[pearljam50000]

So you sold your T1 and kept the HD800?

 

[RUMAY408]

At the last Head-Fi meet, here is how I would rank some popular Amps best (10) to worst (1) with the HD800
 
Schiit Yggdrasil DAC>Woo Audio WA5 (Royal Sophia Princess 300B tubes $1200 each X4)  10  
                                  >Cavalli Liquid Crimson  9
                                  >Cavalli Carbon  7
Schiit Uber DAC>Cary HH-1      7
Lynx Hilo>Woo Audio WA22     8.5
               >Audio-gd Master 8   7.5
Meier Daccord>Meier Classic   7
Schiit Gugnir>Schiit Mjolnir          6.5
Various DAC's>Valhalla 2           6.8
 
The Higher end tube amps rule, they pull more out of the HD800 and as expected they scale up with the better DAC's

 

[pearljam50000]

Vali- 220mW RMS per channel
Asgard 2 -380mW RMS per channel
Both@ 300ohm
Doesn't it make a big difference?
I can stretch my budget with an extra 100$ if needed, and there is a big difference in sound.

 

[Mr Rick]

Vali- 220mW RMS per channel
Asgard 2 -380mW RMS per channel
Both@ 300ohm
Doesn't it make a big difference?
I can stretch my budget with an extra 100$ if needed, and there is a big difference in sound.

No, there is not a big difference. Either is good choice. I have both.

 

[shabta]

Vali- 220mW RMS per channel
Asgard 2 -380mW RMS per channel
Both@ 300ohm
Doesn't it make a big difference?
I can stretch my budget with an extra 100$ if needed, and there is a big difference in sound.

Get the cheaper one and save up for something better later on...

 

[bearFNF]

Vali- 220mW RMS per channel
Asgard 2 -380mW RMS per channel
Both@ 300ohm
Doesn't it make a big difference?
I can stretch my budget with an extra 100$ if needed, and there is a big difference in sound.

 
 

  No, there is not a big difference. Either is good choice. I have both.

 
 

  Get the cheaper one and save up for something better later on...

I agree with this I have both also and prefer the Vali over the Asgarf 2. My Asgard 2 is relegated to pre-amp duty now.

 

[whirlwind]

  At the last Head-Fi meet, here is how I would rank some popular Amps best (10) to worst (1) with the HD800
 
Schiit Yggdrasil DAC>Woo Audio WA5 (Royal Sophia Princess 300B tubes $1200 each X4)  10  
                                  >Cavalli Liquid Crimson  9
                                  >Cavalli Carbon  7
Schiit Uber DAC>Cary HH-1      7
Lynx Hilo>Woo Audio WA22     8.5
               >Audio-gd Master 8   7.5
Meier Daccord>Meier Classic   7
Schiit Gugnir>Schiit Mjolnir          6.5
Various DAC's>Valhalla 2           6.8
 
The Higher end tube amps rule, they pull more out of the HD800 and as expected they scale up with the better DAC's

Happy to read your findings....I am loving the HD800 with my MAD Ear +HD and I will be getting a nice custom OTL in the not so distant future.....man I can not wait to hear the difference.
 
Thanks for posting your findings

 

[guido]

I am simply loving the HD800s with my Trafomatic Head One amp !!

 

[deuter]

I am simply loving the HD800s with my Trafomatic Head One amp !!

I have heard great thing about that synergy, enjoy

 

[deuter]

Happy to read your findings....I am loving the HD800 with my MAD Ear +HD and I will be getting a nice custom OTL in the not so distant future.....man I can not wait to hear the difference.

Thanks for posting your findings

I would recommend a solid state given you have a mad ear already.

 

[pearljam50000]

Has anyone tried the NFB11 with the HD800?
I may sell my Geek Out and not get the Vali, and get it instead, as it is more convenient because its an amp+DAC in one box, and I don't have to deal with cables and stuff.

 

[Sorrodje]

NFB11 = Sabre . Maybe not the best idea with the HD800.  Get a NFB12 or 15 instead if want to go that route. but Seriously the Vali is better than the Amp embedded in the NFB12. 

 

[shabta]

  NFB11 = Sabre . Maybe not the best idea with the HD800.  Get a NFB12 or 15 instead if want to go that route. but Seriously the Vali is better than the Amp embedded in the NFB12. 

 
Not to start this all up here... But lots of people listen to sabre based DACs and think they sound fine with the HD800. People who grew up with vinyl AND really special turntables maybe not. The differences are subtle until you hear it, and then for some people they can't un-hear it. But, project86 who listens to many different DACS with the HD800 and has heard r2r ladder DACs, seems to like Sabre. Even purrin who is on an r2r crusade likes the matrix sabre DAC. Anyway, Sorrodje, I still personally agree with what you wrote, but the Sabre DACs I heard from Audio-GD just tend towards brightness, which is often tricky with the HD800.

 

[whirlwind]

 

Happy to read your findings....I am loving the HD800 with my MAD Ear +HD and I will be getting a nice custom OTL in the not so distant future.....man I can not wait to hear the difference.

Thanks for posting your findings

I would recommend a solid state given you have a mad ear already.

Nah....I need to be rolling tubes 

 

[nigeljames]

My HD800's sound fantastic with my Sabre32 DAC, nautral SS amp and all silver and silver/gold cables.

 
Also can't agree that Audio-gd Sabre DAC's sound bright. They have always been voiced to be neutral.
But if you consider the PCM1704 chipped DAC's to be neutral and not dark then Sabre32 will sound bright.