LFF Code-X love/impressions

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

  1. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    (with some ZMF love on 'em)

    Waddup!

    I could not for the life of me find any information on this headphone prior to, or after my purchase of it. I think the person that sold me this headphone kinda listed the price too high at 1300 but I bit anyway, hoping to seriously pump the breaks on my headphone rotation since I let them go so fast.

    Well first impressions were... okay...why because I didn't feed them high quality music the first day or two because I was stuck on some new songs I really like. Also because I prize viscerally engaging responses I found them relatively soft at first for my tastes.

    Soo ....

    My sentiments literally did a 180 once I ventured into the rest of my files, especially the better ones and I found the Code-X very hard to fault.

    Since this is such an acclaimed and unanimously revered headphone I honestly don't feel qualified to start this thread or make myself vulnerable by sharing the negatives and positives of this headphones. Yet, I believe it needs a thread. Well I will start off the wrong way by first listing some of my wants and then my satisfactions.

    So FAR
    Wants:

    • Slightly more air in the last octave... only about a 2db boost at around 16khz is literally all I want for my tastes. However, even without it I am totally fine. Edit: This is mostly with ZMF cowhide pads that I prefer over alpha pads and is one of the drawbacks of the combination.
    • More Macro Dynamic contrast + Denser tones a la HE-6 would give me a little more viscerally pounding responses. That is the area I am admittedly most sucker for.
    • Not sure about what I think of low level listening. I have mixed feelings
    • Textures are sometimes soft
    • I personally prefer dynamics over planars so am hoping all the headphones I buy after this are dynamic version of this headphone.
    Satisfactions:
    • Ummmm...... EVERYTHING ELSE
    • Bass is deep and controlled and even though its a relatively smooth sounding headphone it can knock when called for
    • Mids are even, realistic and flow really naturally
    • Soundstage is very much satisfactory for my needs
    • Clarity is def TOTL
    • Resolution is dope
    • Timbre is magical
    • Distortion is minimal
    • Separation is awesome
    • I am having a tough time thinking of any headphone being legitimately better for my tastes besides the Utopia. I think only a modded HD800 could rank higher but I haven't really had one. I have only heard one at meets. I will one day though.
    • The most supreme genre master and hands down does variety better than just about any other headphone I have had.
    • As an HD650 fan I gotta say I am not missing its tonality right now.

    I feel like this was the perfect way to spend the money I had from the Elear sale.

    So I was eyeing the Ether Flow but cant imagine it being better than these. If it is I don't care. I'll pass. HiFiMan, Audeze, and Sennhieser should be throwing LFF some bones and writing contracts.
     
    Last edited: Oct 2, 2016
  2. geomaso44

    geomaso44 New

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    Last edited: Nov 21, 2016
  3. insidious meme

    insidious meme Ambivalent Kumquat

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  4. geomaso44

    geomaso44 New

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    Last edited: Nov 21, 2016
  5. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    These are far and away my favorite "just listen and forget about it" headphones. Honestly, having owned a crap load of them, these are my favorite planar, hands down, and possibly my favorite headphone.

    My particular pair is with Luis getting repaired. This thread makes me miss them dearly.
     
  6. FlySweep

    FlySweep Friend

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    BTW, $1300 is not overpaying for them. That's a goddamn steal, really. It was when Luis released them a number of years ago.. and considering the utter garbage that goes for $2K+ these days, they're even MORE valuable these days.

    You're lucky to have a pair.. They're SPECTACULAR phones. If I ever ditch dynamics, I could happily live with the Code-X being my only full sized headphone. No one says that about playnars!
     
    Last edited: Sep 3, 2016
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    I have no idea how you got your hands on one of LFF's Code-X headphones, but you are lucky man! Code-X headphones are super rare and basically cannot be obtained anymore. I didn't think anyone knew about them outside of Changstar. I haven't been keeping up, but it looks like there's a recent resurgence in interest in these headphones, and for good reason.

    It's funny how the stars tend to align - the Code-X was one of a few headphones that came to mind when I have the chance to hear the Utopia at home.
     
  8. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    The He6, I haven't heard fully modded and out of speaker taps except for vintage speaker taps and it was still a little bright for me but was more visceral like I liked. When I owned it I speaker tapped it from a peach tree and it was up until this one my fav planar so far. However the HE6's tonal balance is not as satisfying as this and I don't recall it sounding so effortless. Maybe the pavane and my tube amp give it that so I wouldn't know. Also could be why I am like one of the only ones saying the Utopia and Elear are spacious. Overall though I am not in want for an HE-6 due to its powering requirements and am keen on settling with the Code-X

    If you could reload those measurements that'd be great. The images are broken. Try imgur.com and use direct link

    Concerning the mid recession. My initial impression was that they were a little dull and not as lush as I like since I admittedly prefer a more overdeveloped midrange but after listening more I totally disagreed with myself. Measurements are all relative. When you don't have boosted treble then the mids sound more even. Likewise with bass. Play some Alabama Shakes and these things make them sound like they are in the freaking room as natural as can be. This headphone is very natural. The HD650 will sound shouty comparatively, The He 5LE has warmer lower mids but an unnaturally splashy treble and woolier bass. The HE500 will not sound nearly as effortless. The ZMF Omni will sound more strained, closed, and compressed (I must admit though I love ZMF house sound and want him to venture outside of t50's). The HEK will sound a lot more off balance and disjointed. The HEX will sound more compressed, boring, and less realistic.... on and on..

    I agree and think that though the Utopia is a more energetic and dynamic sounding headphone but they both nail tonality like few others do. The Code-X, Utopia, and 650 are my fav tunings. Omni and Slants are my second favs.
     
  9. geomaso44

    geomaso44 New

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    Last edited: Nov 21, 2016
  10. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    besides pad rolling I aint touchin it. I am rocking some ZMF cowhides on it now though.
     
  11. uhhmike

    uhhmike New

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    Has anyone had any quality control issues with these? I have heard that the wood can crack with the driver can break. I am asking because I'm interested in buying a used pair and I'm just wondering what other people's experiences have been with his.
     
  12. jelt2359

    jelt2359 Friend

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    No problems with mine, and mine was #1.
     
  13. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    The only things is @uhhmike that if the pair for sale you are looking at hasn't cracked yet it probably wont. It most likely would have cracked by now because these are atleast 3 years old.
     
  14. zerodeefex

    zerodeefex SBAF's Imelda Marcos

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    Luis' cans are pretty f'ing sturdy. I wouldn't worry. Mine are the only pair that have cracked and it's because @Bill-P violated them
     
  15. bigfatpaulie

    bigfatpaulie Tried to screw other friends while playing victim

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    I never had any issue with mine: they were excellent by every measure. A very special headphone indeed.
     
  16. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    yeah to add to what's been said, even if it did have a crack, it would relieve the pressure and as long as it was fixed properly by someone who knows what they're doing, they'd be as good as new and not likely to re-crack.
     
  17. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    First time heard about LFF Code X while I was searching for Paradox Slant and just googled to see how Code X looks.. And it looks very similar to HifiMan HE-5 to me. Is it modified version of HE-5 by Luis?
     
  18. brencho

    brencho Friend

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    bingo, exactly right. he mods the drivers and in some cases replaces the hfm connectors for mini-xlr although that entails more risk due to wood cracking. unfortunately they're rare as hens teeth now since he-5 is discontinued and hard to track down.
     
  19. Decomo

    Decomo Almost "Made"

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    Thank you for the info. :) Glad to hear that Luis not only modded Fostex T50RP but also HifiMan. Not sure if he is still active modding headphone and I am dreaming of owning a set (i.e. Paradox Slant) in the future. Some day.....
     
  20. Stapsy

    Stapsy Friend

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    I haven't really liked any Hifiman's except the HE-5 and the Code-X improved on them in every conceivable way. $1399 does seem a little high to me, but I am not a fan of selling something for more than you paid for it (even if it is rare/collectible etc). That being said, they are definitely worth $1399! I sometimes think about passing mine on, but I love the way they compliment the HD800.
     

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