[GodsInHisHeaven]

 
Just got the FR-graph from Sennheiser and their measurements are exactly as I hear them.
Strange coincidence, that the last 3 digits are my lucky numbers, so I guess they were made for me 

 
For my last "refinements" I changed my EQ a little. I am very happy that I did not spend my money on the HE 1000, as I got a new HD 800 for only 1050 €.
In my opinion the HE 1000 has nothing on the HD 800 and I am very close on selling my modded HE 560.
 

 

[Peti]

   
Heh I bought the balanced iHP-35H-4XLR cable from Audiophonics.fr for a nice price of 135€  (equals to $100 without VAT). I even asked them if that's really the right price? I guess it wasn't since after my purchase it raised to 215€.. too bad for them..
 
The cable doesn't exactly feel like quality in hand, quite cheapish plasticy, dunno if the higher end Hx version is different..

I am being guilty as I often judge cables solely based on their looks. The first thing I feel in love with this cable was the connectors/jack though.

 

[Xeculus]

Just got my freq response chart from Sennheiser 

 
 
Does mine look a bit weird to anyone? 

 

[u2u2]

   
Heh I bought the balanced iHP-35H-4XLR cable from Audiophonics.fr for a nice price of 135€  (equals to $100 without VAT). I even asked them if that's really the right price? I guess it wasn't since after my purchase it raised to 215€.. too bad for them..
 
The cable doesn't exactly feel like quality in hand, quite cheapish plasticy, dunno if the higher end Hx version is different..

The Hx version is in a totally different league. No comparison. I have the SE version and have been trying to get a twin Xlr. Always in short supply in my local market. The carbon fibre connectors and silver/black woven fabric cable sheath makes for a stunning looking cable with a substantial feel. They are so well assembled you will pass them down to the next generation... With six months of heavy daily use my cable is still in pristine condition. Pricey, but not bad in relation to the overall investment in a good amp, DAC, interconnects, HD800s, tubes etc etc. 

 

[u2u2]

  Just got my freq response chart from Sennheiser 

 
 
Does mine look a bit weird to anyone? 

Yes. It does not have the common peak around 6-7K. I have a set produced in early 2015 (38XXX) and the graph is very similar but mine has the peak. Those should be solid performers. Congratulations on your fine purchase.

 

[murphythecat]

those sennheiser charts are useless.
 
all hd800 have the 6khz peak.

 

[Energy]

@murphythecat
 
Agreed. Even mine is slightly more flatline and I still hear it in heaps. Even out of a warmer B22 amplifier.
 

 
I would like to make a shout-out THANK YOU to @Sorrodje for the Super Dupont Resonator R&D (research and development). Because of you and whoever assisted was I able to finally bearably listen to my HD800 for longer periods of time. Was this close to selling it and or trading it in for the HD800S until I bumped into your page through Inner Fidelity. Only thing that made keep mine for so long was the colorware. For years on end too! Finally the appearance of the HD800S, and then the Dupont. Lucky me.
 

 

[Sorrodje]

@murphythecat


Agreed. Even mine is slightly more flatline and I still hear it in heaps. Even out of a warmer B22 amplifier.




I would like to make a shout-out THANK YOU to @Sorrodje
 for the Super Dupont Resonator R&D (research and development). Because of you and whoever assisted was I able to finally bearably listen to my HD800 for longer periods of time. Was this close to selling it and or trading it in for the HD800S until I bumped into your page through Inner Fidelity. Only thing that made keep mine for so long was the colorware. For years on end too! Finally the appearance of the HD800S, and then the Dupont. Lucky me.

You're welcome !

 

[ClintonL]

Anyone have a hd800 and valhalla 2? I heard the combo is a bit lifeless as the valhalla is kind of neutral.

 

[pctazhp]

  Anyone have a hd800 and valhalla 2? I heard the combo is a bit lifeless as the valhalla is kind of neutral.

I have a Valhalla 2 and HD800S. What you have heard is consistent with my experience.

 

[ClintonL]

  I have a Valhalla 2 and HD800S. What you have heard is consistent with my experience.

 
Cheers for that, would you have any suggestions around the price range?

 

[vc1187]

   
Cheers for that, would you have any suggestions around the price range?

If you can stretch your budget by $50-$100, the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball is a great pairing for the HD800.  While not the last word in definition, it'll give the HD800 more energy, a heftier bass response, and non-fatiguing treble.
 
Be prepared to build it too, or you could always pick up a used one.

 

[pctazhp]

   
Cheers for that, would you have any suggestions around the price range?

I don't really have any experience with other amps in the V2 price range. vc's recommendation of the Bottlehead Crack + Speedball seems to be a popular mate for the 800's.
 
I absolutely love my Elise and believe it is hard to beat. But it's about double your price range.

 

[ClintonL]

Yep at the moment boiling down to the speedball + crack vs a valhalla 2 can't decide.

 

[FlySweep]

  Yep at the moment boiling down to the speedball + crack vs a valhalla 2 can't decide.

I've owned both (for extended periods of time) with the HD650 and HD800.
 
SB'ed Crack is the more (stereotypically) tubey, warm, bloomy, dynamic amp with nice slam/macrodynamics (OTL's tend to excle a there latter qualities).  The Val2 is cleaner, faster, (much) more resolving, more transparent, neutral and boasts wider freq. bandwidth.  The Val2 has a "solid-state" like sound but, IME, it has the ability to render microdynamics and detail more naturally than most solid state amps I've heard.  There's a certain 'fluidity' and 'dimensionality' to the Val2 sound that I simply don't find in many solid state amps.  The Val2 is often said to possess an 'Eddie Current'-like sound (which is a very high compliment cause EC tube amps are regarded as 'tubes done right').  My nitpicks with the Val2 is that it's a little 'dry' sounding, it lacks some slam, and the treble can be a little grainy (some measured tube rolling may resolve this though).  Due to the Val2's highly resolving nature, it's pretty sensitive to DACs, too (moreso than the CrackSB, which I wouldn't consider an elite resolving amp.. even with cap mods, etc.).  People have paired the Val2 with the Gumby (Schiit Gungnir Multibit) and said it scaled with that excellent DAC.. so consideration for upstream gear is warranted.  Personally, I'd probably pair the Val2 with the Bifrost 4490 (or MB) w/ the HD650 and be pretty damn content until I was ready to spend $1K+.  I had a souped up CrackSB w/ the HD650 a few years ago and loved it, as well.. extremely engaging, fun, and easy to kick back to.  I could absolutely live with that combo, too.. it certainly possessed some qualities that are very hard to find elsewhere in its price range, let alone double it.  There's a certain warmth and fullness to a carefully built/tweaked Crack that's simply captivating.  Something both amps excel at is timbre.. the CrackSB is a little more saturated here.. but the Val2 is more accurate, but can come across as a little sterile (depending on your DAC/tubes, again).
 
So, it depends on what kind of sound you're looking for.. and what else is in your system.  Personally, at this point in my journey, I'd probably opt for the Val2 (with good tubes) over the CrackSB cause I tend to value a more detailed, transparent sound with more finesse.. over persistent coloration and warmth.