Rayzilla
1000+ Head-Fier
I am prematurely searching for a mate for the HD800 that I do not own yet.
But if I can acquire said amp(/dac) from my HP retailer, I have a better chance to negotiate a package deal. This is where I am at now and here is my story. I apologize for the length of it so here goes...
Recent auditioning:
Hi, soon to become a HD800 owner. Recently, I listened to the HD800, TH600, TH900, Ed12 and Ed10. I spent a little over an hour listening to them through my portable source of Note 2 into E18 portable dac/amp and also with the Lehman Linear (in place of the E18). I quickly ruled out the Ed12 and then the Ed10. And now it has came down to the HD800 with the two Fostex.
What I listen to:
I primarily listen to EDM (mostly Hardwell, Martin Solveig, Bingo Players and other Tomorrowland type DJs but occasionally branching off to Buble, Coldplay-like music and Cantopop. And I am sure that I will be branching off into some classical and the like recordings as I upgrade my equipment ...
Initial HP upgrade considerations:
At the beginning of my HP upgrade search, I thought the TH900 would be the runaway winner. Then I added the TH600 to the mix because with the lower price, I could add a desktop amp to the purchase. Finally, I decided to read up on the HD800 and the more I read, the more I became interested in it. I never thought about the HD800 before because I had the misunderstanding that it would be too light on the bass and that it was mainly only good for classical, which I only occasionally listen to.
Almost final HP upgrade decision:
I will update this after my final audition but boy was I wrong on my understanding of the HD800!!! I will be going back for a final round of listening to make my decision on the HD800, TH600 or TH900. The soundstage and detail of the HD800 has me leaning towards them. Plus I think the HD800 will complement my Ed8 better than either of the Fostex. I am aware that I did not audition the THs with the proper equipment but the same can be said for the HD800. I just found the THs to be too similar to my Ed8 and the HD800 to give me the greater variety in my HP mix. After listening to quite a bit of bass heavy music, I found the THs to get a little tiring. I thought I was bordering on being a little bit of a bass head but I am afraid that it may be a little too much after longer play time.
The sound that I am after with my amp purchase:
I love the soundstage of the HD800 and I would like to find an amp that keeps the airy, detailed, and articulate sound. So in a sense, I wonder if I am a bit of a bass head and treble head at the same time.
Bass Performance: Detailed and punchy bass and mid-bass. Separated.
Sonic Detail: Micro details. Keeping everything separate and transparent, not muddled up. This is a double edged sword for me at this time because many of my music is not the best quality.
Sound Stage/Imaging: This is the biggest strength of the HD800 and one of the main reasons why I am choosing it over the THs, so I want to keep as much of this and play on this strength as much as I can afford.
Amps (/dac) I am considering:
Here is a list of amps that I have researched in the short time. Unfortunately my budget is limited to about $800 because it has already been quite a task getting the green light on the HP upgrade. If my HP retailer carries it, I should be able to negotiate a better price. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to suggest them.
Tube Amps: I haven't tried any tube amps yet and my understanding is that they tend to warm the sound (I'm not sure if this is what I want because it seems that I like the highs that others are bothered by or maybe my hearing is just not very good anymore. But will tube amps take away the detailed and separate sound that I want to keep, will it be too warm (or do I misunderstand the meaning of warm)?
Solid State Amps:
If there is anything else you need to know to help guide me, please let me know.
I appreciate your time and patience in reading my non-audiophile language above. Hopefully there will be enough feedback to guide me in the right direction.
Raymond
Recent auditioning:
Hi, soon to become a HD800 owner. Recently, I listened to the HD800, TH600, TH900, Ed12 and Ed10. I spent a little over an hour listening to them through my portable source of Note 2 into E18 portable dac/amp and also with the Lehman Linear (in place of the E18). I quickly ruled out the Ed12 and then the Ed10. And now it has came down to the HD800 with the two Fostex.
What I listen to:
I primarily listen to EDM (mostly Hardwell, Martin Solveig, Bingo Players and other Tomorrowland type DJs but occasionally branching off to Buble, Coldplay-like music and Cantopop. And I am sure that I will be branching off into some classical and the like recordings as I upgrade my equipment ...
Initial HP upgrade considerations:
At the beginning of my HP upgrade search, I thought the TH900 would be the runaway winner. Then I added the TH600 to the mix because with the lower price, I could add a desktop amp to the purchase. Finally, I decided to read up on the HD800 and the more I read, the more I became interested in it. I never thought about the HD800 before because I had the misunderstanding that it would be too light on the bass and that it was mainly only good for classical, which I only occasionally listen to.
Almost final HP upgrade decision:
I will update this after my final audition but boy was I wrong on my understanding of the HD800!!! I will be going back for a final round of listening to make my decision on the HD800, TH600 or TH900. The soundstage and detail of the HD800 has me leaning towards them. Plus I think the HD800 will complement my Ed8 better than either of the Fostex. I am aware that I did not audition the THs with the proper equipment but the same can be said for the HD800. I just found the THs to be too similar to my Ed8 and the HD800 to give me the greater variety in my HP mix. After listening to quite a bit of bass heavy music, I found the THs to get a little tiring. I thought I was bordering on being a little bit of a bass head but I am afraid that it may be a little too much after longer play time.
The sound that I am after with my amp purchase:
I love the soundstage of the HD800 and I would like to find an amp that keeps the airy, detailed, and articulate sound. So in a sense, I wonder if I am a bit of a bass head and treble head at the same time.
Bass Performance: Detailed and punchy bass and mid-bass. Separated.
Sonic Detail: Micro details. Keeping everything separate and transparent, not muddled up. This is a double edged sword for me at this time because many of my music is not the best quality.
Sound Stage/Imaging: This is the biggest strength of the HD800 and one of the main reasons why I am choosing it over the THs, so I want to keep as much of this and play on this strength as much as I can afford.
Amps (/dac) I am considering:
Here is a list of amps that I have researched in the short time. Unfortunately my budget is limited to about $800 because it has already been quite a task getting the green light on the HP upgrade. If my HP retailer carries it, I should be able to negotiate a better price. If you have any other suggestions, please feel free to suggest them.
Tube Amps: I haven't tried any tube amps yet and my understanding is that they tend to warm the sound (I'm not sure if this is what I want because it seems that I like the highs that others are bothered by or maybe my hearing is just not very good anymore. But will tube amps take away the detailed and separate sound that I want to keep, will it be too warm (or do I misunderstand the meaning of warm)?
- Woo WA6 (mainly because the HP retailer carries this and thus, I should be able to negotiate a better package deal).
- Woo WA6SE but this is out of my budget range too.
- Little Dot MarkVI (but not sure where I can get this locally and it is a little out of my budget range). Other Little Dot suggestions?
- HiFiMan EF5 (never tried this but the HP retailer carries it)
- Schiit dac/amp combos (never tried these but the HP retailer carries them)
Solid State Amps:
- Audio GD-NFB 11.32 - the price is great and it seems to offer the detail and transparency that I am after. Plus it is a dac as well.
- Fostex HP-A4 (this is not out yet but the retailer carries the A8, so they will probably have the A4 when it is released here in Hong Kong)
- Graham Slee Ultra Linear or Solo (I tried the SUL although it didn't seem like much of an upgrade from my portable E18)
- HiFiMan EF6 (never tried this but HP retailer carries it although it is also a little out of my budget range)
- Musical Fidelity M1 HPA (never tried this but HP retailer carries it)
- Pathos Aurium (never tried this but HP retailer carries it)
- SPL Auitor or Phonitor (both carried by HP retailer although the Phonitor is out of my budget and appears to only be balanced)
- HDVD800 or 600 - this is way out of my budget but I just had to include it to hear what you have to say about it. Plus it is a dac as well.
If there is anything else you need to know to help guide me, please let me know.
I appreciate your time and patience in reading my non-audiophile language above. Hopefully there will be enough feedback to guide me in the right direction.
Raymond
