The HD800 & HD800S thread

Thanks for the reply

Would a Schiit Valhalla 2 + Modi Multibit not be a better stack?

I was considering the Jotunheim just to get access to the balanced output and enough (if not too much) power, but was a bit worried when I read that the amp comes off as bright, which would double down on the brightness of the 800S'

Sorry if I come off as ignorant or too inquisitive, I'm new to this and when spending any large sum we all like to read into thing properly eh

 

Had a Jotunheim & it didn't pair well with the HD800 at all.

Vali or Valhalla 2 are the ways to go on a budget.

 

Do not pair the Jot with the 800S unless you want to take a trip to glare city. It's a great amp but is not a good pairing with the 800S.

The Valhalla 2 is a good choice too. More holographic soundstage with better clarity in the mids with more realistic vocals compared to the Vali 2. Rolls off a bit in the bass though. This can be somewhat addressed with different tubes but the Vali 2 will still be superior there. The Vali 2 is also more versatile if your running anything other than high Z dynamics.

Check this thread as well:
http://www.superbestaudiofriends.or...s-for-the-sennheiser-hd800-2017-edition.3408/

 

The Jotunheim seems like a really good amp, shame it doesn't go with the 800's

I'll probably go with the Modi Multibit + Vali 2 combo, since I don't really want to spend a lot on tubes to get the Valhalla to sounding as it should

I could push my budget to £1000, but I doubt there's anything that's overwhelmingly better than the Modi Multibit + Vali 2

Couldn't really find a consensus if the multibit gives an audible difference, since I'm not keen on ordering both and sending one back, mind if I ask you to weigh in your opinion on the difference?

 

@JNicko at your price point from my experience it would be hard to do better than Modi Multibit and Vali 2. I own both as well as HD 800S. I replaced the Modi with a Brooklyn DAC+ so I could enjoy MQA releases on Tidal. Based on reading the forum I will enjoy the Vali 2 until time to move up to an Eddie Current. I doubt the Valhalla 2 would be enough of an upgrade from the Vali 2 for me. I already spent too much money on other headphones until realising I should have just started with the 800S.

The Bifrost Multibit with the Gen 5 USB is a much better DAC then the Modi Multibit if you can swing the extra cost. You will hear the difference. I seem to be collecting Schiit gear If I had to do the journey over I would have started with the Brooklyn DAC+ and Vali 2 with the HD 800s. People like me who place importance on imaging and soundstage should just start with the HD 800S and build a system around the phones.

 

I'll read around the Bitfrost Multibit and see if it's worthwhile compared to the Modi Multibit, if it is, then may as well go along with that
Though the £575 DAC to the £165 Amp seems like a little unbalanced price wise haha

Looked up the Brooklyn DAC, that's a hefty price, not compared to other high end things ofc, just would be a big first buy in to DAC's

Soundstage is definitely the thing I enjoy most so far, I feel that mids and bass etc can change due to tracks and source, but soundstage will always be there to wow me regardless of the track (HD800S)

How much are the DAC updates on a Bitfrost Multibit btw? I noticed it's not included in the 3 years warranty

 

I wouldn't recommend the Bifrost multibit over the Modi multibit. Not for headphones anyways. (Not the current Bifrost anyways)

I'd still recommend the Modi Multibit and Vali 2. Then run far away and just enjoy the music. Come back when/if your ready to upgrade to an Eddie Current or DNA amp, etc.

 

That's some level headed advice on getting away and enjoying the music, think that's the best thing to do (after getting the stack ofc)

Last question before I opt out then, do Schiit have sales on their site? Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas sales etc, or do the prices stay steadfast?

 

Never, they only put stuff on clearance if it gets discontinued which rarely happens.

 

Saves me the effort of waiting then, can buy now with no regrets

Cheers for the help

 

What @Mystic said.

 

If you plan on living with HD800S and other high Z phones , the Valhalla 2 is a better option than vali 2 even with stock tubes.

 

Valhalla 2 stock tubes are pretty good actually. There is not a lot of reason to go down the tube rabbit hole with that amp.

 

It looks like the Vali 2 comes with a pretty flat SS tube, which by default doesn't sound any different from the Magni from what I'm reading. Seems it was intentional, since most peeps will go and put their own tubes in it anyways

I'll be sticking with my 650's and 800S's for the next 2 years or so without buying anymore cans, so a pretty high average of 300 ohm impedance

I'd prefer to not go down the rabbit hole, since it looks pretty deep, but really do appreciate that it creates a nice range of sounds without swapping out amps

As stated, once I buy this setup, I'd like to run away and enjoy the music, only peeking back into the audio world when I have the budget

I'm just looking for the best rig I can buy for under £1k then go hide in my hole

 

For those cans I would buy Valhalla 2 over Vali 2. As for DAC Modi multi is a solid choice as is the Bifrost ak but not multibit.

 

I have a Magni 3 (original Magni lost a channel) and Vali 2 definitely is the better amp for HD 800s. Magni 3 soundstage is flat while Vali 3 is 3D even with stock tube.

I expect Valhalla 2 to be a step up from Vali 2. Considering purchase of a Mjolnir 2 running balanced.

 

Still haven't ordered since circumstances and stuff, but will be ordering the Vali 2 and Modi Multibit later this week, will update next week with my impressions of them

I do have some questions though (sorry to turn this into a sort of general thread, completely new to amps and dac's)

Does Schiit include the cables needed for connection with their amps and dac's, or are they ordered separately?

I was honestly leaning towards the Valhalla 2 initially, to buy into the mid-fi range to do the Hd800S's some justice, but only realised earlier today about the cost of replacing the tubes (stock). It has four tubes, so does it run all four and they same time, so they would die at the same time (in an ideal world)? Schiit rates the tubes at 3000-5000 hours, but I go to about 4000 in a year with headphones, so that'd be a scary £100 a year tube replacement just for stock

@allegro , The Mjolnir 2 seems pretty nice, I noticed that one or two people don't like its sound (as with all amps), but it looks to be a solid choice for under 1k. Due to said circumstances from earlier, my budget increased by a lot, so could purchase into the Mj2, but think it's better to start at the bottom and see if I'm luckily contempt with it's sound. Plus, it's out of sock (eu)

 

@JNicko Schiit does not include cables. I have an ampsandsound Kenzie in the build queue.

 

@allegro , thanks for answering the dull / obvious questions

So to connect the whole chain together, would the only things I need to order cable wise be the USB cable for pc -> Dac, and a PYST RCA cable for dac -> amp?

Also, it dawned on me that I have the viable option to order both the Vali 2 and Valhalla 2 and decide which I prefer, then send the other back within the return period

 

Yes Schiit sells good RCA interconnects as well as the USB A male to USB B male cable you will need to the DAC. Blue Jeans Cable is another source for decent cables that are good but not expensive.