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Showing 1 of 1589 conversations about:
Raths
168
Apr 1, 2019
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bankkominEven $100 amps can drive 800s they are actually not that hard to drive, so yeah this can drive the 800s with a breeze at balanced it pushes 400mw at 600ohm and 300ohm its double at 800mw.
Single ended 600ohm at 100mw & 300ohm at 200mw. The actual output impedance is less than 0.05 ohm
For HD800s i would recommend a tube amp rather than solid state
(Edited)
bankkomin
1
Apr 1, 2019
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Rathscan u recommend amp/dac to pair with hd800? much appreciated
Raths
168
Apr 1, 2019
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bankkominPersonally i would get a Tube amp,
so Schiit Valhalla 2 or a Bottlehead crack with the speedball, woo WA2
For a DAC more up to you what you want out of it. (Inputs/outputs / balanced / remote / eq / screen etc)
You could get the Schiit jotunheim with the DAC add on so its an amp/dac combo if you wanted to go solid instead of tube
All depends on Budget & what you want out of your HD800s
(Edited)
JJayJJ
472
Apr 3, 2019
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bankkominPlease don't get a tube amp as recomended by others. They're usually all pretty bad compared to solid state.
Case and point: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/woo-audio-wa7-wa7tp-dac-and-headphone-amp-review.7028/
You can also see from reviews on that site, most of the Schiit higher costing products aren't all that good, especially anything older than the Modi 3/Magni 3.
A JDS Atom would be good along with a Topping D50.
If you need cheaper, or perhaps more power, A Magni 3 at it's price is pretty good, as well as the Modi 3 for pretty good distortion numbers at $200 all together.
postwarscars
1367
Apr 5, 2019
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JJayJJ The primary reason to recommend a tube amp for hd800s is that they are fatiguing. This is one of those cases where objectivity doesn't pair well with subjective tastes. You're right, tube amps have, by design, more distortion, but it's more about taking the edge off than getting infinite detail retrevial (which the 800s are going to do regardless).
Also you do know that Amir's reference headphone amp is a tube amp, right?
Lastly, just so we are clear: I agree with you but I am trying to assert why some people try to recommend tubes for the hd800.
(Edited)
JJayJJ
472
Apr 5, 2019
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postwarscarsA preposterous way of going about things to say the least. If the headphones have a FR spike that is fatiguing in any way, the slightest and most basic of EQ deals with this. If you’re buying headphones of this caliber, to purposefully muddy the instead of just adding slight EQ to preference is highly peculiar.
The other thing is, not all tube amps are going to “distort” to that degree where it will make the headphone sound as if it’s not fatiguing anymore. There are decent tube amps out there with distortion that is only audible during extreme use. How would one go about this arduous process and keep their wits? Again, adding a device in the chain that can EQ (if native EQ from source is impossible) is still easier, more sensible, and cheaper. Please don’t retort by saying people may not know how to EQ. I don’t know of a single person that isn’t willing to take a few minutes to flatten a FR spike causing them issues (or even use one of the many measurements people have recreated to conpensate for an entire EQ to go the whole way and target things like Harman target).
No no I don’t know Amir’s benchmark is a tube amp, which amp is it out of curiosity? Also, why does this matter? Doesn’t invalidate anything I’ve said this far, nor most peoples feelings on the matter of tube amps if objectivity pertaining to fidelity performance is concerned.
I agree like you, with what you’re saying can be true. But this is the most roundabout, and tedious/unfavorable way of going about and fixing”fatiguing” headphones I could imagine for end users.
postwarscars
1367
Apr 6, 2019
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JJayJJI actually looked for the threads where he makes mention of it but searching on my phone wasn't ideal. I honestly don't remember what amp it was, I just remember thinking it was an interresting thing to note.
Anyway, the issue with the argument of sheer objectivity is that people have preferences that weigh more than a simple graph. What you're saying is dealing in absolutes when the heart of the argument is based on subjectivity. I mean, you're correct that solid state has less distortion, but that's not the whole story. It's also extremely strange to me to propose EQing as an objective solution, when it's literally degrading the original signal (and what's objectivity matter when no headphone on the plant produces the signal in 100% purity).
It's tiring to hear people who argue about this so often because they believe they are the absolute authority on something that is inherently personal preference. I mean, I love my terribly measured Lyr 1st gen with LCD2C, which is about as far from objectively perfect as you can get. I also really love my JDS Labs atom and want the 789.
TL;DR instead of lambasting someone's opinion for differing from yours, offer the criticism in a constructive way that feels less combative. People will enjoy things on their own terms, believe me I know this as someone who works in a very subjectivity driven market.
(Edited)
Fabiosantos25
1
Apr 6, 2019
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bankkominWith flying colors! But with an ampli this neutral feeding the HD800 you'll need a collection of masterfully recorded/produced/mixed songs and you'll be in heaven. Otherwise prepare yourself for a sonic hell
(Edited)
mensrea
11
Apr 11, 2019
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postwarscarsI thought Amir's reference amp (w/ DAC) is the DX3 Pro...?
postwarscars
1367
Apr 11, 2019
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mensreaAs far as I know that's his primary amp, but that doesn't mean it's his reference amp specifically.
Edit: he uses a Stax SRM-007t. He mentions it at the end of his Lyr review.
(Edited)
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