[Badas]

I'm using LCD-2 and LCD-XC with the HA-1 and both sound great with their own signatures. The LCD-X should sound amazing and the PM-1 has been reported to pair extremely well. The HD800 is too fatiguing for my taste so I can't comment on the pairing specifically, but I will say the HA-1 already presents detail and texture very well and the HD800 pairing might be too much of a good thing.

 
 I would agree. I had the HD700 paired with the HA-1 for a while. I had to EQ the crap out of it. Then moved to Audeze.

 

[john57]

I felt that the HD700 was a harsh sounding headphone to begin with when I listened to it at the RMAF.

 

[Badas]

  I felt that the HD700 was a harsh sounding headphone to begin with when I listened to it at the RMAF.

Yes it is. I'm glad tho it pushed me into Audeze. I also sold the HD700 for the same price I paid for it.

 

[olegausany]

HD800 sound great with HA-1 especially with balanced cable

 

[alabrand]

Hello! I plan to use the Oppo HA-1 as both an AMP and a DAC and I need to know if there is a USB cable I can use in the package or will I have to purchase my own?

 

[j0ewhite]

  Hello! I plan to use the Oppo HA-1 as both an AMP and a DAC and I need to know if there is a USB cable I can use in the package or will I have to purchase my own?

It is not included. You'll need to use your own USB cable.

 

[alabrand]

  It is not included. You'll need to use your own USB cable.

 
Thanks for answering. Another question:
 
Which gain setting should I use for an Oppo PM-1? High? Normal? I plan to use low listening volume. I don't like it when it's very loud.

 

[zilch0md]

I'm using LCD-2 and LCD-XC with the HA-1 and both sound great with their own signatures. The LCD-X should sound amazing and the PM-1 has been reported to pair extremely well. The HD800 is too fatiguing for my taste so I can't comment on the pairing specifically, but I will say the HA-1 already presents detail and texture very well and the HD800 pairing might be too much of a good thing.

 
Or we might say, "The HA-1's DAC and amp is too fatiguing when heard with the HD800."  

 
But the HA-1 indeed sounds great with every other headphone in my inventory.

 

[atubbs]

   
Thanks for answering. Another question:
 
Which gain setting should I use for an Oppo PM-1? High? Normal? I plan to use low listening volume. I don't like it when it's very loud.

 
I suspect you will want to use normal. The HA-1/PM-1 combo gets far louder on normal gain than I can tolerate. I'm not aware of any sound quality benefits that warrant running high gain just for kicks. The HE-6 and HD800s use more of the volume knob for me, but still I've yet to find myself desiring going into high gain.

 

[Maxx134]

Or we might say, "The HA-1's DAC and amp is too fatiguing when heard with the HD800."  

But the HA-1 indeed sounds great with every other headphone in my inventory.

sounding great with every other headphone seems to alude to the issue being with the headphone.

Ever since I did the anax2.0(partially just over the metal ring) I was freed from my problem with the hd800 and find the hd800/Draug2/HA-1 combo incredible.

 

[alabrand]

   
I suspect you will want to use normal. The HA-1/PM-1 combo gets far louder on normal gain than I can tolerate. I'm not aware of any sound quality benefits that warrant running high gain just for kicks. The HE-6 and HD800s use more of the volume knob for me, but still I've yet to find myself desiring going into high gain.

 
Alright, thanks. Can't wait to get this combo and listen to all of my CDs.

 

[JustLights]

   
Thanks for answering. Another question:
 
Which gain setting should I use for an Oppo PM-1? High? Normal? I plan to use low listening volume. I don't like it when it's very loud.

 
I asked this of Oppo support (as well as a question about cabling) and this is the reply:
 

You will want to use XLR to the HA-1 and use Normal Gain unless you use the PM-1 in a noisy environment, at which you should use High Gain as it allows for more volume output.

Best Regards,

Customer Service
OPPO Digital, Inc.

 
Ken

 

[alabrand]

   
I asked this of Oppo support (as well as a question about cabling) and this is the reply:
 
 
Ken

 
Wow! Thanks! But I didn't know the Oppo PM-1 comes with a XLR 4-pin cable. I thought it only had a 3.5mm cable and a 6.3mm cable.

 

[john57]

I think that the XLR for the Oppo PM-1 is optional and extra cost. Since the HA-1 has all balanced circuity it is best to use the the XLR outputs when possible to maximize performance. I think of the HA-1 as headphone pre/amp first with DAC added to it.     

 

[john57]

I noticed that the official inside photo of the interior does not show the input board or the controller board. I found more of a complete inside photo on other web sites.