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Entry Tubes for HD800, Toning them down?

post #1 of 22
2/9/12 at 2:23pm
Thread Starter 

Hello Headfi,

 

I recently sold my Mid/upper-Fi phones (Hd650, K702, Dt880 600ohm, AH-D5000) to get a pair of HD800's.

 

So far I am extremely happy as they are far superior headphones (in my opinion at least). They are really everything I expected, and more. 

 

Anyways, to the point: I'm looking to upgrade my amp, to better drive, and slightly (color?) change the sound of my HD800s. Currently I am listening to music through the LittleDotMKV which is a solid-state headphone amp. While I like the precision and accuracy of the amp, It was better matched with the 650's than the 800s.

 

I'm looking to do tubes, so I can possible mellow out the highs of the hd800s just on the slightest. 50% of my music is perfect with the current treble, the other half is a tad bright for me. I was looking into the WA2 (http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa2.html) as an option. 

 

I want to keep the price around $1k-1500 for now. I'm basically looking for recommendations, and a little more info about what tubes ACTUALLY do for a headphone, especially the 800s. Will I get a recessed treble? I only really want to take the edge of the top end.

 

Thanks for the help,

 

TabooPC

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post #2 of 22
2/9/12 at 4:49pm

The Violectric V200 tames the treble of the HD 800 and lends a slight warmth to the presentation.  It is a solid state though.

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post #3 of 22
2/9/12 at 5:00pm
Thread Starter 

Is that something you looked for too when you searched for amps?

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post #4 of 22
2/9/12 at 5:09pm

 

Originally Posted by TabooPc View Post

I'm looking to do tubes, so I can possible mellow out the highs of the hd800s just on the slightest. 



You could try this option: http://www.head-fi.org/t/577530/hd800-anaxilus-mod

 

 


Originally Posted by purrin View Post

 Either it brings everything below 2.5kHz up 2-3db, or shoves everything above 2.5kHz down 2-3db.


 

 

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post #5 of 22
2/9/12 at 5:30pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TabooPc View Post

Is that something you looked for too when you searched for amps?


I'm actually not bothered by the treble of the HD 800 but a bit of extra warmth is always welcome.  The V200 has a very organic and lush sound - almost tube-like.  It also has lots of power to drive the HD 800 and almost all other headphones (barring electrostatics) you might get down the line with authority. 

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post #6 of 22
2/9/12 at 6:29pm
Thread Starter 

Yeah I may mess around with that mod.

 

But for now I need a better amp to drive the hd800s too!

 

Note: I don't dislike the treble, just wish it was a tiny tiny bit less sharp.

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post #7 of 22
2/9/12 at 6:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by TabooPc View Post

Note: I don't dislike the treble, just wish it was a tiny tiny bit less sharp.


V200 will do exactly that.  It sweetens the treble and fleshes out the bass and midrange to bring about a lusher sound.  There is a compromise to the soundstage though.

 

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post #8 of 22
2/9/12 at 9:39pm
Thread Starter 

bump,

 

looking for more opinions

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post #9 of 22
2/10/12 at 12:33am
WA2 with TS5998 power tubes is excellent, but you already knew that.
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post #10 of 22
2/10/12 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Draygonn View Post

WA2 with TS5998 power tubes is excellent, but you already knew that.


Care to go in more-depth?

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post #11 of 22
2/10/12 at 8:56pm

Have the HD-800 and use La Figaro 339 which is sensational with them. About $650 shipped. You can read more here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/502306/dark-voice-339

 

(The original poster mistakenly credited Darkvoice as the company. They are different entities.)

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post #12 of 22
2/10/12 at 9:06pm

Thankfully, that's something that imo the HD800's with certain genre's, do artificially large anyway. I also give another vote to the V200's for the reasons you've outlined. Bare in mind, I've heard the WA2 is excellent as well, though I've never heard one myself. Sennheiser actually use Violectric amps to test the HD800 themselves.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Saintly View Post


V200 will do exactly that.  It sweetens the treble and fleshes out the bass and midrange to bring about a lusher sound.  There is a compromise to the soundstage though.

 



 


Edited by Naim.F.C - 2/10/12 at 9:09pm
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post #13 of 22
2/11/12 at 2:51pm
Thread Starter 

Im looking into the La Figaro 339 and the Darkvoice 337 now... They seem to be a ton more bang for buck, if not nearly as good as the WA2..

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post #14 of 22
2/13/12 at 3:32pm
Thread Starter 

bump, still looking for opinions, and a little more about what tubes sound like

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post #15 of 22
2/20/12 at 12:16am
Thread Starter 

Bump

 

Anyone have experience with the Darkvoice 337 and HD800?

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