Best Amps For the Sennheiser HD800 - 2017 Edition

Great stuff buddy!
Let me know when the Bugle Boy arrives and just enjoy the music!

 

Any thoughts on the Woo WA6-SE with the HD800? I don't hear much Woo talk on SBAF.

 

I think SBAFs take on Woo is they're prettier than they sound.

 

They are certainly pretty but just somewhat too gooey and glossed over until you get to the wa5. The wa22 was also decent if you fed it some good NOS tubes, especially when paired with the hd800.

 

What the hell are you trying to do to us?

(Looks cute, do tell us the story..)

 

Would be cool. Was sad I missed the boat on the super 7….even worse was saving for the transcription phono stage when it went away.

 

Looking for something transportable for HD800, at least something that would work 110v/220v. would the iFi iDSD Black work well?

 

So that looks awesome. Is it transformer coupled?

 

So I have been playing around with the vali 2 and modi 2 for about 6 hours now and thought i'd just give some impressions. Didn't really blow me away, wouldn't say thats a bad thing wasn't expecting much, but I can say I am pretty happy with the purchase. Songs with a lot of treble which were kinda harsh, although with the T1 I still never had to stop listening or take the headphones off, are a lot smoother I guess you could say. Like I said I never had a problem with the HD800's treble but listening through this makes it even more enjoyable with harsher songs. I noticed that vocals aren't as engaging I don't know if you would call that more soundstage, like I said im a newb and not really sure about all the technical stuff. Overall as of first impressions im really happy with it and I don't think I will want to upgrade for a while. Thanks again everyone.

 

Was this with the Multibit Modi? Leave it on for 24 hours. I also wouldn't judge the Vali too harshly with it's stock tube. You already have new tubes on the way so you should be good-to-go soon.

 

yes with multibit and I actually replaced the stock tube right away. I am using my Amperex 7308 that I used with my aune. And it is wonderful.

 

Vali 2 and Modi Multibit fit the bill if you don't need it to be battery powered, just buy extra wall warts.

 

Good to hear Marvey. Anything in its price range you would pick over it?

 

I got an HDVD800 in for testing and WOW, this has some synergy with the HD800! Brightness is nearly completely gone, it's still analytical and sometimes there is a treble peak but it's much better than anything else I heard this heaphone with. I've never heard any of the suggested high end amps from this thread though.
I think the HDVD800 comes with some costs on 3D soundstage, resolution, plankton and tightness in bass though.
Used it SE from the corda Daccord.
I'm not yet sure if it's worth the cost (I paid much less than retail).

Is there any other amp that mimicks the HDVD amp?

 

I've had the HDVA600 (which shares the same amp as in HDVD800 but without the DAC section, which I assume you're not using anyway) which I used balanced (in and out) together with a couple of different DAC's, Yggdrasil included.
I felt that ONLY when used fully balanced it did quite a good job with the HD800. It's a sneaky bastard though, I discovered in the long run that it covered up for some of the HD800's less attractive features; the treble peak as you mention. The result is a sometimes boring presentation, lifeless if you will. What I mean is that it didn't tame the treble, like I get with a good tube amp - it just put a blanket over it. Bad cover up work...
Using it single ended (source to headphone) did not work well for me at all. I thought it was dry as a desert, sharp and dead sounding.

 

I've used it with a Corda Daccord DAC. From the one hour I used it so far I've already had the impression that it's holding the HD800 back somehow. The tonality is quite impressive though.
It sounds pretty midfi with the HD650.
Which amps have simillar sound without the downsides for the HD800?

 

Similar sound without the downsides for HD800 would mean different sound...
First post of this thread is comprehensive and really well written. Start there. Or stay with the HDVD800 for more than one hour.