presentation compared to the HD650! Once you hear it you're left with the impression the HD650 really struggled with this music.

The headphone was burnt-in by SAA for about 100h, they recommended me about 20 more hours to get it on top form, but I'm already impressed.
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post #27 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:47am
Thanks for the comments. I am debating whether to send in my hd800 for the hardwired version (I ordered the connector version). How long did it take for you to get it back?
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post #28 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:48am
Vcoheda, thank you very much for sharing. Highly appreciated.

Looking forward to more Voice/HD800 reviews too.
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post #29 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by BrianS View Post
Thanks for the comments. I am debating whether to send in my hd800 for the hardwired version (I ordered the connector version). How long did it take for you to get it back?



It takes them about 1/1,5 week to perform the recabling job (was one week and one half for mine).
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post #30 of 226
8/5/09 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fafner View Post
Bass is full and present and it doesn't cover the rest of the spectrum like the HD650 (unbalanced most of all) sometimes did. Can't really understand the critics about these headphones having no bass: there is plenty, maybe not enough to satisfy bass-oriented ppl, but more than enough to sound believable, which is what I want.
I don't think it does sound thin at all, something some said. Maybe balancing it helps, or is it the amp? Don't know...
I think source is a huge factor in this, and another reason could be that yours came "broken-in" from SAA.

Mine changed a great amont with break-in. At first thin and edgy, not so at all anymore.
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