[James824]

Presently feeding my HD800 and HD800s with the following

McIntosh D100---> Woo WA2

Sounds fantastic, at least to me.

Replacing the D100 with a new Integrated (McIntosh MA8950 w/DA2) as I want to consolidate the number of boxes I have and eliminate interconnects as well.

 

[dadracer2]

How many other tube amps have you heard? To know if the cayin ha 300 or feliks envy is worth there price?

Is this the same version? English specifications if you scroll down.
https://audioconcept.se/produkt/cayin-ha-300/

Quite a few and have owned 3 before the Cayin. I cannot say if the Feliks is worth its money or not as I have yet to hear it. The Cayin is since it is wonderful with the HD800S and also powers my speakers.

BUT... that's just my thoughts and you should choose what you like the best.

 

[dadracer2]

Is cayin-ha-300 that good that it can even compete with other high end Headphone amps? And will work with other HP as well like Susvara or TOTL HP ? If i decide to buy another HP in the future.

Lets say niimbus and the likes SS ones.

Yes it can to my ears...but that's likely different to your ears so I cannot say you will agree.

To my ears the HD800S are TOTL as they do things other headphone do not, but I know that other people like the Susvara and other options too, but this thread is about amps for the HD800S so I will stick with comments that pertain to that headphone.

There was an excellent review where the Cayin was preferred to the Niimbus and also tried different headphone combinations, so maybe that will help you decide...
https://www.head-fi.org/showcase/cayin-ha300.23823/

 

[bluenight]

The power consumption of 185W on Cayin-ha-300 is a bit off putting for me. Maybe the consumption depends on how loud you go on the HP? And is not always 185W when powered on?

 

[dadracer2]

The power consumption of 185W on Cayin-ha-300 is a bit off putting for me. Maybe the consumption depends on how loud you go on the HP? And is not always 185W when powered on?

That’s only 3 light bulbs! I think it draws full power all the time as it’s class A.

 

[bluenight]

McIntosh D100---> Woo WA2

WhatsD100 doing in the chain? Preamp?
WA2 on it own with HD800S you would say sound fantastic?

 

[bluenight]

That’s only 3 light bulbs! I think it draws full power all the time as it’s class A.

So all tube amps usually have high power consumption? Or does it wary?

 

[dadracer2]

So all tube amps usually have high power consumption? Or does it wary?

It's the same with SS amps and it varies on their operational "class" A, AB or D and others. Class A will draw most power and then AB and least will be D if they are all amps of the same output. Some valve amps are class AB and will draw less power but the sound will be different of course.

 

[James824]

WhatsD100 doing in the chain? Preamp?
WA2 on it own with HD800S you would say sound fantastic?

The D100 is a preamp (Digital only)
CD transport and Flac from Mac are feeding it.

The WA2 with the HD800S is fantastic. End game for me on the headphone front.

Will be interesting if the new DAC (DA2) in the MA8950 make much of a difference.

 

[P+D-MI]

The HD800S is fantastic on many amps and end game for me. BTW, the link in your location looks really cool, James824.

 

[bluenight]

The D100 is a preamp (Digital only)
CD transport and Flac from Mac are feeding it.

The WA2 with the HD800S is fantastic. End game for me on the headphone front.

Will be interesting if the new DAC (DA2) in the MA8950 make much of a difference.

I think its my new favourite. Its reasonably priced and have many rca inputs.

How does it handle the treble peaks with HD800S? And vocals and bass sound fullbodied?

With Ferrum Oor+Hypsos i find it to be too bright and sibilant with voices thats my main concern and to little bass. And some peaks in treble in general so listening fatigue.

 

[James824]

I think its my new favourite. Its reasonably priced and have many rca inputs.

How does it handle the treble peaks with HD800S? And vocals and bass sound fullbodied?

With Ferrum Oor+Hypsos i find it to be too bright and sibilant with voices thats my main concern and to little bass. And some peaks in treble in general so listening fatigue.

My 8950 is on order, not sure when it will actually arrive. Hopefully in August/September time frame.
Not selling my 6600 and D100 until it arrives.

 

[dadracer2]

On the basis of being quite a sad old git I was looking through some older HD800 reviews over the past couple of days. What is interesting (possibly) is that both David Mahler in his massive 58 Flagship headphone review and Srajan in his 6 Moons review both recommend 300B SET amps as their top pick for use with the HD800. David recommends the Manley Neo Classic 300B and Srajan the Woo WA5. Both 300B SET amps with valve rectification.

So it rather seems as though I am quite late to this discovery! Oh well at least I got there finally...

 

[sebiambrus]

Hi all i have RME adi2dac+ Violectric v281 combo, you think the HDV820 amp would be better for HD800S than my current v281 rig ?

 

[dadracer2]

Hi all i have RME adi2dac+ Violectric v281 combo, you think the HDV820 amp would be better for HD800S than my current v281 rig ?

From the few reviews out there it looks like they would be about equal with each other, but you might expect the HDV to get more out of the HD800S with some Sennheiser synergy. It would really depend on the sound profile you prefer and so might be best to A/B them for yourself so you can be sure?

The HDV has a dac doesn't it, so then you could replace the RME and the V281 in one unit?