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Author Topic: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800  (Read 100596 times)

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Clemmaster

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #30 on: October 09, 2014, 04:49:02 PM »

I'd second the master 9. I hated their cheap amps but the master series acss stuffs are the real game changer here. Heard one recently side by side with my zana feed from master 7 and nad m51, the agd is better in all but the mid(use zana as pre and now you're talking business). Probably the best amp we oz can get for a sane price.

Hmm.. we did a comparison of the Master 9 right after it came out... flat dynamics, veiled sound... It got slammed by a BHA-1 (which I do not consider a great amp).

Maybe we got a defective unit?


Possibly, were you using it balanced? I can understand the veiled sound to an extent but I thought the dynamics were above average for sure.

So is the Master 9 veiled or transparent?  Because there is no way the Ragnarok is veiled and I have not heard anything SS that is more transparent.

The M9 sounds clearer and does not have that "smoky layer" to the sound. On the other hand, the Rag has better texture rendition and focus. Provided the texture is actually part of the recording (and not an added flavor), then both could be some traits of transparency.

Kingwa mention on his TOTL product's webpage - and this has been my experience, too - that they are somewhat sensitive to power cable (or power quality in general). I can confirm for both the M7 and M9, they sound lifeless with the wrong AC cable.
When I first got the M7 I said "WTF, doesn't sound at all like I remember it!". Sound was super thick and warm and no dynamics. Changed AC cable and plugged it directly in the wall with great effect.
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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #31 on: October 09, 2014, 05:01:44 PM »

I'd second the master 9. I hated their cheap amps but the master series acss stuffs are the real game changer here. Heard one recently side by side with my zana feed from master 7 and nad m51, the agd is better in all but the mid(use zana as pre and now you're talking business). Probably the best amp we oz can get for a sane price.

Hmm.. we did a comparison of the Master 9 right after it came out... flat dynamics, veiled sound... It got slammed by a BHA-1 (which I do not consider a great amp).

Maybe we got a defective unit?


Possibly, were you using it balanced? I can understand the veiled sound to an extent but I thought the dynamics were above average for sure.

So is the Master 9 veiled or transparent?  Because there is no way the Ragnarok is veiled and I have not heard anything SS that is more transparent.

The M9 sounds clearer and does not have that "smoky layer" to the sound. On the other hand, the Rag has better texture rendition and focus. Provided the texture is actually part of the recording (and not an added flavor), then both could be some traits of transparency.

Kingwa mention on his TOTL product's webpage - and this has been my experience, too - that they are somewhat sensitive to power cable (or power quality in general). I can confirm for both the M7 and M9, they sound lifeless with the wrong AC cable.
When I first got the M7 I said "WTF, doesn't sound at all like I remember it!". Sound was super thick and warm and no dynamics. Changed AC cable and plugged it directly in the wall with great effect.

Well, that raises the chance of it being a defective unit. Dedicated power circuit + ground.. I think the wall socket was a set of acoustic revive. We tried a couple of cable setups but cables can only do so much =|.

My friend felt bad and didn't post a review on the Chinese forums, not that Kingwa cares. He mainly markets outside of China (smart move tbh).
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Anaxilus

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #32 on: October 09, 2014, 06:43:11 PM »

I'd second the master 9. I hated their cheap amps but the master series acss stuffs are the real game changer here. Heard one recently side by side with my zana feed from master 7 and nad m51, the agd is better in all but the mid(use zana as pre and now you're talking business). Probably the best amp we oz can get for a sane price.

Hmm.. we did a comparison of the Master 9 right after it came out... flat dynamics, veiled sound... It got slammed by a BHA-1 (which I do not consider a great amp).

Maybe we got a defective unit?


Possibly, were you using it balanced? I can understand the veiled sound to an extent but I thought the dynamics were above average for sure.

So is the Master 9 veiled or transparent?  Because there is no way the Ragnarok is veiled and I have not heard anything SS that is more transparent.

The M9 sounds clearer and does not have that "smoky layer" to the sound. On the other hand, the Rag has better texture rendition and focus. Provided the texture is actually part of the recording (and not an added flavor), then both could be some traits of transparency.

Kingwa mention on his TOTL product's webpage - and this has been my experience, too - that they are somewhat sensitive to power cable (or power quality in general). I can confirm for both the M7 and M9, they sound lifeless with the wrong AC cable.
When I first got the M7 I said "WTF, doesn't sound at all like I remember it!". Sound was super thick and warm and no dynamics. Changed AC cable and plugged it directly in the wall with great effect.

Your Rag has a smoky layer??  I haven't heard that yet except with DACs that have it.

Greed, is your Rag smoky?
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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #33 on: October 09, 2014, 07:30:39 PM »






It's Time to test if you , pirates , tell BS or not about those Little Modi/Vali  :)p3




 :)p13

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #34 on: October 09, 2014, 07:42:03 PM »

Compare the Sonnet to the Vali using the same DAC.
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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #35 on: October 09, 2014, 08:07:56 PM »

Your Rag has a smoky layer??  I haven't heard that yet except with DACs that have it.

Greed, is your Rag smoky?

I think I know what he means. Hard to explain. I think part of it is the Master (don't forget #) has a cooler presentation and Rag seems to have a lower mid emphasis. It's related to the smooth sound too.
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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #36 on: October 09, 2014, 08:18:17 PM »

Compare the Sonnet to the Vali using the same DAC.

Yes of course ;) . I'm stupid but not that much :)

burnspbesq

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #37 on: October 09, 2014, 08:24:45 PM »

Any portable(ish) recommendations? I prefer the pico power to the Leckerton UHA760 (ada4627-1brz) with the HD800. Should I be looking to something like the L3?

Herus has plenty of power, but I'm not sure I can recommend it without qualification.  With the 800, it's a little bright in the upper mid/lower treble.  If you're sensitive to that, you might find it fatiguing.

On the other hand, for me Nano iDSD with 800 is a little less crisp than I would like it.  YMMV.  For you, it might be the just-right bowl of porridge. At the price, and with a strong secondary market, I'd say it's worth a try.
« Last Edit: October 09, 2014, 11:59:31 PM by burnspbesq »
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punit

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #38 on: October 09, 2014, 08:30:51 PM »

I was able to listen to the HD800 at a meet recently through a Glenn OTL, and the amount of low end slam was impressive and addictive. The impact was in a different league than the Val2 or the the Crack/Speedball. It wasn't mushy or gooey either, it sounded great for the price. The owner required listeners to adjust the volume through his DAC which struck me as a bit worrisome (channel imbalance low on the volume dial apparently). Still for the price, it might be worthy of consideration. I'm tempted to get one, but apparently there's a year long waiting list.

Glenn amps are completely customizable. The owner must have chosen a standard , cheap volume pot hence the channel imbalance. Mine has a a gold point stepped attenuator (no imbalance whatsoever). It also has a 5998 / 6AS7 switch , this is a switch that puts the optimum bias for a 5998 output (even though a 5998 will work in a 6AS7 amp it is not optimized as it has different bias points) .There is also an extra option available but I didn't go for that . Its a driver switch that would allow using either a 6SN7 or 12SN7 or 25SN7/1633/13D1 for the driver.

« Last Edit: October 09, 2014, 08:54:28 PM by punit »
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Greed

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #39 on: October 09, 2014, 09:37:44 PM »

I'd second the master 9. I hated their cheap amps but the master series acss stuffs are the real game changer here. Heard one recently side by side with my zana feed from master 7 and nad m51, the agd is better in all but the mid(use zana as pre and now you're talking business). Probably the best amp we oz can get for a sane price.

Hmm.. we did a comparison of the Master 9 right after it came out... flat dynamics, veiled sound... It got slammed by a BHA-1 (which I do not consider a great amp).

Maybe we got a defective unit?


Possibly, were you using it balanced? I can understand the veiled sound to an extent but I thought the dynamics were above average for sure.

So is the Master 9 veiled or transparent?  Because there is no way the Ragnarok is veiled and I have not heard anything SS that is more transparent.

The M9 sounds clearer and does not have that "smoky layer" to the sound. On the other hand, the Rag has better texture rendition and focus. Provided the texture is actually part of the recording (and not an added flavor), then both could be some traits of transparency.

Kingwa mention on his TOTL product's webpage - and this has been my experience, too - that they are somewhat sensitive to power cable (or power quality in general). I can confirm for both the M7 and M9, they sound lifeless with the wrong AC cable.
When I first got the M7 I said "WTF, doesn't sound at all like I remember it!". Sound was super thick and warm and no dynamics. Changed AC cable and plugged it directly in the wall with great effect.

Your Rag has a smoky layer??  I haven't heard that yet except with DACs that have it.

Greed, is your Rag smoky?

Haven't received mine yet, so no comment.
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