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Team HD800 challenge! - Page 3

post #31 of 153
1/1/13 at 2:54pm
Thread Starter 

My WA22 tube setup was pretty much a stand in for my balanced B22 but the B22 had better staging and resolution so I sold the WA22.

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post #32 of 153
1/1/13 at 3:07pm

WA22 doesn't compete against EC 2A3 or WA5.

 

I like both the WA5 and EC 2A3. The WA5 is slightly more tubey, but in a good euphonic way. It's not syrupy mush. The WA5 + PWD gave me goosebumps. The EC 2A3 should be thought of well implemented solid-state with only the smallest hint of "tubeyness", but with the advantages of tubes: The WA5 and 2A3 have expanded soundstage and openness, and micro-detail retrieval and micro-dynamics which I have not heard in any solid-state amp. YMMV.


Edited by purrin - 1/1/13 at 4:35pm
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post #33 of 153
1/1/13 at 4:16pm

Very good info.  Thanks guys..

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post #34 of 153
1/1/13 at 4:36pm
Thread Starter 

Costs are similar after tubes but one eats much less desktop space ;)

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post #35 of 153
1/1/13 at 4:37pm
Thread Starter 

All that said, ceiling removed the BA is better than both?

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post #36 of 153
1/1/13 at 5:37pm

Yea, but the BA sound more towards a SS amp, where the WA5 sounds more towards tubes.  I'm looking for more of detailed resolution with the lush tube sound.

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post #37 of 153
1/1/13 at 6:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

Yea, but the BA sound more towards a SS amp, where the WA5 sounds more towards tubes.  I'm looking for more of detailed resolution with the lush tube sound.

I think you need to audition the Stratus.

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post #38 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:17am
Second the motion on the Cardas cable for the 800.

BHA-1 is excellent with 800s, and it's a great value at the price point--but only if you're running it balanced. What comes out of the SE output is dark and closed-in by comparison. Would you eat McDonald's when In-n-Out is across the street?
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post #39 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:28am

What the heck is In-n-Out?

 

 

400

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post #40 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by third_eye View Post

I think you need to audition the Stratus.

 

@third_eye

 

Before your Stratus purchase did you get a chance to compare it with the:

 

EC BA

 

EC 2A3

 

Woo WA5

 

Or any others?


Edited by preproman - 1/2/13 at 8:41am
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post #41 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:40am

I believe third eye has heard EC amps in meet settings and still chose and prefers the Stratus.  Unfortunately, a lot of the subtlety of what EC amps do so well, (microdetails and soundstaging) are hard to discern in a meet environment.  I still really look forward to hearing the Stratus as it seems it would be right up my alley.  

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post #42 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:54am
Thread Starter 

I think he mentioned earlier that he heard it with the EC BA and S7.  A lot of it comes down to preference.  On technicalities the BA stomps pretty much everything DHT.

 

The BHA-1 sounding better balanced comes up often but it's just the single ended output run though the same amp a second time at unity gain so aside from MOAR POWER, the sound should be similar, no?

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post #43 of 153
1/2/13 at 8:56am

I have really enjoyed my phonitor.  The ability to control the center image helps with long term listening.  I am the type that gets easily distracted by sound that either sounds like it is coming from inside my head or when vocals don't have a correct center.  The hd800s are already really good at presenting correct center vocals, but the phonitor helps make everything sound right for long term listening.  The sound quality is also excellent, but I'm sure others will argue that other amps might have a better sound.  Personally I will trade a tiny bit of sound quality for "correct" imaging.

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post #44 of 153
1/2/13 at 9:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by preproman View Post

What the heck is In-n-Out?

 

 

400


Best fast food burger ever. California, Arizona, Nevada only but I think they will finally start expanding further.

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post #45 of 153
1/2/13 at 9:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by third_eye View Post


Best fast food burger ever. California, Arizona, Nevada only but I think they will finally start expanding further.

Better than Fat Burger?

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