[jamesleroy]

Quote:

Theoretically that should be the end of your search.  Been there, felt that quite a few times.  But the curse of this "Hobby" (or should I say obsession) is that it is difficult to avoid satisfying the curiosity to see if you can achieve even better AQ with a different toy.  
 
With the HD800 I was delighted with the results using a highly modded ((better described as rebuilt) Benchmark DAC1 but then the offer of a trial with a NuForce DAC9 (to return it if not satisfied) could not be resisted -> it was better!!!
 
And of course the idiocy continues with the M2Tech Vaughan. Is there something out there even better than this?  Probably but the bank balance, now severely depleted at the start of 2013, dictates I'll never find out.  However, just to prove I'm incurable, I have a Yulong 100 II on the way so I'll do a 3 way comparison before the NuForce finally finds a new home.  Expect another report in a few weeks on differences in DAC/headamps.
 
The bottom line in all this is that the HD800 is a superb transducer and does show up these differences.
 
Happy New Year to you all (2013 here already)
 
John

Hey I appreciate that John.    Definately words of wisdom!  Hope ya have a great 2013 mate!

 

[jepebee]

After careful reading many threads kere on Head Fi, I think I'll go to a Woo amp, either the WA22 ou GES?
My DAC is my préamp Classé CP800 and I am listening classic music most of the time.
I am accustomed to listen to B&W Matrix 801 and bi-amplificaton by my old 2 Sumo amps.
I search to go deeper in music with clarity, details and mainly musicality.
I have a Senn HD800 and I am looking for a tube amp.
My question is ; giving that would you advise me the WA22 or the Ges?
Many thanks

 

[Dubstep Girl]

Quote:

After careful reading many threads kere on Head Fi, I think I'll go to a Woo amp, either the WA22 ou GES?
My DAC is my préamp Classé CP800 and I am listening classic music most of the time.
I am accustomed to listen to B&W Matrix 801 and bi-amplificaton by my old 2 Sumo amps.
I search to go deeper in music with clarity, details and mainly musicality.
I have a Senn HD800 and I am looking for a tube amp.
My question is ; giving that would you advise me the WA22 or the Ges?
Many thanks

 
 
the GES is electrostatic, it will not work for the hd 800s, its meant to drive stax headphones
 
 
the WA22 is a great match with the hd 800s if you decide to get a balanced cable for the hd 800s. if you wan't to spend less money and stay unbalanced, get the WA2 or the WA6-SE 

 

[valer_valer]

Quote:

the WA22 is a great match with the hd 800s if you decide to get a balanced cable for the hd 800s.

The WA22 have a balanced tubes circuit, but single ended secondary of it's out transformer, so there will NOT be any advantages in using the balanced cable.

 

[jepebee]

Thank you for these interesting precisions.
I must then add that, due to the configuration of my living room, I would want to separate the dac and the headphone amp for about 7 meters, the cables following the walls of course.
I think that for that reason I should prefer to use 2 XLR cables to minimize transport losses, isn't it?
Then, how do I do to link these XLR cables and the RCA inputs of the WA2?
Shouldn't an adapter XLR/RCA damage the sound?
Would the XLR Cables best transport abilities be kept?
Should I look for another amp with the risk that sound wouln't be as good than with the WA2?
Should I go towards a second DAC to be near the WA2?
Sorry, but I am not a specialist in audio technical problems, I am just loving music.
Jean-Pierre

 

[jkstraw]

Has anyone tried any of the NAD amp/DACS; i.e D1050 or the D 3020? Just currious.

 

[rrahman]

HD800 imo sounds best with tubes.  I also recommend the WA22 or the WA5.

 

[BournePerfect]

I also agree that the HD800 needs a tube somewhere in the chain-although I've heard a few ss amps that work well enough. I prefer the ZDSE and the WA5-LE, in that order.
 
-Daniel

 

[hmouse]

So the mighty WA5LE still cannot beat the ZDSE? Anything you dislike about the woo with HD800?

 

[BournePerfect]

Nope-I like pretty much everything about the combo.

-Daniel

 

[froger]

From what I read over the past months, the "BEST" amp for HD800 seems to be as follow (in no particular order and may have missed out a couple):
1) GS-X
2) ECP Audio L2
3) DNA Stratus
4) EC ZDSE/ BA/ 2A3
5) Woo Audio WA5
6) Cavalli liquid glass/gold

No way to conclude which is the best of the best as it boils down very much to personal preference at this level and no one has heard all the amps to make detailed comparisons. I myself chose DNA Stratus as it seems to fit my sound preference and the Stratus owners write the most flowery reviews

 

[rrahman]

From what I read over the past months, the "BEST" amp for HD800 seems to be as follow (in no particular order and may have missed out a couple):
1) GS-X
2) ECP Audio L2
3) DNA Stratus
4) EC ZDSE/ BA/ 2A3
5) Woo Audio WA5
6) Cavalli liquid glass/gold

No way to conclude which is the best of the best as it boils down very much to personal preference at this level and no one has heard all the amps to make detailed comparisons. I myself chose DNA Stratus as it seems to fit my sound preference and the Stratus owners write the most flowery reviews

 
Sad :/ WA22 doesn make that list?

 

[froger]

I am sure many enjoy the sound of WA22 with HD800s. It's just that I have read quite a number of people who take the above amps I listed over the WA22 for Hd800.

 

[Dubstep Girl]

i found the WA2 with about 600$+ in tubes to sound almost like the ZD with HD 800.  though maybe just a little more laid back and not as great with the separation, but its quite a small difference. 
 
anyways, i'm probably choosing GSX MK2 as an endgame SS option for HD 800 and the WA22 (maybe WA5LE) as an endgame tube solution.

 

[longbowbbs]

The Decware CSP2+/Decware Taboo MK III make for a fantastic HD800 combo. Similar price point to the other top amps. Perhaps a bit less. Tubes are easy to find and a relatively inexpensive.