HD800 is not really suitable for those genres imho. Try other phones if you could, Im really enjoying with LCD2 & Schiit Lyr, and mainly listen to trance and metal as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik 

The HD-800 has been good with every genre I've thrown at it. YMMV, obviously.

What's your budget? Solid state or tubes? I much prefer the HD-800 with tubes.

X2, HD800 loves tube.  I'm extremely happy with HD800/WA22 combo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc9394 

X2, HD800 loves tube.  I'm extremely happy with HD800/WA22 combo.

A tube-like amp, but SS, is the Luxman P-1u. I didn't really know what my HD 800s could do until I got the P-1u. It's expensive, and I'll bet you get similar sound from the P-200 model at half the price of the P-1u.

I like the Burson HA-160, it gives a pretty warm and powerful sound not unlike a tube amp. The violectric v181 in balanced mode is known to be a good combo as well, I read that the man responsible for the HD800 uses that exact amp himself. Tube amps are nice of course, the WA22 I bet is fantastic but cheap it is not.... on the other hand the Schiit Lyr is a pretty fun and powerful tube amp that should do well with bass heavy material, and a lot less expensive...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik 

The HD-800 has been good with every genre I've thrown at it. YMMV, obviously.

Same.  From my experience anyone saying the HD800 is only good w/ 'X' genre hasn't truly heard what they are capable of w/ the right chain.  I would have laughed this idea off till I heard it for myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottlf 

I didn't really know what my HD 800s could do until I got .....

I know what you mean.  For me it was the Eddie Current amps and the WA5.  Completely made me rethink what I thought I knew about the HD800.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc9394 

I do not like Burson with HD800. Burson does very well with D7000 and LCD-2.

I wasn't much of a fan of the Burson w/ the LCD2 either.  Lyr was much better to my ears.  It was sublime w/ the HD650 though.  The Burson 160 actually struck me as a rather fickle amp w/ some phones whereas usually it's the other way around.  YMMV.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by zhunter 

HD800 is not really suitable for those genres imho. Try other phones if you could, Im really enjoying with LCD2 & Schiit Lyr, and mainly listen to trance and metal as well.

Nonsense.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Uncle Erik 

...I much prefer the HD-800 with tubes.

x3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benimaru 

Ok Im currently driving the HD800 Headdies through the Headroom Desktop Amp

I was wondering if that amp is not enough to get decent sound from the HD800

I mainly listen to trance music.. sound tracks.. I appreciate good bass and smooth highs

I listen to rock much as well (Pink - Nickelback - etc..)

If you can swing ~$1500, wait for the Eddie Current Super 7. I heard it again with HD800s at a recent meet and am even more convinced of this match.

Chalk me up as another person that thinks HD800 does reasonably well across most genres (and spectacular in some others) provided that you get a well matching rig for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jc9394 

I'm extremely happy with HD800/WA22 combo.

Yeah, I'm a huge fan of that combo as well.

I thought the HD800 sounded incredible on the SPL Phonitor. You could always spend $1000 less and get the Auditor which sounds the exact same and is just as powerful as the Phonitor.

Here a couple of others at different price ranges: 

Lyr

WA6SE

WA5

ECBA

tube rolling is required.

I'd also like to recommend the Woo Audio WA2 amp as it power the HD800 effortlessly. It will also warm up their sonic signature quite a bit and help tame the peeks in the treble, fill in the mids, and round the bass.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zombie_X 

I'd also like to recommend the Woo Audio WA2 amp as it power the HD800 effortlessly. It will also warm up their sonic signature quite a bit and help tame the peeks in the treble, fill in the mids, and round the bass.

I suspect all of the Woo stuff would sound good with the HD800s. Woo seems to have a consistent house sound.