I generally don't like people asking "why isn't XXX on the list?" but I have to say, why isn't the ecp L-2 on the list when the DHSA-1 is? TBH I haven't heard the Teton or 445 yet, but the L-2 is undoubtedly the best headphone amp I've ever heard with the HD800. It trumps every other amp that I thought were great with HD800, including EC ZDSE, Dr. Cavalli's LG, HDVD800, Bakoon, et cetera and then some.

I generally don't like people asking "why isn't XXX on the list?" but I have to say, why isn't the ecp L-2 on the list when the DHSA-1 is? TBH I haven't heard the Teton or 445 yet, but the L-2 is undoubtedly the best headphone amp I've ever heard with the HD800. It trumps every other amp that I thought were great with HD800, including EC ZDSE, Dr. Cavalli's LG, HDVD800, Bakoon, et cetera and then some.

Very simple. I haven't heard the L-2 and don't know enough people who have to bounce any impressions off of it.

To be honest, I am not that kind of people who can describe the sound very accurately. So I cannot give any useful comment here just some personal impression.

I think I am the one of the only two that have both 445 and Teton at the moment. I would say after you invest on the tubes, the cost of both are similar. For 445, you usually have to invest 600-1300usd on quad 45 tubes depends on your choice, and 200-300usd on WE417A. For Teton, previously I thought I need lots of fuking crazy NOS tubes on Teton to make it sing, but after I tried all those famous 5U4, 6SN7, 6080 tubes, I am so fuking frustrating. They do not make any huge difference. Maybe it is the problem with my ear, lol. So the cost of tube investment on Teton is around 200usd-????usd depends on how crazy you are. Please do not laugh at me, I invested more than 2000usd on those fuking NOS tubes like U52, WE422A, WE421A, GEC 6AS7G, etc.

I received Teton first ant then 445, I would say those two amps are quite similar to my ears. Just I am the guy that prefer the front presentation(not necessarily lean or harsh) so Teton makes me like HD800 even more. I would say 445 is a fuking versatile and neutral amp, it works great with almost every headphone except HE6. For Teton, I was using WE421A at first, I tried my LCD-3F on my Teton, I was shocked, they worked together like crap. I thought LCD-3F has enough impedance to use on WE421A, but I was wrong. I was so confused about innerfidelity Skylab's review. He only used LCD-3(F?) on Teton, and Tung Sol 2399. But Tung-sol 2399 is equivalent to WE421A if I was not wrong. But this combo is really awful because of the high output impedance on Tung Sol 2399. I also tried Grado and other low-z headphones with Teton and WE421A, but they do not work well either. I then used Raytheon 6528 on the power tube, man, something magic happened, with 6528, Teton is a fuking remarkable amp with low-z headphones even Grado. And the more ridiculous thing is that, 6528 only costs 40usd, but my WE421A costs around 400usd.....I am fuked.

I do not want to talk about 445 in details since lots of people have already talked a lot about this great amp. I would say either one is great match with HD800 and absolutely not fatiguing. They might sound less warm than your current amp with HD800, but I think HI-FI should be more about reproduction of the music not coloration. I do not care about whether an amp is listenable or not, I just want to hear what the music is truly alike. Both amps are fairly neutral especially 445.

I also tried my ECP Black Diamond on Lampi B7, holy schiit, it works so well with HD800. I love the combo, very enjoyable and enough for any casual listening. Just cannot justify myself having so many amps at the moment.

Forgot to say, I tried both amp on my Lampi B7, which is supposed to be a smooth analog sounding DAC.

P.S. Also, gear that sounds gimped in "base" form and requires some sort of "upgrade" tends to piss me off. I'm fine with upgrades, but gear should at least be a good performer in base form. That kind of stuff is manufacturers playing games with consumers. This stuff isn't cheap. I mean even GM has figured that out with the V6 base Camaro's still having well over 300 hp.

Agreed but sometimes inorder to keep costs & the point of entry low some mfg's use run of the mill parts for some really good products. Case in point - The Btlhd Crack has a known channel imbalance issue at low volumes with its standard volume pot thus prompting many of its users towards a pot upgrade (please refer the 100's of posts on this on the BHC thread on Head-fi). I have personally experienced this when I had the Crack, I had to adjust the volume on my DAC to avoid this issue. But for me that is not a negative point for such a great value product, you always have the option to upgrade & the product in its stock form does sound great.