Long have I been away from this thread, mainly bacause I have searched for the proper amp for the hd800. My balanced Bijou wasn't quite there, so the search was on.
I started with building a balanced push-pull hybrid with really expensive iron, which still is yet to have it's day, but in the meantime, Dr. Cavalli allowed me the honor of building the first prototype of a SS FET amp. Since this was a new design, we decided to try SE first, then balanced after the kinks were worked out of the design.
Well, it worked well enough I have kept it SE - me advocating a SS, SE amp? For the hd800, in my system, yes.
After also trading my SS source for a (far pricier) tube source, and changing out the wretched EH tubes, source provides a bit of warmth that was lacking in the ice princess Azur 840c.
The hd800 needs a firm hand - oh, it'll do what you say, but to do it well, or exceptionally, it needs to be driven. I've known that all along.
So, now I love the hd800 all over again, and wanted a true head to head comparison with the he60, it's cousin. That has been MY personal objective all along - to have one stat rig and one dynamic rig, equal within a small margin of error. I *think* I'm there, but it is really hard to do a side by side, as both topologies have an acclimation period. Granted the electrostats grab you immediately, but the hd800 bass extends far better, which really changes the whole presentation, with perhaps a preferred visceral impact.
Sadly, I just don't think you can make this type comparison in a meet setting (not enough time), but dynamic to dynamic comparisons will be quite interesting.
Either way, I have a solid candidate to be THE hd800 amp, and a contrasting solution coming online, maybe by CJ.
Finally, I was considering selling the hd800, and just getting a backup pair of he60, but not now.
Oh, and that 'sterile, analytical' rap - complete rubbish. It is either the source or the amp, or both. I'll be able to make a pretty substantial case for this in Chicago.