One of the best amps I heard for the HD800 only costs $500

I thought the 800s sounded awesome out of my RSA XP-7, the T1s sounding a bit warm for my taste with the same amp.  Its also only $500.00.

David,

I'm quite sure that you will like the HD-800 + Maxed Out PPA as well.  PPA and PRII are quite alike according to Phil Larocco.

Bottlehead Crack + Speedball is only $320 and I've found it to have a very good sound out of the HD800

So B52 > PRII > 307A? Well that's interesting.

I gotta ask: have any of y'all heard a mid to high priced amp that simply doesn't work with the HD800s? Everytime I've listened to them, I've really enjoyed them, but I also haven't heard them with any amps under like $2000, excluding DIY. I haven't kept up with the HD800 talk in the past year...

You're welcome to listen to my sub $2000 DIY Crack amp + HD800's anythime atothex

I've heard the HD800 on several "cheaper" OTL tube amps ~ WA6, DV332, LD IV, Bijou. It doesn't sound "bad" on any of them, but none of them were particularly noteworthy with the HD800. The only straight tube amp I thought was a particularly good pairing was the Zana Deux. The WA5 is interesting as well but I didn't have much time on it.  But sub $500, I really would look to something other than a tube amp.

I have a personal bias towards BJT "sound" over FET in general and especially with the HD800. I really like the Dynahi better than the B22 with the HD800 and the dynalo better than the M3. I can believe that the PPA/Lisa/PRII is a good match as well. I'm putting the finishing touches on a bridged-balanced dynalo (one version of the dynamid) specifically to drive my HD800 at work. I don't know what I have invested in it, but certainly less than $500. A dynalo with an overvoltage 20v PSU and bias adjusted down to spec is an exceptional "cheap" HD800 amp. It gives up almost nothing to the best amps I've heard the HD800 on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nebby 

You're welcome to listen to my sub $2000 DIY Crack amp + HD800's anythime atothex " width="" />" class="bbcode_smiley" height="" src="http://files.head-fi.org/images/smilies//smily_headphones1.gif" title="" class="bbcode_smiley" height="" src="http://files.head-fi.org/images/smilies//smily_headphones1.gif" title="" width="" />" width="" />

Visit Cali sometime, and bring the Crack. Definitely wouldn't mind hearing that combo.

And bada bing: does $500 worth of DIY Dynamid really count? :P Certainly nowhere near entry-level if constructed correctly.

I heard them on the 307a at Canjam09 and i really didn't like them on it.  They sounded thin to me.  I have tried them on many others including the Lisa lll but i would have to revisit it again before i write my thoughts.  It kind of depends on how sterile you want your sound.

I'm actually going to be in socal this coming weekend, but that's socal.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by atothex 

Visit Cali sometime, and bring the Crack. Definitely wouldn't mind hearing that combo.

 

And bada bing: does $500 worth of DIY Dynamid really count? :P Certainly nowhere near entry-level if constructed correctly.

I recently tried my portable Headamp AE-2 ($350) with the HD800s and was surprised...actually amazed by how good this combo sounded.  I thought it sounded MUCH better with my HD800 than a balanced Headroom amp (BUDA) that I sold a few months ago.  And this was comparing a balanced HD800 to SE (using a converter cable) to the AE-2.   I suppose this speaks more to the very high quality of Headamp products in general.   Regardless, I'm waiting for a GS-X to be delivered --  it can only get better.  

I was actually quite surprised when I tried to run a pair of HD800's through my headroom airhead (at a demo of course) for headphones rated at 300ohms, I honestly didn't have to turn the amp up too high

I liked the hd800 on my isabellina hpa. Technically the headphone amp board is = to or < $500. Its the dac part that is expensive.

This thread just shows again that spending more(ridiculous and funny) on amp than HD800 itself  is absolutely unnecessary.

There is a difference between making it sound good and driving it to its full potential. The low end amps arent going to compare with what some of the high end amps can do with it. This thread is more like how do you make it at least sound good for under $500.