[RCBinTN]

Once EQ-ed, feel HD800's clean, tight, layered, impactful bass. Then it becomes a rock headphone!

I fully agree. Folks rave about the HD800 midrange, which is very justified, but the bass is also excellent. Tight, deep & fast, but not too fast ... it sounds real, to me.
I also think, since we're glowing about our own headphones here, that the HD800 have very realistic transitions, meaning mid-bass and mids-to-treble.

Very true, and I was being quite general. Though I have the ZMF Auteur around for the self same reason. Helps that the Auteur was tuned using an HD800 and Audio-gd amp, both of which I also have in my stable.

I am becoming more interested in ZMF headphones all the time. Zach and Bev are doing some great work

 

[omniweltall]

I fully agree. Folks rave about the HD800 midrange, which is very justified, but the bass is also excellent. Tight, deep & fast, but not too fast ... it sounds real, to me.
I also think, since we're glowing about our own headphones here, that the HD800 have very realistic transitions, meaning mid-bass and mids-to-treble.


I am becoming more interested in ZMF headphones all the time. Zach and Bev are doing some great work

Give the auteur a try. It is like the middleground of HD800 & HD600, and add a bit of romance. It is the best vocal headphone ever and the bass is amazing, even better than the HD800. But it loses in detail, imaging and stage size. Overall not as technically competent.

Careful with the pads though. I don't like both stock pads. Try the perforated lambskin universe or verite pads.

 

[340519]

I did not get those colour rings. Its my paint job! I take apart HD800's and mod them, also paint them myself!

I used to own 6 HD800's . I know everything about them. From plastic to which sand paper to use and driver replacements etch...

So when a bunch of cheerleaders come here and talk about pathetic useless stuff that repeats the same ol' jargon. I will be here telling them to kick rocks!

Awesome good job!

 

[Maxx134]

I am becoming more interested in ZMF headphones all the time. Zach and Bev are doing some great

They would be the best closed headphone company except IMO Denon recently took that spot with the 9200.

 

[treebug]

They would be the best closed headphone company except IMO Denon recently took that spot with the 9200.

Agreed. I have the Denon 9200 and the HD800. I found that the Denon matches it with it's huge, wide soundstage and surprisingly better detail retrieval. Amazing for a closed back. Just wish the pads were as large as the HD800! I was disappointed with the ZMF VO's.

 

[Cho Worsh]

The HD800 sounds very contento with the Decware Taboo MK III amp but I finally came to the realization the HD800, with modification and cabling to ameliorate the harsh peak, presents the music in very spacious way that is great but too far apart from what music performed live sounds like to me and does not faithfully reproduce the timbre of unamplified acoustical musical instruments such as piano, violin and guitar well enough to hold my interest for very long.

 

[Cho Worsh]

This thing rocks with the SMSL SA50 $50 speaker amp. I have never enjoyed them so much before. Wonderful bass slam and treble that’s not harsh. I also implemented the resistor network suggested in Rob Robinette’s site. So there is zero background noise.

Updated: This amp sounded good (but has RFI issues) and then after a while it took out one of the drivers in my HD800. Not recommended for use with headphones.

 

[robo24]

Current recommendations for an OTL tube amp under about $750 which has good synergy with the HD 800 (and ideally an Atticus too)?

 

[tumpux]

Just want to share that I have spent a month playing zelda with an HD800.
When you play for hours you realized that HD800 is the most comfortable phone to use. It's so comfy, you don't want to take it off your head.

 

[omniweltall]

Just want to share that I have spent a month playing zelda with an HD800.
When you play for hours you realized that HD800 is the most comfortable phone to use. It's so comfy, you don't want to take it off your head.

It really is very comfy. So light and evenly distributed.

 

[tumpux]

This ergonomic factor still unbeatable by other headphones in current market.

Oh, I think it's time for me to replace the earpad.

 

[whirlwind]

Current recommendations for an OTL tube amp under about $750 which has good synergy with the HD 800 (and ideally an Atticus too)?

Do I ever...but the wait for one is getting pretty long.....GOTL in its basic form is about $750....but you can't be in a hurry.

 

[robo24]

Do I ever...but the wait for one is getting pretty long.....GOTL in its basic form is about $750....but you can't be in a hurry.

Thanks! Maybe someday. Ended up getting a used Crack with Speedball. Will be interesting to see if I prefer it over the Woo WA7. No reason to keep both, I'd imagine.

 

[Peti]

The WA8 from Woo audio is insane with the HD800SDR. Mind you, after a 700$ tube upgrade this transportable amp/dac gets insanely close to the DNA Stratus I used to own (as far as I can tell from memory). But basically I get the same euphoric feeling when music is played back through my current rig as with the Stratus and SFD-1 tube dac.

 

[gordec]

The WA8 from Woo audio is insane with the HD800SDR. Mind you, after a 700$ tube upgrade this transportable amp/dac gets insanely close to the DNA Stratus I used to own (as far as I can tell from memory). But basically I get the same euphoric feeling when music is played back through my current rig as with the Stratus and SFD-1 tube dac.

2nd that. WA8 is how I fell in love with HD800. Sold it, and got HD800s. It just doesn't feel the same as the original. Last week, I was able to get a mint pair of HD800. I don't think it's a huge difference to my ears with/without SDR. Just very good all around. This one stays for good.