Amp recommendations for Audeze LCD-2 - Page 104

I made a mistake in my earlier post , set impedance to 60 ohm setting . 

AustinHorn, glad we share an affection for this pairing . Do you know the difference between 6210 and SE version. What tubes are you using .
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinHorn 

FYI - I have a Doge 6210SE (it was my 1st tube amp & I had it for a couple of years before I ever discovered HeadFi). I love it. I use it as a pre on my office/shop system & it is a beautiful match for both my HE5LE & the LCD-2. I prefer it with both to my maxxed Woo6 'cause it sounds just as good & has more features, more power & headroom + it is a preamp too. Very warm tone (a big plus to my ear) with the LCD-2 using my Marantz DV9500 as a source playing some SACDs the sound is about as good as it gets!  No rolled off lows or highs like I've noticed with some of my other tube amps. Once I get a balanced SAA cable for my LCD-2, I may find the Phoenix preferable, but right now when I want to relax & really enjoy a favorite CD, I go to the Doge.  Still I do a lot of my listening with my new DACmini, & it too is an excellent match with the LCD-2 & is my preferred ss amp now with all my harder to drive headphones. I find it sounds pretty tube-like too, but more like some high end hybrid amps I've heard.

 

One thing I really like about the Doge is that you can use it with both headphones & speakers at the same time if you choose.  Most of my other headphone amps cut out the speakers if a headphone is attached. I fined that very useful since I work on broken/damaged speakers & can use my headphones to help me compare speakers I'm working on.

 

I read some of the stuff that went on back in the day (after the fact) concerning the Bada & Doge amp recommendations & hope one bad apple won't keep someone from trying out what I've found to be a very nice sounding tube amp & one that will drive my 600 ohm Beyer 880 headphones nicely as well as both my Orthos. Given some of the low prices I've seen the Doge 6210 & 6210SE sell for on AudiogoN, they may be one of the best used buys I've seen recently.  2 big thumbs up!

That whole silliness surrounding the Doge is ancient history, and should not prevent anyone from trying it.  I hope to hear one someday - it uses a tube combo (6BQ5/EL84 + 12AX7/ECC83) that I like a lot from other amps that have used it. 

Pacific Valves is selling them for 600.00 shipped it looks kind of cool looking and is pint to point. I would think if they are still carrying that amp its pretty good as they get rid of ones that do not sell well rapidly.

I'm out at the lake for the weekend for a Super Bowl party so I don't have ready access to the Doge/tubes but for everyday use when I'm working on speakers, I run Full Musics in it (EL84a, 12au7s for headphones, 12AX7s for speakers) but for serious listening I've rolled a ton of NOS tubes through it (it is a tube rollers dream since there are lots of options with EL84/12**7 series. W/O having the tubes in front of me I can't really say what brand combos I liked best but I will certainly look when I get back to the house. (Sorry, I have a bunch of amps & tubes & my memory isn't what it once was).

As to the differences between the Doge 6210 vs SE, I can't really tell you.  At the recommendation from my best friend, I bought mine locally used for $250 off of Craigslist & the users guide was in Chinese. I tried to get an English version from both a US distributor & Chinese but neither would provide it since I didn't buy it from them. It is so simple to use, I just gave up. Anyway,  I too would like to know what the difference, if any, is too. I just know I like mine a lot.

As I said, it was my 1st tube amp & as I've acquired more & more tube amps to compare it to, I've become even more impressed with it & have always wondered why it seemed so ignored here on HF. Then I read some of what went on & just assumed guilt by association. Over time, a lot of other highly touted amps have come & gone to/from my house, but I've kept my old Doge.  That speaks volumes for my opinion of it. I've thought seriously about getting a second one for here at the lake since I find myself spending more & more time out here & could actually do more relaxed listening here than back at home.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wild4sound 

I made a mistake in my earlier post , set impedance to 60 ohm setting . 

AustinHorn, glad we share an affection for this pairing . Do you know the difference between 6210 and SE version. What tubes are you using .
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by AustinHorn 

FYI - I have a Doge 6210SE (it was my 1st tube amp & I had it for a couple of years before I ever discovered HeadFi). I love it. I use it as a pre on my office/shop system & it is a beautiful match for both my HE5LE & the LCD-2. I prefer it with both to my maxxed Woo6 'cause it sounds just as good & has more features, more power & headroom + it is a preamp too. Very warm tone (a big plus to my ear) with the LCD-2 using my Marantz DV9500 as a source playing some SACDs the sound is about as good as it gets!  No rolled off lows or highs like I've noticed with some of my other tube amps. Once I get a balanced SAA cable for my LCD-2, I may find the Phoenix preferable, but right now when I want to relax & really enjoy a favorite CD, I go to the Doge.  Still I do a lot of my listening with my new DACmini, & it too is an excellent match with the LCD-2 & is my preferred ss amp now with all my harder to drive headphones. I find it sounds pretty tube-like too, but more like some high end hybrid amps I've heard.

 

One thing I really like about the Doge is that you can use it with both headphones & speakers at the same time if you choose.  Most of my other headphone amps cut out the speakers if a headphone is attached. I fined that very useful since I work on broken/damaged speakers & can use my headphones to help me compare speakers I'm working on.

 

I read some of the stuff that went on back in the day (after the fact) concerning the Bada & Doge amp recommendations & hope one bad apple won't keep someone from trying out what I've found to be a very nice sounding tube amp & one that will drive my 600 ohm Beyer 880 headphones nicely as well as both my Orthos. Given some of the low prices I've seen the Doge 6210 & 6210SE sell for on AudiogoN, they may be one of the best used buys I've seen recently.  2 big thumbs up!

 

Has anyone paired the LCD-2 with a Meier Corda Opera with or without DAC? 

Any thoughts on the Concerto + StageDAC combo? I'm looking at my options for when I get the LCD-2, and this one stands out to me.

I'm only considering SS amps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex0du5 

Any thoughts on the Concerto + StageDAC combo? I'm looking at my options for when I get the LCD-2, and this one stands out to me.

 

I'm only considering SS amps.

I'm looking into combo as well

The Concerto is no longer available in black. :(

Quote:

Originally Posted by brasewel 

I'm looking into combo as well

If you guys are looking for a SS combo, i recommend the HA-160D (Dac/Amp/preamp). It drives the Audeze perfectly. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by brasewel 

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex0du5 

Any thoughts on the Concerto + StageDAC combo? I'm looking at my options for when I get the LCD-2, and this one stands out to me.

 

I'm only considering SS amps.

I'm looking into combo as well

I can confirm that the Concerto/LCD-2 combination is a winner in my books.

Well I just bought the concerto/stagedac combo.  cant wait to listen through them

Quote:

Originally Posted by brasewel 

Well I just bought the concerto/stagedac combo.  cant wait to listen through them

Nice! You should be very impressed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ex0du5 

The Concerto is no longer available in black. :(

I just bought PeckingDuck's Black Concerto. I've been running it non stop for the last three days and couldn't be happier with it!

Not heard their gear but the Burson is all discrete.  They don't do themselves any favours referring to their discrete amp module as an opamp.  Lots of people use opamp and ic interchangably which is where the confusion comes in.  Burson makes discrete amps that they use in their gear and sell in socketable versions to other manufacturers.  Confusing PR but at the end of the day... all discrete, no ic design.

And while discrete doesn't equal great sounding, I've never come across an ic based design that could compete with great sounding discrete designs.  I liked the Concerto with all the cans I tried it with but the B22 clearly has better control down low.  Back when it was the Gilmore vs Meta42/PPA, same result.  Great discrete designs just sound more effortless and have better overall control in my experience.

That said anyone gotten a chance to hear the Burson 160D or another planar friendly DAC/Amp that can compete with my current separates?  Would love to free up some desk space :p