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Help putting headphone system together

post #1 of 9
Thread Starter 

Hello

I’m an older listener (58) in the process of putting together a headphone based system for myself. I’ve enjoyed some wonderful sounding and engaging high end equipment (Linn, Audio Research, Magnepan etc) in the past but traded and sold that while putting together a more family friendly home theatre based system. Now with the girls put through university it’s time for me again! I’m sure some of you know of what I speak. I made what perhaps was a mistake in going to my favourite audio store and hearing an incredible Krell sourced and powered system driving B&W 802s. Awing and set the bar very high but I’m short about $80,000. My home system sounds just plain boring and uninvolving now. My thoughts are to buy Sennheiser HD800s and Woo WA6SE. What DAC and CD source would be a good match for listening mainly to rock (70s, early80s Genesis, early Dire Straits, Pink Floyd, Bob Seger, Dire Straits, Santana, Motown, Eric Clapton, REM, U2 etc)? Interconnect suggestions? I’m also planning on getting back into a turntable and vinyl source.

Thanks.

Blair

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post #2 of 9

Not sure I would pair the HD800's and WA6SE, especially if you liked the B&W 802 sound. Given your taste in music, I might suggest a headphone that isn't quite as top-heavy as the 800's (Beyer T1's are similar price and quality, but a little less "toppy" than the HD800's). The WA6SE is probably one of Jack Wu's most "solid state sounding" amps from a tonal balance perspective and is often purchased to use with low impedance headphones due to it being transformer coupled. The WA2 is one of the "tubier" sounding amps from Woo Audio, and is what is usually recommended by Jack and others as a good match for high impedance phones like the Sennheisers or Beyers. 

 

If you are going to be exclusively CD based (as opposed to computer), the about to be released Oppo BDP-95 audiophile universal disc player is probably one of the better values. For $1000, you get a transport that plays any format know to man (CD, SACD, DVD-A, Blu-ray, etc) and a pretty tweaky Sabre DAC. Oppo's previous audiophile play (the BDP-83SE) was very well thought of and early reports from the beta testers indicate the 95 is significantly better. While there are better DAC's and better transports, you will spend a lot more.

 

If computer audio is going to be a significant part of your system, there are a lot of $1000-1500 DAC solutions that will connect via USB or firewire.

 

The HD600/650 headphones have a much darker/warmer balance than the 800's. THe HD800's and T1's are usually considered the top of the heap in conventional dynamic headphones, and the 800's are certainly brighter.

 

As far as vinyl, there are a ton of options these days. I got rid of vinyl a long time ago so I'll leave that to others.

 

Cables are a very controversial subject. I'm personally partial to Cardas, but the really nice stuff is very expensive. I have some I got used many years ago - not sure I would pay the price for new stuff today.

post #3 of 9
Thread Starter 

Thankyou for a very helpful and thorough reply. Using the computer as a source definitely has to be considered so an external DAC seems necessary. The new Oppo sounds like a seious consideration as a source.

Am I reading your comments correctly in that you feel the Sennheisers will sound a bit bright (haven't actually listened to them yet)? Will have to do some more research about the Woo WA2 vs WA6SE. 

 

Thanks again.

 

post #4 of 9

Yes, my opinion is the HD800's are rather lean and a little bright, especially compared to the traditional HD600 & HD650 sound. If I were going to spend $1300 for a pair of headphones, I would get the Beyer T1's over the HD800's in a second.

 

The WA6SE is a very dynamic, punchy amp that many feel is more solid state sounding than many of the other Woo designs. When I bought my WA2, I corresponded with Jack quite a bit and when I said I was looking for a presentation that was liquid, harmonically rich and fluid, he recommended the WA2 over the 6. That matched the general consensus on Head-Fi as well. I'm sure the WA6 is a great amp, but it would not be my choice for a headphone that tended towards being bright to begin with, Of course given your musical taste for rock over acoustic or classical, it might be a good choice with something other than the HD800. Send Jack an email with your preferences and stuff you have heard you like and see what he recommends. He also sells the T1's by the way. Another set of phones you might like for rock with the WA6 is the Denon 7000.

 

Unless you can audition a lot of this stuff, I would start off with some HD650's (you can get them for under $350 if you look) and see what you think. 

 

Your comment that you liked the 802's leads me to believe you might be more of the "full-bodied & musical" bent rather than the "resolution & detail at all costs" type. A speaker that I would classify as similar in signature to the HD800 are Thiels (at the least the stuff from a few years ago - haven't heard the new ones). While I have not heard the big B&W's driven by modern Krells, I would tend to classify them as neutral to slightly warm (similar to the classic British speaker sound - KEF, Mission, IMF, etc).

post #5 of 9
Thread Starter 

Hello

Wonderful reply. Thankyou. Just based on research and having not heard them yet, I'm starting to lean towards the T1/WA2 combination. Having said that, as a user of the 650s, have you also spent time with the T1s and could perhaps offer a  comparison?

The few hour Krell/ B&W802 listening experience was one that seemed to offer me everything that I'd like. What stuck out most to me was the very deep and incredibly controlled bass, the fabulous dynamics with all instruments although some drum moments were most memorable, the clarity of all instruments and voices, the space between them and  the amazing imaging with a soundstage that was remarkably wide and deep. Listened to all kinds of music and was rivetted and totally absorbed through it all.

I'm going to contact Woo and discuss preferences.

Thanks again.

Regards

Blair


Edited by landgreen - 2/21/11 at 4:00pm
post #6 of 9

I have the T1/WA2 combo and my first headphone was the 650s (didnt have the WA2 at that time).  Theyre not in the same ballpark to me.  The T1 is better than the 650 in every department.  The combo sounds better and better as you buy better tubes. 

everyones choice these days seems to be the LCD2 if you havent researched that yet. 

post #7 of 9
Thread Starter 

Got the process started today with purchase of T1. $1050 before tax at Planet of Sound in Toronto. Very nice guys to deal with. Headphones sound fantastic. Tried them at  P of S using an Audiolab 8200 CD/DAC and a Graham Slee headphone amp. Anyone familiar with Graham Slee product?

I was going to go to another place to audition the Senn HD800 but just found the T1 very comfortable and engaging to listen to.

 Next will be the WA2 and a DAC. Very exciting.

post #8 of 9
Thread Starter 

Finally got this together. PC or OPPO83SE>PS Audio Digital Link iii>WA2>T1. The WA2 just arrived this morning so has no time on it (the T1s also very little time  in use) but WOW! Enjoyed an hour or so listening to School/Supertramp, What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted/ Joan Osborne (Standing In The Shadows Of Motown), Strong Persuader/Robert Cray, Los Endos/Genesis, Ride Across The River/Dire Straits, You Can Bring Me Flowers/Ray Lamontagne.........fantastic.Great dynamics. There's going to be some serious listening time coming up revisiting my music library.


Edited by landgreen - 3/23/11 at 10:17am
post #9 of 9

Excellent! - you should be in good shape for a while. 

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