Headphone Palooza

[Dpod4]

I have jumped into the deep end on headphones and amps.

Today I took my Sennheiser HD650 cans, my Beyerdynamic T1 cans and my ALO Studio Six amp (with 4 headphone outputs) to my favorite local audio shop in Portland (Echo Audio run by my dear friend and audio golden ear Kurt Doslu).

I even took my own power cord and CDs.

Spent time listening to my 2 headphones, the Sennheiser HD800, the Audeze LCD-3, LCD-X and LCD-XC (which I returned for a new unit today).

I walked out of the shop not just with a new LCD-XC but also a new LCD-X. On the Studio Six the LCD-X was the clear winner.

The LCD-XC (closed back) wins on my Pathos Aurium head amp (also purchased at Echo Audio). The Beyer T1 sounds great on all amps. The HD650 sounds good on the Sugden Headmaster amp I have in Bend OR.

I will be selling my Bryston BHA-1. It is a great versatile head amp but was eclipsed by the others for my cans. The HD 800 was way too bright and etchy and analytical (the Bryston would be a good match for it smoothing it out).

 

[Dpod4]

Unboxing listening to John Lee Hooker

 

[Petro85]

looks cool, ive never tried any headphones, might be nice for late night listening.ill have to look into it.
congrats on the new gear!!!

 

[Dpod4]

looks cool, ive never tried any headphones, might be nice for late night listening.ill have to look into it.
congrats on the new gear!!!

Thanks. I would say that $5k worth of great headphones and amp easily is on par with $50-100k preamp/amp/speaker combos if one can deal with super near field listening. Like living inside magneplanar speakers. I like it.

 

[the professor]

+1 although it is definitely a different experience. So you like the LCD-X better than the LCD-3? I haven't listened to the LCD-X yet.

Echo HiFi is such a cool place. I've never been to Joe's house but it has to be close to Echo. Hundreds of used items around everywhere.

Thanks. I would say that $5k worth of great headphones and amp easily is on par with $50-100k preamp/amp/speaker combos if one can deal with super near field listening. Like living inside magneplanar speakers. I like it.

 

[Dpod4]

+1 although it is definitely a different experience. So you like the LCD-X better than the LCD-3? I haven't listened to the LCD-X yet.

Echo HiFi is such a cool place. I've never been to Joe's house but it has to be close to Echo. Hundreds of used items around everywhere.

The LCD-3 had a really wonderful midrange but it wasn't as lively or balanced across the FR as the X. The X had awesome, unboosted/natural goodness at every frequency. Lots of drive and slam. They actually sound like putting my Magico speakers on my head. The LCD-3 sounded like a pair of single driver speakers that excel in the midrange. The LCD-XC sounded like Magnepan speakers without bipole radiation (or leakage) - open with lots of air

 

[zagfan]

What was the comford level of both of the new Audeze headphones? I know thay are heavier than the rest of Audeze line.

 

[joeinid]

Welcome zagfan!

 

[the professor]

welcome to AS!

 

[Dpod4]

What was the comford level of both of the new Audeze headphones? I know thay are heavier than the rest of Audeze line.

Welcome to AS, Zagfan. The XCs are definitely the heaviest and I thought the Xes are the most comfortable of all audeze cans. Even though they are heavy the weight is distributed smartly and the leather earpads are super comfortable. I haven't tried listening for hours at a time yet tho so will report back. But 30 minutes or so at a time so far has been where I don't even think about them being on my head....partly because it is the most engrossing headphone experience I have had. Such a bigger and more lifelike experience. Open, fast, meaty, musical.