LFF Code-X love/impressions

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by gbeast, Sep 3, 2016.

  1. Drakkard

    Drakkard Facebook Friend

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    Hi LFF, great to see you are back :)
    Myst Isophones may be a suitable donor for a Code-X variant, as it's drivers are Russian copy of Hifimans, and is in production now.
     
  2. Bill-P

    Bill-P Level 42 Mad Wizard

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    I might know which Code-X it is. Thank me for I was the one that suggested that Luis should release it into the wild! :p

    Haha, just kidding. But yeah, if it is what I think it is, then you've got a very unique Code-X there. Congratulations.

    And also, if it is what I think it is, I think you have an early HE-5. One with slightly stronger magnets. I actually have gone through 2 other stock HE-5s (other than my own Code-X), one of them is with @jelt2359 now, and it's an early HE-5 (with brown headband). It does indeed have a more airy sound than the other HE-5 that I remembered. I didn't detect any other difference over all.
     
  3. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    Thanks a lot! I think mine has the brown headband too, although I'll have to receive it to be sure.

    One question though, doesn't Luis also replace the stock headband with a different one when modding the HE-5 into Code-X? He said so himself, and the stock HE-5 headband has orange stitches while my Code-X has black stitches. If so, then the headband is replaced anyway, so how can that be an indicator of whether my Code-X was based on an early HE-5 with stronger magnets?
     
  4. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    I don't think the headband is replaced by default, all the ones I've seen have the same basic construction. You can stain the stitches without replacing the whole thing. If the external visual cues are all modified, then just ask Luis :)
     
  5. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    Just got my 5LE Code-X back from @LFF on Wednesday and have been addicted to them since. We're practically neighbors so I met him in person and listened to some of his remasters, which were extraordinary. He was a pleasure to do business with.

    I haven't heard any other Code-X (and hopefully this will change at the next meet) but this headphone is in all respects much-improved from my modded 6-screw HE-6. Greater frequency extension on both ends, quite a bit more air than the 6, better perceived resolution, slightly heavier but clearer bass (though I found the 6 a bit light in the bottom octave with the blutack mod), and much improved imaging. Possibly not quite as sharp as the 6, but still plenty dynamic for me. It's a real genre-master, and I can tell it will be a great reference. (edit - the Code-X is also noticeably lighter than the 6, which is great for long listening sessions)

    Interestingly enough, however, I don't find my pair to be much more efficient than my HE-6. I do greatly prefer my Code-X driven with more power than the GOV2 LFF brought for me to audition them with (unsurprisingly), even though I was still impressed with the frequency bandwidth, lack of distortion, and dynamic range considering the tiny form-factor. The efficiency isn't a problem in my rig, however - if anything I feel like the lower efficiency simply means a blacker background.

    Needless to say I wouldn't change a single thing about them.

    Thanks @LFF for your amazing work, and thanks @Ray for initially selling me the 5LE!

    Edit - Picture below

    http://i.imgur.com/VeGJvx7.jpg

    Plastic Fantastic - 5LE Code-X, with a cameo from the Pass ACA monoblocks

    Took the grills off of mine just because my plastic grill attachment rings rattle a bit (a few of the lips broke a while back).
     
    Last edited: Aug 29, 2017
  6. manatworks

    manatworks Friend

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  7. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    Just out of curiosity, which are the sound differences between the Code-X based on HE-5 and the one based on HE-5 LE?
     
  8. ald0s

    ald0s Facebook Friend

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    Im sure this information is available in a thread somewhere but I'm just wondering....

    With other small manufacturers getting drivers made for them these days and the Code-X being compared favourably to pretty much anything, why doesn't Luis make his own (similar) headphone from scratch? Is it a price issue? Are the HFM drivers punching way above their weight or providing technology unavailable to a boutique manufacturer?

    With their extreme scarcity / the demand for these phones, I'm sure Luis has looked at all the options. I just find it an interesting scenario.
     
  9. MarcusV123

    MarcusV123 Friend

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    He does. Its called the Enigma.
     
  10. ald0s

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    The Enigma does not begin to collect the superlative impressions that the Code-X gets here. Considering it is actually less expensive I imagine everyone on SBAF would own a pair if they were close.
     
  11. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

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    I feel Paradox and Slants garner more positivie impressions than Enigma, but then again, nowhere as Code-X.
     
  12. Armaegis

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    I actually did not like the Enigma when I heard it, but I was also terribly distracted by fit issues which detracted from the whole experience. It's been way too long for me to remember anything specific about the sound now, but I recall hearing the Paradox and liking it, and expecting to like the Enigma but just feeling underwhelmed and that the Paradox felt much more open.
     
  13. Jozurr

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    I like the Enigmas more than Paradox slants, and I still own them. However, they're nowhere close to the Code-x.
     
  14. brencho

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    My memory is that the Enigmas are warmer, more intimate and romantic sounding than the Slants which are a more neutral headphone with tastefully elevated bass and a pretty great soundstage for a closed headphone. Both were darker than say the ZMF phones but man it's been a long time since i've spent time with any of them, especially side by side. I never had much time with the vanilla Paradox but those were more monitor-like and much more unforgiving iirc. Love my Code-X though, they're not going anywhere. Curious what Luis is working on these days...
     
  15. LFF

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    Hey guys,

    Just wanted to chime in to clear up some stuff.

    I made the Paradox to please my ears. I wanted a headphone that could extended to the very low end and would give me a very accurate representation of what is on the actual master while being closed design. That is the Paradox. To my ears, it sounds like nothing and puts out what is put in.

    People complained it made their music sound like shit and that recordings sounded too mono and bass light. To compensate for bad masterings, I made the Slant, which has a sound signature slanted (get it....slanted....) towards the bottom end and projects an artificially wider soundstage.

    People still complained their music sounded like shit. That the slant and paradox were too dark. I actually got some complaints saying they were too bright. I got others saying they just didn't sound right with their music because they were hearing distortions (which I later verified to be distortions in the actual recordings). I heard it all.

    To please a lot of people, I made the Enigma and Enigmatic (easier to drive). Both are very laid back and romantic sounding. They make everything sound nice and warm and are very forgiving. These are simply made to listen to and enjoy music. Not meant to impress. Not meant to analyze. Just to listen after a hard days work.

    The Code-X I made for myself. People liked it, I made more.

    The others I am currently making are all at the request of my friends and customers. They aren't meant to compete or "better" the previous models. They are just meant for certain sound signatures in general and fulfill certain requests I've had over the years.
     
  16. MarcusV123

    MarcusV123 Friend

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    I'm also wondering what the sound differences are as well.

    If a HE-5 LE code-x can capture some of the magic the original code-x has then this is good news to anyone who hasn't had luck in finding an original code-x(or unmodified HE-5) on the market. If I'm not mistaken, the HE-5 LE has also been discontinued but it still can be found secondhand for ~$400 which is something that can't be said about an original HE-5.
     
  17. LFF

    LFF Friend

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    The modified HE-5LE is basically a Code-X LE. I was very happy with the way it came out. It doesn't have that sexy wood, but the sound signature certainly pleases my ears.
     
  18. MarcusV123

    MarcusV123 Friend

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    I was afraid you would say that...

    Because now I have to find a used HE-5LE:punk:
     
  19. ald0s

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    Thanks Luis, really interesting read. It is certainly also my experience (although with food instead of sound in my business) that you just can't please everyone. With the generally glowing reports on the Code-X, have you ever thought about chasing a similar sound with in-house drivers or is the demand simply not there? It would be interesting to see what you could create in that vein considering what you manage to coax out of someone elses initial design.

    Of course sometimes I forget that SBAF is a tiny portion of the market and that even if half of us bought it it probably wouldn't even cover initial tooling costs.

    Alex
     
  20. 9suns

    9suns [insert unearned title here]

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    No, the Enigma is a closed back headphone, Code-X is open back (and universally praised by everyone who heard it)

    If he could make an open back planar from scratch, like he did with the closed back Enigma and with a sound like Code-X, I would eat rice 6 months to buy it lol
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017

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