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HD-800 VS HD-700/ Amp Problem

post #1 of 17
1/18/13 at 4:55pm
Thread Starter 

Hey everyone i am in a bit of a quandary. I am able to get my hands on a pair of HD 700's for around 700, but i am also able to get a pair of HD 800's for about a grand. My problem is stemming from my amplification. i currently have the little dot 1+ and that is coming from the Shiit Modi, with my desktop being a source. I have heard that people would rather listen to a pair of 800's with poor amplification than the 700's with proper. Given the set-up i am using which would be a better idea to get? Looking at this situation now, not in a perspective that i can spend more money on amps in the future. 

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post #2 of 17
1/18/13 at 6:43pm

I would go with something else if you are not going to have a good dac and amp.

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post #3 of 17
1/18/13 at 7:06pm
Thread Starter 

im sorry let me just clarify i eventually will upgrade in the future but on my current setup which headphone would work the best or if none at all and its just not worth it as of now?

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post #4 of 17
1/18/13 at 7:10pm

Get the HD800's - fairly easy to drive at 300ohms, you'll be fine out of the LD until you can get a better amp.  No reason to settle for a fourth-rate can that costs second-tier prices

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post #5 of 17
1/18/13 at 7:18pm
Thread Starter 

thank you very much for the input.

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post #6 of 17
1/19/13 at 1:38am

I' ll go for the HD700 and spend the extra cash on a better amplifier. The HD800 is technically a wonderful can but after numerous auditions I never been tempted to buy one. 

I  had  already read here that the HD700 was an overpriced and flawed headphone but after a quick listen in a shop, I ended up returning to the shop the next day to spend more time with it and bought it.  biggrin.gif

It is a very subjective hobby so first person experience should be the deciding factor.

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post #7 of 17
1/19/13 at 7:33am

If you like it, that's all that's important. I was not as convinced after a few HD700 auditions.

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post #8 of 17
1/19/13 at 9:01am
Thread Starter 

i had them for a short while and got rid of them for something else and i still keep going back in my mind to they way they sounded and want them back. Although i have never been able to listen to the HD 800's tho...

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post #9 of 17
1/19/13 at 6:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Doug View Post

Get the HD800's - fairly easy to drive at 300ohms, you'll be fine out of the LD until you can get a better amp.  No reason to settle for a fourth-rate can that costs second-tier prices

 

 

+1

 

just get the hd 800s, you can worry about the amp later, you'll be fine for now. the hd 800s will grow with you and scale up as you improve you setup in the future.

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post #10 of 17
1/20/13 at 6:13am

If you have already spent time with the HD700 maybe you should give a go to the HD800 and you will know for sure which one you like most. wink.gif

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post #11 of 17
1/20/13 at 10:59pm

The problem is, even if you do get the HD700, wouldn't you be itching to get a better amp any ways? Then after the better amp, you'd be wondering:"hmmm... I've got a better amp, now I wonder what the HD800 would sound l with this setup... " 

 

See what I'm trying to say?? Never settle for less when you can have the better. 

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post #12 of 17
1/21/13 at 4:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by El_Doug View Post

Get the HD800's - fairly easy to drive at 300ohms, you'll be fine out of the LD until you can get a better amp.  No reason to settle for a fourth-rate can that costs second-tier prices

What are the tiers for prices?

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post #13 of 17
1/21/13 at 9:19pm
Thread Starter 

You know that does make sense...

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post #14 of 17
1/23/13 at 11:55am

I have both the hd700 and hd800. Which one I listen to depends on the music: hd700 for rock/pop, and the hd800 for jazz and classical. The 700's pair very well with the Lyr, it tames their fearsome treble quite nicely, and is great for rocking-out. The 800's need a very good amp, like a Zana Deux, to sound their best. Even with that, they can sound dry and analytical when playing rock/pop.

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post #15 of 17
1/23/13 at 3:33pm

The HD800 is finicky with amping, you can't just drop the most expensive out there with the HD800 and expect it to sound good, you need to audition and listen to gear combinations that you may find liking. It is an entirely different beast compared to the HD700, that being said the HD700 are much easier to amp both power and synergy wise than the HD800's.

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