For those which have heard both is there a clear winner? HE-6 / LCD 2 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheWuss 

when i listen to both headphones back-to-back, i tend to prefer the HE-6, because it has a more balanced overall presentation.

it can make the LCD-2 sound somewhat dark, or muted in the upper regions.

 

but, if you listen to only the LCD-2 on a given day (allowing your brain to reset), it sounds perfectly balanced.  and, because it is more polite in the treble region, is a bit more forgiving of source than the HE-6.

 

really, there really is no clear winner here.  they are both absolutely outstanding.

 

the HE-6 has the best treble i've ever heard.

and the LCD-2 has bass to die for.

 

the mids are a real battle.  world-class mids in both headphones.  just a matter of taste.  if you want the warmer, more chocolaty mids of the LCD-2, or the lighter and cleaner mids of the HE-6.

 

the only other difference i've noted (time and again) is the difference in damping and decay.

the LCD-2 sounds like it has more decay, and there is occasionally more resonance to some of the sounds.  because of this, it sounds warmer, and more layered.  or, what i mean by that is that the headphone draws your attention more to simultaneous sounds, or the decay and sustain of one sound happening behind another. 

this is something that isn't as pronounced with the HE-6.  it sounds tighter, and cleaner.  and slightly brighter.

 

so, it's really a matter of taste...

and, of course, whether you have the amp to handle the he-6 or not....

I will back this observation. I don't like the Sennheiser approach that the LCD-2 has a kindred sound with. That laid back, hard to push the details out because of the stronger mid bass region. I got to say though I have never experienced bass impact like the LCD-2. I also think the LCD-2 has a slightly better headstage and that was my only hangup with the HE-6 though neither can match the HD800.

In the end I value the highs so I also prefer the HE-6 but could live with either and feel a winner.

I own both two and I prefer the HE6 to the LCD2. And I have the same opinion like theWuss in every ponit.

I didn't find the LCD2 brighter than the HE6. HE6 is  brighter than the LCD2 and airier.  Every single disk I throw in the CD player sound great with the LCD2,in contrary some disks sound just ok with the HE6 (because of the treble enegy and I tend to like the darker headphones than the brighter one),but some disks sound really amazing,that makes I love the HE6 the most.

I compared the HE6 to my T1 too and they sound somewhat similar except the HE6 sound clearer with more detail and have a little better smoother treble (T1 has brighter treble,I think).

I don't think ,we can say, which is better between these two orthos,they are different ,"we gotto have" these two to complement each other. I love the LCD2 for rock and vocal  in general maybe some r&b and the HE6 for the rest,but it differs from disk to disk more than from genre to genre.

My CD player is Ayre CX 7 e.

The Amp is the DIY-Amp called "Minute",which was built to drive the HE5,when we've found, the EF5 can not drive the HE5 to theirs best.I plug the HE6 with speaker adapter into the Minute's speaker post.

The tubes, I use, are EL34 Mullard XF1 oo and Telephunken EL34.

When I lsiten with the LCD2,I use the RCA clear top for the front tubes to lower the driving power to match the LCD2 level.

I agree, that these two headphones are different-sounding enough to compliment each other. The power requirements are also vastly different, making a head to head comparison extremely difficult. They are both very nice but if trying to decide between the two consider that the HE-6 will benefit from loudspeaker-type amplification much like the K1000, while the LCD-2 reportedly can be driven from an iPod.

i really like both. the lcd2 is like billie holiday and the he6 is ella fitzgerald to my ears...

been driving both thru an integrated amp pioneer sa9100. both sound wonderful.

there's something elegant and refined about the lcd2, just like holliday's voice and her

singing style. and the he6 is vibrant, airy and toe-tapping, just like fitzgerald sounds to

me.

The answer to the OP then is no, and I concur.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidMahler 

Quote:

Originally Posted by takezo 

i really like both. the lcd2 is like billie holiday and the he6 is ella fitzgerald to my ears...

been driving both thru an integrated amp pioneer sa9100. both sound wonderful.

 

Fantastic analogy!!! And I know exactly what you are trying to say and I can't elaborate further, but its true......

 

 

If I tried I'd say the LCD2 are more emotional and the HE-6 are more technically impressive.  If this is what you were going for, you nailed it with me.  But even if you were going for a different angle, the comparison was really spot-on for me.
 

Like Horowitz and Van Cliburn?

I think that the HE-6 is the "stand alone" winner, but I really like contrasting the LCD-2 with the HD800 on my other rig.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

I think that the HE-6 is the "stand alone" winner, but I really like contrasting the LCD-2 with the HD800 on my other rig.

You just said no and now you're saying yes? 

the lcd2 reminds my wife of the busendorfer model 225

and the he6 is the hamburg steinway model c

Quote:

Originally Posted by wuwhere 

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

I think that the HE-6 is the "stand alone" winner, but I really like contrasting the LCD-2 with the HD800 on my other rig.

You just said no and now you're saying yes? 

No. And by no I mean yes 

Wow!

A speaker amp REALLY opens these puppies up, I think I'll stay.

These headphones are impressive.

John, there's no hole or fuzzy center. More power, whadaya know.