[CWillCalho]

What's your opinion of the Cambridge Audio Cambridge DacMagic Plus?

 

[Revolution1]

How about the HA-1?

From inexpensive, well compatible Marantz HD-DAC1.

 

[CWillCalho]

Thank you for that recommendation. That fits in more with my budget. Another question; I notice that the 800S comes with a balanced 4.4 mm plug. Will that work in my Oppo HA2?

 

[eponies54]

Has anyone tried the Soekris DAC family with the 800's?

 

[Caguioa]

Thoughts JDL Atom + ol dac?

 

[Deftone]

Thoughts JDL Atom + ol dac?

Atom has plenty of power but depends if you will like the synergy

 

[Sonic Defender]

Thank you for that recommendation. That fits in more with my budget. Another question; I notice that the 800S comes with a balanced 4.4 mm plug. Will that work in my Oppo HA2?

No it will not. Newer portable amps support the 4.4mm standard, and you can get adapters that would take the 4.4mm terminated HD800S cable and the adapter itself terminates into a 2.5mm TRRS to be used with what is still the most typical balanced input option for portable gear. The new FiiO amp modules feature a 4.4mm input, but depending on how loud you like playback, might be a little short on power for the HD800S. I am using one such module with the HD700 on my Q5 and on low gain I have to turn the amp almost full volume to reach my preferred playback volume so given that the HD800S is a little tougher to drive not sure even with high gain what the results would be.

 

[CRITICALSHOT]

The Sennheiser HDV 820 is the best amp I have used for the HD800S. I have not tried many amps but the HDV 820 was even better than my Hugo TT2. I sold my HD800S so I have the amp up for sale at Audiogon.

 

[maii]

I run HD800S with SP1000+SP1000AMP at high gain balanced use 4.4 female to 2.5 trrs male adapter. With 10 Vrms this combo drives HD800S beautifully. I only turn volume up to 90 is already my listening level satisfactory at 105 is consider very loud since maximum volume is 150 this is plenty of headroom. IMHB this combo SP1000+SP1000amp is the best portable gear for HD800S

 

[-HaVoC-Tzu-]

I have the following Amps/DACs
WA7
WA7tp
Chord Mojo
Chord Hugo2
HDV 820
SMSL SU-8 v2
THX AAA 789

My favorite combination for the HD 800 series is still the DAC from the Chord Hugo 2 (Qutest has the same DAC) and the amp from the HDV 820.
Let me know if you have questions about the others on the list.
A close runner up is the SMSL SU-8 and THX AAA 789.

 

[silversurfer616]

Just bought another pair of HD800S( had already 4 of them of which 2 were without S/ sold them all over time as there was always something new and more shiny/hyped)and ordered a HDV820 to go with it.
Had them with WA22, Taurus, Audio GD Phoenix, Violectric etc but never was quite happy, so this will be a combination as intended by A.Grell and I am sure it will be awesome.
Interesting to see if the internal dac has better synergy than my Pavane...must have.

 

[Arniesb]

The Sennheiser HDV 820 is the best amp I have used for the HD800S. I have not tried many amps but the HDV 820 was even better than my Hugo TT2. I sold my HD800S so I have the amp up for sale at Audiogon.

high impedance of amp is must for High OHM headphones like HD800S, hd650 and Beyers.
If its not the case then bass will lack no matter how good amp is.

 

[iDesign]

Just bought another pair of HD800S( had already 4 of them of which 2 were without S/ sold them all over time as there was always something new and more shiny/hyped)and ordered a HDV820 to go with it.
Had them with WA22, Taurus, Audio GD Phoenix, Violectric etc but never was quite happy, so this will be a combination as intended by A.Grell and I am sure it will be awesome.
Interesting to see if the internal dac has better synergy than my Pavane...must have.

I very much liked my HD800S + HDV820 system and the sound was as the designer intended. Sennheiser worked very hard on the tuning and I never felt adding an outboard DAC made sense. I think you’ll find the HD800S + HDV820 is a fine system and that anything more is excess.

 

[maii]

I'm using SP1000 balanced line out to the balanced input at the back of HDVA600. They sound amazing. I'm hesitating if I Should upgrade the HDV820? I think DAC section SP1000 is superior than HDV820. Is the Amp section between them are so different? Where I live we don't have store to demoing HDV820. Anyone who have similar experience please advice.

 

[silversurfer616]

I very much liked my HD800S + HDV820 system and the sound was as the designer intended. Sennheiser worked very hard on the tuning and I never felt adding an outboard DAC made sense. I think you’ll find the HD800S + HDV820 is a fine system and that anything more is excess,

It was actually one of your posts that triggered my interest in the HDV820, also the price was tempting.