Sennheiser HD800 and HDVA 600 Review
Sep 6, 2014 at 1:23 PM Post #16 of 89
I tried the HDVA 600 with my HD800's and wasn't too thrilled with the sound. However, I recently tried it again using the balanced output of my Roksan Caspian M2 and was very impressed. Brings the mids forward and has a more controlled soundstage. I would say go for the balanced option with this amp if you can. Makes all the difference.
 
Oct 25, 2014 at 5:35 PM Post #17 of 89
Just had to register and reply to this post- as you are actually me :)
Recently upgraded to akg 550s which led to purchase of a xcan v8 which led to roksan Caspian m2 CD player - it all sounded so awesome and enjoying music so much I wanted to then upgrade to even better cans- just purchased shure 1540s very nice but listened to hd800s today at local dealer and fell in love- currently researching amp upgrade to gs ulde or hdvd600 more likely as balanced xlr seems the best be-
Anyway read your post and had to chuckle- thought I was the only obsessive upgrader
 
Oct 25, 2014 at 6:47 PM Post #19 of 89
I think that the Hd800 sounds good also on low-medium amps.
 
Before buying the Hdva600 amplifier, i listened the Hd800 through the jack output of an integrated amplifier of 1980 (Nikko Na-1090) and they sounded very good.
 
With Hdva600 they sound much better, but it doesn't mean that with a low quality amplifier they sound bad. Of course they "deserve" a top amplifier, but they won't disappoint you with any amplifier with good power.
 
Oct 26, 2014 at 6:00 PM Post #20 of 89
Just had to register and reply to this post- as you are actually me
smily_headphones1.gif

Recently upgraded to akg 550s which led to purchase of a xcan v8 which led to roksan Caspian m2 CD player - it all sounded so awesome and enjoying music so much I wanted to then upgrade to even better cans- just purchased shure 1540s very nice but listened to hd800s today at local dealer and fell in love- currently researching amp upgrade to gs ulde or hdvd600 more likely as balanced xlr seems the best be-
Anyway read your post and had to chuckle- thought I was the only obsessive upgrader


The HD800's with the HDVA 600 sound fabulous using the Caspian M2 as the source, using the balanced connections makes all the difference. I would say go for it if you can afford it. Sorry for your wallet!
 
Oct 30, 2014 at 5:22 PM Post #21 of 89
Spent a few hours today listening to hdvd800 with hd800s using balanced xlr out on amp-
And have now taken the plunge and ordered both (tho the hdvd600) I hadn't realised my M2 Caspian had balanced output so looking forward to trying this option too- also my local dealer seemed to push the idea of using the balanced digital out into separate dac but I'm not really considering this option right now as the CD player is still new to me and it seems harsh on the thing to be delegating the digital conversion already - and surely I'd have to spend a kings ransom to gain any significant improvement as the Caspian is no slouch- saying that the dealer raved about the Chord Hugo which by all accounts looks and seems an impressive piece of kit for its size and cost. Anyhow thanks for tips
 
Nov 21, 2014 at 12:46 PM Post #22 of 89
Thanks All and especially JDandy for this thread.  I came across this thread not on head-fi but on Google when I was researching these components.
I plan soon to purchase the combination:  HDVA 600 + HD800 + CH 800S.  That's the same front-end that JDandy wrote about on Page 1 of this thread.
 
Just a note to interested persons:  The HDVA 600 + HD800 combination is currently on sale for US$2500, a reduction of US$500, at some big stores in the US.  A special Sennheiser promotion that I plan to take advantage of.  I am NOT a Senn rep :).
 
I just have one question:  is it really true that the HDVA 600 does not include a power cord in the box??
 
Thanks and Cheers -
RCBinTN
 
Nov 21, 2014 at 4:56 PM Post #24 of 89
I have HD800 + hdva600 + ch800s, very satisfied, sounds very clean, great soundstage, amp is very compact, i have difficulties to stop listening this combo (never happened before) and i feel no need of external equalizer (never happened before). No power chord in the box (Italy).
 
Nov 22, 2014 at 3:54 AM Post #25 of 89
Received my Hd800 & Hdva600 combo this week- and no - no power cable, although the dealer posted me one after I queried. That's a great deal for $2500 snap it up. I hunted high and low for discounts and still had to pay £2200. Still worth every penny!! just need xlr & balanced cable to make the most of the setup, trying to find a Cardass supplier UK if anyone has any suggestions? Online there seem to be variations in style So I'm hesitant to buy as am cautious of fakes
 
Nov 22, 2014 at 11:47 AM Post #26 of 89
All -
 
Just FYI - I took Bigsi advice and snapped up that deal.  Can't hardly not snap that one up
beerchug.gif

 
Also ordered some Audioquest interconnects and the Sennheiser balanced HD800 cable CH 800S.  Why not totally empty the wallet - a 1/2 full wallet doesn't make you feel that much better
L3000.gif

 
Impressions of the new gear coming later next week -
 
All the Best,
RCBinTN
 
Dec 5, 2014 at 4:59 PM Post #27 of 89
Received my Hd800 & Hdva600 combo this week- and no - no power cable, although the dealer posted me one after I queried. That's a great deal for $2500 snap it up. I hunted high and low for discounts and still had to pay £2200. Still worth every penny!! just need xlr & balanced cable to make the most of the setup, trying to find a Cardass supplier UK if anyone has any suggestions? Online there seem to be variations in style So I'm hesitant to buy as am cautious of fakes

 
Sennheiser makes a balanced cable for the HD800 - it's called the CH800S.  I bought this cable along with the HDVA600 and HD800.  The whole thing goes together very well.  I paid US$380 for the CH800S that seemed high, but I'll bet most after-market cables will be higher yet.
 
Cheers -
RCB
 
ps.  I forgot to offer impressions of the new rig.  Macbook pro -> toslink -> Schiit uber Bifrost -> HDVA600 -> CH800S -> HD800.  I am well satisfied with this line-up.  Had never heard the HD800 prior.  I am very impressed with the sound.  Amazing clarity of the mids and treble.  The sound stage is very open; overall the sound seems very realistic.  The instruments are clear.  The bass is really fast but not punchy, I doubt this rig would satisfy the bass heads.  But, that's not why I bought the rig.  Will leave the bass punch up to the Audez'e cans.
 
All the Best -
 
Dec 12, 2014 at 2:35 PM Post #28 of 89
I actually intended to purchase an alternative to the stock cable- in an attempt to smooth to treble out a tad-
Had considered the Cardass xlr but also Drew at Moon Audio has specifically recommended the Black Dragon v2 for Hd800- anyone had any experience with these?
 
Dec 12, 2014 at 4:33 PM Post #29 of 89
I actually intended to purchase an alternative to the stock cable- in an attempt to smooth to treble out a tad-
Had considered the Cardass xlr but also Drew at Moon Audio has specifically recommended the Black Dragon v2 for Hd800- anyone had any experience with these?

 
I don't have direct experience, but other head-fi folks claim the HD800 paired with copper after-market cables like the Black Dragon makes a good match.  
 
Dec 13, 2014 at 12:29 AM Post #30 of 89
Gentlemen all.......I have had an enjoyable time this evening reading everyone's comments on the Sennheiser HD800, HDVA600, and CH800S balanced cable.  It has been eleven months since I wrote the original review of this excellent headphone rig and I have to say I am still thrilled to place these cans on my head and press the play button on my source.  I am please to see that everyone who has taken the plunge into this headphone system has arrived at a very similar perspective as the one I posted in my review.  It lets me know I am not totally crazy.....yet!  I know there are all sorts of different tastes for sound and the topic of sound and how something really sounds is highly subjective but I believe almost everyone who enjoys headphone listening would find something positive about this set up.  I still have difficulty taking the HD800 off my head once I start listening.  After almost a year, with over 700 hours on the HD800 and HDVA600, the magic still immerses me and captures my complete attention when the music begins to flow.  I am also happy to report I have had no issues with anything breaking or even showing any signs of wear on the HD800 and the HDVA600 is performing flawlessly.  I can't think of another headphone rig I would rather have than this one.  That pretty much describes my experience and commitment to this headphone rig.  Color me a happy camper.
 

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