[CockatooDude]

For about a year now I have been looking into the Sennheiser HD 700 headphones. And I was going to pair them with a hifiman ef2a. But I heard from a guy that if you buy headphones in the league of the HD 700 then you will need a much nicer amplifier. So I was wondering what would be the best tube amplifier for under $600 that I could use with a pair of HD 700s?

 

[flipper2gv]

The EF2A is wayy too slow, bloated, loose sounding for my taste. Really not recommended for any headphones.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

Woo Audio 3

 

[DefQon]

The EF2A are rubbish, tube rolling or modded, save that $150 for something else. While I've heard the HD700 once there were powered out a Bottlehead Crack which for under $500 built is pretty terrific with any of the Senn's.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

^
 
+1
 
another great option for hd 700s 

 

[CockatooDude]

Hifiman ef5? Or is that just not worth it? Does the Woo or the Bottlehead sound better, and if then how much?

 

[DefQon]

http://wooaudio.com/products/
 
http://www.bottlehead.com/store.php/categories/headphone-amplifier-kits

 

[CockatooDude]

What if I connected a FiiO e7/e9 combo as a DAC and used that to provide input for a Schiit Valhalla? How much better would it be if I used a Bifrost as the DAC? Or would the FiiO combo be good enough to use with the WA3?

 

[DefQon]

The Fiio is good enough.

 

[fihidelity]

Would a Magni & Modi or O2 & ODAC work okay with the HD700s?

 

[DefQon]

Quote:

Would a Magni & Modi or O2 & ODAC work okay with the HD700s?

No. It will make the HD700 very bright sounding. 

 

[fihidelity]

Would it do until I could afford a Crack for example?

 

[DefQon]

It has enough power to drive it for sure but the sound just doesn't sound right out of it. Get the O2.

 

[fihidelity]

It has enough power to drive it for sure but the sound just doesn't sound right out of it. Get the O2.

How do the O2 and HD700 pair? It's definitely an option.

 

[Idespa]

Quote:

How do the O2 and HD700 pair? It's definitely an option.

Yes I am wondering this as well. I know it wouldn't be perfect but is it good enough to not ruin the headphones or would I be better off getting a cheaper pair of headphones?