Battle Of The Flagships (57 Headphones Compared) UPDATE: Ultimate Ears UERM added (4/14/13) - Page 193

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblique63 

Again, it's possible, and this was all at a meet, so I can't make any solid conclusions; but the gear did all seem pretty solid (though admittedly, I didn't pay attention to it nearly as much as the actual headphones themselves). But I noticed that you mentioned pairing the HD800's with several tube amps in your earlier post; have you given them a thorough shot on a good solid state amp by any chance? All the tube amps that I've tried the HD800's with easily caused them to have a bit less detail than even my little O2 amp... still wouldn't have considered them 'muddy' necessarily, but they definitely felt hindered in the detail department.

Funny you should mention ss, I think my HeadAmp GS-X is MORE than up to the task.  It is my favourite HD800 (and LCD-3) amp I've owned yet. But generalizations about tube amps are just that. I've heard many tube amps that are more transparent and detail focused than lesser SS amps.

And I've compared the WA22 and Liquid Fire to the O2 (had it on loan from a buddy just starting out in the hobby). Let's just say, it wasn't even close. No doubt that the O2 is cleaner than many entry level tube amps (heck maybe even mid-fi tube amps).

Agreed, meet conditions are usually far from ideal. I'd suggest getting some up close and personal time with the SR-009s, they just might blow your mind (like they have with me for the past 4 months).

I was thinking of the WA7 and the HD800. Think it would be a good combo?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

I was thinking of the WA7 and the HD800. Think it would be a good combo?

If its anything like the WA6, WA6SE, WA2, WA22, I would say absolutely! 

Woo amps + HD800s play really well together IME.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Funny you should mention ss, I think my HeadAmp GS-X is MORE than up to the task.  It is my favourite HD800 (and LCD-3) amp I've owned yet. But generalizations about tube amps are just that. I've heard many tube amps that are more transparent and detail focused than lesser SS amps.

Ah, must've overlooked that one . It's funny cause I got to try one out with some K1000's today too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

And I've compared the WA22 and Liquid Fire to the O2 (had it on loan from a buddy just starting out in the hobby). Let's just say, it wasn't even close. No doubt that the O2 is cleaner than many entry level tube amps (heck maybe even mid-fi tube amps).

Yeah, I'm just speaking from my own limited experience, since I don't usually get a chance to thoroughly check how each amp sounds through any single pair of phones. Still, I think I'll be leaving tubes to my guitar amps for now .

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Agreed, meet conditions are usually far from ideal. I'd suggest getting some up close and personal time with the SR-009s, they just might blow your mind (like they have with me for the past 4 months).

Well for that price, they better! 

Quote:

Originally Posted by zare 


I think MacedonianHero was clear enought that he drives HD800 with SS amp. I use Bryston BHA-1. And yes, if you do A/B test against 009 you might come to same conclusion. To paraphrase James from Bryston: demo is everything!

Not if you're illiterate like I am after a long sunday night . Didn't expect my little impression would be so controversial though, since I did still prefer the 009's by a reasonable margin... Either way, you're all right, and I would love to get some more time with those beauties.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

I was thinking of the WA7 and the HD800. Think it would be a good combo?

If its anything like the WA6, WA6SE, WA2, WA22, I would say absolutely! 

 

Woo amps + HD800s play really well together IME.

Wow, thank god. I found a cheaper amp/DAC! Fare well with the LCD-3 you think?

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

Wow, thank god. I found a cheaper amp/DAC! Fare well with the LCD-3 you think?

currawong seems to be happy with that combo.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/651556/a-tale-of-two-tube-amps-the-woo-audio-wa7-and-alo-audio-panam

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

Wow, thank god. I found a cheaper amp/DAC! Fare well with the LCD-3 you think?

Looking at the specs, 1 W into 32 ohms is not ideal (I'd reckon 2 W is closer to the minimum). But with that said, my (now sold) HeadAmp GS-1 drove them very well (and it was rated 1W max).  Throw in Amos' first hand experiences, I think it might be a great pairing too.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

Wow, thank god. I found a cheaper amp/DAC! Fare well with the LCD-3 you think?

Looking at the specs, 1 W into 32 ohms is not ideal (I'd reckon 2 W is closer to the minimum). But with that said, my (now sold) HeadAmp GS-1 drove them very well (and it was rated 1W max).  Throw in Amos' first hand experiences, I think it might be a great pairing too.

The WA7 is mine!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubstep Girl 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

Wow, thank god. I found a cheaper amp/DAC! Fare well with the LCD-3 you think?

 

currawong seems to be happy with that combo.

 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/651556/a-tale-of-two-tube-amps-the-woo-audio-wa7-and-alo-audio-panam

The WA7 is so sexy

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

The WA7 is mine!

 

The WA7 is so sexy

Cool. Let us know what you think. And the folks over on the Woo thread are all great people!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfetan44 

The WA7 is mine!

 

The WA7 is so sexy

Cool. Let us know what you think. And the folks over on the Woo thread are all great people!

Not soon, man. I gotta save up! Would you like me to tell you how I like it in 2014?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacedonianHero 
 

Peter,

You know I got to get you started again..

The last thing the HE-6 on a good setup would be considered is "muddy" next to "ANY" headphone.

They can go toe to toe with the best - before getting knocked out in round 15 by the 009s

Quote:

Originally Posted by preproman 

 

Peter,

 

You know I got to get you started again..

 

The last thing the HE-6 on a good setup would be considered is "muddy" next to "ANY" headphone.

 

They can go toe to toe with the best - before getting knocked out in round 15 by the 009s

This is really interesting... He prefers SR-009, LCD-3 and HD800 over HE-6 (correct me, MH, if I am wrong!) but you say that HE-6 = SR-009 virtually.

I don't know where's the truth but I hope you two finally get to some consensus to not confuse us, poor head-fiers, who cannot try all the headphones personally!

I would have to agree that the HE-6 did also seem to be about on par with the SR-009 in terms of detail when I tried them. Which obviously means I found it to be on par with the HD-800 as well. They're all really great detail monsters, and listening to the HE-6 was a really nice experience, easily my favorite hifiman. The soundstage of the HD800 still puts it above the HE-6 for me, but in terms of detail, they're all pretty much equally awesome I think. With the HD800 having a bit more of a 'sharp'/'jagged edge' sort of clarity, while the SR-009 seemed to have a more natural, lush style of clarity, and the HE-6 falling somewhere in the middle. None of which I would've described as 'muddy', even relative to each-other though.

But again, my opinions are all pretty much moot at this point, as it's been made clear that meet conditions aren't really the best for closely evaluating these things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by oblique63 

I would have to agree that the HE-6 did also seem to be about on par with the SR-009 in terms of detail when I tried them. Which obviously means I found it to be on par with the HD-800 as well. They're all really great detail monsters, and listening to the HE-6 was a really nice experience, easily my favorite hifiman. The soundstage of the HD800 still puts it above the HE-6 for me, but in terms of detail, they're all pretty much equally awesome I think. With the HD800 having a bit more of a 'sharp'/'jagged edge' sort of clarity, while the SR-009 seemed to have a more natural, lush style of clarity, and the HE-6 falling somewhere in the middle. None of which I would've described as 'muddy', even relative to each-other.

 

My opinions are all pretty much moot at this point though, as it's been made clear that meet conditions aren't really the best for closely evaluating these things.

Thank you... That soundstage thing became really important for me after getting HD800. I guess only SR-009 are better in this regard from currently manufactured headphones?