[62ohm]

Hi guys, I'm looking to upgrade my amp and I would like to try the tube route, so which one would be best to power HD800 with their stock tubes? Thanks

 

[magiccabbage]

  Hi guys, I'm looking to upgrade my amp and I would like to try the tube route, so which one would be best to power HD800 with their stock tubes? Thanks

It depends on the price. The DNA stratus is supposed to be amazing with HD800. The WA5 also would be great but you might have to roll tubes. The same with WA2 and WA6-SE - you will need to roll. Maybe the new ALO studio six but i think for stock the DNA stratus would be the best. Oh the Cary Audio sli80 should be excellent also. ¬
 
DNA Stratus 
Cary Audio Sli80
WA5
ALO Studio 6
WA2
WA6-se
 
There are probably a good few more - How much Cabbage have you got to spend??

 

[palmfish]

You should add the Bottlehead Crack and the Decware CSP3. Both are highly regarded matches for the HD 800.

 

[skeptic]

seconded as to the bottlehead crack recommendation. it's the budget tube amp to beat for hd800s.

It caused me to sell my woo 3, which is not detailed enough to do hd800s justice, imo.

 

[62ohm]

  It depends on the price. The DNA stratus is supposed to be amazing with HD800. The WA5 also would be great but you might have to roll tubes. The same with WA2 and WA6-SE - you will need to roll. Maybe the new ALO studio six but i think for stock the DNA stratus would be the best. Oh the Cary Audio sli80 should be excellent also. ¬
 
DNA Stratus 
Cary Audio Sli80
WA5
ALO Studio 6
WA2
WA6-se
 
There are probably a good few more - How much Cabbage have you got to spend??

 
Those amps are much too expensive mate, much more than the five mentioned amps price range
 

You should add the Bottlehead Crack and the Decware CSP3. Both are highly regarded matches for the HD 800.

seconded as to the bottlehead crack recommendation. it's the budget tube amp to beat for hd800s.

It caused me to sell my woo 3, which is not detailed enough to do hd800s justice, imo.

 
I think I'm too lazy to do DIY lol

 

[magiccabbage]

   
Those amps are much too expensive mate, much more than the five mentioned amps price range
 
 
I think I'm too lazy to do DIY lol

then the bottlehead or CSP3 as palmfish  mentioned. Maybe the Darkvoice. 
 
you can buy an already made bottlehead

 

[62ohm]

CSP3 is too expensive mate, any comment about the 5 amps I mentioned? or are they all no good for HD800?

 

[62ohm]

Or what about the Graham Slee Solo Ultralinear? I read somewhere that Graham Slee uses Sennheiser (not sure which model) to test their amps, is that true?

 

[magiccabbage]

  CSP3 is too expensive mate, any comment about the 5 amps I mentioned? or are they all no good for HD800?

Where did you mention 5 amps. Which amps? The bottle head might be your best bet. 

 

[62ohm]

  Where did you mention 5 amps. Which amps? The bottle head might be your best bet. 

 
On the polling above mate. The bottlehead crack does seem to get a lot of recommendation, but not only that I'm too lazy to do DIY, its also too big as I would like a smaller form factor amp for ease of transport.

 

[magiccabbage]

   
On the polling above mate. The bottlehead crack does seem to get a lot of recommendation, but not only that I'm too lazy to do DIY, its also too big as I would like a smaller form factor amp for ease of transport.

my god, sorry. How did i not see that. 
 
The WA6 would be good but you would have to roll tubes. Which would probably make it too expensive. Then maybe the Lyr............ after that I don't really know. Is saving and waiting a bit longer an option? I was in the same boat about a year and a half ago - I was gonna go for a WA3 but i ended up saving some more and getting the WA2 and then tube upgrades. 

 

[62ohm]

  my god, sorry. How did i not see that. 
 
The WA6 would be good but you would have to roll tubes. Which would probably make it too expensive. Then maybe the Lyr............ after that I don't really know. Is saving and waiting a bit longer an option? I was in the same boat about a year and a half ago - I was gonna go for a WA3 but i ended up saving some more and getting the WA2 and then tube upgrades. 

 
Well, that would be difficult.. I auditioned the HD800 with WA7 before getting it, and it sounded great. With the Magni though, let's just say it's 'not much improvement over Q701' therefore I would like to upgrade ASAP

 

[shipsupt]

Eddie Current Super 7

 

[GrindingThud]

Hold out for a newer used WA3 on eBay, the ones with the choke, they come up often enough and end up selling for right around $400. If you don't like the sound, you can either resell and get your $ back or mod it. It's a great amp for high impedance phones and sounds ok with whatever tubes happen to be in it....but rolling can get you to a very nice end state.
Lyr would be my next stop...6moons liked it with HD800. Again, this amp can be sold quickly if you don't like it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/schiit/12.html

 

[62ohm]

Hold out for a newer used WA3 on eBay, the ones with the choke, they come up often enough and end up selling for right around $400. If you don't like the sound, you can either resell and get your $ back or mod it. It's a great amp for high impedance phones and sounds ok with whatever tubes happen to be in it....but rolling can get you to a very nice end state.
Lyr would be my next stop...6moons liked it with HD800. Again, this amp can be sold quickly if you don't like it.
http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/schiit/12.html

 
What do you think of the Graham Slee Solo SRG-II? I've just heard it paired with HD800 today and quite like the synergy, have never heard the WA3 / Lyr pairing though.