I agree. There is no doubt that amp can make a significant difference in sound, but some people make it sound like you have to spend $3000 to make HD800 even tolerable.   It's simply not true.

  $800?!?! I'd get a second one for that price :P   Impact and just plain ooomph? ....we are still talking about sound...right?   BHA does dynamics exceptionally well to my hear. For oomph, well, it definitely gave my HD800 far more of that too.

Interesting...I've found that with with every planar I've tried, you have to turn them up to really make the sound compelling.   ....which in my case, if you're at work, isn't always an option.

Very nice... 

Haha, after I was laying in bed, I thought to myself "It's probably the pre XLR out model vs the current updated.... Right on.

I would be scared to death to even try it.... and I have a huge head and have no issues (almost on max size, minus one click on each side). Not tight at all.

Very astute observation. Possibly James Tanner might clarify?

Very interesting... are you using single ended or balanced interconnects / headphone cable?

Oh worry not! I have such tools, the dust will stay off it! :) I thought of this long before I bought it... especially where it is an open design, want to be able to get dust off the board.

Actually, having thought about it some more, I reflected back to various experiences. The one pet peeve I have is when sound is seemingly coming from slightly behind you, often very much hard left or hard right. I find physically moving moving headphones forward, so your ears are further towards...

Soundstage / imaging varies so wildly from recording to recording. Granted yes with HD800, the space is larger than most, I found it mostly recording dependent (especially with things like classical). I think over time you get used to it, too.   You really develop a preference for certain...

 Acrylic, and really glad I did. The thing is captivating to look at, and is somehow very satisfying to my OCD. Everything is so nicely spaced and laid out; wouldn't be able to see that with the metal casing!   I did switch to a white LED from blue, and dimmed it a bit, perfect.

I just received my Polaris today, have 2 - 3 hours on it so far. It does a really good job with my HD800 especially considering how inexpensive it is; deeply impressive. Seeing as this is a work amp, it almost makes me want to get a second HD800 for work! I have some AKG K7xx on the way...

It is of course very interesting that many people end up 1) buying HD800 again after their sell their initial pair and 2) many hear no difference in the vast serial number range. If that's true why do they come back? There must be a part of the HD800 spell that doesn't wear off so easily. Having...

No rush at all! Take your time....and I agree, it would be a great track to compare gear I'm thinking, just because there's never too much going on, you'd have very clear sonic signposts. I will try it eventually.