[BobMajor]

Hi UncleEric,
I've been running my Zana Deux for 3 years and finally had to replace the 6C33C tubes. I am now using some that I had bought even before I got the amp. They are 1969 "winged C" Svetlanas. I can notice a slight improvement over the previous 6C33Cs which were 1971 Ulianovs. It isn't enough to get excited about. What has been exciting for me was buying a Bybee Wire Power Purifier. I'll admit it was wildly expensive but I'm still smiling after 4 months.
I found that the 6SL7s are a little sensitive to vibration when they are hot and I've had to replace a few.
 

 

[guido]

Quote:

Thanks Ue,  its funny how people hear and prefer so many different amps, headphones, sources.  
can any one suggest a lower end tube amp to pair with the 800s?  maybe somewhere i nthe 300-600 new or used range?
 
 
 
Perhaps one of the Mapletree offerings?

 

 

[skeptic]

Quote:

Thanks Ue,  its funny how people hear and prefer so many different amps, headphones, sources.  
can any one suggest a lower end tube amp to pair with the 800s?  maybe somewhere i nthe 300-600 new or used range?

One excellent modestly priced option for the HD800's is the Bottlehead Crack.  I am really enjoying this combo, and it is also a great entry into DIY if you build the kit yourself (the instructions are step by step, with color pictures, and very beginner friendly).  You can also buy them preassembled/used.

 

[TheManko]

Now that I've owned the HD 800, T1 and LCD-2 for a while I must say that overall I like the HD 800 the most. I've seen plenty of comments to the contrary, but at least with my system and what I listen to I think the HD 800s are the best. I really enjoy the big image and especially the comfort. Being able to remove both the ear pads and the headband have proven to be an nice feature since I've cleaned them two times since buying them a little more than a year ago and they're in pristine shape thanks to it. The T1 and LCD-2 are still very fine headphones, but I always come back to the HD 800s and use them the most. I'm planning on getting the various amps and cables to maximize the potential in all of them at some point to see how good they can really get, but with the Hegel HD10 dac and SPL Auditor I think the HD 800 sound the best of all three with their stock cables.

 

[.Sup]

Quote:

Now that I've owned the HD 800, T1 and LCD-2 for a while I must say that overall I like the HD 800 the most. I've seen plenty of comments to the contrary, but at least with my system and what I listen to I think the HD 800s are the best. I really enjoy the big image and especially the comfort. Being able to remove both the ear pads and the headband have proven to be an nice feature since I've cleaned them two times since buying them a little more than a year ago and they're in pristine shape thanks to it. The T1 and LCD-2 are still very fine headphones, but I always come back to the HD 800s and use them the most. I'm planning on getting the various amps and cables to maximize the potential in all of them at some point to see how good they can really get, but with the Hegel HD10 dac and SPL Auditor I think the HD 800 sound the best of all three with their stock cables.

I also enjoy HD800 with Auditor a lot
 

 

[MacedonianHero]

Gotta say I've never heard the HD800s sound as good as I'm hearing them now in my new rig....wow....truly flagship quality headphones.

Blue Train (by John Coltrane) --> Cambridge Audio 650C CD Player --> W4S DAC-2 --> balanced Kimber Hero XLRs --> WA22 (tubes: 5u4G NOS Sylvania, 6SN7 NOS Sylvanias, 7236 NOS Tung-Sols) --> balanced Cardas Gold headphone cable --> HD800s --> my very happy ears.

 

[Shahrose]

I'm just amassing different cables for the HD800s now. After trying out many different flagships, I've always returned to the 800s.

 

[BattleBrat]

Are you interested in a 4ft markl  HD800 adrenaline cable?, I need to get a 10footer and need to sell mine

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

Are you interested in a 4ft markl  HD800 adrenaline cable?, I need to get a 10footer and need to sell mine

I would certainly be interested if it was a couple of feet longer. Anyways, this is a discussion for PM.

 

[Audio-Omega]

Listening to The Songs of Distant Earth by Mike Oldfield through HD800 was like listening to a new album.  I didn't realise I was missing so much minute details.  

 

[musicman59]

Selling my DHC Complement cable.
 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/565281/double-helix-cables-complement-for-hd800
 
 
 
 

 

[Audioholic of Finland]

Quote:

These Headphones IMO are like a High End Speaker, they need the right amplifier, and the right supporting equipment!
 
 

 
What they really need is first-digit-zero -drive impedance as all non-flat impedance phones. Audiophile limit is 1 ohm. EQing these masterpieces of personal electroacoustics tens...hundreds ohms impedance is pure insult.  Most likely result of this abuse is coloration to bass and treble i.e impedance extremes freq. ranges.
 
My ques is that almost every user reported sound"issues" with this Übermacht-Senn are actually too high drive impedance issues. Drive impedance should be among first things to tell about associaed test equipment in headphone reviews.
 
Watch your drive impedances, people!  Remember: 1 ohm MAX !
 

 

[monoethylene]

Aehmm I drive them with the 120 Ohm output of the Sonett which is better than the ca. 0 Ohm output IMO..

 

[Audioholic of Finland]

Quote:

Aehmm I drive them with the 120 Ohm output of the Sonett which is better than the ca. 0 Ohm output IMO..

120 ohm drive makes humps in HD 800´s bass- and treble ranges. Your HD 800 is severely impedance-EQed, insane high value. This reference phones whole idea is there is no-own-sonic-signatures.

Now it´s über-neutral purity is gone. You definetely have sonic signature with 120 ohms humping response.

 

[monoethylene]

Sure, I ve changed the FR of the HD800 but who claims that it should be driven with 0 Ohm output impedance? Further, I want to listen to music and not to analyze music..