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Best Amps for HD800S - 2023 Edition

Discussion in 'Headphone Amplifiers and Combo (DAC/Amp) Units' started by purr1n, Oct 12, 2023.

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  1. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    My “love it or hate it” was more directed at the amp than the 6DJ8/6922 tube family. I thought most here seem to like it and very well liked. It’s only too bad that the good ones are now gone or expensive AF, same as 6SN7’s. Vintage tube market is a racket.

    But the reason FOR 6DJ8’s is more so for the gain.
    • 12AX7= 100
    • 5751 = 70
    • 12AT7 = 60
    • 12AV7 = 45
    • 12AU7 = 20
    To put it in perspective, here are some other gain factors:
    • 6N1P/6H1N = 35
    • 6N23P = 33
    • 6922/E88CC = 33
    • 6CG7 = 20
    • 6SN7 = 20
     
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    Azimuth, Nov 7, 2023
    #101
  2. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    This is the core usefulness of lists like these. But one must still be mindful of list generator's personal preferences.

    QED. Personal preferences.

    This is so much more information with which to compare, I am delighted to see adoption of such and I know it is a tremendous amount more work than pushing a button to run a script for SINAD at 1 KHz, 2Vrms with a single load. Yet short of the full enchilada possible when one breaks down THD+N into constituents, which is exponentially more work.
     
    atomicbob, Nov 7, 2023
    #102
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Still trying to make the QS work. I have a prized set of GE 5751 in good condition which I swapped in. Also a set of JJ EL844s, a lower power cleaner sounding replacement for the EL84s. My earlier dislike could partially be due to acclimation because I really haven't been listening to lush and wet amps for a while (and no Mjolnir 3 or Piety don't count). I also found that one channel was extremely distorted (measurements) with the prior tube set.

    I'm at the point where I am happy that it's less wet and less flabby, but now I'm stuck with a tonal balance that's a upper mid forward. It was already slightly like this with the tube set before, it's just that the wet and lush effect mitigated it. In comparison, the SW51 with the CBS mesh tube sounds full bodied and relaxed. I'm not too sure about the synergy with the HD800S tonal peculiarities, namely the upper mid hardness and glare, which are still there on the HD800S, just mitigated compared to OG stock HD800. (The reference DAC being the Modius E, chosen for its suitability for the price range, performance for price, and slight bit of inner warmth).

    The QS with the earlier set of tubes 12AT7 and EL84 did sound great with Grados (better than SW51), but way too much hum.

    I feel the QS gets oh so close, but no cigar. :(
     
    purr1n, Nov 11, 2023
    #103
  4. atomicbob

    atomicbob dScope Yoda

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    Way too much hum is a very important bit of information for me. Hum and hiss are two sins of commission that distract me significantly, so much so that I can't get past either.
     
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    atomicbob, Nov 11, 2023
    #104
  5. totaldominasian

    totaldominasian New

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    Lots of Woo that's recommended on the list. What about the WA7?
     
    totaldominasian, Dec 2, 2023
    #105
  6. gaspasser

    gaspasser Flatulence Maestro

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    What is the Sandevistan mod? Some searching reveal nothing so far.
     
    gaspasser, Dec 14, 2023
    #106
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    LOL, it doesn't exist. I was playing a lot of CP2077 that day making playful fun at all the mods. (I think we need to step back and laugh at ourselves sometimes).

     
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    purr1n, Dec 14, 2023
    #107
  8. ColtMrFire

    ColtMrFire Writes better fan fics than you

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    Is this game any good now? Last I remember it was released with a truckload of bugs and glitches.
     
    ColtMrFire, Dec 14, 2023
    #108
  9. Aklegal

    Aklegal Friend

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    I'm having a blast with it. I didn't purchase it until after the recent DLC though.
     
    Aklegal, Dec 14, 2023
    #109
  10. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Incredible f'ing game, nothing has the atmosphere of night city. Nothing feels remotely as alive
     
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    zerodeefex, Dec 14, 2023
    #110
  11. fraggler

    fraggler A Happy & Busy Life

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    I think because they did such an incredible job of the atmosphere, I will always be disappointed I couldn't do more exploring and vibing. So many locked doors I couldn't go into. So many beautifully crafted things I couldn't interact with.
     
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    fraggler, Dec 14, 2023
    #111
  12. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Started my first run in April 2021. Some annoying performance issues early on (I'm on older mid tier hardware), but only ever one time I had to restart the game after getting locked out of progression because of some glitch or other.

    Been wanting to revisit the game for a fresh run and honestly it plays like a wholly new game now. Still some graphical weirdness, but yeah it's just a really well crafted setting with memorable characters (main and side) and a kickass soundtrack. Love the thing.
     
    Lyander, Dec 14, 2023
    #112
  13. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    there’s like over a hundred hours of content. I get it but also there’s literally no other game ever that feels like this.

    Did a run at launch and can say unequivocally that the game today is improved in every way
     
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    zerodeefex, Dec 14, 2023
    #113
  14. Jh4db536

    Jh4db536 Friend

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    The LTA Z10 is an excellent headphone amp overall that i experienced recently, even for HD800. Unlike many hd800 amps that i know of, it is not OOP, diy or made by a vendor no one has ever heard of. I would not call it a warm nor a syrupy amp. It doesn't seem to commit or omit very much (while not exacerbating 800 highs and distortions), it is a little on the smooth side, which makes it excellent pairing IMO.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Dec 15, 2023
    Jh4db536, Dec 15, 2023
    #114
  15. Garcin

    Garcin New

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    I know this is an old post, but I'll try my luck anyway.
    I'm looking to get HD800s' as a complete beginner. I really don't want to get a tube amp as I've heard they're a lot of trouble for beginners, but I also want to get a DAC and Amp that are easy to use but that will do them justice. Any tips?
     
    Garcin, Feb 27, 2024
    #115
  16. JK47

    JK47 Friend

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    Welcome, page 1 of this thread would be a good start
     
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    JK47, Feb 27, 2024
    #116
  17. rlow

    rlow A happy woofer

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    I wonder if/where Pietus Maximus lands on @purr1n ’s list? Better than Lyr+? Would be good to have another relatively budget option for folks.
     
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    Last edited: Feb 27, 2024
    rlow, Feb 27, 2024
    #117
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Better than Lyr+, but tonally match may be easier with Lyr+ with bright or lean headphones. Pantheon of greatest Schiit/Nitsch amps:

    Mjolnir 3 / Folkvangr*
    Pietus
    Lyr+

    (no mans land)

    Unity
    Piety
     
    purr1n, Feb 28, 2024
    #118
  19. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Update for 2024 for beginners.

    Magni Unity + Modi Multibit 2 (NOS) with HD800(S).

    You are done. Piety if you want more bloomy mids and crispier highs (in this case OG MMB1 is recommended)

    Piety + MMB 1
     
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    purr1n, Feb 28, 2024
    #119
  20. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    You'd skip the internal Magni Unity DAC?? I think you are talking absolute, but care to hypothesize how close + external DAC helps??
     
    M3NTAL, Feb 29, 2024
    #120
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