BUDA+DPS or GS-X for use with HD800 - Page 2

Oops, you're right. I had just assumed they were totally different designs, but that only applies to the DAC, not the amp. My fault.

i have heard neither with the 800, but assuming they are both "good," i would go with the headroom due to the most likely long wait for a GSX. however, i bet the GSX will have better resale value. still, the wait could be too much.

Very nice. Be sure to tell us how it sounds!

From the little I know of the BUDA, Headroom uses OPA627 opamps, which sound anything but dry. I've played around with OPA627/637 in my old M^3, and they tend to sound more like good tubes than anything else - slightly warm and tonally rich, yet dynamic and detailed.

Of course that was a completely different circuit, and Headroom's implementation may wring a completely different sound out of these chips. So I'm keen to find out what you hear Shelly

look forward to impressions.

I've had my BUDA/UltraDAC + HD800 (balanced) combo now for about a month; I decided to purchase this mainly on the basis of several very favorable comments posted from CanJam. I had been looking to "go balanced" some time ago, and had actually ordered a GS-X in Jan 2008. After waiting for this amp for almost 18 months, I decided that I couldn't deal any longer with not knowing when the GS-X would arrive and cancelled my order. At this point, I looked at the other balanced solid-state options often mentioned here (eg RSA Apache, Rudistor, Beta 22, etc) but had a hard time getting excited about them for various reasons. I've had HR amps in the past, which I've always liked a lot and the prospect of getting what is essentially a Balanced Max (minus the DAC) plus a new DAC with the Sabre chip really pushed me over - plus the fact that I already had an HR DPS unit on hand to use.

To get to the point, I do not regret in the least getting the BUDA/UltraDAC -- each time I listen to it, I'm totally thrilled at how well this combo sounds with the balanced HD800s. Would I have heard "better" with a GS-X? -- I don't really know, but I doubt it - probably more likely "different". I also had a GS-1 until several months ago, and comparing that with my single-ended HR UltraDesktop (using AKG701s), I actually preferred the Desktop - it seemed to have a better soundstage and more dynamic range compared to the GS-1. The GS-X is basically a balanced GS-1, so I suspect some of the "negative" qualities of the GS-1 might have been apparent with the GS-X as well, although admittedly such a conclusion would be suspect since I would be using balanced HD800s and not K701s. Another variable is that I'm now using the UltraDAC with the BUDA and not a DAC1 or other DAC, as I did with the single-ended amps, which could also account for my overall impression of the BUDA/UltraDAC combo. It would be interesting to speculate on what a GS-X with the UltraDAC would sound like? -- would they complement each other or not, or would a GSX + other high-end DAC considerably outclass the BUDA/UltraDAC? -- maybe or maybe not. All I can say is that I'm quite happy with what I have now. The nice thing about working with Headroom is that they have a good return policy -- you can try out a BUDA/UltraDAC and if it's not what you're looking for, you can send it back.