HD 800 AMP? Maybe DAC?

[tangsta]

Let me start off by saying canjam 09 was really a nice place and allowed me to really fall in love wit the HD 800s. Now that I have ordered the headphones, I will surely need a great amp! I know my current WA3 + DAC-AM won't do the headphones justice. Now here's the question, with a budget under 2k what would you recommend to power the headphones? DAC + AMP combo is good so is DAC/AMP.

I really liked the Headroom ultra desktop but I'm hesitant to consider it as my final choice. Any recommendations?

 

[scootermafia]

Impressions thread has impressions.

 

[El_Doug]

build yourself a B22 and Buffalo

Should come to around $2000

 

[WindowsX]

For $2k budget, I personally split each 3 for amp, interconnects and power cord. My choise is Burson HA100(actually HA160) with DIY SXC 2x18awg RCA and some secondhand power cord.

 

[sling5s]

I was at canjam and listened to alot of amps. The hd800 really needs a tube amp so I would go with the woo 2 or ray's b52. I heard both and liked them.
the b52 by ray really stood out. great match.

I didn't really like the solid states with the hd800. I have a corda symphony and am listening to the hd800 now. while it's really good as a amp and dac, I'm personally considering buying a tube amp for it.

 

[atothex]

$2000 seems a bit low to me. Is this a temporary solution?

 

[peanuthead]

I'm predicting Gilmore Lite is going to be very good with HD800. And I'm not kidding either. Will report back in a few days...

By the way, I thought Headroom Ultra Desktop was excellent with HD800.

 

[tangsta]

I really don't know how you would describe "short term". I was thinking maybe 3 years or somewhere around there. I could stretch the price limit a little if i deemed that it will absolutely be worth it. Any other tube/ss ideas?

 

[elrod-tom]

I listened to it on several amps (something like 10 or so) at our Detroit meets.

The best IMHO was the Luxman P-1, which will shatter your budget.

A very close second was the TTVJ FET-A. It's got plenty of power, and did a very nice job driving it. It's also pretty reasonably priced.

BTW - I don't agree that the HD800 needs tubes. I listened to it in several nice tube rigs, and though I liked it, I found that those two SS amps sounded the best for some reason. Now, that's my opinion, and you can take it for what it's worth. I just wanted to point out that I don't think it "needs" tubes.

EDIT: I did not hear it balanced...we only had single ended termination HD800's available.

 

[Uncle Erik]

I managed to plug a HD-800 into my tube rigs for a few minutes at CanJam. I did enjoy what I heard but, honestly, I liked the way the HD-800 sounded from the amps in HeadRoom's room. Solid state filled out the solid bottom end (and it really is) better than tubes did.

I'm on the fence over the HD-800... it really is good. It's just the price and knowing that I'd probably have to get around to building that Beta22 I have in parts to run it.

 

[Lil' Knight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Doug /img/forum/go_quote.gif build yourself a B22 and Buffalo Should come to around $2000

B22+B32 would be an extreme choice.

 

[emelius]

Quote:

Originally Posted by El_Doug build yourself a B22 and Buffalo Should come to around $2000

i've heard both of those, but not together...the Beta is excellent with balanced Senns...i'd really like to hear HD800 + Buffalo...transients might give you whiplash...

Quote:

Originally Posted by peanuthead I'm predicting Gilmore Lite is going to be very good with HD800. And I'm not kidding either. Will report back in a few days... By the way, I thought Headroom Ultra Desktop was excellent with HD800.

anything Gilmore (including the Lite) is great w/a great source...i tend to prefer them with Grado, though...personally, i'd try the Beta 22 first...provided you have the means...

i very much enjoyed my balanced PS-1 through high-end Headroom gear...and i believe they have a dac/amp combo in the Ultra line that uses the sabre dac (albeit the older, ess 9008)...plenty of power there...

but hey, i haven't heard the HD800 yet...and i don't think there are any CanJam impressions posted of it through the Beta...there was at least one there...

seems to be a finicky set of cans...

 

[FallenAngel]

Yes, HD800 sounded great balanced with my Buffalo and Beta22.

 

[johnwmclean]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FallenAngel /img/forum/go_quote.gif Yes, HD800 sounded great balanced with my Buffalo and Beta22.

FallenAngel, please tell us more... What other amps have you tried with the HD800’s? What was “great” about this combo.

I say this as I have a B32 in progress, to go with my Balanced Beta22 so the logical upgrade from that would be a HD800 over my HD650’s.

Your a man of too few words come on out with it... tell us!

 

[Covenant]

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnwmclean /img/forum/go_quote.gif I say this as I have a B32 in progress, to go with my Balanced Beta22 so the logical upgrade from that would be a HD800 over my HD650’s.

Do it. Doooo Ittttttt!

I'll hate you for it, but all the same.