[preproman]

For (Jazz) vocals I prefer the HE-6 and the LCD-3Fs over the HD800.  I don't own a pair of 009s yet, but heard it many times as well as the 007s.  To this day, I still think the HD800 does a better job with large instrument bands i.e... Large orchestral works and Big Band / Swing (Jazz).  Of course the stage the HD800s give is perfect for that type of music

 

[lojay]

For (Jazz) vocals I prefer the HE-6 and the LCD-3Fs over the HD800.  I don't own a pair of 009s yet, but heard it many times as well as the 007s.  To this day, I still think the HD800 does a better job with large instrument bands i.e... Large orchestral works and Big Band / Swing (Jazz).  Of course the stage the HD800s give is perfect for that type of music

+1

But I'm not a Diana Krall fan. I'm a Mahler fan. So I guess you see why I'm sticking with my present gear

 

[preproman]

 
Yup - I would to if those were my preferred tunes..  That's a great setup for that.  I thought you would have preferred a more resolving DAC though.   

 

[Sorrodje]

At the very end, Audio choices are mostly relatives to Music tastes.  Fortunately it's all about music and it's NOT sport or gaming.  

 

[preproman]

At the very end, Audio choices are mostly relatives to Music tastes.  Fortunately it's all about music and it's NOT sport or gaming.

 

 
That's what it all boils down to..

 

[lojay]

Yup - I would to if those were my preferred tunes..  That's a great setup for that.  I thought you would have preferred a more resolving DAC though.   

I do, that's one reason why I went with the MSB over the AMR. I am aware that the likes of Bricasti will be more resolving but tonality is more important to me - and DACs that do both extraordinarily well will be very expensive. I hope the Yggydrasil will be an exception!

 

[lojay]

Cheers to that! No. 1 advice to newcomers on this forum.

 

[preproman]

I do, that's one reason why I went with the MSB over the AMR. I am aware that the likes of Bricasti will be more resolving but tonality is more important to me - and DACs that do both extraordinarily well will be very expensive. I hope the Yggydrasil will be an exception!

The Bricasti M1 is a DAC I have my eye on and does both very well - IMO.  Also, IMO the MSB and the AMR fit in the same group "type" of DACs where the M1, MA-1, BADA2 fit in a different group "type" of DACs.

 

[Sorrodje]

 I agree with the difficulty to match tonality and resolution.  My Totaldac A1 seems to do a fine job for that. Maybe not the last word though  but we're talking about expensive subtleties... Maybe chimeras... 

 

[MIKELAP]

  How would these pair with a Little Dot Mk IV?

I use the hd 800 with the LITTLEDOT MK3 among other amps i own with 6sn7 as power tubes with adapters and c3g's as driver wIth adapters for the price  its sounds very good  here's the link to the Littledot tube rolling guide thread and ask what they think of there MK4               http://www.head-fi.org/t/563884/little-dot-tube-amps-vacuum-tube-rolling-guide/9540#post_11503324

 

[inseconds99]

What dac/amp makes the hd800 sound more musical and less analytical for less then $500, I'm looking for a great bargain, or a stepping stone to higher end equipment in the future. Thank you in advance.

 

[kapanak]

What is dac/amp makes the hd800 more musical and less analytical for less then $500, I'm looking for a great bargain, or a stepping stone to higher end equipment in the future.

For amp, the Schiit Vali gives you that more warm and musical sound, but the Valhalla 2 is significantly better in terms of soundstage and resolution, and does add enough warmth to make it non-fatiguing.

For DAC, use anything non-Sabre and good for your price range. Schiit Modi 2 Uber is an example. With the Schiit Wyrd (necessary for HD800 use).

 

[Priidik]

What is dac/amp makes the hd800 more musical and less analytical for less then $500, I'm looking for a great bargain, or a stepping stone to higher end equipment in the future.

Thousand times suggested everywhere: Schiit Valhalla 2 or BH Crack.
Vintage quality integrated amplifiers are pretty decent for this kind of money.

 

[earthpeople]

There's also a deal on the Bottlehead Crack right now where you can get the Speedball addition for only $20 more 
 
http://bottlehead.com/product/crack-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit/

 

[ruthieandjohn]

I continue my quest to use my HD 800s as portable headphones, at least for wearing while doing work indoors at home.  This means I need a portable amp, and an earlier question elicted the Meier Audio Corda Quickstep as a great contender.
 
But now that I started using the Sony PHA-1 portable DAC / amp I already had and am VERY Pleased with its sound as compared to my reference HDVD 800, I am looking for a combination portable DAC / amp, not just amp alone.
 
Desired characteristics:
 

1. Better than the PHA-1 in sound quality on the Sennheiser HD 800 (that's gonna be HARD!)
2. DAC and amp
3. Direct Apple interface with 30-pin  iPod connector and 8-pin Lightening connector
4. Form factor making it stackable with iPod
5. Line In (for cases where I already have a well-produced analog signal.

 
Candidates I've been looking at include the HiFI M8 iPhone version, the Fostex HP-P1, and... well... that's it.  Geek Out 1000 looks good but does not have iDevice input (as I understand it); Chord Hugo is probably great but unaffordable (I'm looking for around $400 - $700 new; used for less is OK).
 
Any other suggestions?  Is there an iDevice / DAC version of the Meier Audio Corda Quickstep that was earlier recommended as an amp?
 
Thanks!!