[Zoom25]

So far what's the smallest case you guys have come across for HD800? Not looking for military grade Pelican grade material. Just something light and thin that the HD800 goes inside and offers some isolation from putting it inside a backpack with other lightweight stuff. The cheaper the better.

 

[Mach3]

Master 9 is really an excellent amp. Tried it with my HD800 and I was blown away by it the same way I was blown away by Ragnarok.

If you are in the US though, ROK may prove to be cheaper if you consider the shipping, paypal fees, etc for Audio-gd amp.

Kevin Gilmore a well respected amp designer, mentioned how he was confused Kingwa was making money on the M9.
Because he estimated it would cost him over 2k just in parts/components let alone put it all together in a nice looking case.
So I'm not surprised your comment. Would be great for someone who has both to do a head to head comparison between the m9 and the Rog.

For the non DIY, Kevin Gilmore designed the BHSE, the GSX MKII is base off his balance Dynalo design. The balance Dynahi aka Dynamite is a pimped up version with higher power output for high impedance cans.

 

[pearljam50000]

You just made feel alot better about the only amp\dac i can afford, the GeekOut.
Thanks.

Quote:

  Just for kicks, I paired the Dragonfly 1.2 with the HD800s. I'm surprised that this AMP/DAC, despite its diminutive size, can actually power the HD800s (and quite decently, at that). o.O

 
 

 
I also used a dragonfly with hd800 for some time. It's quite good and I think differences between amps/dacs with hd800 are overrated. But I have to admit, unfortunately DF can't be used with BA In Ears because because it has extreme hiss.

 

[ezone2kil]

Kevin Gilmore a well respected amp designer, mentioned how he was confused Kingwa was making money on the M9.
Because he estimated it would cost him over 2k just in parts/components let alone put it all together in a nice looking case.
So I'm not surprised your comment. Would be great for someone who has both to do a head to head comparison between the m9 and the Rog.

For the non DIY, Kevin Gilmore designed the BHSE, the GSX MKII is base off his balance Dynalo design. The balance Dynahi aka Dynamite is a pimped up version with higher power output for high impedance cans.

Funny how a lot of Audio GD reviews have that mentioned; this $xxxx amp is as good as *insert another amp sold for much more $$$*
The review for the Precision 2 that I'm using had this:
 
"Ok, let’s forget that Precision 2 is a speaker amplifier for the moment, and a great speaker amplifier from what I’ve seen until now. So we would have a 1000 $ headphone amplifier. I don’t know any other headphone amplifier at that price to beat it for that matter, if you get my point. Adding the very good speaker amplifier, it makes this product to have one of the best perfomance / price ratio I’ve ever seen in this market."
 
Sometimes I regret jumping straight into this hobby with the HD800 and Precision 2. Quite a few people said that the journey is part of the fun and I simply have no way to compare what I have now to other setups. The only thing clearly better would be a Stax setup I suppose.

 

[bearFNF]

  So far what's the smallest case you guys have come across for HD800? Not looking for military grade Pelican grade material. Just something light and thin that the HD800 goes inside and offers some isolation from putting it inside a backpack with other lightweight stuff. The cheaper the better.

I use this one:
Hippo case large from Jaben.
 

 

 

[roguegeek]

   
I own the Taurus and it is a good amp. Pairs well with the HD800 via balanced output - not so great single ended (I think its a power thing - not sure). Can't drive the HE6 properly, if that is a consideration. Drives anything else I have thrown at it very well.

That's strange. IF mentions that they made the HE6, a can I do have interest in, sing.
 

  However, if your budget could stretch as far as the Simaudio 430HA you will be rewarded. It is a better amp and preamp, as it should be for close to double the price.

A little out of my price range, but thanks for the recommendation.

 

[roguegeek]

   
Do consider the Audio GD Precision 2 too. It has most of what you need except for the IEM part (too much power).
 
Here's a recent review of it:
http://headmania.org/2014/12/01/audio-gd-precision-2-review/
The Headphone output is exceptional and I am certainly more than happy with mine paired with the HD800

Try the Violectric HPA V281.

 
Thanks. Will definitely take a look at the two.

 

[roguegeek]

 
This will help you with Schiit Ragnarok question (oh and it is listed as $1699 on the Schiit site):

I did get to audition it at CanJam and it does sound nice my HD800's.

The Ragnarok Is great in balanced headphone output, however I was not impressed with its single-ended headphone output. I would look for another amp if you only prefer a single-ended headphone output.

 
Good feedback. Jude's comments are also helping push me in that direction right now as well.

 

[roguegeek]

  The King of Solid State Headphone Amps, in my opinion, is the fully balanced Luxman P700u.  Fabulous with the HD800.   
 
A great example of the Japanese just taking things too far: 
 

Looks interesting. Can't seem to find a price, so that's a little off-putting. Any idea?

 

[zilch0md]

  Plus the Master 9 comes with a remote.  If that's of any importance.

 
Plus the Master 9 comes with zero feedback (which the HD800 loves...)
 
Quoting http://www.audio-gd.com/Master/Master-9/Master-9EN.htm

The ACSS is a non-feedback technology made with discrete amplifiers. Most people know the global feedback design can offer better specs in test measurements, and non-feedback can't do well in test measurements but can offer better sound for the human's ears. Here is a conflict of the classic circuits. But the ACSS opens a new field, it can offer a least coloration sound which is more neutral with very low distortion and high linearity. So it can retain the dynamics, detail and neutral sound but not sound bright or harsh.

 

[roguegeek]

Yeah, the more I read, the more I think it's just between the Ragnarok and Taurus MKII. It's strange no one is bringing up the CMA800R. That was an amp that was blowing up in this thread 10 months ago. I suppose the excitement has quelled.

 

[TonyNewman]

  That's strange. IF mentions that they made the HE6, a can I do have interest in, sing.

 
I used to think that about the Taurus also. Then I got the WA5 and heard the HE6 from the K1K output. That changed my HeadFi world.
 
The Taurus will make music from the HE6, but you are getting a poor imitation of what the HE6 is capable of. The sound is flat and the bass weak when compared to what the WA5, or the 430HA, can deliver.
 
I have driven the HE6 from the speaker taps of a 150W power amp - and from that I can only conclude that the WA5 and 430HA both take the HE6 about as far as it can go as far as power requirements are concerned. There might be a slight increase in dynamics and bass response from the power amp, but it is so small as to be negligable - and so tiny I am still not convinced it isn't just happening inside my head.
 
The Taurus doesn't take the HE6 close to the limit of its capabilities. The 430HA and WA5 do. I own all three and am absolutely convinced of this from many hours of listening.

 

[knowhatimean]

  Yeah, the more I read, the more I think it's just between the Ragnarok and Taurus MKII. It's strange no one is bringing up the CMA800R. That was an amp that was blowing up in this thread 10 months ago. I suppose the excitement has quelled.

I'm leaving the Questyle at the top of my list for a couple of reasons.
 
One it was designed specifically around the HD800 (I haven't touched my HE-6s in several weeks , I'm absolutely positive they would simply be way too much work (for myself) to modify them to the point of where I feel I've been able to bring the HD800 to in terms of "Transparency" because I'm not modifying the HD800s"driver". On the HE-6 I would have to mod the "drivers" a bit & the available sub bass doesn't makeup for the HD800 (now superior in"all" dimensions) Orchestral "Soundstage". The HD800 work completely for any music that "I" listen to very well with a "mediocre"headphone amp. I'm pretty sure the HD800 used in 6moons review had the typical stock colorations. So I'm already ahead of the game there in that I'm sure the Questyle had to work harder with those phones.
 
The CMA800r was designed to work well with the HD800  as a "Stereo" headphone amp in a "SE" output mode (although I will be feeding it a Balanced signal from my DAC). I'm really not too concerned about running my HD800 "balanced" as I really haven't needed to run it that way so far. .
 
I'm not looking to "fix" the HD800 characteristics as they've been falling beautifully into place , so much as to see how much "more" I
can hear from them & still sounding very nice with a "so - so" headphone amp ! The amp not working with other headphones is not even a "blip on my radar"; It doesn't have to !
.
YMMV
~ steve

 

[erikfreedom]

I am getting a modwright instruments ls 100 preamp with optional dac for my hd 800. i had the chance to compare it to a fully upgraded woo audio wa5 le and it was a tie. the ls 100 is a tube preamp with a very good headamp. even more powerful than the wa5 le. like the wa5 le it is single ended. with the optional dac your are at 4500 bucks us. in Canada it is gonna hit me hard. modwright are preparing a better dac option for this preamp that gonna cost 3000. a tube dac. and separated. or if you got enough cash you can always get the modwright elyse dac to go with your ls 100. the modwright ls 100 is a 4500 headphone amp disguised as a preamp. I should have mine by the end of march. hopefully. I buy it exclusively for my hd 800. I miss the sound of tubes. it's been 2 years with only ss amps. with hd 800.

 

[roguegeek]

  I'm leaving the Questyle at the top of my list for a couple of reasons.
 
One it was designed specifically around the HD800 (I haven't touched my HE-6s in several weeks , I'm absolutely positive they would simply be way too much work (for myself) to modify them to the point of where I feel I've been able to bring the HD800 to in terms of "Transparency" because I'm not modifying the HD800s"driver". On the HE-6 I would have to mod the "drivers" a bit & the available sub bass doesn't makeup for the HD800 (now superior in"all" dimensions) Orchestral "Soundstage". The HD800 work completely for any music that "I" listen to very well with a "mediocre"headphone amp. I'm pretty sure the HD800 used in their review had the typical stock colorations. So I'm already ahead of the game there in that I'm sure the Questyle had to work harder with those phones.
 
The CMA800r was designed to work well with the HD800  as a "Stereo" headphone amp in a "SE" output mode (although I will be feeding it a Balanced signal from my DAC). I'm really not too concerned about running my HD800 "balanced" as I really haven't needed to run it that way so far. .
 
I'm not looking to "fix" the HD800 characteristics as they've been falling beautifully into place , so much as to see how much "more" I
can hear from them & still sounding very nice with a "so - so" headphone amp ! The amp not working with other headphones is not even a "blip on my radar"; It doesn't have to !
.
YMMV
~ steve

That's all very understandable. For me, it's a must to work extremely well with the HD 800 (something I'm sure the CMA800R does) and also needs to work relatively well with potential future cans. Obviously, I can't guarantee something like that, but I definitely want to stay away from the amps that are so incredibly specific to the HD 800 that they do absolutely nothing for anything else. I'm not sure which category the CMA800R falls into yet, so maybe it's time to go into that amp-specific thread to get some answers.