[zigy626]

The best thing about the HD800 is that they are so comfortable to wear. Its easy to forget sometimes that you have headphones on. It makes it easy to imagine you are listening to some really expensive speakers. IMO LCD's will never be able to do that. Personally I feel that DAC's and Amps might come and go but when it comes to headphones I would keep the HD800 for a very long time. 

 

[preproman]

Quote:

 
This is one of those things I've easily tweaked with cables. My Beta doesn't sound that way at all, except yes it is more distant sounding than say a Dynalo/hi but not to a fault.

 
Mine don't either,  nor does my balanced M^3 with the ADA4627-1 op amps.  I prefer my Beta22 and M^3 over other soild state amps such as the BHA-1, Mjolnir, Burson 160D and a hole host of others.  It's just for me when the GS-X mk2 arrived is when the HD800s got better.

 

[Nick Dangerous]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but the HD800's are so good relative to the rest of the pack that it is almost boring to see so many of them at meets now. It's like a black hole sitting in the upper-middle of the headphone price continuum. Only the value headphones at one extreme and the super expensive 'stats on the other avoid its gravitational pull. Nearly everyone else eventually caves... 

ooooofalling....

 

[drez]

Yeah, I hate to say it, but the HD800's are so good relative to the rest of the pack that it is almost boring to see so many at meets now. It's like a black hole sitting in the upper-middle of the headphone price continuum. Only the value headphones at one extreme and the super expensive 'stats on the other avoid its gravitational pull. Nearly everyone else eventually caves... 

ooooofalling....

Depends on the criteria really, there are headphones that are more detailed or faster than the HD800but nothing can really touch them for focus, control, transparency and dynamics short of STAX in my limited experience...

 

[toschek]

I would still love to try out HE-6s one of these days, but the HD800 has removed all urgency from that desire.

 

[Maxvla]

Depends on the criteria really, there are headphones that are more detailed or faster than the HD800but nothing can really touch them for focus, control, transparency and dynamics short of STAX in my limited experience...

Which are?

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

Which are?

 
x2

 

[BournePerfect]

x2

x3 +1

-Daniel

 

[drez]

Which are?

SA5000 sounded more detailed and seemed to extract more texture, but were less controlled. Also some BA iem's are faster. As an all round transparent headphone the HD800 is unmatched at the price point though.

009's though were a significant step up from the HD800 in terms of detail and tonal density. No way I can afford them though, not at the moment anyway.

 

[palmfish]

I dont believe that SS gear "burns in," but I swear my DAC1 sounds smoother and richer today - no more hint of brightness I detected yesterday.
 
Im enjoying Ottmar Liebert as I type this and Ive never heard this album sound more rich, airy, articulate and natural. It was a long educational journey to the HD800, but I'm glad I finally arrived. Its the only headphone Ive ever heard that no frequency calls attention, bleeds over, or inflicts pain. Just smooth, natural, lifelike sound. My peeve has always been bass bloat that muddies up the mids. Even a trace of thickness and I cant hear anything else. 
 
The HD800s just NAIL the bass-to-mid transition. I couldnt be more pleased.

 

[Shahrose]

Quote:

SA5000 sounded more detailed and seemed to extract more texture, but were less controlled. Also some BA iem's are faster. As an all round transparent headphone the HD800 is unmatched at the price point though.

009's though were a significant step up from the HD800 in terms of detail and tonal density. No way I can afford them though, not at the moment anyway.

 
Friend, that one statement alone discredits the rest of your post. I owned both together for quite a while (with multiple cables). It's just not true.

 

[Frank I]

I am listening to Patricia Barber Modern Cool and listening to the track Company on the Taboo Mk111 with the hd800 and man oh man if anyone thinks the hd800 is bass light should listen to that track as It has real slam on the drums and the bass is very distinct with pin point focus in the soundstage with lots of air. Very special 

 

[palmfish]

Quote:

I am listening to Patricia Barber Modern Cool and listening to the track Company on the Taboo Mk111 with the hd800 and man oh man if anyone thinks the hd800 is bass light should listen to that track as It has real slam on the drums and the bass is very distinct with pin point focus in the soundstage with lots of air. Very special 

Great album Frank. I love her version of Fool on the Hill - its my favorite track on the album!

 

[palmfish]

BTW, I got to try my HD800 powered by a WA3 with Chatham 2399 power tube this morning. I admit it sounded very nice - very similar in mids and treble detail to my DAC1 only "wetter" if that makes sense. My Benchmark just sounded a little "dry" in comparison. Of course, the bass was a little bloated on the Woo, but I guess thats to be expected from an OTL amp.

 

[YoengJyh]

How you guys think about the Fostex TH900?
 
Some HD800 fans claimed TH900 is better.