I just spent the past few days going through this thread. Like some, I dismissed the HD800 as lifeless and lacking in bass. There was a HeadFi meet last week in Toronto and I had a chance to audition the HD800 through my Bifrost/Lyr. I was totally blown away. Smooth as silk, great bass and sweet, sweet mids and highs. It just sounded right to me.
I currently have the HD700 and HE500. Believe it or not, there was more bass out of the HD700 but it was more controlled and tighter on the HD800. They both just smoked the HE500 for bass. After spending some time with the HD800, the treble peak on the HD700 became more apparent and even in the short time I auditioned the HD800, I realized that this is where I want to go. After hearing the HD800, the HD700 are starting to grate on me.
So, at this point, both my HD700 and HE500 are up for sale. I'm thinking I may still want to keep the HE500 but in the end, I really think I'm a one headphone kind of guy. Plus, if I sell both, that should cover the cost of the HD800 and I come out even. I'll see how the sales go.
Now, my current dilemma. I was really pleased with the sound of the HD800 out of my Schiit stack. Running Amperex Orange Globes in the Lyr and also have the Amperex PQ amongst other tubes. I have the Bifrost Uber board coming in so that should ramp up my source for a while. What I've read so far is that a lot of people are not so impressed with the HD800 and the Bifrost/Lyr. For the foreseeable near future, this is what I'll have to live with. On the other hand, I have a DLIII in my main AV system that I could use. I'm also considering the Woo WA7 down the road but another option would be to use my DLIII (optical in from a MacMini) and go the V200 route.
In the short term, I'm pretty sure that I'll be joining the HD800 crowd. I simply like the Sennheiser house sound. Been through the HD600, HD650 and now the HD700. Would the Schiit stack be an OK starting point? I really can't see myself spending $2K+ upgrading my source/amp but utilizing what I have and moving some stuff around, I can see myself investing another $1K down the road.
Lots to consider. Thoughts?