The HD800 divide - Page 17

My experience with R10 and 800 leads me to an opposite conclusion. I agree with your premise, but, unlike your finding, I find R10 to be more musical than 800. However, given the price delta, it's a tougher call on what I actually "prefer". I think I prefer more money in my wallet over less

If I were you, I would do more reading before posting this nonsense.

What are you saying?

I totally agree with this. One of the big complaints from some Head-Fiers in this thread is that the HD800 is not musical. I'll be the first to admit that I've always had trouble with the concept of musical vs. analytical, especially since some people feel a headphone can only be one or the other. From the stickied glossary:

Analytical - Highly detailed.

Musical (or musicality) - A sense of cohesion and subjective "rightness" in the sound.

For me, the HD800 is both.

Yes, it could be the combo of the DAC and Amp that makes a difference in synergy. When I spoke of the ZDT having good synergy with the HD800, I neglected to mention that using the Apogee mini-DAC with the ZDT/HD800 is better than the PS Audio DLIII feeding that same rig, where the PS Audio does make the HD800 sound drier than the Apogee.

Still, with the right tubes and cables the "dry" combo is still acceptable (as people stated when they tried my rig at RMAF). That sound from the PS Audio DAC is a good match for my K1000/ZDT when used with a Sylvania gold pin 5751, or my O2 Mk1/GES with some Telefunken tubes. But using the HD800 with that combo of DAC/Amp/Tubes is a bit bright or dry. I either have to return to the stock cable, or swap the Sylvania for a darker sounding GE 5751 to be just right with HD800, but then making it too dark for the K1000.

Now, I have actually heard Naamanf's Buffalo DAC feeding a balanced B22 and KGBH at my home at a meet at my home in February, and it was a great combo for the K1000 and O2 Mk1. But knowing from experience how a rig that is perfect for my K1000 is too dry or bright for the HD800 (as above), I can see how that could sound dry to K3cT with HD800. Unfortunately the HD800 weren't available for me to try them with the Buffalo/B22 back then.

I think many people here have already been saying that synergy and preferences account for a lot of the opposing opinions of various gear.

I will concede that if one tries many different rigs with a particular headphone, without finding synergy with more than 1 or 2 out of 6-10 combos, that the fault probably lies with the headphone. I had that problem with the IE8 where they could sound fantastic out of my Pico DAC > ALO Amphora, and the sound was to die for, but I could not enjoy it with 10 other portable amps and several different kind of iPods/iPhones. If they could sound that good with even half of my other gear I would have kept them, but most of the time the bass was too overpowering above the mids and highs with most of my other gear.

I tried the HD800 and decided after one month of intense listening both with tubes and solid state sources not a phone at the $1400.00 price. My K1000 and RS1i has a far better presentation.

Hey Johnwmclean are you balanced with that B22?

Wonderful, I got a chance to hear a balanced B22 into the HD800s twice and both times I was impressed with the presentation.

johnwmclean said:
Put your specs on wink, post 225 K3cT states he used a Buffalo 24. .

My bad, john - I missed that.
Well, that narrows it down to the source and his ears.
I'll take a stab at the source.
I'm not sure john would say " 'ear, 'ear. "
Maybe a buffalo 32 is indicated?, or interconnects, power cables, aftermarket headphone cable, line conditioner, hair spray, ear de-wax, etc, etc.

Dry is not necessarily a bad thing on retrospect. I'll prefer that kind of sound for classical or electronica.

I compared tonight O2v1 + 007tii tube amp against HD800 + Hlly 3 tube amp (equivalent of Little Dot IV).

I prefer Stax on every music I tried ... was easy pick for me.

HD800 is too neutral (boring) for me. Lack "tap foot" and human heat that make me want listening all the CD ...