It is wonderful that you have four. I plan to add a few more. One of the advantages of headphone audio is that I can own many different headphones IMO, but lately I've only been listening to the A800 as far as dynamic models. I am thinking of getting rid of many of the others to fund the X9000.Hello to you. I too collected them . I have had 4 of them , acyually hold 2 + 1 on borrow from quite a time now . They sound slightly different the one from the other and express their maximum potential on a balanced configuration , that is how I use them only , one with an ofc balanced cable and the other with a mixed copper/silver balanced cable ; cable apart , one produce a more open and close sound and more surprising or exciting at first , the other little more distant but slightly more natural and more right tonally , this is the one I used the most lately . I always wondered about this difference as in some high end headphones and brands it can happen, and this is the case too ; the third I have on borrow is again a different sounding pair has it has a more pitchy accent -or more resonant- on sone highs and is more fatiguing for me. Slightly different but audible .
Speaking of the two on current use , they both add some hollow honkyness or what is some sort of hamony overlap or glare on some low-mids ( harmonic distortion?) , it is hardly noticeable on casual listening but I decided for some eq for reducing it so I use them only equalized, i suspect this is house sound and slight problem of all a800.
Also because the upfront open sound can be quite murky and dark on first and before ears adapt , eq helps in this regard too.
I also added some thick angled pads as the one mentioned in this thread , lambskin pads on a pair and velvet pads on another , to furtherly distance the drivers from ears ( if you dare to remotely think at Abyss 1266.. ) , the house sound remains gross rich with airy and seducing bass nuances , but the extra distance definitely helps in defining soundstage ; a800 have a preference to portray drums guitar in pop rock etc, and strings in orchestra , in fact I was surprised to hear so frequently drums so close and upfront with them Vs other headphones set as a drummer ; also archs ( viola in particular ) can be emotional . They pair well with clear trasparent sources ; a slightly bright source can benefit them whereas they pair badly with warm sources ; a matched tube amp can help add some life in vocals or mids, not my preference for them anyhow.
I would comment or define their sound as rich seducing and dark , gross and sinking well down on bass frequencies ; depending on music and tracks sometimes it can vibrate pads on cheeks and it is impressive and rich ; while other times it seduce with good manner handle body and presence ; tone accuracy for different drums or skins of drums is nice too to have.. , this is on balanced configuration and my setup ; unbalanced they sound more polite and edcuated , still rich and lush but more gentle , the bass or drums are sill beefy but not under hands and conducting as when they are cabled balanced ; in both cases they are some of the most un-fatiguing headphones ever tried , this is likely due to a combination of very low distortion on highs as well as a sort of absence in the attack region , they prefer core and decay of the sound to attack at least my ears say so ; i feel they are quite much better then recabled hd600 ; not better then recabled hd650 but not worse , still better then hd650 for bass resolution and low frequency range as well as behind for vocal rendition and orchestra or classical music rendering.
I bought the extra angled pads for them on Aliexpress , they do the job and are both comfortable .
As for the balanced cables copper is their preference as silver will sound 1mm more resolving and a little bigger on bass but less natural, as usually happens with silver cables
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Who knows...maybe with tubes silver works well and copper will add over the top warmness. You should try both silver and copper if you have chances in that system ( or 30 day return policies for them ) ; my reccomandation for copper is also due for pairing it with solid state ..having the a800 already the well known dark and far-warm very organic signature nature , i never felt to try them with tubes really.What DAC is everyone using for the Onkyo A800?
I found my cleanest amp setup which is the Allnic HPA-5000XL (tube amp) and the B22 (SS Amp). The Allnic HPA-5000XL is the cleanest amp I ever heard. It makes gives headphones a significant boost in clarity. The Allnic doesn't particularly increase soundstage, but it gives you a more 3D feel. People say the Allnic HPA-5000XL works best with planars and low-impedance headphones (30-50 ohms) and the people were right. I feel like the Allnic is perfect with Onkyo A800 and even with a lot of the older headphones like CD3000 and W10VTG. If I still want that clean experience, but with a SS amp with no extra distortion, I got the B22 amp. The B22 amp is known for its neutral sound signature. It doesn't really add colors to the sound, but its still provide its own unique sound signature. What's important is that it's clean, cleanest-sounding SS Amp I ever heard. Both my Allnic HPA-5000XL and B22 provide black backgrounds to the sensitive Onkyo A800, so I can't ask for any more from these two amps. I will be picking up the jds element amps later when I found my new DAC for the Protoss setup (except I can't get that DAC!).
Now, the next goal is to clean up the computer noise with a good DDC. After that, buy some furniture for my audio equipment and I got to stop using a cardboard box as a table. After the Furniture and DDC, I think I want to add another DAC or maybe upgrade the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO (basic model) to a "cleaner" DAC. This always was in the back of my head, "A class like A800 with a 10% distortion at the curve has obtained a ‘natural sound.’ It is amp picky and needs a 90%+ clean DAC and amplifier. Amps like jds element and stuff. Those items also should not boost and muddy the A800." The one thing I really like about the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO is that it's the "funnest" DAC. It has a warm-forward sound that is very euphoric and addicting. The Mojo Audio Mystique EVO still has top-quality technicality and details. But it's not in your face and is more subtle. So it's perfect with the L3000. But that's the L3000, I'm trying to get the perfect combo for the Onkyo A800. I've been looking into the tda 1543 chip, but it's DIY.
After my side quest of buying furniture and a DDC, I will set off on my final quest for the Onyko A800 in finding my perfect clean DAC for it. Audio cables like interconnect and power cables are new game plus after I beat my end game setup for the Onkyo A800
The cables I got currently are stock power cables, Level 6.2 ABSOLUTE RCA Analog Interconnects, Audience OHNO XLR Interconnect Cables, and balanced copper cable for my Onkyo A800. I need a copper SE cable to plug into my B22 now. Also, thanks Boodi for the copper cable recommendation
If I found some good DIY silver cables, I might grab them. I am more interested in trying the mix Silver and Copper cables. I wonder if the mix silver and copper braided cables is going to give the little extra boost in details of the silver and a little extra boost of naturalness from the copper, so like the best of both worlds
I saw some cables that look pretty interesting http://www.norneaudio.com/litzheim/...um-verite-lcd-5-litz-final-d8k-le-dca-expanse
DDC is Luxman DA-100, DAC is DX3pro+, very inexpensive product so won't be your referenceWhat DAC is everyone using for the Onkyo A800?
I found my cleanest amp setup which is the Allnic HPA-5000XL (tube amp) and the B22 (SS Amp). The Allnic HPA-5000XL is the cleanest amp I ever heard. It makes gives headphones a significant boost in clarity. The Allnic doesn't particularly increase soundstage, but it gives you a more 3D feel. People say the Allnic HPA-5000XL works best with planars and low-impedance headphones (30-50 ohms) and the people were right. I feel like the Allnic is perfect with Onkyo A800 and even with a lot of the older headphones like CD3000 and W10VTG. If I still want that clean experience, but with a SS amp with no extra distortion, I got the B22 amp. The B22 amp is known for its neutral sound signature. It doesn't really add colors to the sound, but its still provide its own unique sound signature. What's important is that it's clean, cleanest-sounding SS Amp I ever heard. Both my Allnic HPA-5000XL and B22 provide black backgrounds to the sensitive Onkyo A800, so I can't ask for any more from these two amps. I will be picking up the jds element amps later when I found my new DAC for the Protoss setup (except I can't get that DAC!).
Now, the next goal is to clean up the computer noise with a good DDC. After that, buy some furniture for my audio equipment and I got to stop using a cardboard box as a table. After the Furniture and DDC, I think I want to add another DAC or maybe upgrade the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO (basic model) to a "cleaner" DAC. This always was in the back of my head, "A class like A800 with a 10% distortion at the curve has obtained a ‘natural sound.’ It is amp picky and needs a 90%+ clean DAC and amplifier. Amps like jds element and stuff. Those items also should not boost and muddy the A800." The one thing I really like about the Mojo Audio Mystique EVO is that it's the "funnest" DAC. It has a warm-forward sound that is very euphoric and addicting. The Mojo Audio Mystique EVO still has top-quality technicality and details. But it's not in your face and is more subtle. So it's perfect with the L3000. But that's the L3000, I'm trying to get the perfect combo for the Onkyo A800. I've been looking into the tda 1543 chip, but it's DIY.
After my side quest of buying furniture and a DDC, I will set off on my final quest for the Onyko A800 in finding my perfect clean DAC for it. Audio cables like interconnect and power cables are new game plus after I beat my end game setup for the Onkyo A800
The cables I got currently are stock power cables, Level 6.2 ABSOLUTE RCA Analog Interconnects, Audience OHNO XLR Interconnect Cables, and balanced copper cable for my Onkyo A800. I need a copper SE cable to plug into my B22 now. Also, thanks Boodi for the copper cable recommendation
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The price tag doesn't matter, cheap, expensive. The cheaper the better. But what really matters is if it's good. If you think the DDC is Luxman DA-100 and DAC is DX3pro+ is good, I will definitely check them out. Appreciate itDDC is Luxman DA-100, DAC is DX3pro+, very inexpensive product so won't be your reference
These three are my recent favorites.
A800 with Geekria pad cover, not recommended as it attenuates the bass and dynamics a lot. However I do not dislike them.
Not on that particular cable, but people say Norne makes decent cable. I won't buy it new, probably wait until a good-looking used one shows up or maybe wait for a DIY one to show up in the used market.
I think final result it depends on many factors including the source, amplifier and the headphone. Pure silver cables can also have different characteristic depending on quality/type of the conductor and general construction of the cable.If I found some good DIY silver cables, I might grab them. I am more interested in trying the mix Silver and Copper cables. I wonder if the mix silver and copper braided cables is going to give the little extra boost in details of the silver and a little extra boost of naturalness from the copper, so like the best of both worlds
