Need help/suggestion on Headphone amp

[SwaroopKS]

Hi All,

This is my first post in this forum. I have recently bought sennheiser HD800 from a fellow FM and now looking for a headphone amp (preferably with built in dac) to pair with it. I have received a contact who builds amps and based on my preference for sophia 2A3 meshplate tube, he quoted 90k to build the amp using sowter tansformer.

I am looking for alternatives and suggestions which I can explore before proceeding as I may not be able to upgrade it for some time.

My original budget was 40-50k but willing to extend upto 70-90k if it means I can get the best out of HD800 without having to upgrade for some time. What I am looking for an amp that can give me best soundstage and preferably tube based.

Thanks
Satya

 

[captainsubtext]

How about the woo audio fireflies WA7

 

[kratu]

Sennheiser the company that makes HD800 use Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear in all their auditioning setups. Now that says something. It is a highly regarded piece of device, Also from Germany. I have listened to this in their showroom in Bangalore. At that time I didn't have an extensive experience with headphone amps. So my knowledge is limited.

In India availability is an issue. The headphone amp market is quite small. There is no way to listen to them before buying. Most people depend on reviews on sites like headfi. You will have to form a consensus from all the data. Some of the brands that crop up are Schiit, Woo Audio and others. Googling for "Headphone amps for HD800" will throw a lot of results.

I will be trying out an adapter that connects regular speaker amps. It is a worth a try.

 

[rajeevisonline]

I am not really qualified to answer this question. But, here's my opinion. The Onkyo signature sound will go well with the HD 800. Plug it into any of Onkyo's high end receivers tx sr 804 and higher and you have a great combo. I think you should look into Onkyo's own DAC HA-300.

 

[SwaroopKS]

How about the woo audio fireflies WA7

Yes, i have read good things about Woo Audio tube amps including WA6. Are there any dealers in India from who I can purchase them?

 

[SwaroopKS]

Sennheiser the company that makes HD800 use Lehmann Audio Black Cube Linear in all their auditioning setups. Now that says something. It is a highly regarded piece of device, Also from Germany. I have listened to this in their showroom in Bangalore. At that time I didn't have an extensive experience with headphone amps. So my knowledge is limited.

In India availability is an issue. The headphone amp market is quite small. There is no way to listen to them before buying. Most people depend on reviews on sites like headfi. You will have to form a consensus from all the data. Some of the brands that crop up are Schiit, Woo Audio and others. Googling for "Headphone amps for HD800" will throw a lot of results.

I will be trying out an adapter that connects regular speaker amps. It is a worth a try.

Yes I have come across raving suggestions on Eddie Current amps, DNA stratus, Cavalli audio amps etc for HD800. But as you precisely pointed out, the issue turn out to be availability. Some of them are available for international shipping by the company directly but the total price including shipping and customs is gonna burn my wallet. Trying to find them in seconds.

Let me know if you come across anything. Does Schiit have dealers in India?

Thanks
Satya

 

[SwaroopKS]

I am not really qualified to answer this question. But, here's my opinion. The Onkyo signature sound will go well with the HD 800. Plug it into any of Onkyo's high end receivers tx sr 804 and higher and you have a great combo. I think you should look into Onkyo's own DAC HA-300.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had the same thought of connecting to a receiver but thought with a dedicated head amp i may get best of it at same price point. I will surely explore this option.

Thanks
Satya

 

[Hari Iyer]

If you can diy then nothing can beat the Beta22 Class A headphone amp.

 

[rajeevisonline]

If you can diy then nothing can beat the Beta22 Class A headphone amp.

Haven't got a chance to hear the Beta22, but yes, if I were to gauge the absolute best by reading all the reviews there are about it, and by studying specs, then this would be it.

A spot-on recommendation, sir.

Also, Satya you had mentioned that the availability of the amps is a great problem. Another issue especially with the HD 800 is that it is quite picky about the source. An example in this regard, the Chord Hugo is an absolute great amp, so good that if a lesser mortal like me were to say it isn't, no one would notice.

Yet I didn't like the way it sounded when paired with the HD800. It didn't quite pull me into the music. Yes, the amp used by Sennheiser is a better amp for that purpose.

But a lot of people say tube amps are the way to go, when considering the HD800. Havent tried the HD800 with a tube amp, so can't say. But I hope you will. I have an HD650, and I couldnt be happier :yahoo: ( for now at least until I hear the HD800 on a very classy tube amp.) Who knows maybe even the beta 22. Happy Diwali!

 

[kratu]

Let me know if you come across anything. Does Schiit have dealers in India?

Thanks
Satya

No, Schist doesn't have any dealers in India unfortunately. Most of the people import from US.

You can post a wanted thread for pre-owned headphone amps. The chances are minuscule though. I personally bought Little Dot MkIV from the forum. It is a tube amp meant for my Sennheiser HD650. It is okayish but not brilliant.

I second Rajeev's opinion. Tubes are smoother, mellow, musical. You can try Lyrita tube headphone amp. This is a home-grown brand built by music enthusiast Mr Viren Bakshi. Although, I don't have this specific product, I'm basing my opinion on using tube amps for speakers. I think a 2A3 amp would also serve as good headphone amp.

 

[SwaroopKS]

Hi All,

Thanks a lot for your suggestions. I have decided to go with only tube amps. Spoke to Viren and a couple more members who could build a tube amp for me. I have kept them as Plan B.

I am still looking out for any used tube amps recommended for HD800. No luck so far though!

Beta22 definitely sounds as a great amp with all the reviews i read on it. Would like to build it once i start into diy in future.

 

[Sunderpalanivel]

Hey you can try the IFI range, you can do this iDSD -> iTube-> iCan

iDSD is a DAC / AMP however you could use it as DAC only. iDAC would have been an sensible option but unfortunately its not yet available in India.

iTube is a tube buffer /preamp

iCan is class-A power amp

 

[SwaroopKS]

Hey you can try the IFI range, you can do this iDSD -> iTube-> iCan

iDSD is a DAC / AMP however you could use it as DAC only. iDAC would have been an sensible option but unfortunately its not yet available in India.

iTube is a tube buffer /preamp

iCan is class-A power amp

Thank you so much for the suggestion. where can i get them in India? Let me do some reading on how they pair with HD800.