[Viper2005]

  I didn't say a forward mid rage.  I said a rich mid range.  Well yeah - maybe a tad bit forward.  That would not hurt the sound stage one bit.

A Yulong DA8 with the Violectric V200 or Yulong A18 will do that for you in solid state, if you don't want to mess with tubes.  The A18 is more warmer and forward than the V200.

 

[pdrm360]

Has anyone compared the WA2 to the Crack for the HD800?  Which one pairs better with the HD800?

 

[Dillan]

  Has anyone compared the WA2 to the Crack for the HD800?  Which one pairs better with the HD800?

 
Interesting question.
 
I love my WA2 and love the sounds different tubes give it.  I am very happy with the purchase and think it compliments the 800's very well.
 
I haven't actually ever used the Crack before, (heard good things of course) so I would like to know if anyone has tried both as well. 
 

 

[koiloco]

  Has anyone compared the WA2 to the Crack for the HD800?  Which one pairs better with the HD800?

I haven't heard the WA2 but I did hear the HD800/crack combo.  With good tube, the crack is really great with HD800 even though it's not a very warm amp to my ears.
I am also very curious about the WA2.  I've talked to some people who really like the HD800/WA2 combo.  DG is one of those owners.

 

[drez]

According to measurements of flat speakers in a treated room the rise in db from 6-10 kHz is normal. See slide 29.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/16343460/Olive%20ALMA%202014%20Winter%20Symposium%20Headphone%20Talk%20copy.key.pdf

 
The frequency response of flat measuring speaker in treated room is quite a bit different from HD800 frequency response - the level at 6-8 khz may be similar, but the target response Harman used has a heap more between 2-6 khz.
 
Apart from that the amount of treble looks about right which is surprising - maybe the boost from 2-6 khz balances out the treble a bit?  (Serious question - I am ignorant of EQ)

 

[vincent215]

   
 
A Planar with imaging and the sound stage of the HD800s  

cost only $850

 

[maarek99]

I disagree with the view that the shrill treble on the HD800s is a product of the recordings that are fed into it, for two reasons.

First, my speakers have a flat frequency response curve. When I listen to most recordings on them, it sounds like live music. Less so the HD800, unless I EQ it to reduce the treble.

Second, if you compare the frequency response curve for the HD600 vs the HD800, you'll see that the latter is much louder through the mid-treble frequencies. My experience with the HD600, as well as every review of it I've read, is that it's extremely neutral, albeit somewhat lacking in speed and detail. I have a hard time believing that the HD800 is curing a defect of the HD600 in this respect. In any case, my ears side with the HD600 response, and even more with the HD800 tuned to match its predecessor.

 
When I plug the HD800 to the Asus Essence STX, it has too much treble and clinical. When I plug them into the V-DACII paired with a Lake People G100 amp, it sounds very neutral with almost no treble boost. When I plug it into my Onkyo stereoamp, it's somewhere in between but still sounds good. Only the Essence STX makes it sound too piercing (and missing texture too)
 
HD800 changes surprisingly much.

 

[Dillan]

   
When I plug the HD800 to the Asus Essence STX, it has too much treble and clinical. When I plug them into the V-DACII paired with a Lake People G100 amp, it sounds very neutral with almost no treble boost. When I plug it into my Onkyo stereoamp, it's somewhere in between but still sounds good. Only the Essence STX makes it sound too piercing (and missing texture too)
 
HD800 changes surprisingly much.

 
Oh of course.
 
I dont think the Essence STX is suitable at all for the HD 800.
 

 

[pdrm360]

  I haven't heard the WA2 but I did hear the HD800/crack combo.  With good tube, the crack is really great with HD800 even though it's not a very warm amp to my ears.
I am also very curious about the WA2.  I've talked to some people who really like the HD800/WA2 combo.  DG is one of those owners.

 
How was the HD800/Crack combo in compare to your HD800/WA22 combo? Thanks!

 

[TwoEars]

   
Oh of course.
 
I dont think the Essence STX is suitable at all for the HD 800.
 

You'd be surprised. The essence stx is a $200 card from a major manufacturer with all that entails in terms of volume and lowering costs.
 
And you don't pay for chassi or PSU, only for the card itself. So that's probably the equivalent of something like at least $500-$600 from a smaller manufacturer who has to make a custom chassi and so on.
 
It has a high-end DA and swappable op-amps and that card is certainly powerful enough to drive the HD800.
 
I bet with the right OP-amps and a little EQ-ing the essence STX will sound amazing for $200....

 

[Dillan]

 
You'd be surprised. The essence stx is a $200 card from a major manufacturer with all that entails in terms of volume and lowering costs.
 
And you don't pay for chassi or PSU, only for the card itself. So that's probably the equivalent of something like at least $500-$600 from a smaller manufacturer who has to make a custom chassi and so on.
 
It has a high-end DA and swappable op-amps and that card is certainly powerful enough to drive the HD800.
 
I bet with the right OP-amps and a little EQ-ing the essence STX will sound amazing for $200....

Oh yes.  I am fully aware.
 
I wasn't disrespecting it as a quality sound card. 
 
I love Asus and most of their products.
 
I meant it as.. the essence doesn't compliment the HD800 very well. 
 
Not "can't" - If that makes sense.

And of course that's speaking as it is..  With upgrades and EQ tweaking like you mentioned.. Things could change I guess.

 

 

[TwoEars]

 

Oh yes.  I am fully aware.
 
I wasn't disrespecting it as a quality sound card. 
 
I love Asus and most of their products.
 
I meant it as.. the essence doesn't compliment the HD800 very well. 
 
Not "can't" - If that makes sense.

And of course that's speaking as it is..  With upgrades and EQ tweaking like you mentioned.. Things could change I guess.

 

 
Roger

 

[erikfreedom]

hd 800 deserve much more than an asus essence stx. I have had the card for more than 2 years. it is a very good sound card but not for the hd 800. it c'ant drive them properly. thin sound with no bottom end and very hot unpleasant treble. and the highest gain setting is not gonna change a thing. this card sound surprisingly good with th900 and denon d7000 headphones.

 

[Dillan]

  hd 800 deserve much more than an asus essence stx. I have had the card for more than 2 years. it is a very good sound card but not for the hd 800. it c'ant drive them properly. thin sound with no bottom end and very hot unpleasant treble. and the highest gain setting is not gonna change a thing. this card sound surprisingly good with th900 and denon d7000 headphones.

 
I could see that.

 

 

[preproman]

  A Yulong DA8 with the Violectric V200 or Yulong A18 will do that for you in solid state, if you don't want to mess with tubes.  The A18 is more warmer and forward than the V200.

 
Thanks..  I like my amps to lean more towards the neutral side.