Thinking about getting another Set of Audeze LCD-2

Good match? I don't really believe in synergy really, but I guess there are occasions it happens.

I see the amp as a piece of equipment to do justice to particular headphones. Just as you have with speakers in a hifi-system, the headphone is easily the most important piece in your system, unless there is something really wrong or broken. (The amp isn't that important with headphones, though).

And yes, imo.

 

Hey everybody,

Got an early pair of HD800's as well as a late model HD600 and a couple of other cans. Decided to trade the 600 for similar age HD650 and loving the contrasting signature relative to the 800's. So much so that I crave more so on the hunt for a pair of LCD2's.

Have the option to buy a pair of rosewood Rev 2.2 pre Fazors. Some Q's ...

* For accentuating the contrast against HD800 this is the best variant, right?
* Any quality issues to look out for on this specific model?
* How well does the wood age? Any issues with cracking?
* I have SPL Phonitor, Schiit Lyr and Audeze Deckard amps ... all supposedly good partners. But there is a lovely Leben CD300XS in the market. Anyone using that with the LCD2 Rev 2.2?

Thanks!

 

Just listened to my HD600 and LCD-2.1 back to back on the same recording. Damn, that Senn sounds very flat & mid-centric vs the Audezes. They are very nicely unforgiving for serious audio work, but not that enjoyable for rock music etc. versus the "yummy" LCD's. I don't know if it's a surprise, but these (old version) Audezes are brighter than HD600 (the bigger & better bass is a given).

Here's probably the most controversial part: the LCD's are more comfortable. Say what? With the newer & fatter Audeze pads they feel like a big - heavy - pillow around ones head. And I don't find the weight troubling. My problems with hp-comfort seem to be around the ears, not my neck.

So yeah, the pre-Fazors get one big recommendation from me!

I haven't seen many used pre-F pairs in my my parts - are they usually priced the same as Fazor'd models?

 

Any LCD-2 owners have any experience with the LCD-X? Have a lead on a pair of X's but will not be able to audition before purchase. Anyone here that could give me some pointers on SQ relative to LCD2F, which I know quite well?

Many thanks!

 

if you prefer more V-shaped the X will be for you. It also has a wider soundstage and more pronounced treble. If you prefer a midrange orientation, the Xs technicalities over the 2 won't win you over.

 

Yeah, pretty much this.

I owned the LCD-2F and LCD-X's together for a few months. The LCD-X's were technically better. Bigger soundstage depth and width. Better, more precise imaging. Bass felt a little more powerful and deeper. The only real advantage the 2F's had were, like TheBarnard said, mid range presence. If you like a more intimate, lush presentation then the 2F's would have been a little better. They had a little more "magic" for vocals, but it was pretty slight.

I had a few friends listen to the two and tell me which one they preferred and every single one of them preferred the LCD-X's. I was the same, I preferred the LCD-X's overall, for sure. I think this came down to our music taste. Although I listen to pretty much everything, my main choice would be contemporary electronic music (maybe you can tell from my avatar). For this, LCD-X's are EASILY the better pair of headphones.

Having said all that, though, f**k Audeze. Just get yourself a pair of Paradox Slants. You can have your cake and eat it, too .

My headphones of choice now: HD800's (EQ'd), HD650's (modded) and Paradox Slants. The Slants are my favourites, but all 3 of them have their strengths.

 

Thanks for all the pointers!

So I tracked down a lightly-used late pre-fazor LCD-2! Now just arranging the shipping. Plus I've managed to secure an LCD-X audition for next weekend. If I like what I hear these two may live side by side in my collection for a while ...

 

Waiting to hear your impressions!

 

Me too.

 

Impressions Part 1

So the LCD-2's arrived last night. Feverishly excited unboxing met with devastating disappointment as I found both rosewood rings broken at the rear yoke-mount. The seller was a real gentleman about it and promptly refunded my money ... he's not really into this headphone cult and bought them at a whim a couple of weeks ago, never knowing it should look any other way. But I'm still trying to salvage the deal ... Shipping from and back to South Africa is going to a massive schlep, so if any one knows where those rings (bamboo, alli, whatever) can be bought I'd appreciate it immensely. Also if anyone has attempted a DIY ring repair or replacement I'd love to know about it.

So on to sonic impressions. The last pair of LCD-2's I had in my rig was a mid 2015 Fazor model with stock cable. This set is a late Rev 2 pre-Fazor with brand new Mogami 2534 cable (previous sale was sans-cable and this was newly made up). My impressions from last time was a very closed in, rolled off sound. Also beautifully rich and real mids, not to mention lovely deep, full and structured bass. Overall the positives did not outweight the negatives and the experience left me underwhelmed. Knowing what I know now I put the restricted treble response to the stock cable and very low hours of that pair. Then I heard another set (with a smart cable ... can't remember what) at a local meet, partnered with my Wadia 121 / SPL Phonitor Gen 1, as well as Audiolab 8200CD / Pathos Arium, and fell in love with the naturalness of the presentation. Enough so that I wanted a pair for myself.

Back to my impressions of this pre-fazor Rev2.2 with Mogami cable. Early days yet, so my comments may come across as a bit superficial. System is Dell Laptop on a diet of JRiver 19 CD-or-better FLAC and WAV, Wadia 121, SPL Phonitor.

Starting with tonal balance, I find the bass on these a little looser than the Fazor but still very extended and well-textured. The bass is also nicely rhythmic ... not HD800 fast but not particularly slow either. Mids are equally well textured and detailed, with fine timbre. The highs I find an interesting surprise, with unexpectedly good weight and extension. On some tracks there is an unexpected hint of brightness, which may be a cable-freshness issue. In addition to the mentioned bass rhythm, I find the overall pace and timing good if not particularly snappy. Instrument separation and focus is good on some tracks, confused on others, which may again be cable related … so now this pair is going on a 12-hour over-night burn-in. Width presentation is well spaced … as for depth and height I need more time. Detail is impressive across the frequency range, but not at HD800 microscopic level … not necessarily a bad thing.

Overall I’m very pleased with the sound of this pair, so I truly hope I can somehow fix those wooden rings!

I should get the X's on appro in the next week or so, so watch this space for some comparative listening notes.