[Lucaswonder]

Maybe should buy both and do AB test for yourself

 

[Lucaswonder]

Where can you get LD MK3 for $189? Maybe should buy both and test them out

 

[PTom]

Says $189 on their website:
 
http://www.littledot.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=815&sid=206c698a709a08728fea4acca6b86778
 
Shipping for either is going to work out similar for me.

 

[Nic Rhodes]

I have a speedball crack and 4se which I roll / DIY 'exotics' in. The BHC is by far the finer amp. The LD has other rolling attributes, not the BHC forte which is sound quality.

 

[Doc B.]

I'm happy to sell you guys whatever you want, but I do wonder why someone would buy $1500 headphones and run them with a $200-300 amp. I would pair HD600s or 650s with Crack, but get a Mainline for HD800s. Horses for courses.

 

[bigfatpaulie]

All I can say is the Crack + Speedball really does work well with the HD800's...  

 

[PTom]

Don't get me wrong, I know the BHC is the best in its price range but in my opinion there are still some drawbacks like having to build it (yeah yeah I know a one armed blind man could do it but still there's a question of time, motivation and patience). Getting an assembled OTL with a warranty might be better option for some. Plus outside US there's questions of shipping costs and custom taxes (same for chinese amps I know).
 
However, I'm surprised that the LDs are not as good as the BHC. I was reading that OTL amps that use 6080 tubes are based on a very old established design (Futterman) and since it's a DIY amp, I assumed it shouldn't be that hard for chinese companies to make something similar at a reasonable price.

 

[Zashoomin]

 

I can vouch that the HD800s will run well on the Crack + Speedball but it will run a lot better on a higher end system.  Some of the systems (i am not saying you have to spend your life savings) will really make the HD800s sing.  

 

[Loquah]

Agree. Crack is great because it can run HD6x0 / Beyer DTs and even flagships like HD800 and T1 very well, but if you really want to hear your flagship's worth you need to spend a little more on something like the Mainline (or other excellent non-BH amps - i.e. not being biased, just speaking from my personal experiences)

 

[palmfish]

Agree. Crack is great because it can run HD6x0 / Beyer DTs and even flagships like HD800 and T1 very well, but if you really want to hear your flagship's worth you need to spend a little more on something like the Mainline (or other excellent non-BH amps - i.e. not being biased, just speaking from my personal experiences)

I should point out that I prefer the Crack over the Mainline with my HD 800's. To me, the Mainline sounded more "solid state" although technically, Im sure its the superior performing amplifier.

 

[Loquah]

I should point out that I prefer the Crack over the Mainline with my HD 800's. To me, the Mainline sounded more "solid state" although technically, Im sure its the superior performing amplifier.

 
Wow. I agree that the Crack is good, but no combination of tubes (w Speedball) can get it to have the same level of detail and weight / presence as the Mainline. They're in different leagues to my ears (using the T1s)
 
What is it you prefer about the Crack with the HD800s?

 

[MIKELAP]

  I'm happy to sell you guys whatever you want, but I do wonder why someone would buy $1500 headphones and run them with a $200-300 amp. I would pair HD600s or 650s with Crack, but get a Mainline for HD800s. Horses for courses.

Usually i use the Senns with my Burson Conductor but i soon discovered that the Littledot MK3 for a $200.00 amp is not bad at all .

 

[palmfish]

Wow. I agree that the Crack is good, but no combination of tubes (w Speedball) can get it to have the same level of detail and weight / presence as the Mainline. They're in different leagues to my ears (using the T1s)

What is it you prefer about the Crack with the HD800s?

I prefer the Cracks warmth, weight, and smoothness. It suits the HD 800 well with a lot of my music. When I want detail, I use my Asus Essence One.

 

[Loquah]

I prefer the Cracks warmth, weight, and smoothness. It suits the HD 800 well with a lot of my music. When I want detail, I use my Asus Essence One.

 
That's interesting, I find the treble on the Crack slightly edgy compared to the Mainline (and even with my best, smoothest tubes) and I find the weight more realistic on the Mainline, but I would agree that the Crack is warmer overall. I wonder if source has something to do with it. I'm using a Matrix X-Sabre DAC. What are you using?

 

[palmfish]

I have 2 sources feeding the Crack via an Asus Essence One Muses Ed. DAC - a Logitech Squeezebox Touch via coax and a Pioneer SACD player via optical.