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People would say otherwise, but I found the HD800 to only start to sound impressive out of TOTL rigs.
If you don't want to invest at least a $1,000+ on a amp, I don't think the HD800S will give you a wow sound.
It can still sound good & better than competing headphones priced around & below it without a good amp, but it will be sorely lacking in some areas.
I agree with this completely.
I guess I'm the other side of the street. HD800S + PC and iDSD = brilliant. With RHA's L1 it was sublime. Out of my X7 with AM5 amp - majestic. I haven't found it lacking. I'm sure someone will tell me I've never heard it on a top notch set-up, but I've been to meets, and I've been using it with a $900 OTL tube (VE Enterprise) for the last few months.
Personally I find the assertion that it can't sound impressive out of anything but TOTL to be somewhat misleading. It impresses the heck out of me on far more modest gear.