[kazsud]

Quote:

I prefer "bad" mastering from the previous century above "modern" bad masterings. I'd rather have a song that just sounds odd and has a weird veil to it than a song with a dynamic range of 5 that clips 24/7 and has horrible imaging.

^^^^^^^^^^^^

 

[froger]

Has anyone heard the HD800 on BOTH GS-X and DNA stratus and can compare the two since the two amps seem to be producing the best sound on HD800 based on what I have read so far? I have tried HD800 on my Audio-gd master 8 amp and while it sounded pretty nice with its neutrality, transparency and soundstage, I felt it lacked the body which I enjoy so much with LCD-2 on Master 8 and HE-6 on my Mini-torii amp. I wonder if GS-X or Stratus will be able to change my impression of HD800?

 

[OrbitingCow]

I'm having trouble deciding if I should invest in these and I also wonder when the next iteration will be out. It may be sooner than later who knows. There is almost too much talk of this peak that is scaring me off. And the comments about weak bass but sometimes that can be source related.
 

 

[hekeli]

Quote:

There is almost too much talk of this peak that is scaring me off. And the comments about weak bass but sometimes that can be source related.
 

 
Bunch'o'crapola. I hold off trying HD800 for a long time for all those stupid assumptions people keep alive and for what? Well atleast I tried most high-end cans before it and know now they suit me the best (so far).

Try them and judge yourself.

 

[Solude]

If I was in the 2A3 market I'd go with the Eddie Current one.  That said, have you considered a source swap to warm up the Master 8?
 
The peak is a lie  Well ish, the peak is there but it's below the bass and midrange in level so is it really a peak?

 

[MelvinV]

Quote:

"modern" bad mastering is much less prevalent than classic bad mastering though. I love me some classic tunes but if Quadrophenia or Physical Graffiti were recorded today... forget it. 
 

 
Are you joking? At first sight, maybe. But I can listen to "bad" mastering of the previous century for hours even though it sounds odd and I can even turn up the volume and enjoy the music.
"Modern" bad mastering just gives me a headache within 15 minutes, all the EQ, crap, crap, compression any other trash they used just sounds horrible on high-end gear.
 
When music is truly natural-sounding you can listen to it for hours.
When music is extremely distorted you can listen to it for hours.
When music is trying to sound natural but actually is really distorted and ******* up ("modern" mastering) your brain will try to fix it causing headaches.
 
Almost all of my music (that I actually listen to) if either SACD (thank you Sony), some "gold" CD stuff which is mastered well or stuff mastered in the previous century.
Which means that almost all of my music is from the previous century...
 
I was also thinking about Jackson recently, and I could say that we're not missing anything when it comes to his new music that was going to be made. It would sound like **** anyway... Unless he started a revolution by saying NO to the BS.
 
Edit: the editor is really crapting the bed in FireFox for some reason...

 

[froger]

If I was in the 2A3 market I'd go with the Eddie Current one.  That said, have you considered a source swap to warm up the Master 8?

The peak is a lie  Well ish, the peak is there but it's below the bass and midrange in level so is it really a peak?

I am currently using audio-gd master 7, which I really enjoy on my lcd-2 and he-6, and suppose to be on the slightly warm and musical side.

 

[preproman]

Quote:

I am currently using audio-gd master 7, which I really enjoy on my lcd-2 and he-6, and suppose to be on the slightly warm and musical side.

 
You mean Master 8 

 

[PinkLed]

"modern" bad mastering is much less prevalent than classic bad mastering though. I love me some classic tunes but if Quadrophenia or Physical Graffiti were recorded today... forget it. 
 

 
Are you joking? At first sight, maybe. But I can listen to "bad" mastering of the previous century for hours even though it sounds odd and I can even turn up the volume and enjoy the music.
"Modern" bad mastering just gives me a headache within 15 minutes, all the EQ, crap, crap, compression any other trash they used just sounds horrible on high-end gear.
 
When music is truly natural-sounding you can listen to it for hours.
When music is extremely distorted you can listen to it for hours.
When music is trying to sound natural but actually is really distorted and ******* up ("modern" mastering) your brain will try to fix it causing headaches.
 
 

We shoudnt turn this into a defend classic recording thread, but lets take a step back and read what I said. Prevalent means "widespread". Of course you could like listening to older tracks, but more newer music is of higher recording caliber than most older music. Of course there is the confounding variable of comparing a musician to an icon. By numbers it wont work because twice the amount of people exist now than did 50 years ago. So just looking at top notch stuff the progression of audio has made advancements as has most technology at the spark of the industrial revolution. Its capitalism at its finest. Youve really generalized new music with that statement. Something my dad said people use to say is "Robert Plant can sing over 4 marshal stacks, no mic". There is no argument here guys. Quality is quality, preference is preference. Honestly, I would love to hear Roger Daltrey a lot clearer on many Who tracks.

 

[PinkLed]

Final comment - there is nothing weak about the hd800's bass...unless you are driving them with an inadequate or mismatched amp.  

Hd800's out of the box are not as warm as the LCD 2 r2 but had a nice tight, punchy bass, and more detail. great for classical or slap bass. And they excel so well at everything else. Did yours deepen over time?

 

[Solude]

I've had four amps with the HD800 and only 2 could dig some good solid bass out of it.  The Soloist and GS-X mk2.  The B22 and Peak didn't really do it for me.

 

[froger]

Quote:

 
You mean Master 8 

Nope, Solude was suggesting on the source. I am currently using Master 7 dac as the source and Master 8 as the amp Audio-gd naming does need some improvements it seems, ha...

 

[JWahl]

Quote:

I'm having trouble deciding if I should invest in these and I also wonder when the next iteration will be out. It may be sooner than later who knows. There is almost too much talk of this peak that is scaring me off. And the comments about weak bass but sometimes that can be source related.
 

 
Quote:

 
Bunch'o'crapola. I hold off trying HD800 for a long time for all those stupid assumptions people keep alive and for what? Well atleast I tried most high-end cans before it and know now they suit me the best (so far).

Try them and judge yourself.

 
Very true.  I went through 3 other $1000+ flagships first because of unreasonable predjudices against the HD800.  That all changed after actually owning a pair.  Though I just had a moment of temporary insanity where I almost sold mine because I needed some extra cash. 

  But now, I'm just my temporarily downgrading my DAC instead, so HD800 goodness goes on, albiet a little rougher around the edges. 

  And yes, after trying some of the others it does give you perspective and a better appreciation of the HD800's capabilities.

 

[varyV]

Quote:

 
 
Very true.  I went through 3 other $1000+ flagships first because of unreasonable predjudices against the HD800.  That all changed after actually owning a pair.  Though I just had a moment of temporary insanity where I almost sold mine because I needed some extra cash. 

  But now, I'm just my temporarily downgrading my DAC instead, so HD800 goodness goes on, albiet a little rougher around the edges. 

  And yes, after trying some of the others it does give you perspective and a better appreciation of the HD800's capabilities.

 
I concur...I just received my pair today and they don't sound much like what they are usually described to be like. These are energetic, yes, but not as feathery as they are known to be. The bass is not light. It is there and it is deep. A little lighter than my LCD-3s, but it is still complex and very present (I'm using a Yulong D18 and a Little Dot VI+ with stock tubes). The highs are present, but not shrill. The sound is really refined and feels like it's being delivered by a juggernaut with a gentle touch, in that it never goes overboard with what should be presented. I was a little scared about getting these, what with the comparisons to "high strung F1 cars" and what not, but these slipped in perfectly into my system. Color me impressed!
Quote:

I've had four amps with the HD800 and only 2 could dig some good solid bass out of it.  The Soloist and GS-X mk2.  The B22 and Peak didn't really do it for me.

 
I used to own the Soloist and it could get good, deep bass out of every headphone I used to own. My only problem with the amp was with the LCD-3s...while I could get a nice sound out of it, the combo sounded sleepy. So, for a replacement, I picked up the Little Dot VI+. The amp, even with stock tubes, drives the HD800 to deafening levels on regular gain and the bass is comparable to my LCD3s. Not as present in terms of quantity, but it's still there. I still miss the neat little package of the Soloist, though. Does the Soloist have enough headroom for the HD800, seeing as how the amp wasn't designed for higher impedance phones. Could you compare the Soloist+HD800 combo to say, the Mjolnir+HD800 combo, perhaps?

 

[preproman]

Quote:

Nope, Solude was suggesting on the source. I am currently using Master 7 dac as the source and Master 8 as the amp Audio-gd naming does need some improvements it seems, ha...

 

  My bad..