[MatW]

The D8000 Pro matches Susvara and TC in the technical areas except soundstage where the difference is noticeable. In many ways, D8000 Pro reminds me of a planar Utopia, immediate sounding, dynamic with excellent imaging.

Susvara is smoother and more "rounded" and "analogue" sounding but this can make music sound a bit sleepy at times. I consider the Susvara a specialist headphone for acoustic music and would not prefer it for rock, EDM or Pop. The D8000 Pro is a better all-rounder in this regard.

TC is more similar to D8000 Pro than Susvara, but with better bass and a much larger soundstage. It does have less thickness in the mids vs the D8000 Pro.

Overall my preference by sound alone it would be TC > Susvara<>D8000 Pro. Too bad the TC is so damn uncomfortable.

To clarify, does that mean Susvara = D8000 Pro, equal in terms of preference?

 

[GuyForkes]

To clarify, does that mean Susvara = D8000 Pro, equal in terms of preference?

Yea, my personal preference for sound only. How hifiman got Susvara to sound so good while being so comfortable is a mystery to me.

 

[Slim1970]

The D8000 Pro matches Susvara and TC in the technical areas except soundstage where the difference is noticeable. In many ways, D8000 Pro reminds me of a planar Utopia, immediate sounding, dynamic with excellent imaging.

Susvara is smoother and more "rounded" and "analogue" sounding but this can make music sound a bit sleepy at times. I consider the Susvara a specialist headphone for acoustic music and would not prefer it for rock, EDM or Pop. The D8000 Pro is a better all-rounder in this regard.

TC is more similar to D8000 Pro than Susvara, but with better bass and a much larger soundstage. It does have less thickness in the mids vs the D8000 Pro.

Overall my preference by sound alone it would be TC > Susvara<>D8000 Pro. Too bad the TC is so damn uncomfortable.

Thanks, I figured the D8000 Pro's would rank high based on what I've read about them. You just confirmed my suspicions that these are worth owning base on the sound signature you just described. To compete with the Susvara's is no easy task. They are in my top 3 as the best headphones I've heard.

The Susvara's do beat out the TC's in comfort. Sound wise they are 1a and 1b to me. They both sound incredible. Maybe I'll trade/sell my HEKse's for the D8000 Pro's since I do have the Susvara's.

 

[kdphan]

Hey guys,

1) anyone running susvara with a woo audio 22 amp? I run my TC Phi with it and it seems "sufficient" in terms of power if using the right power and driver tubes.

2) I've got the gsx mini and hpa4 amps too. I've read they're OK with the susvara. Anyone satisfied with the combos or decided other amps were much better? I have an AHB2 which I can repurpose for susvara if needed.

3) anyone have the TC Phi and then tried the susvara, and then decided to let the TC go?

I have the WA22 and XI formula S

WA22 doesn't pair that well with the Susvara.

 

[koven]

D8000 Pro was even more uncomfortable than TC for me, it's heavy and the clamp is too strong. Sound was great but ultimately not a keeper for me due to small soundstage relative to Susvara / TC.

 

[llamaluv]

I'm possibly in the minority, being slightly partial to the Susvara over the TC.

Part of it (but not all of it) is that the TC is for me is about a 4 out of 10 for comfort, and no matter how good a thing sounds, if it's slightly too uncomfortable, that inexorably drags the listening experience down, especially over the long-term. I'm also not too endeared to the Abyss brand in general, but that's just me.

 

[Ethereal Sound]

I'm possibly in the minority, being slightly partial to the Susvara over the TC.

Part of it (but not all of it) is that the TC is for me is about a 4 out of 10 for comfort, and no matter how good a thing sounds, if it's slightly too uncomfortable, that inexorably drags the listening experience down, especially over the long-term. I'm also not too endeared to the Abyss brand in general, but that's just me.

I can agree with this. I do like the sound of the abyss but man is wearing it and finding a good fit a pain.

 

[Slim1970]

I'm possibly in the minority, being slightly partial to the Susvara over the TC.

Part of it (but not all of it) is that the TC is for me is about a 4 out of 10 for comfort, and no matter how good a thing sounds, if it's slightly too uncomfortable, that inexorably drags the listening experience down, especially over the long-term. I'm also not too endeared to the Abyss brand in general, but that's just me.

Yes, to be as good as it is, finding the right fit on the TC can be a pain. Unlike the Susvara's, where you can just grab it, put them on, and enjoy hours of great listening.

 

[kid vic]

I'm possibly in the minority, being slightly partial to the Susvara over the TC.

Part of it (but not all of it) is that the TC is for me is about a 4 out of 10 for comfort, and no matter how good a thing sounds, if it's slightly too uncomfortable, that inexorably drags the listening experience down, especially over the long-term. I'm also not too endeared to the Abyss brand in general, but that's just me.

Full agreement here, they sound great but when I was demoing them I thought it would swing right off of my head when I started grooving to the music. I have described the 1266's as looking like Frankensteins hat and I feel that that is fitting (pun intended)

 

[Roasty]

I have the WA22 and XI formula S

WA22 doesn't pair that well with the Susvara.

Ah.. Not enough power to drive them properly or just sounds off? Could I ask what tubes u have on the wa22?

 

[kdphan]

Ah.. Not enough power to drive them properly or just sounds off? Could I ask what tubes u have on the wa22?

I think it's doesn't have enough power to drive the susvara sufficiently and sounds off.
Will have to check the tubes I have on there.

 

[radnor]

.

 

[dstubked]

I used to have the wa22 and I remembered using ecc35 instead of 6sn7 tubes gave it a nice boost in power and made the abyss sing nicely. The abyss is just slightly less difficult to drive properly compared with the susvara. Anyways, I never liked the sound of tube amps with planars..a strong
SS based amp will still be your best bet.

 

[kdphan]

I used to have the wa22 and I remembered using ecc35 instead of 6sn7 tubes gave it a nice boost in power and made the abyss sing nicely. The abyss is just slightly less difficult to drive properly compared with the susvara. Anyways, I never liked the sound of tube amps with planars..a strong
SS based amp will still be your best bet.

The WA22 did pair really well with the HKse though. But the susvara and the XI formula S takes it to another level.

 

[Shahrose]

I saw someone had mentioned that the Susvara isn't good from conventional headphone amps. I guess it depends on the power/quality of what's being discussed; my best-sounding amp with them is an audio-gd Master 9. I prefer it to the Kinki EX-M1+ (the new one).

Oh and a silver cable really took the Sus to a different level (as Currawong found in the past). Noticeable increase in speed, clarity and impact without making it brighter. The bass level also went up.