In. Just plugged the HD 800s into the DNA Sonett and opened a beer for the Sunday evening wind down.

In. Just plugged the HD 800s into the DNA Sonett and opened a beer for the Sunday evening wind down.

I received my new HD 800s just last Friday and spent much of the weekend listening to them along with the LCD-3's on my Lyr/Bifrost setup. I'm looking forward to checking them out on the HP outputs of the incoming Invicta on Thursday, and then it's the waiting game for the Stratus, which is when I think I'll see their true colors.


I feel the same about Stax. I been eyeing the 009 with a BHSE but at the cost and the wait for the BHSE unless I'm lucky and find one in the FS (oddly enough I have seen 2 in the FS lately) the cost is a bit much. The cost of everything I own doesn't go up to the cost of either the amp or the headphones and imo I have two great setups in the HE6 and HD800. It's not the best in terms of components but sounds pretty close to the top imo of course.
In that sense the HD800 is a bargain if you can find the right components for it and luckily for me I have with minimal expenses as I got the dac right on the first shot and the amp on the second shot although my first HD800 amp was no slouch.
Used HD800 in mint condition incl S&H: 1000 USD
Modding materials: 15 USD
Used ZDSE in mint condition incl S&H: 1950 USD
Used M51 in mint condition incl S&H: 1400 USD
NOS ECC35: 250 USD
Copper cable: 350 USD
TotaL. 3965 USD
Experience: Priceless
A very competent headphone rig isn't automatically spelled S - T - A - X.
And by the way... Cheer up, no need to frown. :)
Nice to see this thread back up and running again and big kudos to Valentin for taking the time to provide all of the links at the start.
That's a good point. 10 yrs ago you had to search out R10s or other super-high-priced rare pieces.
The top production phones (as per Headroom and Tyll) were Senn 650s and AKG 701s (remember when the 701s were considered a breakthrough product).
Now, for me at least, HD800s, LCD3s, TH900s, Stax 009s, Hifimen and others (even Grado GS1000i's, a personal choice) are an embarrassment of riches and we should all be grateful.
Been enjoying my HD800 with the WA22 (upgraded tubes) immensely. Strangely enough, ever since I got the HD800, I've haven't had the urge to listen to my LCD-3.

That's a good point. 10 yrs ago you had to search out R10s or other super-high-priced rare pieces.
The top production phones (as per Headroom and Tyll) were Senn 650s and AKG 701s (remember when the 701s were considered a breakthrough product).
Now, for me at least, HD800s, LCD3s, TH900s, Stax 009s, Hifimen and others (even Grado GS1000i's, a personal choice) are an embarrassment of riches and we should all be grateful.
I think we're spoiled with all these great headphones that the differences sometimes are over-emphasized.
We are taking part of the renaissance of headphones, and for my part. It all good.
Okay, sure. We're paying some huge sums for something that shouldn't be as expensive as they are. But that where newcomers like Audez'e, HiFiMAN and to some extent Fostex rattle things up a bit. I hope that more alternatives, especially in the electrostatic domain appear. I urge everyone to sign the petition for a re-issue of the HE Audio Jade:
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634495/petition-bring-back-the-he-audio-jades
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Just sat down in the listening chair. An ice cold decaf latte, the Senn's and some tube glow. February in Sweden is fantastic.
For those of you with multiple headphones. If you had to narrow it down to one. Would it be the HD800s? 
In an HD800 thread... um yes :p
I reserve the right to come to my senses but so far my experience is the HD800 scale really well but are also unforgiving to the point of being flat on lesser gear. This is my third go around with the HD800 and the first two weren't remotely worth considering over the LCD-2.
This time around it's walking all over even the LCD-3.