The brightness makes it difficult to enjoy this headphone. We compared it to the HD800S and a modified HD800 with the resonator mod and the Sennheisers sound a lot more natural and easier on the ears.

  Hi jh4db536,   Thank you for the brief comparison with Beta 22. I think it is a bit of shame that the Beta 22 does not get much discussions anymore because it has a very nice sound signature, that tube wetness especially in the midrange combined with solid-state precision and slam. Also it...

  Hi Luke,    I think I can generally agree with you there. I remember testing the Schiit Mjolnir and it has the same "over dynamics" problem you describe there, it got fatiguing real fast with music with lots of saxophone.    Perhaps this kind of signature is aimed at a younger crowd. I am...

Hi Luke,    Sorry, I have not heard the M3 before so I cannot comment too much about it.    However a colleague own the HeadAmp GS-X MK2 which if I am not wrong has the same operating principles as the Dynalo.    I would say that the GS-X MK2 has a rather bright and cold sound signature...

Hi all,    Let me first say that I am a big fan of Beta22 and it is a bit sad to see that it is under-appreciated. I feel that Beta22 has a sound that offers tube liquidity like the best Krell amps which is very refreshing since most modern amps that I had tried sounded cold and mechanical...

Hi people,    Source is my reference benchmark Accuphase DC-901. I use HD800 in balanced configuration using Sennheiser XLR cable. The HD800 is also modded with anax mod.   I think not all solid-state amps I tried make the HD800 sound bright and sterile. For example tried Luxman P-1u and...

Hi,    GS-X 2 and HD800 together make a thin and bright sound. Too sterile, doesn't sound like music at all.    Regards, Jeremiah 

Hello people,  I hope my question is posted in the correct topic.  I have been doing some silent reading in this forum and this topic of vintage DACs with ladder chips are interesting me. Is anyone familiar with the Parasound 1100HD? I think I have a chance to buy one but the problem is it...

Dear magiccabage, I agree with your judgement. GS-X 2 also sounds sterile and bright to me, very artificial sound with the HD800 (unmodded). So far with solid state amp only the DIY Beta 22 fully differential and the new Japanese Luxman P-700u sound good with the HD800 based on my experience...

  Hi icebear,   I'm glad to see another old timer. I'm new to headphones but the demography is certainly a lot younger than the usual speaker folks! I feel a bit left out.   Cheers, Jeremiah     Hi Currawong,   I'm sorry, "old-school" is perhaps the wrong word. I'm thinking of...

  Hi Mr. Sneis,   I can concur with that. Getting the right solid-state amp to sing with HD800 is really tricky and based on what I've tried so far, only the DIY-only AMB Beta 22 is up to the task. It has a warmer, slightly sweeter tone compared to the GS-X which helps a lot I feel.   I've...

  Hi icebear,   My source is an Esoteric P-05/D-05 stack. I still spin CDs unlike you young ones!   Cheers, Jeremiah

Hi guys,   I haven't been here for some times but admittedly I haven't made a decision yet. Although the more I listen to the various high-end solid-state amps such as the Taurus and GS-X, the more I'm tempted to risk commissioning a Beta 22 because of its unique and positively old-school...

  Hi Sherwood,   As much as I like the Beta 22, I probably won't go into that route because of my concerns dealing with after-sales service and things like that.   I also apologize if my tastes are rather esoteric. I am relatively new to headphones so my benchmark is a little different to...

Hi,   Has anyone here heard the Krell KSA-5 with the HD800?   Long story short, I'm looking for a SS amp to pair with this headphone but I'm stumped. I have tried both the AURALiC Taurus MK2 and HeadAmp GS-X MK2 and they did not really do it for me. The AMB Beta 22 is quite better than those...