[Dopaminer]

Who made those cables?

They`re made by Oyaide, the cable/connector company.  If you scroll down this page, you can see lots of versions . . . . 
 
http://www.oyaide.com/audiomijinko.html

 

[traehekat]

Anyone have experience using the HD800 with the Valhalla 2? 

 

[BirdManOfCT]

   
HD800 from a laptop sounds surpassingly OK.  The music is all there, just there is no dynamic contrast, separation etc. etc.
 
Unless they know what they are meant to be hearing, they probably won't miss it…  

Good point. I compare to my previous high-end speaker system so have a good idea of what I'm expecting.

 

[traehekat]

   
The 560 is closer to the HD650 in terms of attack.. both have a softer, 'fluffier' quality compared to the sharper, more deliberate nature of the HD800 (again, upstream gear is very important for the HD800).  What you pair the HD800 with matters almost as much as the HD800 itself.. the HD650/HE-560?  Not as much (but still quite important, IME).  The 560 is a little more laid back like the 650, as well.. more so than HD800.. but I find the HD800 to possess a beguiling degree of silky smoothness.
 
What qualities do you want to preserve in the 650's sound/voicing when moving up to the HD800 or HE-560?

Well, I like the warmth and smoothness of the HD650. I like that I can listen to them for hours at average to high listening levels without much fatigue. 

 

[sp3llv3xit]

 
They`re made by Oyaide, the cable/connector company.  If you scroll down this page, you can see lots of versions . . . . 
 
http://www.oyaide.com/audiomijinko.html

 
 
Thanks!

 

[citraian]

Well, I like the warmth and smoothness of the HD650. I like that I can listen to them for hours at average to high listening levels without much fatigue. 

HE560 and HD800 are kind of far from the HD650 sound. If less to none fatigue is what you want then you might want to take a look at the LCD-2s and why not the LCD-3s.

 

[Chodi]

 
Well, I like the warmth and smoothness of the HD650. I like that I can listen to them for hours at average to high listening levels without much fatigue. 

Honestly if you like the sound of the 650 but want a change of pace that will give you that same warm feeling then go for the HE500. You can still get them new for a good discount and there are many available used for even less. If you can handle the weight they are the least fatiguing headphones I have ever owned. They also are very good sounding headphones with that special ortho sound that is very magical. The new 560 is nothing like the HE500 and to my mind that's a shame. They had a signature sound with those 500's that I will miss. The weight was just too much for me. If you have a strong neck go for it.

 

[Viper2005]

Honestly if you like the sound of the 650 but want a change of pace that will give you that same warm feeling then go for the HE500. You can still get them new for a good discount and there are many available used for even less. If you can handle the weight they are the least fatiguing headphones I have ever owned. They also are very good sounding headphones with that special ortho sound that is very magical. The new 560 is nothing like the HE500 and to my mind that's a shame. They had a signature sound with those 500's that I will miss. The weight was just too much for me. If you have a strong neck go for it.

Alternatively, the HE400i is quite similar to the 650, and is even more smoother than the HE500. Completely non fatigueing, supremely comfortable and lightweight. Definately worth checking out..

 

[shabta]

I had the HD650 for years before getting the HD800. Yes the HD650 is warmer, but it is an artificial warmth. I don't find the HD800 more fatiguing than the HD650. I can and do listen to the HD800 for hours on end. 
 
In exchange for the HD650s warmth, you get detail in spades from the HD800: Clarity, air and a spaciousness that is almost like listening to speakers. Well worth the trade...

 

[nigeljames]

  I had the HD650 for years before getting the HD800. Yes the HD650 is warmer, but it is an artificial warmth. I don't find the HD800 more fatiguing than the HD650. I can and do listen to the HD800 for hours on end. 
 
In exchange for the HD650s warmth, you get detail in spades from the HD800: Clarity, air and a spaciousness that is almost like listening to speakers. Well worth the trade...

 
+ 1

 

[Klots]

Been visiting this thread for a few months and I can't take it anymore Put my HD700 for sale and when they are sold I'll buy HD800. I ordered speedball + film output caps for my BH Crack (Siemens E80cc/Tung sol 5998). I have read that Crack pairs well with HD800. And at the moment I am happy with my Audiolab M-Dac too. So I can't wait

 

[bargyu]

Hi! This is my third post, so please read cautiously as it may contain serious faults. Previously, I wrote that generally I prefer my tube setup with a simply John Kenny Ciunas DAC vs HDVD-800 except for hd-audio and classical music. Recently, I upgraded my dac to the Calyx 24/192 (yes, I know there is their Femto product for $7k, but I like to go slowly  step-by-step). Generally, this dac resolves more detail and at the same time less harsh. The difference between the warm sound of my diy tube amp and the HDVD-800 shrank considerably. Basically, I know almost exclusively listen to the HDVD-800 and I dont find it analytical or fatiguing anymore. I thought this may be interesting for those looking for the best amp/dac combo as one view from an HD800 owner.
 
I borrowed Nordost Valhalla in an attempt to go symmetric - I dont have the CH800S or other symmetric headphone cable, yet, so I use the stock jack one -, but found no difference from the Eccose Composer RCA or a cheap Audioquest Niagara RCA like copy from China or a simple studio XLR. I will return the Valhalla and maybe its not the cable's fault, but probably my system, especially without symmetric connection to the headphone, is not good enough to reveal the difference. I decided to ask a local specialist to make a very good quality XLR cable and also a headphone cable. Maybe this is a risky choice, but his XLR cables are selling for €800 used - €1200 new - and he says its not a big deal to make a better cable than the stock one, but its a challenge to make the best out of it. I will get it in January-February 2015, so looking forward, whether cables matter or not - at least in my system.
 
Please feel free, if you have good or bad experience with the balanced mode or with aftermarket cables. As far as I read, Cardas and some others are regarded mostly as an upgrade, but the stock cable is also generally said to be good.

 

[skeptic]

Thanks for the heads up.

 
No problem!  If you end up picking up one of those oyaide cables, let us know how you like it.  Certainly looks very.  I wonder if they offer a 4pin xlr option.

 

[skeptic]

  I had the HD650 for years before getting the HD800. Yes the HD650 is warmer, but it is an artificial warmth. I don't find the HD800 more fatiguing than the HD650. I can and do listen to the HD800 for hours on end. 
 
In exchange for the HD650s warmth, you get detail in spades from the HD800: Clarity, air and a spaciousness that is almost like listening to speakers. Well worth the trade...

 
To be fair though, you're listening on a Leben.  With a lot of amps, and even some OTL tube amps (the BH crack is one example), hd800's will still be slightly more fatiguing than hd650's (at equal loudness) simply because there is more treble.
 
The mainline is like the Leben in this regard.  I pulled my anax mod and was delighted to find that I no longer had any listening fatigue with my hd800's, but I think it is reasonable for prospective buyers to dive in knowing that this may or may not be an issue for them.  Thankfully, the anax mod is a very very easy fix if fatigue does prove to be an issue.  Takes away a little of the hd800's air, but they still trounce the hd650's in every aspect of the sound.   
 
Also, in response to other posts, I am among the group that does not find LCD-2's to be a clear upgrade from hd650's.  Better deep bass sure.  But I find instrument timbre and soundstage better on the hd650's, and then there is the weight/comfort issue.  Can't speak to LCD-3's.

 

[analog'd]

  I had the HD650 for years before getting the HD800. Yes the HD650 is warmer, but it is an artificial warmth. I don't find the HD800 more fatiguing than the HD650. I can and do listen to the HD800 for hours on end. 
 
In exchange for the HD650s warmth, you get detail in spades from the HD800: Clarity, air and a spaciousness that is almost like listening to speakers. Well worth the trade...

yes indeed!