Animagus
Reviewer at Twister6
Which is funny 'coz I myself am no giant, in fact quite small.
But yeah, I'd say this is a well sized headphone - not ideal size IMO but not too big either.THE WATERCOOLER HEADPHONE EDITION – Headphones, Amps, DACs, and desktop/home audio related – a freewheeling discussion of gear, impressions, music, and musings.
- Thread starter goldwerger
- Start date
Which is funny 'coz I myself am no giant, in fact quite small.
But yeah, I'd say this is a well sized headphone - not ideal size IMO but not too big either.
Spawn300Z
Headphoneus Supremus
I just installed the PS Audio PowerPlant 20. It’s a beast of a unit. Large and Heavy. I sits under my desk. Removing the two units from on my desk.I have a small itch to scratch testing power conditioners. This isn’t based on a problem I need to solve, as much as curiosity what I may further optimize
I’m currently using the IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius and Transparent PowerBank 6, which have served me well.
I’ve had on my short list to look into:
Has anyone tested/compared any of these? What sonic impact have you experienced? Any other one should add to this list? (in my case, I need 10-12 US outlets; and budget would be roughly in the $4-10k range)
- Puritan Audio PSM1512
- Audio quest Niagara 5000 or 7000
- PS Audio PowerPlant 15 or 20
That said, it sounds wonderful with increased transparency, frequency response and attack.
TheMiddleSky
Headphoneus Supremus
I think with mid/high budget, powerplant supposed to be the best option to isolate "dirty" quality of electricity.
Spawn300Z
Headphoneus Supremus
I got lucky a dealer near me took it in on trade. So I got a almost new unit almost half off.
One of the Equi=Core units, perhaps?I have a small itch to scratch testing power conditioners. This isn’t based on a problem I need to solve, as much as curiosity what I may further optimize
I’m currently using the IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius and Transparent PowerBank 6, which have served me well.
I’ve had on my short list to look into:
Has anyone tested/compared any of these? What sonic impact have you experienced? Any other one should add to this list? (in my case, I need 10-12 US outlets; and budget would be roughly in the $4-10k range)
- Puritan Audio PSM1512
- Audio quest Niagara 5000 or 7000
- PS Audio PowerPlant 15 or 20
Welcome, great to have you!
New idea.. will check it out!
The PS Audio Units looks massive but have great reputation. I am tempted to check them out.
Thanks for the idea!
number1sixerfan
Headphoneus Supremus
I have a small itch to scratch testing power conditioners. This isn’t based on a problem I need to solve, as much as curiosity what I may further optimize
I’m currently using the IsoTek EVO3 Aquarius and Transparent PowerBank 6, which have served me well.
I’ve had on my short list to look into:
Has anyone tested/compared any of these? What sonic impact have you experienced? Any other one should add to this list? (in my case, I need 10-12 US outlets; and budget would be roughly in the $4-10k range)
- Puritan Audio PSM1512
- Audio quest Niagara 5000 or 7000
- PS Audio PowerPlant 15 or 20
I've also been in this boat and am pretty curious as well. Where I'm struggling is not having an indicator I'm aware of that suggests that I have a power quality problem. Plus trying to figure out conditioner vs. regenerator, etc. Also worried that things could sound different, but not necessarily "better". But I totally buy into how important power and isolation can be. Will look forward to impressions from whatever path you end up taking!
Exactly my sentiments across the board. Everything in the chain degrades. And we don’t know what we don’t know, until a weak link has been upgraded, and then we find out..
Alexzander
500+ Head-Fier
Kennerton Rognir Planar (newer bass version) with ECL-03 pads.
Death_Block
Headphoneus Supremus
Only one review on headfi on the D8000. Anyone got some thoughts/comparisons?
Really good sounding headphones, I used to own a pair. Strong and high-quality bass, soundstage is a little bit on the smaller side. Very good tonality combined with decent technicalities. The 'pro' version is a little more neutral, more even. The 'non-pro version' is a little more of a 'fun tuning' with enhanced bass. I know a few members who really love them, but others having problems with some bass rattle issue. The drivers can rattle with bass heavy music at high volumes. This affects different units to different extent and most people at normal listening levels never experience it. I had no problems with my unit.
My biggest reason for selling them were comfort. They are not even that heavy at 528g, but weight distribution is not the best. I kept adjusting them on my head which made long-term listening unenjoyable. Others are fine with the comfort.
Another thing to note is that apparently Final customer service is not very responsive. Some guys were waiting months for their repair.
That said, I still think these are worth the price, especially second-hand. (You can find used pairs for around $2000.) They sound great, if you can live with the comfort. I just prefer the Meze Elite and ZMF Caldera to them, but sonically they are still in my 'much-liked' category.
Another thing to note is that Final just came out with an updated version, the D8000DC and D8000DC pro. They completely redesigned the driver. I haven't heard them yet, but I am really interested. I found the relatively new D7000 a bit disappointing, so I hope Final did better with their D8000 successors. That said, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't like them more than my Caldera.
If you are interested in more comparisons to specific headphones, let me know and if I am able to share impressions, I am happy to do so.
Tchoupitoulas
500+ Head-Fier
I hear the D8k just as @betula describes them. I owned a pair and liked them very much, and they're one of the few pairs of headphones i'd consider buying again. To add to betula's impressions, I'll mention that the bass is outstanding, one of the best bass presentations I've heard. Sure the 1266 is tighter and faster. Yes, others have more slam. But the D8000 extends deeply and robustly and has good mid-bass punch. It's also nicely spacious and open-sounding in the bass - much like the Tungstens (I've got an SS one right now) - and the D8k's bass has nice textures and timbral richness.
The D8k is also wonderfully smooth and non-fatiguing. That smoothness has to do with a lack of treble trouble and what I guess is low distortion; while smooth, the D8k doesn't smooth over details, and you get a nice amount of texture (admittedly my DAC then was an Yggy A2, which is great for this). The headphones are slightly rolled off in the treble, enough to impart that slight warm sound, but they're not rolled off so much that they lack treble air and spaciousness. The headstage isn't big, but neither is it small, and the sense of openness and air is wonderful for a pair of warm headphones, which can sometimes prove to be a bit suffocating, for me (e.g. the RAD-0).
With the right amp you can get plenty of impact; macrodynamics are strong. I never had the excursion/rattle problem in the bass with my old pair, nor do I have that problem with my current pair of D8k Pro.
The resolution is very good. Transients are snappy enough to make for a fun, engaging listen without being overdone. The truly wonderful thing about the D8k is that they're the least fatiguing headphones, sound-wise, I've heard.
If I were to win the lottery tonight, I'd get a pair immediately. The Pro version, which I'd been keen to check out, retains many of the qualities of the original, except they have more treble emphasis, which produces a more neutral, ordinary audiophile tuning. Where the D8000 are distinctive, doing their own warm, smooth, fun thing, the D8k Pro gets kind of lost among other similar headphones like the Susvara and Caldera. (I'll be selling my pair of the Pro, fwiw).
The D8000 sounded very nice from my Stratus but better from the Violectic V281. This was a beautifully synergistic pairing. Beware the D8k with the Bliss; the latter's damped quality works poorly with the D8k, making them sound too soft.
Edit: I forgot to note, importantly, that the above impressions were with the pads from the Pro model, which improved the sound, for me.
The D8k is also wonderfully smooth and non-fatiguing. That smoothness has to do with a lack of treble trouble and what I guess is low distortion; while smooth, the D8k doesn't smooth over details, and you get a nice amount of texture (admittedly my DAC then was an Yggy A2, which is great for this). The headphones are slightly rolled off in the treble, enough to impart that slight warm sound, but they're not rolled off so much that they lack treble air and spaciousness. The headstage isn't big, but neither is it small, and the sense of openness and air is wonderful for a pair of warm headphones, which can sometimes prove to be a bit suffocating, for me (e.g. the RAD-0).
With the right amp you can get plenty of impact; macrodynamics are strong. I never had the excursion/rattle problem in the bass with my old pair, nor do I have that problem with my current pair of D8k Pro.
The resolution is very good. Transients are snappy enough to make for a fun, engaging listen without being overdone. The truly wonderful thing about the D8k is that they're the least fatiguing headphones, sound-wise, I've heard.
If I were to win the lottery tonight, I'd get a pair immediately. The Pro version, which I'd been keen to check out, retains many of the qualities of the original, except they have more treble emphasis, which produces a more neutral, ordinary audiophile tuning. Where the D8000 are distinctive, doing their own warm, smooth, fun thing, the D8k Pro gets kind of lost among other similar headphones like the Susvara and Caldera. (I'll be selling my pair of the Pro, fwiw).
The D8000 sounded very nice from my Stratus but better from the Violectic V281. This was a beautifully synergistic pairing. Beware the D8k with the Bliss; the latter's damped quality works poorly with the D8k, making them sound too soft.
Edit: I forgot to note, importantly, that the above impressions were with the pads from the Pro model, which improved the sound, for me.
Last edited:
Can't get over how beautiful this amp is. Will likely upgrade to the Riviera AIC BAL soon, but enjoying it while I have it.
Can't get over how beautiful this amp is. Will likely upgrade to the Riviera AIC BAL soon, but enjoying it while I have it.
Stop teasing
Curious on how it sounds.
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
Did you consider a Headamp CFA3-T?
Users who are viewing this thread
