HD800 prefers tubes or solid state?

In my experience--and to my ears--almost unequivocally tubes.

I'll say more at a later date, but I have to finish my Can Jam 2009 impressions first, and my HiFiMan HM-801 conclusion, too. (I know, I take a long time to finish such things.)

I'm not sure I like this thread topic. I think the real question is do YOU prefer tubes or solid state?

If you look hard enough and have enough time/money, you will find an amp that works really well, no matter what the headphone.

That said, I'm leaning towards solid state, at least with regards to the current inventory of high end amps.

For super HD, SPL Phonitor. If they sounds as good as the K702.

I agree, I think it's what you prefer.

And I don't think anyone can draw a definitive conclusion from CanJam. There's just too many variables - sources, background noise, etc. IMO of course.

Since you haven't heard the HD800, why are you posting recommendations?

definitely

I second that. Woo audio amps (6se or 2 or 3)

As I said...if they are good as the K-702, I mean on the HD side.

Hello, the hd800 will be my eventual home headphone and I have ordered a tube amp. I wonder if it is best to use them with a transformercoupled or an otl tube amp? I will be having the wa2, i wonder if that would be a good match?
Thanks
Greetings, Anouk,

People with a lot more technical expertise than I recommend a lot of power and low output impedance. Most OTL designs don't do this, but of course, exceptions exist. The regular OTL Zana Deux should fit the bill pretty well. I don't know the specs on the Woo 2, but its output impedance probably isn't super low. You need to check that for yourself, though. If I absolutely had to have a tube amp, I'd probably pick out a pricey transformer coupled amp.

BUT the HD800 reportedly has funky synergy issues, so who really knows? Maybe as long as you have a good rollable amp, you can roll your way into good synergy?

Worth reading this but hey, it's your ears

I've barely listened to the HD-800 on solid state, but have been going back and forth between the Zana Deux and Si2A3. I've barely been home lately, so I haven't gotten in as much listening as I'd like.

But yes, the HD-800 does mate well with the Zana. I think IpodPJ didn't like the combo, but I'll work on him at the meet next month. I think synergy is pretty good, and the Zana has a low 12 Ohm output impedance (thanks to the 6C33C tubes) which makes it pretty special for an OTL.

I have to say that the HD-800 really emphasizes the differences between amps. The only other headphones I have with that microscopic pickiness are the SA5000 and the DT48. Interesting.

I'll poke around with some more amps, but I can say that they do well with tubes. If you're a tubehead, be sure to consider the options.

today i tried the hd 800 for first time.I used my x can v8 hybrid headphone amp(uses two ecc88)
it did a good job driving them,i really preferred the 800 to the 600(which i own and like very much)
only the treble sounded a bit "metalic" to my ears,but it was minor.(maybe it's the stock tubes or the interconnect or that i'm used to the little "warmer" hd 600's)
Believe it or not,the last few hours i can't get these cans out of my mind.I liked them quite a bit.I am actually thinking now what to upgrade:my headphones or my source/cables/psu?

Thanks 1up for the link, i was going to read that but I found this thread first....
Thanks,
Greetings, Anouk,

i have one ss amp in the house & never liked it with any one my of my cans but the hd-800 synergy with it beats out all of my tube amps. what works for my hd-650 does not work for my hd-800.

it depends on the amp. it could be ss or it could be tube. you never know.