Audeze LCD2C Measurements and Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    And I will be sending these to @Marvey to test after my travels and once I get a chance to play around with the MiniDSP measurement rig. Curious to see if they measure consistently with his.
     
  2. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

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    I happen to enjoy both HD800 (stock) and defazored LCD2 for different moods and music. Firstly, if you want to accentuate the true LCD2 sound you should be searching out a good 2R2, not 2C.

    I have a couple of "better" amps around if not quite in the league that Marvey mentioned and picked up a Matrix HPA-3B to put my balanced agnosticism to the test. I am deeply impressed with how well this budget slab pairs with both 800 and LCD2. It is detailed and dynamic enough to show off some of the HD800 strong suits. And it is rich, smooth and controlled enough to allow you to wallow in Audeze mids and bass all day long. Reminds me very much of the Audeze Deckard which shares a common ancestry, and which I (unlike most here) regard a very fine amp. PM me if you specific questions.
     
  3. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    Yes, they upgraded me to 2 day shipping as well. That was a nice surprise.

    Mine just arrived today, haven't had much time with them yet. Seems to fit my big head pretty well, not too much clamp, I have them extended all the way though. The earpads made me itch at first, I would recommend wiping them down with a damp cloth before wearing.
     
  4. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

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    If you want a headphone with soundstage approaching HD800, but a way more neutral frequency response, try the Hifiman Edition-X version 1. I can't comment on version 2.
     
  5. Kattefjaes

    Kattefjaes Mostly Harmless

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    I'm really enjoying this thread. Fuckin' nerds, picking the strengths and weaknesses apart in equally painstaking detail. That's a sign that The Force is in balance around here.

    I still want to hear these, even if they won't pass the Bruckner test, for that clean bass and general laid-backness.
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2017
  6. Ishara

    Ishara New

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    As of today, putting a 3db boost at 4600 (Q 0.67) has completely fixed the issue I was having.

    I still prefer the real 2.2’s, I’m just not willing to deal with the risk of driver failure, so I'm happy given that element of compromise. However, I am now thinking about returning it and moving up to a new warrantied LCD3…
     
  7. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Darth combo
     

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  8. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    dentist combo

    [​IMG]
     
  9. TheIceman93

    TheIceman93 El pato-zorro

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    How's the synergy between the Classic and the 1541 @Cellist88?
     
  10. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

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    @TheIceman93 So far so good! I only got about 2 hours but out of the soekris, LCD2C sounds more neutral than I imagined it to be. Sounds weighty, but not boomy or dark. I want to perhaps try it with a different amp and see if they can bring more slaming bass out of these cans. It can sound a bit muffled for strings but the headphones react well to eq, so if someone can recommend an eq setting that I can try, I would be very thankful(I never used eq before).

    I don't think the LCD2C is hard to drive and soekris has enough power...and I'm not missing much when I compare with my studio monitors and wm1a/andromeda pairing. If I end up keeping them, I think I will get a balanced cable to see if the extra power will help with more bass and more bass slam. I'm not really a headphone guy, but I think these are good enough to keep me satisfied late at night when I can't use my studio monitors.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2017
  11. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    My thoughts, exactly.

    The Amthyst does a fairly decent job at driving these from the mid-bass up, but I definitely didn't feel the overpowering sub-bass that my LCD-X pair used to have.

    These LCD-2 are just plain great as a $600 package. Built quality is awesome, comfort is awesome, sound is definitely not as dark or polarized as I remember the LCD-2 was. Very pleasant surprise!

    It kinda sucks it took Audeze 9 years to finally release a comfortable headband! They need to replace that bumpy piece of crap on all other headphones ASAP!
     
  12. Zed Bopp

    Zed Bopp Friend

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    I have this very same duo (LCD-2.1 from 2010) in my home setup and am feeling kind of "endgame-ish" here. I'm not going to pay much +1000€/dollars for a pair if there isn't a true advantage somewhere. And I'm not seeing that happening very soon. (Maybe when some of these hot new models hit the used market.)

    My advice is to wait and listen, those two are great for what they are and compliment each other very nicely. The other point is EQ. It helps with oh-so many FR issues as long as you don't go overboard, esp with the 800. Have fun and don't forget to enjoy the gear you already have :headbang:

    EDIT: I use a Lyr 2 with LISSTs and ordered the Massdrop ZDT jr. too to use with the HD800.
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2017
  13. gbeast

    gbeast Mighty Moral Power Ranger

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    I wonder how these compare to the AFO
     
  14. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    AFO is obviously way more comfortable. Similar extension and bass quality, but AFO sounds thicker and warmer kinda like a Sennheiser. AFO is also brighter and sharper sounding in the upper mids and treble, noticeably so.
     
  15. gLer

    gLer New

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    Brighter and sharper upper mids and treble (on other cans) are exactly the reason I prefer the LCD-2 series.
     
  16. HAL9000

    HAL9000 Almost "Made"

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    Seems like this is a consistent aspect of the Mr. Speakers house sound from the Ether's going forward... and, the reason I never picked up a pair.
     
  17. udin

    udin Acquaintance

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    Received my Classics a few days ago. Been using the Grace m900 and the Alo Audio Pan Am. These are really impressive. My biggest issue with the LCD series was always the weight, and I sold my LCD-2.2 in part because of this. However, the new headband really makes the weight issue negligible, and the sound quality is just spectacular. Very fast with lots of detail but not fatiguing at all. However, the most interesting find for me so far is how much different the two amps sound, with the Pan Am adding body and fullness and the Grace being a bit less so. The Pan Am just gives it a bigger feeling sound, while the Grace seems more neutral.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    How similar in bass quality subjectively? I have hard time believing it's that similar given the larger surface area (and super low bass distortion) of the Audeze driver.

    Also, I noted the APO has a little sudde drop below 40Hz in the FR. How does this come out subjectively? Does the fundamental of the 35Hz bass drop in Daft Punk's doing it right sound muted?
     
  19. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    Hmm. Good questions. Bass quality I'd say is somewhere in between, say, 650 and LCD2, but closer to LCD2 due to having more similar distortion profile, whereas we know 650 rolls off more and has higher distortion. They sound more similar to me than either does to the 650. You are right, though, that the LCD2 sounds cleaner and more powerful due to the larger driver. Just how it goes. But some might prefer that Senn-like mid-bass hump on the AFO. Either can still sound less punchy with certain material and certain amps than the 650. Whether that's due to the dynamic driver, mid-bass hump, or even distortion, I'm not sure. Though the LCD2 does that thing where bass goes crazy when pads have a leak. AFO loses all bass with a leak.

    I'll have to listen more closely to that little drop on the AFO. I didn't personally hear more of a discontinuity that what you'd hear on the 650, albeit with marginally greater extension on the AFO. I may not be sensitive to that anyway.

    Maybe all those random points and not-quite-answers help somewhat...
     
  20. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    The LCD2C is just...so easy to listen to.

    The LCD-X is comparatively brighter, and while its timbre is not as accurate as the LCD2C, it does have the enjoyable (to me) effect of making most rock/metal (and especially concert) recordings seem more open and "live".

    But the sound of the LCD2C, not to mention its more comfortable headband, made me want to keep on listening. I'd say easily less polarizing than the LCD-X for most people's preference. Haven't tried it with Classical, but handled everything else well. Wouldn't be surprised if the HD6X0 still excels with Classical (which I listen to less frequently, but interest is picking back up with kids learning violin and piano).

    Solid pick at $599. No interest in trying anything else; maybe save up for the Clear in a year or so.

    CD transport or Mac+Eitr -> Gungnir Multibit -> Liquid Carbon
     

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