Best Amps For the Sennheiser HD800 - 2017 Edition

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Dec 2, 2016.

  1. Sonorus

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    Thank you.
    I am looking for a single ended (in) mid price amp for the HD800 as an alternative to mjolnir 2
    just for quick listening sessions.
    Asgard 2 got my interest for being class A.
    I know that my best bet is vali 2 but maybe there is something else that i am not aware of it.
     
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    ^ this.
     
  3. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    Is the Lyr3 something we can bless yet? I know there was the possibility of more then just occasional dramatic failures, but that might be an early thing. I didn't have an HD800 when I listened to the amp, but I would extrapolate the pairing would be finer then the Asgard 2...
     
  4. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    I wonder how the Raggy compares to one of the Sennheiser amps or a Luxman as it's their top SS amp.
     
  5. Sonorus

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    Mr Mark from Schiit UK once told me that raggy is the best he heard with HD800 even stock.

    Mjolnir 2 with Lisst tubes , should be considered as a decent SS amp or am I waisting my money?
     
  6. AppleheadMay

    AppleheadMay Friend

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    Damn, I am getting no more emails at all from SBAF about subscribed threads.
    Just checked and all my options are set the right way though.
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    1. Hmm. Let me check. This is a low priority
    2. Lyr 3 is blessed. Some early anecdotal reports of amps smoking or killing Focal drivers, which are easy to kill. Haven't heard anything since.
    3. Mjolnir 2 is better with tubes. The old Lyr 2 was better with LISST. For HD800, I still think Valhalla 2 with a classic sound DAC is better, but if you prioritize slam, then Mjolnir 2 takes the cake.
    4. Raggy "1.5" vs Luxman: too different. Raggy is more true to the source. Luxman reinterprets the source. Most reinterpretations screw things up badly. Luxman does not.
     
  8. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    HD800 + Valhalla 2 + external subs is better than any slam you'll get from Mjolnir 2.
     
  9. jexby

    jexby Posole Prince

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    1. am all for ZD getting less email alert, not more.
    2. there's other non-Focal dynamic cans that have been smoked by Lyr3. but no clue if it's old news or newer news.
     
  10. Sonorus

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    Not a viable option for me , kids are sleeping!

    Anyway Valhalla 2 was my first serious amp for HD800 and sold it after one year of use with HD800.
    Too soft sounding without dynamics and irritating treble no matter the tubes used.

    Now I am HD800s owner.

    Still prefer Mjolnir 2 with Gold Lions for more ss sound and GE5670 for more smoothness.

    I have tried Cayin iha 6 as a good ss alternative but I found the treble a little too hot.

    I am OK with Mjolnir 2 but you know I am just searching maybe there is something better at the 1K region...
     
  11. AppleheadMay

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    Ok, sounds interesting to me. The Luxman that is.
     
  12. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    I went through the same path. Although very rare for you to find in EU: I liked T3, EC BW2 and EC S7 in that price range much better than MJ2. I only have limited experience with them but Sonnett 2 and Bryston BHA-1 are also nice matches for HD800.

    Or save money on buying & selling and save for higher tier EC or DNA amps.

    Edited to make clear EC S7
     
    Last edited: Apr 8, 2019
  13. Sonorus

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    Ah money always on shortage....

    All the amps you proposed are very interesting but with import duties are quite expensive.
    Here in EU options are more limited.

    Aune S7 is available but I don't know if it's better than the mj2.
     
  14. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    EC S7
     
  15. Sonorus

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    Oh sorry and to tell you the truth I was wondering how it was for Aune S7 to be a good amp for HD800!
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Hahahahahaha. Aune S7.
     
  17. Sonorus

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  18. deserat

    deserat Acquaintance

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    It's been a few years since I owned both ( sold the asagard kept the HD800's ) but as I recall the Asgard 2 was the poster child for everything bad ever said about the HD800. Good amp for the planars I had at the time, but the HD800 revealed all of it's flaws and visa-versa. Key notes were the lack of Bass and scratchy trebble - also the HD800 is capable of so much more.
     
  19. Sonorus

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    I find myself leaving the Schiit camp...
    Too much treble energy and forwardness for my tastes and headphones.

    I have a hunch that the German's need to be treated with German's...
     
  20. AppleheadMay

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    Only tried the cheapest Schiit stack, afraid of too much treble.
    The Germans are really good with the German amps indeed.
    I have both the HDVA600 and HDV820 and really, really like those amps, for me they're at the top of SS amps.

    As I ordered a P-750u I am selling the 820 though but keeping the 600, they're too good.
    I made a "commercial" for sale post somewhere else.
     

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