CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 11:06:33 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: 1 2 3 4 [5]

Author Topic: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.  (Read 6717 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

jacal01

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Powder Monkey
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +6/-22
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 58
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #40 on: July 14, 2015, 03:15:39 PM »
I recently found myself switching to my LCD-2.2s from the TH900s I'd lately been listening thru via the Yggy into my EAR HP4 (ECC135) tube amp.  It was interesting that I perceived the bass ("bomba") as a bit too much in context.  Not distorted, just disproportionate.  Never had encountered that feeling with those 'phones before.   
Logged

madaboutaudio

  • Jude's Closet Lover
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +32/-28
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 213
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #41 on: July 26, 2015, 02:18:08 PM »
Wish more equipment can be included in the list.
Logged

Arnotts

  • Powder Monkey
  • *
  • Brownie Points: +7/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 35
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #42 on: July 26, 2015, 03:53:53 PM »
I personally own some of the headphones that are rated in this guide. The LCD-2F's, LCD-X's, HD800's and HD650's.

The comments on the LCD-X's confuse me. Note that I've never heard any of the Audeze headphones without fazors.

"Not bad, but the LCD-2 Fazor is better and cheaper. Why does this even exist?"
This does not echo my experience with the 2F's vs X's at all. The X's improve on my 2F's in almost every single aspect, with the most obvious areas being soundstage size (especially depth), instrument separation and air. The only aspect that I preferred the LCD-2F's in was with the forwardness of mids; voices sound a little bit more intimate.

"Off timbre kills it for me. Still an Audeze."
I really don't hear it. I noticed these comments about the LCD-2F's, too. If you were talking about some of the Ultrasone models, I'd be more likely to agree.

Maybe I just don't have enough experience with all the gear out there, so I'll see if my opinion changes once the Valhalla 2 arrives for the HD650's and HD800's. I currently consider all four headphones as excellent.
Logged

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #43 on: July 26, 2015, 04:10:11 PM »
There's variation with the Audezes. Probably less today than in the past.

I think I know who wrote the the "off timbre" comment. It was in comparison to the LCD-2 (non fazor) and probably specifically to Craig's magickal LCD-2r2, and maybe a few other "A" or "B+" grade units, which sound better than any headphone Audeze makes today.

You'd understand if you ever had the luxury of being able to listen to any of the golden units back in the day, before the "Fazor" era.
Logged

Arnotts

  • Powder Monkey
  • *
  • Brownie Points: +7/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 35
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #44 on: July 26, 2015, 04:48:12 PM »
The idea that a pair of LCD-2.2's can be better than a pair of LCD-X's or LCD-3's for less than half the price is pretty damn mind blowing. You've got me really curious now.

Do you think that "good" non-fazor LCD-2's were relatively common? I might try my luck on the used market :)
Logged

Ringingears

  • He had a Dream
  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +27/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 541
  • I'm a true Pyrate! I just can't find my hat!
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #45 on: July 26, 2015, 10:21:13 PM »
Quote from: marvey on July 26, 2015, 04:10:11 PM
There's variation with the Audezes. Probably less today than in the past.

I think I know who wrote the the "off timbre" comment. It was in comparison to the LCD-2 (non fazor) and probably specifically to Craig's magickal LCD-2r2, and maybe a few other "A" or "B+" grade units, which sound better than any headphone Audeze makes today.

You'd understand if you ever had the luxury of being able to listen to any of the golden units back in the day, before the "Fazor" era.
I was lucky enough to share a table with Craig at a Changfest in 2013. Those LCD-2r2's have magic dust inside. I had always hoped that Audeze would work out the production issues so all models sounded the same. But no, the Fazor was invented.  :'(  So now they sell more expensive headphones that don't sound as good. Seems about right.  :spank:

Logged

Marvey

  • The Man For His Time And Place
  • Master
  • Pirate
  • *****
  • Brownie Points: +555/-33
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 6698
  • Captain Plankton and MOT: Eddie Current
Re: CHANGSTAR July 15, 2015 Buying Guide Supplement to the One on the "Other" Site.
« Reply #46 on: July 26, 2015, 10:30:32 PM »
Further reading on the mysteries of the LCD2 and LCD3:

http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,2362.msg65350.html#msg65350
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/preliminary-investigation-audeze-lcd-3-and-lcd-2#spyUWGZqfZX73519.97
http://www.changstar.com/index.php/topic,204.msg2162.html#msg2162

I would say don't chance it on getting an older non-Fazor LCD2. The production variation back then was even worse than it was now. It also seemed (at least with LCD3s), that the better sounding ones had a higher failure rate. Also some seemed to have degraded over time. Questhate used to have a grade B which degraded into a grade C. Audeze was kind enough to check his out and replaced his LCD2 wtih a better sounding one. It was still grade B+ and not as good as Craig's grade A.
Logged
Pages: 1 2 3 4 [5]
« previous next »