[purrin]

Quote:

Lol, I'd wait for them to make a 'Surreal' dynamic amp I guess.  I've also heard some not so 'Surreal' things about the WES.

I actually thought the things we heard about the WES were "surreal." 

 
On the power thing: I wouldn't read too much into published specs. Either the HD800 is going to sound right or not-right off of any particular amp. For example, the BA puts out less than a measly 280mW of flea power into the HD800, and I haven't heard any other amp that betters it in terms of dynamics. Vintage 20W receivers sound better than modern 150W receivers. I don't know how all this power and wattage schitt got started since a few mW will likely make anyone deaf in a matter of minutes.
 

 

[MacedonianHero]

True with the HD800s and T1s...but when wanting to power a pair of orthos as well, a watt or two can be a very good thing.

 

[Gabrielisc]

Ok, so if im not after a 5k setup, and just a 1-2k setup
a WA2 + decent 6.3mm cable - should do the trick?
 

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Ok, so if im not after a 5k setup, and just a 1-2k setup
a WA2 + decent 6.3mm cable - should do the trick?

WA2 is an OTL amp.  Be sure that's the sound you want w/ the 800.  Many like the Zana Deux OTL w/ the 800 but I have no knowledge of how the WA2 compares.  I don't know if it's a bass light OTL sound or not.  I'm sure there's a WA2 thread lying around.

 

[Gabrielisc]

I think im gonna go read a book bout all of this, ive been doing research for a while but it takes ages to get your head around everything (and im an electrical engineer I should have a clue bout all of this)
 
anyways, no idea what difference an OTL (read up on it) will make to the sound output, what ever I want to get in the end I will test before I buy, but im pretty sure that there is a suggest path of upgrade for any new amateur audiophile.
For now I will be using the Asus essence one which im sure isnt doing justice to the hd800, I could go solid state or tube, either way wont matter to me, aslong as im getting the full extent out of the headphones, the sound signature is a different story, I will have to test different amps over a period of time to learn that.
 
Heard the hd800s on the Sudgen headphone amp, it sounded good, but what the difference was, I couldnt spot with just 1 song.

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Until you look at the price of the tubes to drive the WA5/LE.
 
Throw in the fact that the WA22 puts out almost 2x the power...

One thing i can say is that when I was considering getting into the Woo family my taget was the WA22 since most of my headphones were recabled to balanced until I had a face to face conversation with Jack and he convinced me to go for the WA5-LE. That and being able to listen to both using my own T1 balanced (and single ended adapter) really convinced me to buy the WA5-LE.
 
It is 1 1/2 years now with the WA5-LE and could not been happier. Even with the right driver tubes it can drive the HE-6 nicely.
 
 

 

[dallan]

Zana Deux works here, Craig who makes the Zana Deux is an icon/HP amp genius.  Absolutely incredible with the 800s.  Think i've had mine just over two and a half years and i am done unless i get a Blue Hawaiian with the 009 eventually.  Of course that is $12,000. away in the middle of a recession soooo it may be quite a wait.

 

[Uncle Erik]

Agreed.  I've been running the Zana with the HD-800 about as long as Dallan has.  Sometimes, I run the Moth Si2A3.  The Moth has a bit softer bass and the lovely DHT bloom around the mids.  It isn't as accurate as the Zana, but sublime with vocals.  I think Craig has another 2A3 amp in the offing - it's worth considering if you want some DHT magic.  I can't understand why there aren't more 2A3 headphone amps on the market.  The tubes are plentiful and reasonable, and they work so well with headphones.

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Zana Deux works here, Craig who makes the Zana Deux is an icon/HP amp genius.  Absolutely incredible with the 800s.  Think i've had mine just over two and a half years and i am done unless i get a Blue Hawaiian with the 009 eventually.  Of course that is $12,000. away in the middle of a recession soooo it may be quite a wait.

You should wait to hear his Electra.  Come on up to the Bay meet!
 

 

[Frege]

Quote:

Has anyone compared the 800s to Stax electrostatics? If so, which ones and how did they compare?

 
Hi Fugue,
 
a couple of month ago, I desided to buy headphones instead of active monitors. I compared the Stax Lamdas signature to Sennheisser HD800 and Grado GS1000i and the Signatures to the Omegas.
 
To my ears the sound signature of the Lamdas are comparable to the HD800s. Both are bright headphones with a detailed and clear imaging. The Stax sometimes appeared clearer but I preferred the soundstage of the HD800 over the Lamdas. Both have a tight bass, comparable in depth.
I finally desided to buy the HD800 due to the following reasons:
1. The HD800 is more comfortable to wear and is much better grafted.
2. I use a SPL Phonitor, I love the crossfeed and time delay compensations of this amplifier. This amplifier is a real step forward in headphone-sound. You can´t use this amplifier with the Stax.
 
Frege

 
 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Zana Deux works here, Craig who makes the Zana Deux is an icon/HP amp genius.  Absolutely incredible with the 800s.  Think i've had mine just over two and a half years and i am done unless i get a Blue Hawaiian with the 009 eventually.  Of course that is $12,000. away in the middle of a recession soooo it may be quite a wait.

I don't own the ZD but I have listen to quite a bit. I can see how the smooth and silky sound of the ZD matched perfectly with the HD800.
 
If you go the route of the SR-009 before buying the BH take a look and listen to the RSA A-10. I have listen to the 009 with the A-10, BH and WES and to my ears and another prominent member of this forum the best sound is out of the A-10.
 

 

[dallan]

I don't own the ZD but I have listen to quite a bit. I can see how the smooth and silky sound of the ZD matched perfectly with the HD800.

If you go the route of the SR-009 before buying the BH take a look and listen to the RSA A-10. I have listen to the 009 with the A-10, BH and WES and to my ears and another prominent member of this forum the best sound is out of the A-10.

Thanks for the input, I will.

 

[Fugue]

Quote:

 
Hi Fugue,
 
a couple of month ago, I desided to buy headphones instead of active monitors. I compared the Stax Lamdas signature to Sennheisser HD800 and Grado GS1000i and the Signatures to the Omegas.
 
To my ears the sound signature of the Lamdas are comparable to the HD800s. Both are bright headphones with a detailed and clear imaging. The Stax sometimes appeared clearer but I preferred the soundstage of the HD800 over the Lamdas. Both have a tight bass, comparable in depth.
I finally desided to buy the HD800 due to the following reasons:
1. The HD800 is more comfortable to wear and is much better grafted.
2. I use a SPL Phonitor, I love the crossfeed and time delay compensations of this amplifier. This amplifier is a real step forward in headphone-sound. You can´t use this amplifier with the Stax.
 
Frege

 
 

Thank you--that is helpful. I was hoping that the 800s have deeper bass. I enjoy pipe organ music, and the 404s just don't do reproduce the 32' pipes very well!
 

 

[musicman59]

Thank you--that is helpful. I was hoping that the 800s have deeper bass. I enjoy pipe organ music, and the 404s just don't do reproduce the 32' pipes very well!
 

I would recommend you to replace the SPC cable with a quality OCC copper.

 

[ac500]

Just got a chance to try these out in a store today, running out of a presumably medium quality Beyerdynamics amp. They sounded incredible. Proof that it's the headphone, not the amp, that makes the most difference.
 
I am just stunned by the soundstage these can reproduce. People say the soundstage is in the recording, but for whatever reason, these sound so incredibly 3D, with all the instruments clearly separated, etc.... and I'm just at awe of the sound quality and incredible detail overall...
 
It makes me want to sell all my headphones, and maybe a few arms/legs, and get some HD800s