maxvla said:

As a whole package it is impressive, and if you have very little space, I can't think of a better solution. If you do have space, though, you can do better or at least have more choice in mixing and matching other components.

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Hmm I think I might need to listen to it again, but at a recent meet it sounded pretty impressive even with k70X's. when it comes to transient accuracy and details it was incredible and also sweet at the same time. I don't think I can upgrade my transport any further so I probably have a choice between changing DAC or getting stax.

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maxvla said:

Don't worry, you'll get used to it quickly. Half my posts now are via smartphone like this one.

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Yup. I'm visiting head-fi more often from mobile browsers than a computer with a keyboard.

I think I make 1/3rd of my posts from my phone.
 

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Ordered a NAD M51 earlier today, but I probably won't have it for a week or so since I went for free shipping.  I've had a lot of DAC lust lately; I almost picked up one of them end-game DACs earlier in the week but decided to "settle" on the M51 today for the time being because... iuno.  My DAC may not actually be the issue I'm having right now, but it seems most likely to me, and olor1n (another user who recently switched to the M51) knew exactly what I was talking about when I was trying to describe it.
 

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Man, the HD800's are damn good in my current setup.

Hey jeffery, I was just snooping around your profile and saw "Mjolnir--gone, thankfully."  What was your beef with it?  I'm just curious.

I listened to the HD800/Zana Deux combo for most of the day. Then, I switched the 800's over to the Lyr for comparison. The ZD/HD800 is definitely a magical pairing for jazz and classical music. They have a fuller, richer tone versus the Lyr. However, once I play some rock or pop through them, the goodness all seems to go away. The 800's become dry and analytical to me. I hate to say "soulless" about such a nice piece of equipment, but with rock music, that's how it sounds. For example, I played London Calling on them, and then played it through the HD700's. Huge difference. The 800's may be more precise and accurate, but the 700's were downright enthralling with this album. Bass went from almost non-existent, to suitably punchy. Soundstage went from wide to right-on-top-of-me, which is what I like in rock/pop. I didn't lose any clarity with the 700's, either.
So, for jazz/classical: HD800/Zana Deux
Everything else: HD700/Lyr
 
Since you guys asked, a picture: http://www.freeimagehosting.net/x3pau
Hope it works since I know nothing about image hosting. Enjoy!

I got rid of the Mjolnir because it developed a buzzing noise in the right channel. I sent it back under warranty, Schiit repaired it and shipped it back. And after a few hours of operation, the noise came right back. I got tired of that and asked Jason for a refund, which he gave me without any problems. Aside from the buzzing, the Mjolnir was enjoyable to listen to. It made my HE500's wake-up. So much so, they almost blew my ears off--in a good way, of course. Some other folks on Head-Fi had a similar problem with the Mjolnir. I suspect it's some kind of defect in some of the circuit-boards.

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sweden said:

 
That the HD800 sound sterile, lifeless, lacking soul or what ever without the use of something like a Leben CS300 or DNA Stratus I would consider a pretty huge design flaw.
I like to see headphones made with the right euphony from the start.
But the HD800 on the Leben with 3 dB bass boost is pretty darn nice..

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LOL. Were you on the feedback / advisory board for the HD700 and IE800 by any chance?
 
Personally, I wish Sennheiser would go back to their "pretty huge design flaws" of the HD800. At least over what they're doing now.
 
Edit:
 
Seriously, though: the HD800 has a ton of R&D behind it and some of the best quality control of anything else on the market right now, at least in the dynamic world. I wouldn't call a lack of the sort of euphony you prefer a design flaw. They met their design goals. You just happen to not care for them.
 
Different tastes, yadda yadda.
 
To me the Leben is the grampy's Cadillac of the amp world. Extremely tubey. For me the bass boost on it would be fun for maybe 5 minutes, but get old reeeeally quickly after that. Probably induce a headache after 10. But yeah, different strokes for different folks.

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digitalfreak said:

 

I'm guessing you both would agree the GS1000 might be a better buy for the money?

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The GS1000 isn't very good IMO. Way too sibilant.
 
The PS1000 is far and away better, but still not as refined as the HD800 by a mile to my ears. The bass is bloated and uncontrolled unless you smack it around with an amp like the ZDSE and get it into shape (but I can see how someone who likes the Leben with bass boost would enjoy that kind of bass). The Grado PS-1 is pretty much everything the PS1000 is for me but better. Then again, it wasn't actually made by John but FreeSystems to John's specifications. Or something.
 
 

Quote:

maxvla said:

As a whole package it is impressive, and if you have very little space, I can't think of a better solution. If you do have space, though, you can do better or at least have more choice in mixing and matching other components.

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Like what, out of curiosity?
 
And @ drez: I don't own the Invicta yet.
 
 

Would you guys choose a mdr-f1 or sa5k? It's been bugging me...

The SA5000 all the way.
 
Really the only thing the F1 has going for it over the SA series is its ridiculous comfort. It's like soft pajamas.

Mr Violin,
 
Just joining the conversation, but I have a couple thing that may interest you. 
 
1. I owned and listend to the 5K daily for 5 years.
 
2. I played violin studiously for 6 years. 
 
I know nothing about you, or what you want besides your previous post - I just happen to see it. Can I be of your service?

muppetface said:

The SA5000 all the way.

Really the only thing the F1 has going for it over the SA series is its ridiculous comfort. It's like soft pajamas.

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I also thought that the f1 was known for the ss, but didn't sound detailed. Thanks muppet!

soundfreaq said:

Mr Violin,

Just joining the conversation, but I have a couple thing that may interest you. 

1. I owned and listend to the 5K daily for 5 years.

2. I played violin studiously for 6 years. 

I know nothing about you, or what you want besides your previous post - I just happen to see it. Can I be of your service?

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Ah, thanks! Do you know how these guys do with the ss? I've heard ppl saying the e string is fatiguing, so how would it compare to th treble?

Sorry for the double post guys, quite new to the mobile version

Sorry my friend, I even scrolled back a page and am not sure what you mean by "ss." Could you enlighten me?

Sound stage, sorry for assuming you knew :s