BUDA+DPS or GS-X for use with HD800

I am planning to get a *solid state* balanced amp for use in my main rig to complement my Woo Audio WA5 LE (for those times that I don't want to heat up the whole house). I will mostly be using it with an HD800 (balanced) but will also use it with HD650 (balanced) and a variety of other cans unbalanced. The balanced source will be an ECD-1 and the Marantz SA8001 (unbalanced) for SACD. Of course, perhaps the source may change in the future (UDAC?) but that probably won't be for a while. Right now, I have the GS-1 as my solid state amp.

I have settled on either a Headroom BUDA+DPS or a GS-X. Right now I am leaning towards the Headroom BUDA+DPS because it seems (according to some) to have really great synergy with the HD800's. Also, the wait time is shorter and they have a 30 day return policy. If it doesn't live up to my expectations, I can always send it back and think about the GS-X.

I am not interested in the Phoenix or any Rudister amps. As good as the B22 is, I think I will stay away from it for now because of the hassle of finding a builder who knows what they are doing and having support for the product in the long run (I would like to stick with a reputable company and I trust both Headroom and Headmp). I also like the small form factor of the BUDA+DPS and the option of having a BUDA+UDAC+DPS stack in the future.

Any thoughts? Has anyone actually tried the HD800 with both the BUDA and a GS-X? Thanks!

Edit: I wasn't sure if this thread should go in Summit-fi or not, please move it there if that is where it belongs.

LOL! Thanks.

I have heard that some B22's can get hot depending on the build but maybe that is just a rumor. I had discussed this with moonboy in a PM and so this is what he was referring to. Also, the B22 will be pretty large and I want to keep the amp on the smaller side (not to mention the B22 can be quite costly and I want to keep my costs as low as possible). Remember that this is going to be sort of a "backup" amp to my Woo so I don't necessarily have to have the "best." Basically, there are too many unknowns with the B22 right now (quality of builder, casing size, heat, cost, time to build) and I just don't want to deal with that right now (too busy).

I also heard the BUDA+UDAC+DPS at CanJam and thought it sounded good. Of course, it was the second setup I heard with the HD800 (the first one being a SE Headroom UDA+DAC) so maybe I just liked the sound of the HD800? I can't really say unless I get one for myself and use it in my current setup.

Let's stay on topic. I asked about two products and specifically said that I wanted to buy a GS-X or Headroom BUDA. I do not want to find a builder and get something made at this point. Headroom and Headamp both carry warranties (5 and 3 year respectively) and I am willing to pay more for a known product with good support. Plus, I trust the products.

I will have a balanced source (Electrocompaniet ECD-1) but this is good to know since I may be using it on occasion with a SE SACD player.

I understand that there may be few (if any) that have heard both the GS-X and Headroom BUDA with the HD800 for an extended period of time or side by side (I have heard the BUDA and I have heard the GS-1 with the HD800 so maybe I will just have to make up my mind for myself). However, I thought I would ask anyway.

Isn't the BUDA essentially a Headroom Balanced Max (which has been around for a while but in a larger case and more options)?

Yes, the fact that the GS-X is fully discrete is certainly very appealing and this is what keeps pulling me back that way.

I guess I am just worried that the BUDA has better synergy that the GS-X with the HD800 for some reason. This is probably not the case, just the fact, that few people have heard the GS-X and HD800 together.