Balanced AMP for Sennheiser HD800s

[Sheep1234]

I'm looking for an AMP with balanced inputs and outputs for my Sennheiser HD800s. My DAC is the cambridge audio azur 851D. It must be available in Germany and cost below 500€, tube would go too.

I find the 800s a bit too bright, if the amp could help with that it would be nice.

 

[buke9]

I don't think your going to find too many balanced tube amps at that price range. Are you talking about the HD-800 or HD-800S ? If you think the headphones are too bright you might think about selling those and finding something more to your liking rather than buying a amp that my or not help you out with the highs. Almost all of my amps are fairly warm and and do well with the 800's (don't have the 800S) only one is balanced and that is a Cavalli Liquid Carbon that you would have to find used other than the Liquid Carbon X on Massdrop but have not heard it so can't say if it is close to the original or later Carbon as I have not heard it either.

 

[Sheep1234]

I have the 800S. There wasn't really an alternative other than the LCD-4 which was too expensive for me.
What do you think about the Little Dot MKIII SE?

 

[buke9]

Sorry have not heard it so can't say . Many here like it along with the Darkvoice 336se but not sure with the 800S's though. I have the 800's and really like them from a Bottlehead Crack and also from a Chord Mojo. My other amp is better but it would triple your budget so I left that one out. I've only heard the S's once but thought they were more polite on the highs than the 800's so your going to need something pretty warm if they effect you that much.

 

[geomaso44]

What about Audio-GD NFB-1AMP? It is known to have a rather polite presentation that could work well with HD800.

Of course the best way for the Senns would be tubes, at least that is the general consensus. Rather focus on getting a solid tube amplifier (e.g. Project Horizon from Garage 1217) than nitpicking between SE/balanced. Its not like 'balanced' equals 'better' or something like that.