Amp recommendations for Audeze LCD-2 - Page 323

I've heard some mention of the LYR not being as punchy as some other amps on the LCDs. Does anyone else have experience with that and could compare that aspect to some other amps?

I'm obviously underpowering them right now with an Asus Xonar, but I do find that the impact and roundness of bass to be lacking with this setup. I want to be sure the amp I choose ~$500 budget accentuates thoses values (though of course not at a significant cost of other frequency performance or the incredible soundstage).

Thanks for the advice, all.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riggaberto 

I've heard some mention of the LYR not being as punchy as some other amps on the LCDs. Does anyone else have experience with that and could compare that aspect to some other amps?

 

I'm obviously underpowering them right now with an Asus Xonar, but I do find that the impact and roundness of bass to be lacking with this setup. I want to be sure the amp I choose ~$500 budget accentuates thoses values (though of course not at a significant cost of other frequency performance or the incredible soundstage).

 

Thanks for the advice, all.

In my experience the AudioGD NFB-10 SE was a huge step up from my Essence ST - bass impact and definition improved, but the NFB-10 is voiced to be neutral and as such does  not have the [coloured] warmth you get in a Burson or similar amplifier, however I found it substantially more transparent as a DAC/AMP than a HA-160D I compared it against.  As a bonus the DAC in the NFB-10 delivered substantially improved soundstage, transient response and frequency extension compared to my Xonar Essence ST.  As a caveat a couple of other people found the midrange slightly dry or hard, but I personally did not find this issue with the LCD-2.

I have an Objective amp on its way and will be here tomorrow....I will try with an HRT MSii+ USB dac and my LCD2's I will let u know how it plays here....

I will order the DAC as well for the bucks these are a real bargin for what they are 'claimed' to do...

All the best..

Alex

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riggaberto 

I've heard some mention of the LYR not being as punchy as some other amps on the LCDs. Does anyone else have experience with that and could compare that aspect to some other amps?

 

I'm obviously underpowering them right now with an Asus Xonar, but I do find that the impact and roundness of bass to be lacking with this setup. I want to be sure the amp I choose ~$500 budget accentuates thoses values (though of course not at a significant cost of other frequency performance or the incredible soundstage).

 

Thanks for the advice, all.

based on your budget, NFB 10SE is a good try. Amp + DAC Combo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drez 

 

In my experience the AudioGD NFB-10 SE was a huge step up from my Essence ST - bass impact and definition improved, but the NFB-10 is voiced to be neutral and as such does  not have the [coloured] warmth you get in a Burson or similar amplifier, however I found it substantially more transparent as a DAC/AMP than a HA-160D I compared it against.  As a bonus the DAC in the NFB-10 delivered substantially improved soundstage, transient response and frequency extension compared to my Xonar Essence ST.  As a caveat a couple of other people found the midrange slightly dry or hard, but I personally did not find this issue with the LCD-2.

And do you think the DAC portion of the NFB-10 SE played a bigger role or the amp? I was kind of thinking I'd upgrade 1 thing at a time to a pretty high level of quality.

I'm opening my head-fi logic up to the world! Please comment!

• Current setup: ASUS Xonar STX > Audeze LCD-2
• Biggest quality bottleneck: Insufficient power of Xonar
• Reason for thinking that: Level of noise is low, detail is high, soundstage is open but there's a general sense that more could be unlocked. Notes on all frequencies lack impact and roundness - I think this is a power issue because my easier-to-drive Denon 2000s had better impact and roundness out of the Xonar than the LCD2. I've read widespread agreement that the LCD2s, when properly powered, should kick the D2000s but in that category. Conclusion: I'm not properly powered right now :)
• Long term goal: To have both high end DAC & amplfication as I can afford it
• Plan: Get a high quality amp for ~$500 that I can live with long term, the setup being Xonar STX Line Out > YTBD new amp > Audeze LCD2.
• Get new DAC next, probably a year or more away

I know less about the cost/value curve in amps then I do about headphones so I could be convinced that if I spent a reasonable amount over $500 it would reap large benefits.

The PC power supply is dirty as hell. Get a 100/200$ separate DAC or a DAC/amp combo and you'll be way better than a PCI sound card. I would have a 100$+500$ dac+amp rather than a 600$ amp with your PC.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecaster 

The PC power supply is dirty as hell. Get a 100/200$ separate DAC or a DAC/amp combo and you'll be way better than a PCI sound card. I would have a 100$+500$ dac+amp rather than a 600$ amp with your PC.

Can you give me an example of a separate DAC in that category? I'd prefer to keep them separate so I have more control over upgrading, though I suppose as long as a DAC/amp combo head a line out I could always go that route if I wanted to upgrade the amp.

I received my Audez'e LCD-2 headphones a few days ago. I've been very inpressed with them over my Senn's HD-650's.
I've been driving them with my Mcintosh S.S. I have a chance to buy a Burson HA-160 (non dac) or and Schiit LYR.
has anyone compared the two? does one have advantages over the other?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Theoman 

I received my Audez'e LCD-2 headphones a few days ago. I've been very inpressed with them over my Senn's HD-650's.
I've been driving them with my Mcintosh S.S. I have a chance to buy a Burson HA-160 (non dac) or and Schiit LYR.
haas anyone compared the two? does one have advantages over the other?

The Lyr/LCD-2 is the better combination to my ears. Throw in the fact that 4W over 200mW is a much better match for orthos, I think its a no brainer.

Then if i throw a dac in would I be better of with the Burson HD-160 and one for there dacs or a schiit combo?

Burson HA-160 (non dac) or and Schiit LYR. When i need to add a DAC will it make a difference? the Burson combo or Schiit combo.

I can get the Burson fro 475 and the Schiit LYR for 350. then i need a DAC. I mostly use LP's and cd's

I've been a member for years I and didn't post just read.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riggaberto 

And do you think the DAC portion of the NFB-10 SE played a bigger role or the amp? I was kind of thinking I'd upgrade 1 thing at a time to a pretty high level of quality.

 

I'm opening my head-fi logic up to the world! Please comment!

 

• Current setup: ASUS Xonar STX > Audeze LCD-2
• Biggest quality bottleneck: Insufficient power of Xonar
• Reason for thinking that: Level of noise is low, detail is high, soundstage is open but there's a general sense that more could be unlocked. Notes on all frequencies lack impact and roundness - I think this is a power issue because my easier-to-drive Denon 2000s had better impact and roundness out of the Xonar than the LCD2. I've read widespread agreement that the LCD2s, when properly powered, should kick the D2000s but in that category. Conclusion: I'm not properly powered right now :)
• Long term goal: To have both high end DAC & amplfication as I can afford it
• Plan: Get a high quality amp for ~$500 that I can live with long term, the setup being Xonar STX Line Out > YTBD new amp > Audeze LCD2.
• Get new DAC next, probably a year or more away

 

I know less about the cost/value curve in amps then I do about headphones so I could be convinced that if I spent a reasonable amount over $500 it would reap large benefits.

I think the NFB-10 SE is more DAC than amplifier, mostly because it does not have analog inputs.  If you are planning to spend more on a DAC further down the road there might be other better options, I think the NFB-10 might also be OK if you want to buy another amplifier later, but you are paying for a DAC and an amplifier so it doesn't really make much sense.  I'm also not sure if it will be the most dynamic DAC/AMP possible if that is what you are looking for.

I heard somewhere that it is better to have separate chassis for DAC and amplifier due to the RFI/EMI coming off the clocks used for the DAC, I guess that depends on the master clock frequency but I have no idea really.  I think the NFB-10 is good as $499 all-in-one solution, but if you are going to upgrade later I would probably get something else.

Can anyone comment on the Violectric amplifiers?

Anybody have experience with using the Ray Samuels Raptor with the LCD-2s? How many watts can it pump & is it sufficient?

Drez,

Having not heard Audeze LCD-2, I cannot help with an amp for LCD-2.

But having currently both NFB-10SE (since November) and Violectric V200 (for 10 days now) I can provide some initial impressions with other cans:

I have compared (NFB-10SE dac+amp) with (NFB-10SE dac + Violectric V200 amp) using the Sennheiser HD-650 and AKG K701 headphones, with WIN7 - Foobar - Wasapi - flac files from USB.

My impression so far is that the two combos are very close in overall performance. The Violectric sound for me is very similar to the single end headphone output of NFB-10SE (I have found the balanced headphone output of NFB-10SE a little more resolving, bright and cold).

Adding the Audio GD DI-DSP-S in the chain marginally improves both combos.

My Hifiman HE-500 will hopefully be back from repair next week and will be similarly tested. Afterwards I will have to decide whether to return the Violectric for refund  (losing only the return delivery costs) or keeping the Violectric and hope that a more esteemed dac (Violectric V800, Audio GD REF5.2 etc) will clearly improve on the standalone NFB-10SE. Of course the cost of (Violectric V200 + “analogous” dac) will be ca. 3 times the NFB-10SE cost. Obviously I stubbornly keep away from tubes so far.

I have used a Schitt Lyr, Schitt ASGARD, SOHAII, AVA Insight + PreAmp Head section, several AVR's and just lately a O2 Headphone amp from JDSLabs designed by nwavguy.

All are nice but the O2 really shines and drives my LCD2's wonderfully, indeed "Superb"...this little amp running on (2) rechargable batteries or an AC to AC adapter...not AC to DC...is the cats meow...less than $200...and it will stand up to amps much more pricier and performs very very well.

Its really transparent and clean and very quiet...

With the LCD's you would have to spend big bucks to get better sound and i really dont think its worth the price when this kind of performance can be had..

Enjoy..
Alex