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Audez'e & Hifiman Orthos - Enough about their sound, what about musicality???

post #1 of 19
11/15/10 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 

Hi all,

 

I've read most of what's been written on Audez'e & Hifiman's latest and greatest, but sadly most reviews focus mainly on 4 things: highs, mids, lows and soundstage. What about music?

 

And Musicality? 

 

PRAT?

 

Involvement?

 

You know, that Foot-tapping feeling?

 

To be more specific, you know the difference between Grado SR-325 and Senn HD-600? You know that feeling you get when guitars play through Grados that you just don't get with Senns? You know those songs where the Seens sound marvelous but get boring mid-way through, and the Grados despite their limitations, make you want to dance?

 

This is what I am talking about.

 

This is important to me because living with a pair of HD-600 for almost 10 years (wow!!) I believe I have been missing a lot in most genres apart from Classical. I recently tried the HD-800 and came away feeling that while they sound fabulous, they did not engage me (except on classical). On the other hand, a pair of Grado SR-325 (a third of the price) showed me a completely different version of many songs (rock, acoustic, pop and jazz), more energetic, ViVid and Raaaaw. Of course for classical I have no complaints on the Senns and the HD-800 would be a worthy upgrade...

 

So, all of you with relevant experience on the latest orthos, Audez'e LCD-2 and Hifiman HE-6 (and the mentioned Senn/Grados), please share your thoughts regarding the above. In a nutshell, is any of them as 'fun' to listen to as the Grados, or just spectacularly good-sounding like the Senn's

 

I am looking for a real upgrade from my HD-600 and might just pull the trigger on the LCD-2. I will listen to the T1 meanwhile but expect them not to be very different from the HD-800.

 

PS: The "Grado vs Senn" analogy is just a mean to express to you all what I mean, not to be taken literaly. However I can't resist asking: are the Audez'e & Hifiman more like the Senns or Grado's?

 

Thanks in advance for you feedback. Busy times for the head-fi world... :)

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post #2 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:33am
Thread Starter 

Surely someone has something to say about this.

 

Or doesn't anyone remember the these older headphones?

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post #3 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:34am

evil_smiley.gif

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post #4 of 19
11/17/10 at 4:23am

I think there is still some settling and digestion of what is going on and the long term effects of the sound. There seems to be a number of impressions that imply or state that both have some great musical qualities that transcend a number of other phones but again, I think time is needed but who knows, someone may pipe up. 

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post #5 of 19
11/17/10 at 5:11am

I honestly don't think you can go wrong with either but the HE-6's do seem to have more elaborate amp requirements than the LCD-2's.

 

I have fun listening to music on my LCD-2's as I know that it is pretty much as good as its going to get and that I would have to go to a speaker setup for a true upgrade in sound experience. 


Edited by tisb0b - 11/17/10 at 5:14am
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post #6 of 19
11/17/10 at 7:26am

I'm always bouncing around in my chair listening to the LCDs L3000.gif But then again I also do that with my Senns...

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post #7 of 19
11/17/10 at 7:38am

Didn't get enough time at a local meet-up to make a conclusion about the LCD-2, but the HE-6 certainly required adequate amplification to provide the qualities you are looking for. Properly amped (with an EF-5 for example) the drive and PRaT was there. Underamped (through my Little Dot VI on low gain setting) the HE-6s lost those qualities. Volume-wise, I was at 2 pm or so, but the impact was gone. Unfortunately I didn't have a chance to try them on the high gain setting of the VI, which would have been much more appropriate. 

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post #8 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:20pm

They both do an absolutely outstanding job making music.  Seriously.

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post #9 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:40pm

Skylab would know as he has so much to compare to. 

 

I am waiting for my order to come up. I placed an order for the LCD-2 about 3 weeks ago but it looks like it can take up to 6 weeks or so. It's all good. 

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post #10 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:44pm
Never heard the HE-6 but yeah, the LCD-2 amped with the Concerto is a very sweet combination.
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post #11 of 19
11/17/10 at 3:58pm

Though there never seems to be a consensus on anything here at headfi, it would seem the two cans have been painted fairly well into their own boxes.  The LCD-2s the more musical and involving, and the HE line a little smokier and recluse in nature.

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post #12 of 19
11/17/10 at 4:08pm
The LCD-2 are a little more "yin" and the HE-6 a little more "yang", but I don't think that makes the LCD-2 more musical or involving than the HE-6, but rather a slightly different perspective on the music. I've had some major league eargasms listening to the HE-6 already - they are absolutely musically engaging (as always JMHO).
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post #13 of 19
11/17/10 at 4:48pm


A better way of saying what I meant.  Good description Rob.  And I hear you on the eargasm front, I make sure to have two or three every day.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Skylab View Post

AThe LCD-2 are a little more "yin" and the HE-6 a little more "yang", but I don't think that makes the LCD-2 more musical or involving than the HE-6, but rather a slightly different perspective on the music. I've had some major league eargasms listening to the HE-6 already - they are absolutely musically engaging (as always JMHO).
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post #14 of 19
11/18/10 at 2:10am
Thread Starter 

Thanks for all the feedback so far. I just affraid of ordering a pair of LCD-2 (seems to be the ones I'd like the most) and end up feeling like I did on the HD-800 (great sounding but not engaging) but looks that that may not be the case... and then I'd have to send them back and pay return shipping and 15% penalty.

 

By the way, can anyone confirm the return policy? I e-mailed to ask them about it but no answer for more than a week now...

Any information on returns to Audeze?

 

Anyone else care to share their experiences? :)

 

PS: how long is the stock cable? can't find that written anywhere!

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post #15 of 19
11/18/10 at 2:33am

Stock cable is 8ft but if you did get them you'd have no problems selling them on here for what you paid. 

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