[Telefonmann]

   
Should be just fine.  What is your source?

At the moment (sadly) its a Focusrite Saffire Audio Interface, will get an RME Fireface in a few days, but meanwhile looking for a better DAC on the long run.

 

[thecrow]

Hi everyone

I also asked this question on a hdva600 thread but with your experience of the hdvd800......


I'm currently enjoying my hd800s with the typical pairing of my soloist and arcam irdac. I'm contemplating the hdva600.

I listened to the hdvd800 using the ch800s cables and my initial impressions where very favourable.
I keep reading that the dac in the hdvd800 is nothing exceptional. Good but not exceptional.

Does anyone have any experience with the irdac and the hdva600/hvdv800 amp?

In theory the hdva600 looks like a fair match with the irdac having a little bit of warmth and good punch and fair soundstage.

Due to financial issues should I just grab the hdva600 and use it with my irdac......and later upgrade dacs?
Or am I quite better off with the hdvd800?

I also read conflicting views re the importance in SQ in using/ not using balanced inputs into these amps - your views?


Your experienced views would be much appreciated

Peter

 

[ALRAINBOW]

The dac inside the hdvd800 is ok but not at the level of the amp headphone pairing. Far better dacs yield far better sound overall. Even when I use my servers as a source fort the dac it's still thin
Better to save the money for a better dac later.

 

[Telefonmann]

The dac inside the hdvd800 is ok but not at the level of the amp headphone pairing. Far better dacs yield far better sound overall. Even when I use my servers as a source fort the dac it's still thin
Better to save the money for a better dac later

Any good advice for DACs that may match well and can be recommended?

 

[ALRAINBOW]

The ifi dsd micro is a very well spent investment. It's only 500 and its one the dacs that does dsd very well it's PCM is good as well. It's also portable amp dac as well.

 

[elvergun]

I just received an HDVA600...been listening to it all day.
 
 
Do I like this amp?
 
 

 

[RCBinTN]

  Any good advice for DACs that may match well and can be recommended?

 
I have the Schiit Gungnir and it sounds great with the HDVA600 - HD800.  Price around $850.
For about $550 you can get the Schiit Bifrost that's not a bad DAC either.
There are far more expensive DAC's out there, that I don't have enough experience with to comment.
With a rig like the HDVA600 and HD800, you need a decent DAC, I agree with Al.

 

[elvergun]

The HD800 sounds fantastic with the HDVA600.   What surprised me is how good it drives the T5p.   This is an added bonus which I did not expect.  And all of this out of the SE out.   So far, I love this amp.
 
I know some have said that the balanced cable makes little difference...but I have to find out myself.   The next step is to buy a good balanced cable.  I will probably buy it used in case there is little difference, that way I can sell it with little loss. 
 
 
So far the HDVA600 is kicking the crap out of the V200 I recently sold.  I thought the two would be more or less equal, but the Sennheiser is a much, much better amp.
 

 

[defbear]

I have the HD800HDVD And a set of HD800 phones and both the single ended and balanced cables. Either input sounds great. I much prefer Balanced. Bigger soundstage. Even better bass and mids.

 

[joshk4]

Hey guys,
 
Was wondering from your experiences and knowledge, would it be better for me to get a HDVA 600 + DAC or HDVD 800?
 
I've read through so many posts, and it seems that people are saying the HDVA 600 + DAC for the same price will outperform the HDVD 800.
 
I have tested the HD 800 + HDVD 800 combo and the detail and clarity and punchy + fast bass is so so nice.
I have tested the HD 800 + Oppo PM-1 and thought that to me personally, it was pretty bad. No comparison to the above whatsoever. 
 
(AUD)
1. HDVD 800: $2097
2. HDVA 600: $1399
3. Nuforce Dac-80: $1099
4. Nuforce Dac-100: $1099
5. Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus: $485
 
So I could do a (2) + (3) or (4) combination, which is slightly more.
Also not sure how (5) compares to (3) or (4).
 
Thanks

 

[kazsud]

Hey guys,

Was wondering from your experiences and knowledge, would it be better for me to get a HDVA 600 + DAC or HDVD 800?

I've read through so many posts, and it seems that people are saying the HDVA 600 + DAC for the same price will outperform the HDVD 800.

I have tested the HD 800 + HDVD 800 combo and the detail and clarity and punchy + fast bass is so so nice.
I have tested the HD 800 + Oppo PM-1 and thought that to me personally, it was pretty bad. No comparison to the above whatsoever. 

(AUD)
1. HDVD 800: $2097
2. HDVA 600: $1399
3. Nuforce Dac-80: $1099
4. Nuforce Dac-100: $1099
5. Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus: $485

So I could do a (2) + (3) or (4) combination, which is slightly more.
Also not sure how (5) compares to (3) or (4).

Thanks

Always get a separate Dac but in this case definitely yes.
I had the Dac-100 it was my first Dac/amp for my hd800s. Although the amp was good the Dac was way too bright for the hd800s.
I would get a gungnir and call it a day. This will be a great setup.

 

[defbear]

I have read more than once, on head-fi, that the Gungnir is bright with the HD800's as well. Can someone further comment please?

 

[kazsud]

I have read more than once, on head-fi, that the Gungnir is bright with the HD800's as well. Can someone further comment please?

Could always Get a used pwd mkii for about $1,400.00. I highly recommend it coming from the Dac-100 and Oppo 105D which both have the same dad chips.

 

[joshk4]

Always get a separate Dac but in this case definitely yes.
I had the Dac-100 it was my first Dac/amp for my hd800s. Although the amp was good the Dac was way too bright for the hd800s.
I would get a gungnir and call it a day. This will be a great setup.

 
Cool thanks...
 
So I guess from your viewpoint, HDVA 600 + Schiit Gungnir is better than HDVD 800.
 
I so hate it when I cant get to demo it
 
I remember reading so many rave reviews on HE-560 for clarity, detail and bass etc... that when I was able to demo the HD800 and HE-560... I could not place HE-560 anywhere near HD 800.
But then realized that its personal audio taste here in play.
 
Argghh so hard to decide...

 

[elvergun]

   
Cool thanks...
 
So I guess from your viewpoint, HDVA 600 + Schiit Gungnir is better than HDVD 800.
 
I so hate it when I cant get to demo it
 
I remember reading so many rave reviews on HE-560 for clarity, detail and bass etc... that when I was able to demo the HD800 and HE-560... I could not place HE-560 anywhere near HD 800.
But then realized that its personal audio taste here in play.
 
Argghh so hard to decide...

 
Well, if you buy the HDVD 800 and you don't like the DAC, you can't just take it out and sell it - you are stuck with it.  
 
If you buy the HDVA 600 and something like the Yulong D200, you will have a very capable DAC, an extra headphone amplifier...and an extra set of outputs you can use to connect something else to the DAC.   If you end up not liking it or you want to upgrade, you can "take it out" and sell it.