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

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Rotijon

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #450 on: June 17, 2015, 04:37:56 AM »

I think the list should be updated now that ZDSE has been replaced with ZD Super.

That being said, if Ragnarok is the best solid state amp for the HD800, which do you think is overall the better amp for HD800: Ragnarok or Zana Deux Super? Assuming that HD800 is your only headphone and you don't use speakers.

Isnt the ECP L2 you have kind of the holy grail for HD800?
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kothganesh

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #451 on: June 17, 2015, 04:41:17 AM »

ZDS for me.

Made my morning...the ZDS is on its way to India...God, I hate to even think of the grubby hands customs will lay on it...but I shall use the water of the holy Ganges for purificatory rites  :)p13
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cizx

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #452 on: June 17, 2015, 04:44:49 AM »

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songmic

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #453 on: June 17, 2015, 04:53:49 AM »

Isnt the ECP L2 you have kind of the holy grail for HD800?


Who said anything about a holy grail? Besides, I don't think enough renowned pyrates and messiahs have had the opportunity to listen to it to be deservedly labelled as such. Heck, it's not even mentioned on the list, non-exhaustive as it may be.

I did say that the L-2 was by far the best amp I've heard with the HD800 to date. And I've owned/heard a lot of amps including the ZDSE. But then again, I've never heard a Cinemag OPT'd ECBA let alone an old ECBA, nor a 445 for that matter, both of which are pushed as TOTL by the Messiah and His inner circle. And I have a feeling that these two amps may sound at least good if not better than the L-2. What I find incredible about the L-2 is not only how great it sounds, but how it can deliver such a sound for an amp of such small, compact size and footprint. And it doesn't make my skin melt and peel off like the ZDSE did.

I'm just curious and eager to try out new options given the chance. The L-2 was superior to the ZDSE in every way but the new ZDS supposedly rectified the treble issues I've had with its predecessor, making it a better match with HD800. If I'm ever ordering the ZDS, I'll have the option of adding true balanced XLR inputs using Cinemag input transformers by forgoing the line outs. The L-2 does that too, in fact it only has balanced inputs albeit being a single-ended amp.
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Source: Waversa Systems W SmartHub, Schiit Yggdrasil
Amp: ecp audio L-2 & PS2
Headphone: Sennheiser HD650 & HD800

Rotijon

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #454 on: June 21, 2015, 02:18:21 PM »

Quote (selected)
Who said anything about a holy grail? Besides, I don't think enough renowned pyrates and messiahs have had the opportunity to listen to it to be deservedly labelled as such. Heck, it's not even mentioned on the list, non-exhaustive as it may be.

I did say that the L-2 was by far the best amp I've heard with the HD800 to date. And I've owned/heard a lot of amps including the ZDSE. But then again, I've never heard a Cinemag OPT'd ECBA let alone an old ECBA, nor a 445 for that matter, both of which are pushed as TOTL by the Messiah and His inner circle. And I have a feeling that these two amps may sound at least good if not better than the L-2. What I find incredible about the L-2 is not only how great it sounds, but how it can deliver such a sound for an amp of such small, compact size and footprint. And it doesn't make my skin melt and peel off like the ZDSE did.

I'm just curious and eager to try out new options given the chance. The L-2 was superior to the ZDSE in every way but the new ZDS supposedly rectified the treble issues I've had with its predecessor, making it a better match with HD800. If I'm ever ordering the ZDS, I'll have the option of adding true balanced XLR inputs using Cinemag input transformers by forgoing the line outs. The L-2 does that too, in fact it only has balanced inputs albeit being a single-ended amp.

Haha that was as per Tyll, i dont think the black diamond is a fair comparison as even doug does not consider the black diamond the L2's equal.

The reason its not on the list is due to the fact its unobtanium, at least from what i can gather from this thread. Most people have not heard that combination.
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songmic

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #455 on: June 21, 2015, 05:17:39 PM »

Haha that was as per Tyll, i dont think the black diamond is a fair comparison as even doug does not consider the black diamond the L2's equal.

The reason its not on the list is due to the fact its unobtanium, at least from what i can gather from this thread. Most people have not heard that combination.

Well, although Tyll never officially reviewed it, he is one of the few whose opinions I trust and his raving on the amp was one of the reasons I decided to look for it. Took me over a year of searching  for a seller with a kind soul in vain until I managed to get a secondhand unit in good condition.

I'm actually willing to lend this amp to Marv if he's interested in demoing it, and if he's willing to lend me a decent amp of his own in the meantime to keep me from getting bored.  :)p13
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Source: Waversa Systems W SmartHub, Schiit Yggdrasil
Amp: ecp audio L-2 & PS2
Headphone: Sennheiser HD650 & HD800

Rotijon

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #456 on: June 21, 2015, 05:54:25 PM »

Well, although Tyll never officially reviewed it, he is one of the few whose opinions I trust and his raving on the amp was one of the reasons I decided to look for it. Took me over a year of searching  for a seller with a kind soul in vain until I managed to get a secondhand unit in good condition.

I'm actually willing to lend this amp to Marv if he's interested in demoing it, and if he's willing to lend me a decent amp of his own in the meantime to keep me from getting bored.  :)p13

Haha any chance you're selling it =P

Anyone here heard the Burson Virtuoso with the HD800, im quite tempted with this unit

http://www.head-fi.org/t/766093/burson-conductor-virtuoso-including-the-improved-dac-9018

Decent price =)
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songmic

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #457 on: June 21, 2015, 11:35:29 PM »

Haha any chance you're selling it =P

Anyone here heard the Burson Virtuoso with the HD800, im quite tempted with this unit

http://www.head-fi.org/t/766093/burson-conductor-virtuoso-including-the-improved-dac-9018

Decent price =)

I had owned the Burson Soloist which, if I'm not mistaken, shares the same amp section as the Conductor. I don't understand how some people called it a rather warm sounding SS amp as I found it too fucking bright for HD800, and to a lesser extent TH900. It was a good match with the LCD-2 Rev.2 I had owned at the time

I never heard the Conductor but considering that the it has a bright amp section, its Sabre DAC section may only aggravate the brightness which does no good for the HD800. Just my two cents.
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Source: Waversa Systems W SmartHub, Schiit Yggdrasil
Amp: ecp audio L-2 & PS2
Headphone: Sennheiser HD650 & HD800

jsgraha

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #458 on: June 22, 2015, 06:20:58 AM »

I used to have Burson Soloist for about 2 years, quite like it. For me, yes, laid back and neutral with a bit on warm side, but treble had a slightly metallic tone. During the first power up till about 2-3 hrs, it's not good, so I tend to leave it on. At that time, I pair it with audio-gd ref7 (which had a slightly warm tone), so HD800, TH900, LCD-2 were good. I had a vali (still have till now), and for hd800 alone, I put Soloist on same level as schiit vali (discounting its ringing on first few minutes).  But the improvement to Stratus was no joke :-)
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songmic

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #459 on: June 22, 2015, 10:47:55 AM »

I used to have Burson Soloist for about 2 years, quite like it. For me, yes, laid back and neutral with a bit on warm side, but treble had a slightly metallic tone. During the first power up till about 2-3 hrs, it's not good, so I tend to leave it on. At that time, I pair it with audio-gd ref7 (which had a slightly warm tone), so HD800, TH900, LCD-2 were good. I had a vali (still have till now), and for hd800 alone, I put Soloist on same level as schiit vali (discounting its ringing on first few minutes).  But the improvement to Stratus was no joke :-)

The upgrade from Soloist to ZDSE was an eye-opening revelation for me. Although I may have criticized the ZDSE's treble above, it was nowhere as sharp and cringy as that of the Soloist. Back then I was a fan of LCD-2 Rev.2 over HD800 so I didn't really complain, but the ZDSE was perhaps the first amp to help me see the HD800 for what it really is. That's when I began to steer away from the planarmagnetic hype brought down by Audeze and HFM and return to the good ol' 300 ohm Senns.
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Source: Waversa Systems W SmartHub, Schiit Yggdrasil
Amp: ecp audio L-2 & PS2
Headphone: Sennheiser HD650 & HD800
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