[ac500]

Yeah but it doesn't even need to be a consensus. It's not like it needs to state the unrefuted #1 best ever amp and dac for the HD800, but just a big list of amps in different price ranges. At least it would give a good starting point for a lot of people. 

 

[khaos974]

Good starting point (or ending point for that matter): Violectric V200

 

[Draygonn]

P.S.  I like the Bifrost because it has excellent tonality and manages a good even ground for all of the other above factors. In other words, it doesn't screw up in any of the above categories. And that's rare a first for the current crop of inexpensive DACs.

Sounds good. I've been waiting for Woo to release their DAC and get it compared to the W4S DAC. I think I'll order the Bifrost for now.

 

[ac500]

Quote:

You don't need tubes - the HD 800 sounds perfect through my Grace m902b (shortly to be upgraded to the m903).

Just to be clear, you mean the m902/m903 is good not only as a DAC but as an entire full solution DAC+amp for the HD800?
 
I ask because I was reading and encountered some setups in reviews where the m902 was used as a DAC and a comparatively inexpensive amp afterwards! Seemed odd, unless the m902's built-in amp is comparatively worse than a $700 standalone amp.

 

[John Willett]

Quote:

Just to be clear, you mean the m902/m903 is good not only as a DAC but as an entire full solution DAC+amp for the HD800?

Yes, of course, the m902 and m903 are superb headphone amplifiers as well as having one of the finest DAC's around.
 
 
Quote:

 
I ask because I was reading and encountered some setups in reviews where the m902 was used as a DAC and a comparatively inexpensive amp afterwards! Seemed odd, unless the m902's built-in amp is comparatively worse than a $700 standalone amp.

 
If someone used the m902 as a DAC and then used an inexpensive amp. on the end he was (is) an idiot.
 
 
I bought my m902 originally after a good friend, who is a top professional recording engineer, described the Grace as "the best headphone amp.on the market" and I have yet to find any of his recommendations wrong.
 

 

[Audio-Omega]

I'm happy with my HD800 set up so far, however I always wonder if it's up there with Stax SR-007 MK2.  

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

I'm happy with my HD800 set up so far, however I always wonder if it's up there with Stax SR-007 MK2.  

Th eonly set up that I have personally listened to and think sounded better than my WA5-LE/HD800 combo is the RSA A10 Thunderbolt/SR-009 combo but we are talking about a $11,000+ set up while my WA5-LE+HD800 is $6,500. Unless I have unlimited funds I don't see how I can justify the difference.
 
I actually listen to the SR-009 with the WES and Blue Hawaii also and IMO the sound out of the A-10 is the best of the 3.
 
 

 

[Ville19]

If anyone didn't already know, John Willet works for Sennheiser UK. I was confused by so many posts by him advertising HD800 on gearslutz and googled his name. I'm sure this is no secret though.
 
Anyhow I just ordered a pair of HD800's after listening pretty much every open dynamic headphone on the market. HD800 was the winner hands down.

 

[steve2151]

I've owned the HD800 for about 1 year and liked it so much out of the NFB10 that I sold my entire collection of mid-fi headphones (Q701, DT 990, HD 580, W5000) even though this is not an ideal pairing.
 
I bought an HE-6 the other day from the forums and found that it had much better synergy with the NFB10 than the HD800. I know that the Senns are capable of more though, so I'm thinking of picking up a balanced cable and an amp in the $1000 neighborhood. The Little Dot MK VIII SE comes to mind - has anyone heard this combination?

 

[John Willett]

Quote:

If anyone didn't already know, John Willet works for Sennheiser UK. I was confused by so many posts by him advertising HD800 on gearslutz and googled his name. I'm sure this is no secret though.
 
Anyhow I just ordered a pair of HD800's after listening pretty much every open dynamic headphone on the market. HD800 was the winner hands down.

 
CORRECTION - I do NOT work for Sennheiser UK.
 
I did work for Sennheiser until two years ago, I left them in January 2010.
 
It was clearly marked when I was working for them and the tag was removed when I left.
 
I have been running my own recording and consultancy business for the last two years (and for 30 years before that as a spare time business).
 
And I posted about the HD 800 just because I love them.

 
And I love my Grace m902b as well.

 

 

[ac500]

In your opinion is the m902/m903 particularly bright sounding with the HD800, or do you like it that way? I read some posts that said it pairs well but someone complained it's "a bit on the bright side". Perhaps they're saying this in contrast to very dark tube amps?
 
In any case, thanks for the suggestion for the Grace m902/m903. It seems my best bet for my next dac/amp upgrade, particularly because I like solid state and combo units, and because I trust that even if it doesn't deliver an HD800 at 90+%, it still should be very very good, as least good enough for me for a long time. That said I don't have plans of upgrading my amp yet but it's good to be aware of the options.

 

[Gabrielisc]

Only issue I have with the grace is that it doesnt have balanced out

 

[Audio-Omega]

Quote:

Th eonly set up that I have personally listened to and think sounded better than my WA5-LE/HD800 combo is the RSA A10 Thunderbolt/SR-009 combo but we are talking about a $11,000+ set up while my WA5-LE+HD800 is $6,500. Unless I have unlimited funds I don't see how I can justify the difference.
 
I actually listen to the SR-009 with the WES and Blue Hawaii also and IMO the sound out of the A-10 is the best of the 3.
 
 

I had trouble getting a good amp for Stax headphones so I bought HD800 and Apex Peak.  It's a nice combination and I haven't looked back since.  Give it what it is capable of and it will reward listeners with clarity, resolution and huge soundstage.  

 

[John Willett]

Quote:

In your opinion is the m902/m903 particularly bright sounding with the HD800, or do you like it that way? I read some posts that said it pairs well but someone complained it's "a bit on the bright side". Perhaps they're saying this in contrast to very dark tube amps?

 
I don't find either the Grace or the HD800 "bright" at all, just "correct" - music as it should be.
 
 

 

[John Willett]

Quote:

Only issue I have with the grace is that it doesnt have balanced out

 
It does, but not on the headphones output.

 
However - have you tried talking to Grace?
 
The m902 and m903 both have two headphone outputs - so it may very well be possible to have a modified version so that both outputs are used for a single pair of headphones balanced driven.
 
It may be interesting to ask them ..................
 
 
Actually - it may work now.
 
The specs say:

Balanced output @1kHz, 100k Ohm	+27dBu
Headphone output @1kHz, 50 Ohm load	+20.4dBu

 
So plugging balanced headphones into the balanced line outs may actually work very well - I have not tried it, though.