Headphone amp for HD800

Loads of options. Regardless of what folks say, the HD800 isn't hard to drive. If you want a bit of warmth to smoothe the harshness down a bit then the Vali is a nice amp, if you want tube Rollin options then the Little Dots are great. It all depends on your taste.
 
If you're looking for something that is going to be equally as good for gaming and movies as it is for music then how about the Creative Sound Blaster X7?

It has a very good DAC and a decent, powerful amp plus Dolby surround and SBX for virtual surround via headphones and it's all packed into one convenient, surprisingly small box.

http://www.soundblaster.com/x7/

* plus you can buy them here and they are in stock :D
 
rids57 said:
If you're looking for something that is going to be equally as good for gaming and movies as it is for music then how about the Creative Sound Blaster X7?

It has a very good DAC and a decent, powerful amp plus Dolby surround and SBX for virtual surround via headphones and it's all packed into one convenient, surprisingly small box.

http://www.soundblaster.com/x7/

* plus you can buy them here and they are in stock :D
Click to expand...

If Carlsberg did replies
 
The asus essence dacs do dolby headphone I thought ? the essence one and essence stu etc via spdif from a xonar soundcard ?

I'd research it properly on headfi forums and think about what sound you want to achieve on the hd800's like you want more bass or a more warm midrangy sound etc.The essence one is a superb bit of kit with many swappable op amps to achieve different sound signatures.

Might be better off with best of both worlds a mid high end soundcard for movies games and a headphone amp/dac for music.
But I am pretty sure you can get dolby headphone via spdif from soundcard to the asus dacs.

I take it your current soundcard is a basic one ? just upgrading that might be good enough.
 
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Any DAC with an optical input can do that.

S/PDIF can only handle compressed 5.1 / 7.1 (DTS), uncompressed audio is stereo only, so I'm not sure what the end result would be.

I've tested the X7 and the Asus Essence One and there really isn't a great deal between them when it comes to sound quality.
 
This is why good soundcard + headphone amp is better imo you got all the options covered.
 
You have all of the options covered (and then some) with the Creative SB X7 though and you only have one device plus it accepts a mic and can drive active or passive speakers should you find the need.
 
Am guessing the x7 would struggle to power my focal 816v speakers at decent volumes? To make use of the speaker terminals on the back

Type 2-1/2 way bass-reflex floor standing speaker, Powerflow.
Finish Moka - Natural
Drivers 6-1/2" (16.5cm) Polyglass woofer. 6-1/2" (16.5cm) Polyglass mid-bass. 1" (25mm) TNV Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter.
Frequency response (+or-3dB) 47Hz - 28kHz
Low frequency point 39Hz
Sensitivity (2,83 V/1 m) 91.5dB
Nominal impedance 8 Ohms
Minimum impedance 4.3 Ohms
Crossover frequency 300Hz / 3 000Hz
Recommended amplifier power 40 - 200W
Dimensions (HxWxD) 39-5/16 x 11-1/8 x 14-3/4"
Net weight
 
C64 said:
The asus essence dacs do dolby headphone I thought ? the essence one and essence stu etc via spdif from a xonar soundcard ?

I'd research it properly on headfi forums and think about what sound you want to achieve on the hd800's like you want more bass or a more warm midrangy sound etc.The essence one is a superb bit of kit with many swappable op amps to achieve different sound signatures.

Might be better off with best of both worlds a mid high end soundcard for movies games and a headphone amp/dac for music.
But I am pretty sure you can get dolby headphone via spdif from soundcard to the asus dacs.

I take it your current soundcard is a basic one ? just upgrading that might be good enough.
Click to expand...

mine doesn't the X7 sounds just as good as the essence one imo I have both.

If the one didn't look so damn nice i'd probably just have the X7,

for what it's got interms of features it's leaps and bounds over most DAC amp combo's maybe not as refined as some similar priced combos but they don't have bluetooth, NFC, dolby, a desktop mic, mic in's, stereo amplifier and regular 5.1 outputs for the money it's performance is frankly brilliant.

My biggest grudge with my Essence one is that i have to use the rubbish onboard mic input.

I can do you a deal on an X7 if you want one :)
 
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nightrider1470 said:
Am guessing the x7 would struggle to power my focal 816v speakers at decent volumes? To make use of the speaker terminals on the back

Type 2-1/2 way bass-reflex floor standing speaker, Powerflow.
Finish Moka - Natural
Drivers 6-1/2" (16.5cm) Polyglass woofer. 6-1/2" (16.5cm) Polyglass mid-bass. 1" (25mm) TNV Al/Mg inverted dome tweeter.
Frequency response (+or-3dB) 47Hz - 28kHz
Low frequency point 39Hz
Sensitivity (2,83 V/1 m) 91.5dB
Nominal impedance 8 Ohms
Minimum impedance 4.3 Ohms
Crossover frequency 300Hz / 3 000Hz
Recommended amplifier power 40 - 200W
Dimensions (HxWxD) 39-5/16 x 11-1/8 x 14-3/4"
Net weight
Click to expand...

They are fairly sensitive so you'd probably get something serviceable out of them with the uprated power adapter on the X7.
 
According to 90%or more of the impressions I've seen, the X7 is lean and bright which is a horrible match for the HD800. The HD800 needs warmth; otherwise it's going to sound even harsher and leaner.

I'd focus on a warm amp with a decent dac otherwise you are going to get really harsh sound. I had to play around with the HD800 a lot to get it acceptable in regards to tonality, smoothness etc.

The HD800 by it's self is made to be a microscope, to tear up a recording and find faults. It will not sound musical out of just anything.

The X7 is meant to struggle with rear cues but obviously I can't confirm that but it's wide enough to take into account.
 
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Ryanr1987 said:
According to 90%or more of the impressions I've seen, the X7 is lean and bright which is a horrible match for the HD800. The HD800 needs warmth; otherwise it's going to sound even harsher and leaner.

I'd focus on a warm amp with a decent dac otherwise you are going to get really harsh sound. I had to play around with the HD800 a lot to get it acceptable in regards to tonality, smoothness etc.

The HD800 by it's self is made to be a microscope, to tear up a recording and find faults. It will not sound musical out of just anything.

The X7 is meant to struggle with rear cues but obviously I can't confirm that but it's wide enough to take into account.
Click to expand...

Is there a budget amp that will help create the warmth?...... I am lost searching!! To much choice!

I can use the x7 for gaming and movies with my MA900 or K550

As always!, thanks all :)
 
The X7 has a powerful amp & can drive my KEF well. You'd find it will drive those Focal's fine at low to medium volumes. If you want more power then look at the X7 LE.

I find the X7 is slightly warm when you have the settings off & not in direct mode. Direct mode is fine too with the right sound feed.

I'd have a look at Headfi where there is some discussion on the X7. This made my mind up after reading the lengthy review & it ticked all the boxes that some other's don't.

http://www.head-fi.org/t/756102/creative-sound-blaster-x7-detailed-review-impressions
 
nightrider1470 said:
Is there a budget amp that will help create the warmth?...... I am lost searching!! To much choice!

I can use the x7 for gaming and movies with my MA900 or K550

As always!, thanks all :)
Click to expand...

A combo I really like is the Little Dot MKII or MKIII with Mullards M8161 tubes. The tubes cost about 20-30 for a pair and sound magical. The treble is extended but smoothed over keeping some air. The vocals really stand out as there's this eerie silence between notes with the M8161.

The MKII plus tubes will cost about £160 with the MKII or £250 with the MKIII.

The Schiit Vali is also a good amp, it's slightly lush and polite but still in the realm's of natural. The Vali is £110. I would personally choose the LD as you can make the sound as warm as you want with different tubes.
 
Ryanr1987 said:
According to 90%or more of the impressions I've seen, the X7 is lean and bright which is a horrible match for the HD800. The HD800 needs warmth; otherwise it's going to sound even harsher and leaner.

I'd focus on a warm amp with a decent dac otherwise you are going to get really harsh sound. I had to play around with the HD800 a lot to get it acceptable in regards to tonality, smoothness etc.

The HD800 by it's self is made to be a microscope, to tear up a recording and find faults. It will not sound musical out of just anything.

The X7 is meant to struggle with rear cues but obviously I can't confirm that but it's wide enough to take into account.
Click to expand...

I'd say you can always change the op amps but its not so trivial with the setup in the X7 plus the TPA6120A2 in the mix to get a given signature - the default op amps are well matched with naturally warm sounding headphones though and could be fatiguing when matched with analytical headphones (probably not that big an issue though).

(Those NJM2xxx series op amps especially always seem to have a reputation for being bright).

I really should get my hands on one at some point and see how well it would do with some of my favourite op amps.
 
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