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

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Priidik

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #550 on: September 04, 2015, 05:23:35 AM »
Quote from: zerodeefex on September 04, 2015, 05:11:57 AM
EC Studio or bust. Best production amp I've ever heard with the HD800. I'd settle for nothing less in your friend's shoes.

Ya hidin' something?
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JeremiahS

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #551 on: September 04, 2015, 04:17:52 PM »
Hi,

Has anyone here heard the ECP Audio L-2 before with the HD800? How is the synergy of this pairing? The small size is interesting me and I need something to use while my β22 is being build.

Cheers,
Jeremiah
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CEE TEE

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #552 on: September 04, 2015, 06:15:49 PM »
^Not yet for me, but I have heard good things about the L-2 and want to hear it sometime.  You might wanna pick one up and try it, you may like it better than B22 for HD800 after yours is built.  I didn't like the B22/HD800 pairing.
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aufmerksam

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #553 on: September 04, 2015, 06:16:18 PM »
Tari is the first person that comes to mind. You can read some of his thoughts here: http://www.head-fi.org/t/661233/ecp-audio-dsha-1-l-2-black-diamond, or PM him here at Changstar. Short version: supposed to be pretty good.
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No_One411

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #554 on: September 04, 2015, 08:51:01 PM »
All the ECP Audio amps are limited production runs, which makes them really hard to get.

Theoretically, you can build one yourself since the boards are online. Just need a PSU.

https://squareup.com/market/ecp-consolidated-productions-llc
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zerodeefex

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #555 on: September 04, 2015, 08:56:26 PM »
Quote from: Priidik on September 04, 2015, 05:23:35 AM
Ya hidin' something?

I hide lots of things. Not a better sounding amp that I've heard though :)
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HitmanFluffy

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #556 on: September 05, 2015, 02:35:04 PM »
Quote from: No_One411 on September 04, 2015, 08:51:01 PM
All the ECP Audio amps are limited production runs, which makes them really hard to get.

Theoretically, you can build one yourself since the boards are online. Just need a PSU.

https://squareup.com/market/ecp-consolidated-productions-llc

That build looks real tempting. Would you have any idea how much a build would come up to, excluding the power supply?
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jwahl

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #557 on: September 05, 2015, 04:38:21 PM »
Quote from: HitmanFluffy on September 05, 2015, 02:35:04 PM
That build looks real tempting. Would you have any idea how much a build would come up to, excluding the power supply?

Depends on your choice of parts.  On the product page it mentions that the original nickel core output transformers aren't available but that the edcor transformers from the Torpedo will fit. 

Speaking of ECP DIY;  Just stumbled upon this http://diy.ecpaudio.com/2015/07/dsha-2-headphone-amplifier.html  Might be worth looking into as well.  Looks like a downscaled version of the DSHA-1.  Possibly more affordable.
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MisterRogers

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #558 on: September 05, 2015, 05:02:05 PM »
Probably not of help to someone looking for a great amp to drive the HD800's, but my modded ECP Black Diamond drives the hell out of my unmodded HE800's. I've been working with Tari's prototype (blue acrylic case), and modded - it's a damn good match. Not quite as good as my Uber7 (great synergy with the HD800's), but the mods have gone a long way at addressing the BD weaknesses driving the HD800 (or anything else for that matter).

Unfortunately, the mods would be a lot tricker with the late proto / release boards that ECP sells directly. My early proto wasn't SMD, go it gave me flexibility to address the primary weakness (the switching supply). Doug rightly points out that due to the high PSRR of the BD circuit, there wasn't a huge difference between the quality switching supply he used and a traditional linear PS circuit.

That doesn't mean that replacing the upgrading the standard regulators would bring a huge improvement - it surely did. I feel like I should get a commission for all the talking I've done of Belleson regs, but dropping two of them in to replace the standard regs (with the usual V set resistors modified accordingly) made a huge difference. From there, a few cap changes, with some wiring upgrades, and I believe I have the best sounding BD out there (of course that's bravado - really, how would I know?).

It's likely the reg upgrade could still be done with an SMD board, but the Bellesons would be flying - but a DIY case could certainly provide for this.
« Last Edit: September 06, 2015, 01:08:02 PM by MisterRogers »
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HitmanFluffy

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Re: Best Amps for Sennheiser HD800
« Reply #559 on: September 06, 2015, 10:22:43 AM »
Quote from: jwahl on September 05, 2015, 04:38:21 PM
Depends on your choice of parts.  On the product page it mentions that the original nickel core output transformers aren't available but that the edcor transformers from the Torpedo will fit. 

Speaking of ECP DIY;  Just stumbled upon this http://diy.ecpaudio.com/2015/07/dsha-2-headphone-amplifier.html  Might be worth looking into as well.  Looks like a downscaled version of the DSHA-1.  Possibly more affordable.

I emailed Doug about it, he mentioned the nickel OPTs and Lundahl input transformers plus V-cap parafeed caps cost about $650 alone. He told me the new Torpedo 3 he has lined up with a new set of Cinemag OPTs is competitive with the L2, and much cheaper to put together.

That DSHA-2 does indeed look very interesting, and possibly more affordable.

To the other pyrates who might know, how does the L2 stack up technicalities-wise compared to say the DSHA-1 and the big boy ECs?
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