My budget is ~$2000 USD
I can spend all of it on a DAC or a solid state Amp, or some DAC/SS Amp combo (can’t have tubes).
I don’t mind buying all new or reusing some of what I have.
I like the HD800s but am looking for a wider soundstage
Have
I’ve been reading up a lot for the past few weeks on different DAC/amp combos for the HD 800s but it seems that I can’t quite find much info at my $2000 price point with these headphones. Most of what info/threads I can find is at half or less of that. Maybe I’m missing something? I’m new and fully admit I don’t know what I am talking about when it comes to hardware. I listen with my ears and go from there so I’m not bothered by measurements, just if it works. I can’t understand why some hardware goes from balanced input to single ended internally and then back to balanced output, but I digress. So, a bit of background and info on what I currently have should I be able to reuse it.
I started with a o2+ODAC and HD650 before the power cord started acting up if it was moved even a bit. Good excuse to upgrade so I went to the Schiit Modius and Magnius stack last year and set everything up balanced. Found it to be ok but not great. Was also suggested to try Drop’s HD8XX and use the credit to get the THX 789 amp. Well, the final tuning came out and I backed out of the drop but the amp cost more to ship back than it was worth so I have it here collecting dust. Bought the HD800s direct when it went on sale for about the same price as the HD8XX was. It’s great for most music I listen to (also balanced) but has a bit of harshness for some music. Added a Lokius to the stack for very slight tone adjustment when needed and on bypass when it’s not. I still feel like the music isn’t quite sounding how it should. It’s not as wide as I would like and the sound isn’t very natural. It’s good, but just not quite there.
I’ve been reading about how pairing the Drop THX 789 with the Denafrips Ares II DAC will provide a more natural, tube like sound, but through an amp that is analytical for a more rounded experience. I dunno, I’ve also read that the HDV820 is good from one source and that it’s hot garbage from another. Topping A90D/D90SE is another controversial one, but that seems to be close to the THX 789 anyway. RME’s ADI-2 DAC FS and SINGXER SA-1 was a front runner, but it seems the ADI-2 may not be the best match over the Ares II for the HD800s despite the (I think it’s 7 band now) PEQ. Tube amps keep being suggested for these headphones, but I am not allowed to have tubes at all. So, solid state it is. The Ares II is suppose to give a more tube like sound, but the amp is from Drop… The Bifrost 2 DAC and Jotunheim 2 amp seem to be a good upgrade, but I can’t help but to feel that it’s a small upgrade from the Modius/Lokius/Magnius stack I am currently using.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks
I can spend all of it on a DAC or a solid state Amp, or some DAC/SS Amp combo (can’t have tubes).
I don’t mind buying all new or reusing some of what I have.
I like the HD800s but am looking for a wider soundstage
Have
- Schiit Modius/Lokius/Magnius
- Drop THX 789 amp
- Bifrost 2 (or Gungnir)/Jotunheim 2
- RME ADI-2/SINGXER SA-1
- Denafrips Ares II/Drop THX 789
I’ve been reading up a lot for the past few weeks on different DAC/amp combos for the HD 800s but it seems that I can’t quite find much info at my $2000 price point with these headphones. Most of what info/threads I can find is at half or less of that. Maybe I’m missing something? I’m new and fully admit I don’t know what I am talking about when it comes to hardware. I listen with my ears and go from there so I’m not bothered by measurements, just if it works. I can’t understand why some hardware goes from balanced input to single ended internally and then back to balanced output, but I digress. So, a bit of background and info on what I currently have should I be able to reuse it.
I started with a o2+ODAC and HD650 before the power cord started acting up if it was moved even a bit. Good excuse to upgrade so I went to the Schiit Modius and Magnius stack last year and set everything up balanced. Found it to be ok but not great. Was also suggested to try Drop’s HD8XX and use the credit to get the THX 789 amp. Well, the final tuning came out and I backed out of the drop but the amp cost more to ship back than it was worth so I have it here collecting dust. Bought the HD800s direct when it went on sale for about the same price as the HD8XX was. It’s great for most music I listen to (also balanced) but has a bit of harshness for some music. Added a Lokius to the stack for very slight tone adjustment when needed and on bypass when it’s not. I still feel like the music isn’t quite sounding how it should. It’s not as wide as I would like and the sound isn’t very natural. It’s good, but just not quite there.
I’ve been reading about how pairing the Drop THX 789 with the Denafrips Ares II DAC will provide a more natural, tube like sound, but through an amp that is analytical for a more rounded experience. I dunno, I’ve also read that the HDV820 is good from one source and that it’s hot garbage from another. Topping A90D/D90SE is another controversial one, but that seems to be close to the THX 789 anyway. RME’s ADI-2 DAC FS and SINGXER SA-1 was a front runner, but it seems the ADI-2 may not be the best match over the Ares II for the HD800s despite the (I think it’s 7 band now) PEQ. Tube amps keep being suggested for these headphones, but I am not allowed to have tubes at all. So, solid state it is. The Ares II is suppose to give a more tube like sound, but the amp is from Drop… The Bifrost 2 DAC and Jotunheim 2 amp seem to be a good upgrade, but I can’t help but to feel that it’s a small upgrade from the Modius/Lokius/Magnius stack I am currently using.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks