Litejazz 15 Posted January 30, 2016 Share Posted January 30, 2016 I would like to suggest one of the Sennheiser headphone amps, both are exceptional, and both are on sale, and both are equipped to handle a balanced output. I think I paid $974.00 for mine, and it's very nice. Before this amplifier, I had purchased a Woo WA-2, loved that amplifier as well, but it had a 120 Hz hum when placed in the Pre-amp mode, which could not be resolved for whatever reason. 3 Link to post Share on other sites
Munce31 132 Posted February 4, 2016 Share Posted February 4, 2016 I'm using an Audio GD Master 11 dac/amp combo with my HD800. I don't experience any harshness with the treble. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
artist777 0 Posted February 12, 2016 Share Posted February 12, 2016 Munce31, Master11 is great combo but if take an attention sound quality in headphone amplification Solid One is the best soltion ever) if you can recommend some some of most expierenced forum users I can provide it for testing and reviewing) Отправлено Ñ Ð¼Ð¾ÐµÐ³Ð¾ Redmi Note 3 через Tapatalk Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 No further updates in who's got what ? Have you guys confirmed that Valhalla 2 surpasses most ? Link to post Share on other sites
Golliwog 14 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 No further updates in who's got what ? Have you guys confirmed that Valhalla 2 surpasses most ? Mate I've been through most. In order of affordability and being worthwhile id go Vali 2 Valhalla 2 Torpedo 3 kit w/ cinemag transformers (DIY) Eddie Current ZDS / DNA Stratus Currently have the Valhalla 2 which has been great, T3 is on the way and ill be selling my Val 2 on in a week or so. Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 Mate I've been through most. In order of affordability and being worthwhile id go Vali 2 Valhalla 2 Torpedo 3 kit w/ cinemag transformers (DIY) Eddie Current ZDS / DNA Stratus Currently have the Valhalla 2 which has been great, T3 is on the way and ill be selling my Val 2 on in a week or so. I might be interested in your Valhalla 2 if price is right. Is Torpedo 3 really worth $500 ? Not much information online. Link to post Share on other sites
Golliwog 14 Posted March 12, 2016 Share Posted March 12, 2016 its closer to $1000 with the cinemags. If you go to superbestaudiofriends.com and have a look around its highly regarded and compared to the high end Eddie Currents, EAR, DNA etc without giving up much ground. Link to post Share on other sites
F18 194 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Is this the amp sold by Tomb/beezer? Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 Is this the amp sold by Tomb/beezer? I believe it is, what's special ? Link to post Share on other sites
Psychogene 7 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 (edited) I have heard Valhalla 2 with HD800 and I believe it is a great pairing. I compared it with the Lyr 2 on a quick demo and the HD800 sounds much better on Valhalla 2 in my opinion. I doubt there are many options under $1000 that will beat that amps pairing with HD800 but if someone finds one I'd be curious to know (don't own a HD800 but am always tempted to purchase it). As already mentioned here if you browse around 'superbestaudiofriend' one of their respected moderator/forum owner has put Schiit Valhalla 2 + HD800 as one of the top pairings (link -> http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/nsfw-superbaf-best-of-2015-golden-*******-awards.760/ ) PS - NSFW !!! I also have Questyle Q192 Dac/Amp that I bought from A2A about a year ago and that has good synergy with HD800 but I'd only recommend it if you don't already have a DAC + Amp as its about $1k. With anything audio related a demo is a must though as your ears will be the ultimate judge. Edited March 14, 2016 by Psychogene 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 14, 2016 Share Posted March 14, 2016 The Valhalla seems to be getting the most accolades , need to demo it. Probably beats most amps about the 2K mark. Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Valhalla is not bad but bottlehead crack with speedball is better for similar price. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Valhalla is not bad but bottlehead crack with speedball is better for similar price. Not from what Iam reading, also there are way too many cracks on sale at headfi and not a single Valhalla 2. Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 I found Valhalla 2 to be below crack on imaging, soundstage and depth which is really important for me. Whereas you will need some really good tube on crack (eg TS 5998) to match valhalla 2 bass on HD800. In the end of the day is all about sound preference 2 Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 I found Valhalla 2 to be below crack on imaging, soundstage and depth which is really important for me. Whereas you will need some really good tube on crack (eg TS 5998) to match valhalla 2 bass on HD800. In the end of the day is all about sound preference Sure on that, but which one was more transparent . Link to post Share on other sites
TheBrightSide 330 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Has anyone compared the Valhalla to the Mjolnir? Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 By transparent do you mean detail retrieval? Crack speedball with good tubes definitely more detailed (best bang tubes like RCA Cleartop 12au7 with Svetlana 6as7g is brilliant combo for arround $50). One note though Crack stock tubes is pretty bad whereas valhalla stock tubes is not bad Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Has anyone compared the Valhalla to the Mjolnir? For HD800? valhalla is a better match. Mjolnir is too harsh for HD800. I like Mjolnir with MrSpeaker Alpha dog or LCD-X Link to post Share on other sites
TheBrightSide 330 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 For HD800? valhalla is a better match. Mjolnir is too harsh for HD800. I like Mjolnir with MrSpeaker Alpha dog or LCD-X Interesting, thanks. I have the 800's and Mjolnir (orig), but have never heard the Valhalla's. I don't find it a harsh combo, depending of course on the recording. Anything that has been smashed in mastering sounds pretty bad. Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 Interesting, thanks. I have the 800's and Mjolnir (orig), but have never heard the Valhalla's. I don't find it a harsh combo, depending of course on the recording. Anything that has been smashed in mastering sounds pretty bad. To be honest after swapping so many headphone amp what I found is at these level ($500-1000) it's all about preference. One person harsh can be another person detailed. In the end of the day as long as you're happy with the sound it's all that matters. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 By transparent do you mean detail retrieval? Crack speedball with good tubes definitely more detailed (best bang tubes like RCA Cleartop 12au7 with Svetlana 6as7g is brilliant combo for arround $50). One note though Crack stock tubes is pretty bad whereas valhalla stock tubes is not bad That's surprising , I cannot imagine detail retrieval being better on the DIY amp . On a seperate note, how do you rate dynahi Link to post Share on other sites
mloutfie 955 Posted March 15, 2016 Share Posted March 15, 2016 For the amp I've tried Dynahi is comparable to auralic taurus or a balanced beta22. Circuit design wise it's comparable to gs-x but I never tried it. Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Still Looking for the top headphone amp to drive the hd800 Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 What about this? https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/lehmannaudio-linear-headphone-amplifier Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I have the same one but the special edition version and I love it, although I do not own 800 but do own 650, 500, 700 in sennheiser. Got 612 in akg, ms pro from Alessandro. Drives them really well. In fact sennheiser was using Lehman audio amps when they released the 800s something to think about. Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 What about this? https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/lehmannaudio-linear-headphone-amplifier Want something different, have a SS already. Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew S. 1,415 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Want something different, have a SS already. Can I ask what you think would be suitable? every suggestion so far has been rebuffed. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Then https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/schiit-audio-lyr-2-headphone-amplifier Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Or https://www.addictedtoaudio.com.au/product/schiit-audio-valhalla-2-tube-headphone-amplifier Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 The other thing is, there are better solid states. Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Can I ask what you think would be suitable? every suggestion so far has been rebuffed. Something that allows the HD800 to display its vast soundstage width and depth, pinpoint imaging and just real coherence (thanks Peter for explaining to me what it means) music. All this without loosing on detail retrieval. Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Look I was in castle hill, got into discussion with Mathew about headphone amps/dac. In particular Hugo tt how it's superior in every way; dac how it drives even the 800 with ease. How everyone needs to have a listen to get the idea of good solid state/ dac implementation. Now on paper it doesn't look like much compared to Lehmans spec, well that was my argument. But the way it's built and various technologies in it are implemented makes it the winner. He gave me an example, chord and parasound amps on paper they may have 300 watts a piece but chord will blitz it because of abc technologies implemented in it and how it's built; high current etc. Hence the difference in price, he did concede that parasound is great value for money. So just because u got solid state an example in your ownership doesn't mean that's it and move on to say tube. I'm disappointed and thankfully that I can't get the chord Hugo tt something about $6800 need to save for abit, otherwise it would be for me the end game and replace a lot of boxes. Now please don't take this as a sign for an argument that chord is overpriced etc just siting an experience yesterday 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Look I was in castle hill, got into discussion with Mathew about headphone amps/dac. In particular Hugo tt how it's superior in every way; dac how it drives even the 800 with ease. How everyone needs to have a listen to get the idea of good solid state/ dac implementation. Now on paper it doesn't look like much compared to Lehmans spec, well that was my argument. But the way it's built and various technologies in it are implemented makes it the winner. He gave me an example, chord and parasound amps on paper they may have 300 watts a piece but chord will blitz it because of abc technologies implemented in it and how it's built; high current etc. Hence the difference in price, he did concede that parasound is great value for money. So just because u got solid state an example in your ownership doesn't mean that's it and move on to say tube. I'm disappointed and thankfully that I can't get the chord Hugo tt something about $6800 need to save for abit, otherwise it would be for me the end game and replace a lot of boxes. Now please don't take this as a sign for an argument that chord is overpriced etc just siting an experience yesterday I look at Chord Hugo TT as a DAC first, what this means is it will make my DAC redundant and I certainly don't want that as I love my DAC to shreads! But certainly for someone looking for a combo I couldn't agree with you any more Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Got the Lehman audio linear se and electrocompaniet ecd 1, got that as opposed to naim dac v-1. This way I was advised that I can upgrade dac and headphone amp separately if I get the itch.But tt is something else as a combo. Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 It's headphone section is just as good, also you can use the whole thing without power i.e. Batteries so no dirty power, no need for filter so lower noise floor etc Link to post Share on other sites
Neo 913 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Bugger I'm talking myself into it 1 Link to post Share on other sites
F18 194 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 I believe it is, what's special ? The one I heard had EL803 Telefunken tubes in place and it sounded very nice. I don't know the difference with the different variations of it. Planning to buy one and build one. Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew S. 1,415 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 Something that allows the HD800 to display its vast soundstage width and depth, pinpoint imaging and just real coherence (thanks Peter for explaining to me what it means) music. All this without loosing on detail retrieval. And what is your budget? Link to post Share on other sites
Qwertyqaz 787 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 And what is your budget? It's not about the money, it's about the rush. Link to post Share on other sites
Andrew S. 1,415 Posted March 18, 2016 Share Posted March 18, 2016 It's not about the money, it's about the rush. Yes, well good luck with that. 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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