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

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Mr.Sneis

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #110 on: November 04, 2014, 05:49:13 PM »
I don't always agree with Marv but I am on board with this list. 

WRT to the ECBA my experience was it was terrible with the HD800 until I really spent some time swapping the driver tube, I don't even remember what I ended up liking but once I found a good set it just clicked.  I have also only ever tried mine with the KR PX4 and never tried balanced.

The Zana really is a perfect match IMO.  Price if you can find one is reasonable, flexible with other headphones, cheap enough tube rolling options.

The Luxman P1/P1u I also had a lot of experience with.  The amps strike a good middle ground between tubey lush and solid state/exacting.  I liked the HD800 combo but I actually liked the Luxmen (sp?) even more with other headphones like the HD600, AD2000, and LCD-1 (in fact was amazingly good with the LCD-1).

The s7 was also definitely up there.

For me the pursuit of perfect hd800 sound did me in, I should have settled and been happy with what I had!!
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kaiser1121

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #111 on: November 16, 2014, 12:02:26 AM »
I recently got a Woo Audio 5 for cheap and was wondering what kind of tubes should I look for it to upgrade from stock.  I am looking to upgrade all of it at the same time.  My favorite headphone is the HD 800 and I will also be running speaker with the amp.  I would said I like the sound to bring out the best of the HD800.  Any suggestion?
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GoldfishX

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #112 on: November 21, 2014, 04:11:38 AM »
How far apart would you say the Sonnett 2 and the Stratus are? The more I read about the 2A3 tubes, the more tempting the Stratus is despite the higher price. I'm worried about getting the upgrade bug a week or so later, if I were to get the Sonnett... facepalm

I'm looking to take advantage of the soundstage and resolution of the HD800 (unmodded for now), while adding some tube magic and presence to the experience. Listening habits are roughly 1/3 female pop, 1/3 hard rock/metal and 1/3 soundtrack music/orchestral. Source/DAC is a Sony HAP-S1 (PCM1795).

I admit aesthetics play a role in looking at the DNA's vs the Eddie Current amps, as does the price. I'm assuming I'll be doing some tube rolling with whatever I choose.

Lastly, any thoughts on the WA6-SE for the HD800? I don't see a lot of Woo discussion on Changstar.

Thanks!

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Marvey

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #113 on: November 21, 2014, 05:21:52 AM »
Quote from: kaiser1121 on November 16, 2014, 12:02:26 AM
I recently got a Woo Audio 5 for cheap and was wondering what kind of tubes should I look for it to upgrade from stock.  I am looking to upgrade all of it at the same time.  My favorite headphone is the HD 800 and I will also be running speaker with the amp.  I would said I like the sound to bring out the best of the HD800.  Any suggestion?

First thing I would start with is get 274B Mesh rectifiers. That's the basis where you should start. Otherwise the WA5 lacks balls and sounds kind of limp dickish. What tubes you got right now for driver and 300B?
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Marvey

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #114 on: November 21, 2014, 05:28:39 AM »
Quote from: GoldfishX on November 21, 2014, 04:11:38 AM
How far apart would you say the Sonnett 2 and the Stratus are? The more I read about the 2A3 tubes, the more tempting the Stratus is despite the higher price. I'm worried about getting the upgrade bug a week or so later, if I were to get the Sonnett... facepalm

I'm looking to take advantage of the soundstage and resolution of the HD800 (unmodded for now), while adding some tube magic and presence to the experience. Listening habits are roughly 1/3 female pop, 1/3 hard rock/metal and 1/3 soundtrack music/orchestral. Source/DAC is a Sony HAP-S1 (PCM1795).

I admit aesthetics play a role in looking at the DNA's vs the Eddie Current amps, as does the price. I'm assuming I'll be doing some tube rolling with whatever I choose.

Lastly, any thoughts on the WA6-SE for the HD800? I don't see a lot of Woo discussion on Changstar.

Thanks!


Hard to say, but personally I'd just go straight to Stratus 2A3. I think it's the better deal. Tons and tons of great 2A3 tubes. Keep in mind you will not be able to run a lot of orthos successfully.

Woo WA6-SE is nice. I think a few pyrates owned it years ago. WA5 is nice. But starts to get pricey after you add upgrades and options. The WA5 was the first tube amp what really showed me what the HD800 could do. That was years ago. Honestly, the WA5s I've heard at meets lately haven't really impressed me all that much. It could be the owners set them up to sound more warm, syrupy, etc. The rest of the Woo line, WA22, WA2, WA6 (non SE), WA3, WES, GES, etc. is unimpressive - IMO.
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shipsupt

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #115 on: November 21, 2014, 11:25:21 AM »
The WA6-SE is a good amp and does fine with the HD-800.  Grab the right tube combination and it's darned good.  It also does well with a lot of other headphones, so for a guy with lots of cans it's a good choice.

That said, if I was trying the find the amp for the HD-800, the 6-SE would not be my choice. 
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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #116 on: November 21, 2014, 11:42:03 AM »
What's you current amp with the HD800 Shipsupt ?
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shipsupt

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #117 on: November 21, 2014, 12:42:45 PM »
I'm a bit in between amps for the 800.  I'm currently using a Monolith I built, but it's far from ideal for the 800.  I've got a Mainline on the bench right now that I'm hoping turns out to be a nice fit for them.

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Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

GoldfishX

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #118 on: November 21, 2014, 02:47:38 PM »
Thanks. Yeah, my main headphone is an HD800 that probably hasn't come close to its max potential, but I have about $500 worth of Cable Company credit I was thinking about using towards an HE-560 too. Might need to rethink that. They don't have any amps I'm interested in, outside of the Taurus (and I definitely want to go tubes). They have the Fosgate Signature amp, but it doesn't look very impressive and almost no information can be found on it.

The age of the Woo gear is what concerned me. The amps mentioned in this thread were mostly newer ones and (I assume) build more to accommodate the current headphone market. That said, I had just bought a used WA6-SE but didn't get to hear it because the power supply didn't work. Sad day. Was curious what I missed with it. Looked damn good in my rig for 2-3 days. :(

Sorry for OT, but still Stratus related, since orthos were mentioned...How would the Stratus play with the Mad/Alpha Dog and the HE-560?
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Main: Sony HAP-S1 -> (working on HP amp) -> HD800/HD600

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Marvey

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #119 on: November 21, 2014, 05:25:56 PM »
Mad / Alpha Dogs might do OK. T50RPs and their variants are inefficient, but seem to do fine with amps with modest power. HE-560 I did not like on Stratus or on any other tube amp - too soft - except the x4 EC amps.
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