[koiloco]

   
A Corvette is like a Chevy Malibu with more HP, and better handling and brakes.

 

  stop it...

 

[koiloco]

  Hey guys
 
Ive been waiting for my tax return and it has finally arrived. I been looking at classified section but the price is really high in the $1300 range but you do get a different set of cords with that price. So my question is it worth it to buy a used set older then 2 years out of warranty but get a higher end cord with it for the price?
For new all I see is $1500 range, so it leaves me with a opportunity for the ColorWare version where I can select my color for a $100 more then regular retail price. 
I will be using the HD800 with a Asus Xonar STX, Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro, and a TEAC UD-H01.
 
Anyone would like to add there 2 cents would be great...
 
Thanks

Buy a used pair for $1000 (probably 2 years old or less).  Spend the $500 on amp if you don't have one already.  If not, $500 can buy a lot of good music.

 

[ag8908]

   
A Corvette is like a Chevy Malibu with more HP, and better handling and brakes.

 
Since they're both high-end and considering their countries of origin wouldn't SRH940 to HD800 be more like Lincoln Town Car vs. the really high end Mercedes S-Class?
 
But seriously, if your compare the innerfidelity charts, you'll see that the SRH940 chart literally traces the HD800 chart. The 30hz, 300hz square wave charts match near perfectly, the SRH940 has much more distortion obviously, and the frequency graphs are also very close (with the SRH940 having bass roll off).
 
I half seriously wonder if when Shure made the SRH940, they were trying to clone the HD800. Like they used their technology to basically copy its sound signature as well as they could for $300. But the HD800 is clearly better, and is a good upgrade for SRH940 fans because you're basically getting a higher quality version of the same sound signature. Everything sounds slightly more natural with the HD800, whereas it sounded slightly synthetic with the SRH940 is the best way I can explain it.
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/headphone-data-sheet-downloads (print out the charts and put one over the other, eerily close)

 

[ALRAINBOW]

As I do not know the headphone that shure has made . I can say charts and freq response curves are pretty useless. Why well for starters. We all hear different. Next putting headphones on a dummy with mics in it does not really tell you how it will sound on you. Case in point LCD,s headphones all three models 2 , 3 and the new ldcX all show the same freq curve so how come they sound different. The answer is the freq curve does not really mean what you think it does.

Al

 

[ag8908]

So far these are killing every genre of music I throw at them. From high pitched female vocals, to country, to hip hop. Engineering masterpiece.

 

[TwoEars]

The wow comes later after you've listened to the HD800s for a while then go back to your other cans, then you wow at how much of a step down they are

Yupp.

 

[Sonido]

For me, I'm most impressed by the headphone's plasticity and malleability. Depending on your amp, you can really affect how the HD800 sounds. Have not experienced another headphone that changes the signature so much from amping. The HD800 just does a good job outputing the signature of your amp. While others have multiple headphones for various genres, I have multiple amps for the HD800. I just ordered the Questyle CMA800R, and it should contrast and complement well with my Bottlehead setup.

 

[froger]

So far these are killing every genre of music I throw at them. From high pitched female vocals, to country, to hip hop. Engineering masterpiece.

I have never used any of my headphones with my handphone before, but your post made me do it the first time just to hear how HD800 sounds from a Samsung note 2. I was actually surprised by the clarity of the sound, and music was in some ways, quite enjoyable, like listening to a ultra clear radio. But like music from radio, sadly, it is just a wall of sound, 2-dimensional and thin. You have missed out on some of the biggest strengths of HD800 like its immersing soundstage and pin-point accurate imaging. Good news is, the sound will improve from here when you start improving on your gears. Have fun, though getting the right sound on HD800 can be both a frustrating and fulfilling journey

 

[LugBug1]

  Hey guys
 
Ive been waiting for my tax return and it has finally arrived. I been looking at classified section but the price is really high in the $1300 range but you do get a different set of cords with that price. So my question is it worth it to buy a used set older then 2 years out of warranty but get a higher end cord with it for the price?
For new all I see is $1500 range, so it leaves me with a opportunity for the ColorWare version where I can select my color for a $100 more then regular retail price. 
I will be using the HD800 with a Asus Xonar STX, Matrix Audio Mini-i Pro, and a TEAC UD-H01.
 
Anyone would like to add there 2 cents would be great...
 
Thanks

It may seem like madness to advise against buying a brand new HD800 that includes the warranty. But in all seriousness - you won't need it.
 
Buy the best second hand price for good shape and then pile all of your other money into an amp. Forget about the cable for now. An amp will make or break them, where as an aftermarket cable will give you up to 3% change if you can persuade yourself enough. 
 
I'm pretty sure that your Matrix mini will be up to task for now.   

 

[Sorrodje]

 
Amp + DAC  Testing time 

 
 
REGA Dac + Antique Sound Labs MG Head vs AudioGD NFB12.1 + Schiit VALI. 

 

[PCWar]

sub

 

[LugBug1]

 
 
Amp + DAC  Testing time 

 
 
REGA Dac + Antique Sound Labs MG Head vs AudioGD NFB12.1 + Schiit VALI. 

Lookin good bro! 
 
How you finding the Vali? 

 

[magiccabbage]

If you don't want to spend much, get a Schiit Vali ($119) or Matrix M-Stage HPA-2 w/USB DAC ($320). I can't comment on the Vali, but the M-Stage will get the HD800s playing to nearly their potential.

Really that's incredible. How close to their potential? For example if you went from an M-stage to a DNA Stratus i wonder what the improvement would sound like? 

 

[TwoEars]

  Really that's incredible. How close to their potential? For example if you went from an M-stage to a DNA Stratus i wonder what the improvement would sound like? 

 
I think the HD800's is one of the few headphones where it's more important to have a really good DAC than to have a really good AMP.
 
It's definitely crap-in-crap-out with the HD800's.
 
But they are actually not that demanding in terms of amplifier power, a simple-ish amplifier should suffice provided that the synergy is good.
 
At least that's been my experience.
 
I've tried the HD800 with high-end computer sound cards and while it's definitely not "end-of-the-road-stuff" it'll do in a pinch.

 

[icebear]

The wow comes later after you've listened to the HD800s for a while then go back to your other cans, then you wow at how much of a step down they are

+1  THIS happened to me 2 days ago.
But not going back to other cans but to my main system [SF Cremona & ASR Emitter 1] and I had to realize how much more controlled the sound of the HD800 is than speaker system with the room dominating the sound perception. There is no way that you can listen at equivalent levels with your speakers and expect the same accuracy and clarity. The acoustic bass on one recording made the hardwood floor resonate. I had noticed that before of course but what I did not realize was how much it actually damages the sound reproduction. Call it negative revelation ...

.