Sennheiser hd820 or hd800s with Naim Amp Question

[lakitu1982]

Hi,

I am buying either the Sennheiser HD820's or the HD800's next week and would like to avoid if possible having to buy the pre amp HDV 820 Sennheiser produce as it's £2000.

I have a Naim Nait 5i which I use currently with The Naim CD Player does anyone know if the Naim Nait 5i will work ok or well enough with these headphones or will I will really missing out not buying the balanced Sennheiser pre amp, whatever that means.

Also would I be better getting a tube amp?

While I love music my knowledge on these things is poor.

 

[Friesiansam]

Bare in mind the HD800 are open back and the HD820 closed, if you are not already aware.

If I was spending that sort of money on high-end headphones, I would want a nice headphone amp to drive them. There is a wide choice available below £2000, that should do a good job. I would not recommend the Pathos DAC/amp I use due to it's low output.

 

[lakitu1982]

Bare in mind the HD800 are open back and the HD820 closed, if you are not already aware.

If I was spending that sort of money on high-end headphones, I would want a nice headphone amp to drive them. There is a wide choice available below £2000, that should do a good job. I would not recommend the Pathos DAC/amp I use due to it's low output.

Thank you, yes I think I am leaning towards the HD800 open backs. I've actually owned them before but sold them years ago but I'm just wondering on what amp to pair it with.

 

[jjbomber]

Hi,

While I love music my knowledge on these things is poor.

Best way to be! Enjoy the music.

You'll be fine with either headphone and the Naim.

 

[lakitu1982]

Best way to be! Enjoy the music.

You'll be fine with either headphone and the Naim.

Thank you for your advice, I suppose just buying the HD800's and trying them on my Naim 5i is the way forward. I'm sure I'll be happy with it and if not I can search for something else.

 

[jjbomber]

Thank you for your advice, I suppose just buying the HD800's and trying them on my Naim 5i is the way forward. I'm sure I'll be happy with it and if not I can search for something else.

Exactly that.

If you're happy with the Naim, then great. If not, and you feel a need to splash the cash, then start auditioning.

If I was spending £2k on an upgrade, I'd probably trade the Naim 5i and cash for a Supernait before a Sennheister headphone amp. But that's me, not you.

 

[arthurmorgan]

Hi, what happened in the end? Is it a good match?

I was in hifi store and there was Naim XS on the shelf, and I connected my Grado SR325e and it was awful. No words can describe that awful sound. I wish I had Sundara and Ananda that day so I can make final conlusion, but still I don't think speakers amplifiers are good match with headphones. Grados sound 10 times better with my Topping A30P/D30P stack than matched with Naim XS which is 4 times more expensive. But XS with loudspeakers is amazing match.