Is the LCD-2 the high end headphone for me? - Page 4

I am using Sylvania black-plates, and I like them best.

Hi Rob:

 

I'm a little torn between the gray and black plate triple mica NOS Sylvanias. I find the bass more visceral and dynamic and the treble quite good with the black plates, but a more "liquid" and balanced presentation with wider sound staging with the gray plates....it is a tough call. Both NOS Sylvania tubes (gray and black...5751 / 12AX7) are my favourites.

 

Your thoughts?

Yep, I think you about nailed it. Both of the triple-mica Sylvania 5751's are outstanding, but I think you described their differences pretty well, really.

If you're feeling flush, and you want something that is the best of both worlds, find a pair of Raytheon triple-mica windmill-getter 5751's. But be prepared to shell out $250 a pair or so.

I purchased a pair of K702 tonight. While I'm loving them, I'm half contemplating just going all out and getting the LCD-2. Do they have a more forward soundstage than the K702? I would like a pair of headphones that have a more speaker-like quality to them, having sound (and especially vocals) projected forward a bit, instead of to the sides (and in the middle of my head).

I only need one tube for my amp....I will try to hunt one down. Funny about the black and gray plate Sylvanias, one day I prefer the black and the other I prefer the gray. I have a natural draw to Sylvania...my dad worked for them for 30 years as a technician.

 

I know you're not a huge fan of the current production tubes, but Frank and I really...really like the Genalex Gold Lions (ECC83 and 6922)...really good tubes for a reasonable price of $45 each.

It's good to know that the Genelex are good - nice to have new production options. Although I have enough NOS tubes to last me the rest of my life...probably even if I live to be 280

I agree about Sylvania. I like a lot of their tubes, and I thin aside from Tung-Sol, they are my favorite US brand.

LoL...I have heard of the treasure trove you call a tube collection....very impressive!

 

BTW...the NOS Tung-Sol 7236s...very, very nice with my LCD-2s/WA2. Thanks for the help.

Has anyone tried these phones through a small speaker amp yet? If so, please elaborate   I am assuming you would just need some cables with spades or bananas on the amp end and plug em in and go...no?

bump-ski !

I have an adapter that goes between speaker wire ends and balanced XLR cables, and I connected the LCD-2 to the speaker outs of my Leben CS300XS. While the sound was excellent, there is a little too much audile noise. I get zero noise with the Leben and the LCD-2 via the headphone out. I also get zero noise with the HE-6 connected to the speaker outs, so I think the LCD-2 are too sensitive for the speaker outs of the Leben. But with another amp it could be a different story.

I do think you have to be careful with the connection scheme though. Some amps would not take well to having you connecting a common ground.

thanks Skylab. I have been really enjoying the sound of the LCD-2's out of the headphone jack of my C-50 preamp. Sounds great to me.