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HFM 801 with HD800 pairing - Views....

post #1 of 11
5/1/10 at 1:51pm
Thread Starter 
I bought the HFM 801 about a month ago, following that I got the HD800 weeks later.

This portable player seems to be able to drive the HD800 very well. This is shocking for a portable player. It sounds better than my desktop rig consisting of the benchmark dac1 pre.

Any other people here having the same pairing? Please share your experiences.

What is a great desktop rig setup for the HD800? HFM 801 leaves me wondering!
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post #2 of 11
5/1/10 at 2:44pm
I don't have the HD800, but the HM801 is the best DAC in the house, so I'm always dragging it from system to system, depending on which I'm listening to. Very impressive piece of equipment. And it sounds even better as a player than as a DAC (no doubt due to other issues here).

- Ed
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post #3 of 11
5/1/10 at 3:10pm
Though I've never plugged a high end power hungry headphone in my HiFiMAN's headphone out, I know that the HiFiMAN's DAC far outperforms everything in my house. I only use the HiFiMAN while it's feeding an external amp via line out as I and many others feel, the amplifier module in the HiFiMAN is the weakest link.
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post #4 of 11
5/1/10 at 11:25pm
If they can just build a portable Hifiman USB DAC like the size of the Pico dac, that will be the best out there. They should just cut the amp section as there are much better portable amp out there. They should also cut the DAP as their user interface and software control are still buggy. By doing so, they'll sell 2-3 times more units and we have a great product.
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post #5 of 11
5/2/10 at 1:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalo View Post
If they can just build a portable Hifiman USB DAC like the size of the Pico dac, that will be the best out there. They should just cut the amp section as there are much better portable amp out there. They should also cut the DAP as their user interface and software control are still buggy. By doing so, they'll sell 2-3 times more units and we have a great product.
The HiFiMAN was meant to the be the all in one high end portable audio player. Cutting the DAP and AMP section would just mean you're after a very high end external DAC costing $1,000+
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post #6 of 11
5/2/10 at 2:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic 748i View Post
Cutting the DAP and AMP section would just mean you're after a very high end external DAC costing $1,000+
If there is such a thing as "a very high end external DAC costing $1,000.00" in a portable format, I am sure the list will just be as long as the Pico Slim and I'll be the first one on the list.

I was very excited about the 801 last year when it was first announced. When I went to Can Jam last year, the 801 was the first place I stopped by to try it out. It sounded very good with a line out to a MiniE+ but I was very disappointed when compare to the stock amp. The stale plastic look and finish doesn't compare to any average DAP finish like sony, ipod, iriver etc. You are right, it was billed as an all in one highend DAP, but except for the DAC, the rest of the components left little to be desired. I was hoping a second version will come out to correct the above concerns, but it doesn't seem to be coming. The whole concept is good and ambitious, but the implementation does not meet the stated goals that it wants to achieve.
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post #7 of 11
5/2/10 at 7:33am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jalo View Post
If there is such a thing as "a very high end external DAC costing $1,000.00" in a portable format, I am sure the list will just be as long as the Pico Slim and I'll be the first one on the list.

I was very excited about the 801 last year when it was first announced. When I went to Can Jam last year, the 801 was the first place I stopped by to try it out. It sounded very good with a line out to a MiniE+ but I was very disappointed when compare to the stock amp. The stale plastic look and finish doesn't compare to any average DAP finish like sony, ipod, iriver etc. You are right, it was billed as an all in one highend DAP, but except for the DAC, the rest of the components left little to be desired. I was hoping a second version will come out to correct the above concerns, but it doesn't seem to be coming. The whole concept is good and ambitious, but the implementation does not meet the stated goals that it wants to achieve.
That's interesting, the op amp outperformed when compared with line out to the SR71A, even before burning in my opinion.
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post #8 of 11
5/2/10 at 7:36am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sonic 748i View Post
Though I've never plugged a high end power hungry headphone in my HiFiMAN's headphone out, I know that the HiFiMAN's DAC far outperforms everything in my house. I only use the HiFiMAN while it's feeding an external amp via line out as I and many others feel, the amplifier module in the HiFiMAN is the weakest link.
Which external amp are you using? I have a sr71A, even that has not performed better than the hfm with its own op amp!
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post #9 of 11
5/2/10 at 7:39am
What do you mean, "the op amp outperformed"? I think that if the HM801 performs well, that is one thing, but it needs to be stated how. How is it really resolved? Does it hiss? If so, how badly? Does its amp sizzle when connected to voltage-crazy earphones? If so, how much?

Otherwise, all we get is flowery words!
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post #10 of 11
5/2/10 at 9:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by TTEO22 View Post
Which external amp are you using? I have a sr71A, even that has not performed better than the hfm with its own op amp!
I use the RSA Protector. Keep in mind guys with the HiFiMAN the quality of the 3.5mm to 3.5mm line out cable matters greatly or you will lose transparency and detail. Also, I believe the reason for the built in amplifier of the HiFiMAN being the weakest link is because of the simple fact that, the DAC in the HiFiMAN isn't going to have it's potential unleashed with an amplifier of that small size. The Burr-Brown DAC inside the HiFiMAN is usually paired with full sized external amplifiers. I wouldn't doubt though that the built in amplifier inside the HiFiMAN tops most, if not, all amplifiers built inside of portable media players.
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post #11 of 11
5/2/10 at 12:19pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by shigzeo View Post
What do you mean, "the op amp outperformed"? I think that if the HM801 performs well, that is one thing, but it needs to be stated how. How is it really resolved? Does it hiss? If so, how badly? Does its amp sizzle when connected to voltage-crazy earphones? If so, how much?

Otherwise, all we get is flowery words!
This is just my opinion. My SR71A is out for repair now. Will attempt to do a more detailed assessment when it returns. No hissing with the op amps at all. I can't hear any hissing with my HD800 or my other iems.

More lush, warm sound, stronger tighter bass with the hfm 801 compared to the sr71A. Prior to this my SR71A paired with my benchmark dac1 was the best rig. But hfm 801 seems to sound nicer to my ears. Sorry i am not an expert in describing the details of the sound.
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