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Music: One way to better communicate the sound of HD800 and WA22 is through descriptions of specific recordings.  The following CDs and SACDs are some of my favorites for evaluating new components.  The HD800/WA22 combination did not disappoint.


Cowboy Junkies, Whites Off Earth Now (SACD) - WOEN is a fantastic SACD for both sound and music. Trinity Sessions gets all the press but this recording might be even better. Check out “Take Me”.  The inner detail, weight and bloom of the guitar bridge are spectacular with the HD800/WA22. Michael Timmins is there in the room with you. With some systems, Margo Timmins can sound distant and brittle. The HD800/WA22 midrange shines through with a wonderful warmth and reality to her vocals.


Diana Krall The girl in the next room (SACD) - I was never a big Diana Krall fan. I could never understand all the hype and raves. This SACD and also the Live In Paris album turned me around. Her vocal phrasing and piano skills are definitely growing on me. Check out the title track. Piano timbre and proper weight are always a challenge for any system. The HD800/WA22 gets it right. You can sense the size and dimensions of the recording studio well beyond the headphones and extended in all directions. Again, through the HD800 and the WA22 vocals are warm and creamy with plenty of speed and detail.

Jennifer Warnes The Hunter - Yes, JW’s recordings all get high praise for audiophile sound. I think however that the quality of JW’s voice is highly underrated. Her musical choices and arrangements are some of the best. Famous Blue Raincoat gets all the press but The Hunter has it all in spades too. “Somewhere, Somebody”  is an excellent challenge for bass slam and control. Many systems can be overloaded. Bass overhang and bloated sound can be the norm. The HD800/WA22 holds tight and gets the juices flowing. Midrange vocals are delicate and silky smooth.


Ry Cooder & Vishwas Mohan Bhatt A Meeting by the river (CD) - For some reason I prefer the CD version of this recording to SACD. Many might argue that the SACD has a more natural sound but I prefer the pace and detail of the CD. To my ears it is more lively and spontaneous but never mechanical. Producer and engineer Kavi Alexander is famous for his recordings and he continues the legacy here. Talk about world music.  This is a wonderful combination of Blues, Jazz and Indian influences. Using the HD800/WA22, both Cooder’s acoustic guitar and Bhatt’s mohanveena have just the right amount of sheen and sparkle without edginess. When the tabla kicks in on the title track, get ready for sparks to fly.

Talking Heads - Stop making sense Special Edition (CD) - This CD provides a great test for transparency, bass and high volume energy. Check out “Slippery People”.  Listen for the large conga drums to kick in about halfway through the cut. With the HD800/WA22 you can feel it in your chest. That sounds corny but you can really get a sense of the tightness and texture of the drum and leather skin at every strike by band member Steve Scales. On “Once In a lifetime” synthesizers seem to be surrounding your head and come at you from all directions while filling up a huge soundstage. When electric bass and bass drums enter you know without question that you are at a high-volume high-energy rock concert. Believability is high. You are there.


Count Basie Kansas City Shout (CD) - This is a digital recording that sounds analog to my ears. Basie is known for his big band sound but this small band recording is as good as any of his classics. Every time I play it for friends or visitors I always get an immediate reaction. More often than not there is a request for title and ordering information. One important key is the horn section. Through the HD800/WA22, trumpets have the proper amount of blat and energy. Highs and mids are sweeter and more delicate. Basie’s piano play is as clear, simple and as tasty as ever. Less is more. “Just a Dream” showcases Eddie Vinson’s wonderfully coarse and gravely voice. It’s a real eye opener. You get a tremendous sense of all the cigarettes and whiskey that must have come and gone during that recording session.

Beethoven's Symphony Number 9, Sir George Solti & The Chicago Symphony Orchestra & Chorus (CD) - This CD has not received much attention over the years.  Recorded at the Medinah Temple and not Orchestra Hall where most CSO classics were produced, it provides for a unique venue and sound for the CSO. Maybe it’s a biased and sentimental view since I saw this same combination perform the Ninth the day after this recording was made. I still find this version to be one of my favorites for this warhorse. At the time Solti and the CSO were considered by many to be the best in the world but Margaret Hillis and her CSO Chorus are the stars here. When the chorus engages during the climatic fourth movement, the sound sweeps through the stage and hall like the charge of the light brigade. The HD800/WA22 clearly delineate the sheer volume of energy and air movement. Even at the height of this climax, the four soloists remain distinct and focused center stage.  Jessie Norman’s powerful voice is radiant yet defined. Robert Schunk, Reinhild Runkel and Hans Sotin are perfect compliments as all four voices intertwine and ring out in emotion. Everything is larger than life as it should be for this masterpiece. One of Solti’s best.

Conclusion: The Sennheiser HD800 headphones and the Woo Audio WA22 integrated headphone amp configured in fully balanced configuration is one of the best audio systems I have heard. Tremble and midrange performance are as good or better than any headphone or two-channel standalone system I have experienced. Bass is very satisfying and will only be bettered by the very best fullrange speaker and subwoofer systems. For my ears the benchmark has now been established but I look forward to comparing this system to other highly respected combinations. One thing is for sure, I am also looking forward to my retirement. I am now confident that a headphone system can meet all my requirements for sound quality and enjoyment.


Postscript: Just before submitting this review, I changed my TG Audio interconnects and power cord to Kubala Sosna Emotion. What a revelation. I talked earlier about the dramatic sound improvements when implementing an all-balanced system. The KS Emotion change was just as dramatic, perhaps more. The proverbial window was wiped clean. Despite my above accolades, I could now see and hear even further into the sonic picture. More detail, speed and transparency. All these improvements were very clear yet the overall sound was even more natural without emphasizing any specific frequency or variable. I can only imagine what the Kubala Sosna Elation might bring to this system. Further thoughts to come...
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