Amp recommendations for the Sennheiser HD800s?

[sploo]

I've been using a pair of Sennheiser HD600 cans with my PC for the best part of 20 years (sound from the motherboard DAC). For well over a decade I'd paired it with the Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2 headphone amplifier, and been happy with the results.

The HD600 has started to get a bit tired, so I treated myself to the HD800s, and they're.... different. Occasionally better for some tracks, but I was expecting much more, given that the HD800s is a multiple of the HD600 price.

I've applied some EQ, using Equalizer APO and it's helped, but they still feel somewhat lacking. They greatly improve if I turn the volume up quite high, but at levels generally too loud for my tastes. Also, the EHP-O2 high gain mode sounds too distorted to my ears.

The EHP-O2 is rated at 641mW into 33Ohm. Given that the HD600 and HD800s have similar impedance ratings (with the 800s slightly more sensitive) I'd have assumed the amp wasn't the issue. However, I've seen a lot of claims that the 800s can be quite picky with amps.

If that is the case, would anyone have recommendations, under $1000, that would be available in the UK? I've seen the Nitch Pietus Maximus (with DAC) recommended, but their 230V models are sold out (and I assume I'd get hit with loads of taxes on a US import, which would take it over the budget). There's a bewildering array of other options.

Alternatively, should the EHP-O2 be absolutely fine, and the HD800s is just "like that"?

 

[Aryzon]

Topping DX5ii is the goto amp for pretty much any headphone these days. Not sure about the EHP-O2, it's power output indeed look quite weak but it should still be enough for HD800s unless it indeed starts to distort way before it reaches it's rated power output.

HD800S as a headphone is flawed. It can't produce bass well and it's funky frequency response will take some EQ skill to fix. Eitherway, I wouldn't recommend it. There are much better options.

 

[sploo]

Topping DX5ii is the goto amp for pretty much any headphone these days. Not sure about the EHP-O2, it's power output indeed look quite weak but it should still be enough for HD800s unless it indeed starts to distort way before it reaches it's rated power output.

HD800S as a headphone is flawed. It can't produce bass well and it's funky frequency response will take some EQ skill to fix. Eitherway, I wouldn't recommend it. There are much better options.

Thanks. The DX5ii looks to be highly rated, and a good price.

I thought the 800S had fixed a lot of the frequency issues with the 800?

 

[Aryzon]

Thanks. The DX5ii looks to be highly rated, and a good price.

I thought the 800S had fixed a lot of the frequency issues with the 800?

You can read Amirm's review on it. It has higher bass distortion than HD600 (which was already very poor to begin with).
If you like how HD600 sounds (considering you have been using it for 20 years) but want to fix it's poor bass performance and spatial qualities, I recommend taking a look into Hifiman Edition XV. Tho do keep in mind it is a lot heavier than Sennheiser's headphones.

 

[solderdude]

Bass distortion can reach 10% and this is not even obvious in music (because of the overtones of the played bass notes being there).

I thought the 800S had fixed a lot of the frequency issues with the 800?

Only the 6kHz peaking was addressed.
Below the differences between the HD800 and HD800S. (Right channel only)

 

[heartlezz7]

xDuoo TA-66 OTL sounds way above its price for hd800\hd800s, i have custom made one but with similar specs. DX5 II just bad, have a lot of qc issues, will not recommend, if you want high end topping better go with e70v/d70 combo.

 

[delta76]

xDuoo TA-66 OTL sounds way above its price for hd800\hd800s, i have custom made one but with similar specs. DX5 II just bad, have a lot of qc issues, will not recommend, if you want high end topping better go with e70v/d70 combo.

I'm not sure how a tube amp will "sounds way above its price"

OT, look for an used RME, ADI-2 DAC FS or similar, and be happy for a very long time

 

[heartlezz7]

I'm not sure how a tube amp will "sounds way above its price"

OT, look for an used RME, ADI-2 DAC FS or similar, and be happy for a very long time

Ta-66 sounds amazing out of the box for 250$ (solid b class), to achieve something better need to spent way more for something like super stratus. I speak from my experience only

 

[delta76]

Ta-66 sounds amazing out of the box for 250$ (solid b class), to achieve something better need to spent way more for something like super stratus. I speak from my experience only

an amp should not sound like "anything", you should only care if it can provide enough clean power for your headphone. It's a typical tube amp https://xduoo.net/product/ta-66 and it should sound "warm" which means distortions (emphasizing on lower frequencies)
It's fine that you like it and how it "sounds", but a much better approach is to have a clean amp and EQ to your liking.

 

[heartlezz7]

an amp should not sound like "anything", you should only care if it can provide enough clean power for your headphone. It's a typical tube amp https://xduoo.net/product/ta-66 and it should sound "warm" which means distortions (emphasizing on lower frequencies)
It's fine that you like it and how it "sounds", but a much better approach is to have a clean amp and EQ to your liking.

Sure, I think the same for any other headphones but for hd800 series it's just doesn't sound good enough with any solid state I tried, with eq or not. Imho hd800 just need that warm pinch from otl amp.

 

[Aryzon]

xDuoo TA-66 OTL sounds way above its price for hd800\hd800s, i have custom made one but with similar specs. DX5 II just bad, have a lot of qc issues, will not recommend, if you want high end topping better go with e70v/d70 combo.

These do not have built in EQ.
You should update DX5ii firmware. On my end with V2.10 it's working flawlessly.

 

[sploo]

Many thanks all for the guidance.

I got a good deal on a Topping DX5 II so decided to give it a try. I connected it to my PC via USB, then updated it to the latest firmware (V2.46) and pretty much left all settings as default. To try to determine if it made a difference I tried:

• HD600 vs HD800S on the Epiphany Acoustics EHP-O2 (both using a 6.35mm to 3.5mm jack adapter)
• HD600 vs HD800S on the DX5 II via the 6.35mm jack
• HD800S on the DX5 II via the 4.4mm balanced jack

I tried to level match between the two amps, and between the 6.35mm and 4.4mm balanced configurations.

First impressions showed little in the way of changes; the 600 and 800S sound different, but I wouldn't necessarily call the 800S better. I couldn't hear differences between the two amps, or the 6.35mm vs 4.4mm balanced connection on the DX5 II.

However, I then did some fairly aggressive EQ with Equalizer APO. I did this empirically, but it appears I've ended up with something not dissimilar to amirm's settings in his HD800S review (https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/sennheiser-hd800s-review-headphone.18424/); at least for the bass frequencies.

The HD800S on the balanced jack now sounds really impressive, with very "full" but clean deep bass. With the same EQ settings the HD600 didn't sound particularly happy. Neither headphone worked well on the EHP-O2 amp.

Based on zero quantitative data, my assumption is that the HD800S needs the extra power of the DX5 II in order to cleanly produce that much EQ'd bass at the low end, and that the smaller drivers of the HD600 can't handle that level of bass without distortion. End result: the HD800S are now clearly "better" to my ears than the HD600, so for the relatively low price of the DX5 II I'm happy. I assume that other similarly powerful headphone amps would achieve the same result.

For the moment, I've just lightly boosted the higher frequencies with EQ (old man => loss of high frequency hearing), but when I get time I'll experiment more with amirm's 2.7, 5.4 and 10kHz settings.

 

[tokyo_blues]

My HD800 (non S) are the only headphones I own I will never part with.

I don't use any EQ with them: years ago I installed the French resonator mod and never looked back. It turned a pair of already phenomenal headphones into -for me- perfect headphones. I'm sure ear conformation also plays a role here.

I will never, ever understand people who complain about their bass. The bass is perfect, and this comes from an (amateur, but regular) double bass player. More bass than this and it would be excessive for me. Maybe people who constantly moan about bass are listening to ultra compressed trap or hip hop music on 128kbps streaming platforms. No idea.

OP - I don't know about the HD600, but I have a pair of HD6XX I bought from drop last year and I never use them. The HD800 are noticeably (noticeably) better for me, and vastly more comfortable.

I am wearing my HD800 right now. Wolfgang Muthspiel - Angular Blues on ECM. Gosh Brian Blade, what a drummer. And those cymbals through the HD800... magic, just like being in a jazz club.

So yes I use them for jazz and classical and I adore them. Better than these? I'll reach for my speakers. Try them with some well recorded ECM or Decca AAD 70s recordings.

For the record, I'm in my early 40s, perfect hearing up to 16khz and use them with a solid state amp.

Checking out and back to what really matters - music

 

[jhaider]

If that is the case, would anyone have recommendations, under $1000, that would be available in the UK? I've seen the Nitch Pietus Maximus (with DAC) recommended, but their 230V models are sold out (and I assume I'd get hit with loads of taxes on a US import, which would take it over the budget). There's a bewildering array of other options.

Can you source a previous generation RME ADI-2 for under 1k USD in the UK? Then you can handle the EQ natively, and the loudness compensation will help at lower volumes as well. I find the crossfeed beneficial as well.

 

[Giraffepoasting]

Xduoo TA-26S works wonders with the 600 series. I've heard it also works well with the 800s.

For a strong foundation, though, I'd recommend the Luxsin X8. It's a combo unit that also doubles as a DAC but with unmatched features for the price, IMO.

 

[Aryzon]

I am running Focal Azurys as my portable headphones. It's probably the best "normal" headphone out there and it also happens to be a closed back. It doesn't beat planars on technical performance but for a dynamic driver this is insanely good.

It does reach above 2% distortion in bass but that's at 110db so I can safely say you won't be able to hear it even if you crank the volume to ridiculous levels. Azurys are also very easy to drive so you won't have to worry about amps if you decide to take them outside.

Default frequency response is also very good, especially for a closed back. But HRTF differences with closed back headphoens can vary significantly so you should still try before buying.

If open back is an option then Edition XV it is. It really has no competition outside of very few headphones that cost orders of magnitude more.

 

[Bucket1122]

I run my HD800S with a Feliks Echo Classic and a Xduoo Ta-26 and they both work wonderfully. Also works well on my Pietus Maximus, highly recommend.

 

[sete]

I run my HD800S with a Feliks Echo Classic and a Xduoo Ta-26 and they both work wonderfully. Also works well on my Pietus Maximus, highly recommend.

I haven't tried too many different amps, but the Xduoo Ta-26s (basically the same as the Ta-26 afaik) was a revelation with the HD800S. I also have the RNHP and the Singxer SA-1, love them both, but to my ears the tubes do something special to the HD800S.