CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS

  • December 31, 2015, 11:10:00 AM
  • Welcome, Guest
Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Advanced search  
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7]

Author Topic: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest  (Read 7261 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

olor1n

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +56/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 294
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #60 on: August 17, 2012, 11:00:50 PM »
Quote from: n3rdling on August 17, 2012, 06:37:57 PM
I hear the opposite.  To me the LCD2 has more bass slam and bass quantity than the HD800 but the HD800 has much better bass texture.  The LCDs have too much slam for me, and the one note bass really annoys me, whereas the bass on the HD800 is my favorite quality of that HP.

This is spot on imo. For all the talk of the HD800's soundstage and imaging prowess, I find its rendition of bass to be the most impressive trait. It's nuanced and changes in quality based on the recording. The LCD-2's bass is comparatively "one-note". It seems to carry the same attributes across albums. It's subterranean glut. Enjoyable for a time but ultimately homogenous and overbearing. 
Logged

olor1n

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +56/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 294
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #61 on: August 17, 2012, 11:30:04 PM »
The LCD-2's dynamic range also appears compressed to me. Sure there's great slam in the low end, but the rest of the spectrum is congested (again in contrast to the HD800). It's a wall of sound, whereas every element is rendered distinctly by the HD800. Details occupy their own space and when a chorus or crescendo erupts these elements are explosive and sizzle with energy.

The LCD-2's "fun factor" stems from it's low bass rendition imo. It's a coloured headphone that imbues its traits on every recording and is one that fails to present contrasts to the same extent as other headphones I've heard. Overall, it's a bore.
Logged

TMRaven

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +34/-4
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 390
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #62 on: August 18, 2012, 01:44:06 AM »
A lack of layering within a soundstage is not the same as a lack of dynamic range.  Maybe these elements sizzle with energy for you because you like the more elevated type of treble response the HD800 gives you in comparison to the LCD-2?
Logged

olor1n

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +56/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 294
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #63 on: August 18, 2012, 01:58:33 AM »
I was referring to soft/loud contrasts when referring to dynamics. I'm sorry my previous post lacked articulation.

Perhaps my perception of dynamics is tainted by better separation, placement and layering of elements on the HD800. To me the LCD-2 is always weighed down by its low end and the wall of sound always at the same level. The HD800 swings the volume of individual elements starkly. There's wide contrast and dynamic texture.

This is all subjective by the way (that is allowed here, right?), and possibly wide of the mark. I can't be bothered getting the SPL out and doing machine gun A/B swaps. It's a gut feel arrived at after a year with the rev.2 and finding headphones next to it more vibrant, multidimensional and appealing.
« Last Edit: August 18, 2012, 02:26:41 AM by olor1n »
Logged

gurubhai

  • Ortho Ninja
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +104/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 317
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #64 on: August 18, 2012, 06:38:48 AM »
Quote from: purrin on August 17, 2012, 07:35:41 PM
Remind me again in a few weeks. Got a big meet to plan...

Aye Captain! :)p14
Logged

Questhate

  • Stops to get gas, buys some stax.
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +83/-1
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 916
  • Banned for putting ice cubes in fine Scotch
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #65 on: August 19, 2012, 05:30:43 AM »
Quote from: olor1n on August 18, 2012, 01:58:33 AM
I was referring to soft/loud contrasts when referring to dynamics. I'm sorry my previous post lacked articulation.

Perhaps my perception of dynamics is tainted by better separation, placement and layering of elements on the HD800. To me the LCD-2 is always weighed down by its low end and the wall of sound always at the same level. The HD800 swings the volume of individual elements starkly. There's wide contrast and dynamic texture.

Yeah, this is exactly what I meant as well but couldn't articulate nearly as well as olor1n. The wider dynamic range contrast of the HD800 gives a greater perception of impact to me.

And interesting thoughts purrin. My bass tests tend to be electronic music with deep, fast bass  -- where the LCD is able to deliver cleaner and clearer distinct notes than the HD800. I can see how people can find the LCD2 a bit heavy handed with acoustic instruments though.  I guess I should throw some acoustic bass tests into the mix.
Logged

anetode

  • an objectivist trapped in a subjectivist's body
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +178/-7
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1067
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #66 on: August 21, 2012, 05:31:12 AM »
Quote from: TMRaven on August 17, 2012, 05:05:39 PM
How does a headphone's driver affect dynamic range?

Dynamic compression at higher volumes and driver excursion limits?
Logged
Love isn't always on time.

LFF

  • Mastering Wizard & Restoration Guru
  • Mate
  • Pirate
  • ****
  • Brownie Points: +761/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 1425
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #67 on: August 21, 2012, 07:47:24 AM »
Quote from: olor1n on August 17, 2012, 11:30:04 PM
The LCD-2's "fun factor" stems from it's low bass rendition imo. It's a coloured headphone that imbues its traits on every recording and is one that fails to present contrasts to the same extent as other headphones I've heard. Overall, it's a bore.

Totally agree. Nobody wants to sell me one for $100!  :'(

Totally fair price IMHO for a used headphone.
Logged
These statements are false.
I rule with an iron fist and ears of gold!
The preceding statements were true.

The way to a man's heart is through her stomach.

TMRaven

  • Able Bodied Sailor
  • Pirate
  • ***
  • Brownie Points: +34/-4
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 390
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #68 on: August 21, 2012, 03:16:11 PM »
Quote from: anetode on August 21, 2012, 05:31:12 AM
Quote from: TMRaven on August 17, 2012, 05:05:39 PM
How does a headphone's driver affect dynamic range?

Dynamic compression at higher volumes and driver excursion limits?


If that's the case, shouldn't the LCD-2 be universally the most dynamic then?  It can take a whole 15 watts of power while being clean as can be.

The above posters made it clear that they were talking about dynamics in general and not dynamic range.  Altho let it be said, if the HD800 can dig down lower in the CSD plots without noise, I guess it could be described as having a larger dynamic range.
« Last Edit: August 23, 2012, 12:07:35 AM by TMRaven »
Logged

Aravind

  • Powder Monkey
  • *
  • Brownie Points: +0/-0
  • Offline Offline
  • Posts: 21
Re: Brief Impressions of a Headroom treasure chest
« Reply #69 on: August 22, 2012, 07:16:42 PM »
LCD drivers may or may not reduce the dynamic range of music...but they definitely seem to be widening the dynamic range of subjective experience and opinions between individuals...may be opinions on a particular headphone should be based on matched music,source and amplifiers...though matching subjective experiences and preferences may require some genetic and environmental engineering with assembly line manufacturing of humans... lol

sorry for the OT post
Logged
Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 [7]
« previous next »