[MattTCG]

I'm not hearing great things about the z1r.  Maybe you shouldn't even take it out of the box and return it instead. 

  Nah, let me know what you think of the Sony. 

 

[beowulf]

  I'm not hearing great things about the z1r.  Maybe you shouldn't even take it out of the box and return it instead. 

  Nah, let me know what you think of the Sony. 

 
DHL literally just dropped the box.
 
I'm inevitably going to compare them a lot with the HD800S (and CD3000 but that's not relevant in this thread) tonight, so might share some impressions about that. I expect the two to be very different but have many traits on common at the same time.

 

[Sonic Defender]

   
DHL literally just dropped the box.
 
I'm inevitably going to compare them a lot with the HD800S (and CD3000 but that's not relevant in this thread) tonight, so might share some impressions about that. I expect the two to be very different but have many traits on common at the same time.

I wish you would. I have the 800S and still like a more bass centric alternative that is still a serious high quality sound signature. The Z1R is on my short list for sure.

 

[ufospls2]

It might be half the price, but the HD800S stacks up well against these two. It is a bit bass light for me, but I am a basshead and I have that covered with my other two headphones. The HD800S does what it does very, very well. 

 

[MattTCG]

^^ Have you tried some gentle EQ for the bass? A little EQ makes the 800S my go to cans for bass. 

 

[ufospls2]

  ^^ Have you tried some gentle EQ for the bass? A little EQ makes the 800S my go to cans for bass. 

Yup I always run a bit EQ for bass with the 800S's. It certainly improves them. Well, I should say, makes them more to my liking. 

 

[Sonic Defender]

  Yup I always run a bit EQ for bass with the 800S's. It certainly improves them. Well, I should say, makes them more to my liking. 

Same here, just a gentle lift at three frequencies using a parametric EQ (Easy Q) and I find the 800S really handles the modest EQ boost. I just make sure to take the preamp gain down enough to compensate for the boost to avoid clipping.

 

[MIKELAP]

Made the jump to the ¨S¨model really like that extra bass compare to the HD800 and a little less treble .Happy camper .

 

[Sonic Defender]

  Made the jump to the ¨S¨model really like that extra bass compare to the HD800 and a little less treble .Happy camper .

Never had the 800, but yes the 800S is pretty darn sweet. Not sure if you like to do so, but the 800S seems to take a gentle bass boost really well.

 

[batracom]

What is the general opinion regarding a good, neutral and transparent solid state amp, preferable under 1000 GBP? I have made the switch from HD800 to HD800S recently, whilst keeping the rest of my set up, particularly the Valhalla 2 amp (currently with Reflektor 1975 tubes) whose function was previously that of making the HD800 sound more palatable. I now feel it's providing excessive warmth to the HD800S, and losing some transparency in the process, and adding a tad of congestion in large orchestral scores. Was therefore thinking of moving to a "colder" amp. Would the Lehmann Black Cube Linear be a good fit in such a scenario? Other suggestions welcome.

Many thanks!

 

[ph58]

What is the general opinion regarding a good, neutral and transparent solid state amp, preferable under 1000 GBP? I have made the switch from HD800 to HD800S recently, whilst keeping the rest of my set up, particularly the Valhalla 2 amp (currently with Reflektor 1975 tubes) whose function was previously that of making the HD800 sound more palatable. I now feel it's providing excessive warmth to the HD800S, and losing some transparency in the process, and adding a tad of congestion in large orchestral scores. Was therefore thinking of moving to a "colder" amp. Would the Lehmann Black Cube Linear be a good fit in such a scenario? Other suggestions welcome.

Many thanks!

. Hi , take à look on the Audio GD NFB 28 , a full balanced all in one DAC Amp Preamp ! Thanks .

 

[batracom]

. Hi , take à look on the Audio GD NFB 28 , a full balanced all in one DAC Amp Preamp ! Thanks .

Thanks for your suggestion, but I already have a DAC I am happy with, would rather concentrate the funds on a dedicated amp.

 

[Sorrodje]

and losing some transparency in the process, and adding a tad of congestion in large orchestral scores.

 
It's inherent to the 800S compared to HD800  

 

[batracom]

It's inherent to the 800S compared to HD800  

Indeed, I too was aware of that, but don't you think I would regain some of it back by moving from a Valhalla 2 to a more resolving/transparent amp? I feel that I am adding double warmth to the sound now, both via tubes and HD800S...

 

[GearMe]

What is the general opinion regarding a good, neutral and transparent solid state amp, preferable under 1000 GBP? I have made the switch from HD800 to HD800S recently, whilst keeping the rest of my set up, particularly the Valhalla 2 amp (currently with Reflektor 1975 tubes) whose function was previously that of making the HD800 sound more palatable. I now feel it's providing excessive warmth to the HD800S, and losing some transparency in the process, and adding a tad of congestion in large orchestral scores. Was therefore thinking of moving to a "colder" amp. Would the Lehmann Black Cube Linear be a good fit in such a scenario? Other suggestions welcome.

Many thanks!

Haven't heard the Reflektors but how about swapping tubes to remove some of the warmth?