Meier audio does new for 1320USD. Was 1105 two weeks ago.

Refurb Crutchfield's are fine.  Check your inbox.

Agree!

Have you heard the HD800 before?

No, never, though I own or have owned the 580/600/650 series, and I know the HD-800 sounds nothing like them. I would be taking a gamble (an expensive one), based on reviews and threads. I am currently using, as you may recall, the SR-507 and the SRM-006ts. I bought the LCD-2R2 second-hand and thought it was a lot of fun but hopelessly colored and rolled off for my preferred classical music (any music, TBH). Actually, I had been on a quest to find a mint, late-serial# SR-007 (Omega 2/Mk. 1) and a SRM-323S or, at most, a used SRM-727. I got close but eventually got discouraged. Reason: People told me repeatedly that I would "never really hear them" and never enjoy the Omega 2 to its full potential without getting one of the high-end amps (BHSE, KGSSHV, Electra, etc.). I am coming from 30 years of ever steeper involvement in high-end audio, and part of my attraction to head-fi is the simplicity of systems and lower cost. I don't want to get on the treadmill again with $5000 headphones, $5000 amps and so on. And there are so few choices in the electrostatic sphere. I have always had electrostatic speakers in-room, so that is my bias, my kind of sound. But I do not want to be locked in to a small handful of choices of tweaky, costly products (meaning the amps, mainly, but I suppose the comment applies to the HPs as well). 

So... my attraction to the HD-800 is one part hoping it has a nearly electrostatic-like level of detail and transparency, coupled to one part freedom to choose from and experiment with a whole universe of amps designed for dynamic and planar speakers.

Jeffrey

Quote from: jeffreyfranz on March 02, 2013, 05:18:31 PM

So... my attraction to the HD-800 is one part hoping it has a nearly electrostatic-like level of detail and transparency, coupled to one part freedom to choose from and experiment with a whole universe of amps designed for dynamic and planar speakers.

Jeffrey

After owning an HD800 and 009 I can safely say that the closest I've heard to the 009 is an HD800. It's an excellent headphone that scales well as your mod and experiment with amps/sources.

I'll be trying to decide same as you here later this year when I get another pair of HD800s now that the 009s are gone and speakers are here to stay.

I just realized that I never got back to follow-up on my adventures. I did find a good deal on a new HD-800, full warranty, etc. PM me if you would like specifics. Here is a story with a happy ending: Despite my preference for all things electrostatic and a brief flirtation with LCD-2.2, the HD-800 has been a revelation. Never in my life have I had this kind of satisfaction from a HP, and not that many speakers. I have never heard the 009 and probably will not own one due to cost. Right now, I (almost) do not care. After 3-4 months of listening with the HD800, I remain thrilled. 

Is there a concensus on changstar for what to do to get the best from the HD800 in terms of amp? Do I need to mod them, etc.? Thanks!