Doc, you've said you don't care for the Benchmark DAC, so I think we need to hear a DAC of your choice through the analog inputs of the Benchmark DAC1 Pre.
I encourage you to design an amp that is optimized for the LCD-2, especially if it comes in at a price 1X or 2X the Crack.
I have an Elekit with selectable impedance which illustrates the value of matching the amp to the LCD-2, or other cans. The LCD-2 sound better at the medium impedance setting of this amp, especially in the bass. The Senn HD650 also benefit from a good impedance match.

Yeah, running the Bottlehead/Swenson DAC into the preamp part of the Benchmark to drive the LCD-2 is a great idea. We can definitely give that a shot. And of course we could roll tape through it too. My "big headphone amp" is up and running too, and it has 50, 200 and 500 ohm impedance settings, so it might be interesting to try with the LCD-2 too.
 
As a side note, I have now aqcuired the parts to make the experimental headphones I mentioned when you guys were over last. The trick will be determining how light/thin the driver can be and still work. So far, I have obliterated a 1.8 micron ribbon and a 6 micron ribbon seems to be getting stressed enough to be making rustling noises on loud bass notes. I will try some Reynolds wrap next, about 16.5 microns I think. We may give metallized film a shot too, maybe from an unrolled film capacitor. Hopefully I will have some functional form together for you guys to critique by meet time.
 
We should have the lab together by then too, so if folks want to bring projects for troubleshooting or some advice on mods, by all means bring 'em on.

Trying different DACs and other sources would probably be good.  Doc, I remember that you mentioned that the digital sound was one of the turn-offs in the my system and curbfeeler's.  If you want, we could definitely do a source swap on the Stacker II as well, for the hybrid side of things with Cavalli flavor.
 
Nice to hear "the project" is still ongoing.  Would be cool to hear some kind of prototype...or proto-proto-prototype or something. 

Sounds like a good time. Ill try and bring my low end gear but I doubt I have anything anyone would be interested in. Either way I can mooch off of you folks with the fancy stuff and engage in some fun conversation with ya'll. Looking forward to it already.
 
I can carpool with someone if needed, all you need is your own helmet and a lack of fear muwahaha. Motorcycles cut right by all the cars in line for the ferry too hehe.

I've actually been very curious to hear the ATH-M50.   They get a lot of mentions for the budget range, so I'm curious.

Anytime you like sir. Hopefully the date on the meet will work out and I can make it. If not I work in Seattle everyday and it looks like that is where you are at so if you wanted to borrow them for a couple days/week it would be no problem.
 
Im not that impressed with them myself btw, but they work for what I got them for and Im satisfied with them.

Here's a Q&D pic of a mockup for my new experimental design. 
The drivers I plan to use are in rather uncharted territory for headphones. Hope to have the guts in, cables attached and have them running by Monday. If they don't suck I'll have them at the meet.

BTW I just noticed that the Bay Area Head Fiers are meeting on February 19th, and that the Portland gang is looking at late January. I would like to attend one or both of those myself, so it would be great if we could come up with a Seattle meet date that complements those dates.

Doc those look cool. I wish I was on the West Coast. it would be fun to see another mad scientist work. Your work is certainly interested and I am glad to see you trying to help the community. One day I will get to hear some of your products.

Thanks Frank, you are more than welcome to come by and have a listen when you make it out this way. Got some sound out of the new cans yesterday. They need a little mechanical adjustment and refinement to eliminate some driver rubbing, but when they were working right they were really showing some promise. I was startled to hear the rumble of the HVAC in the concert hall at the beginning of one of the tracks I was using for evaluation, so they seem to be doing some bass. Feeling more confident that I will have something useful to demo for the meet.

Can't wait to nail down the date of the meet. Will happen in the next few weeks. Look forward to listening to all the gear. Love the commute to Doc B's.

Will definitely be there, time permitting.
 
I've been doing a lot more listening and research on speakers now that I got a HP setup I generally like (WA6 -> LCD2), but it's never a bad time to check out other people's setup.  I've been eyeing Salk speakers for a while and was actually up over at Seattle yesterday to audition and pick up these guys from an audiogon user for a hefty discount used.  Hope the weather isn't as terrible when the meet happens, I was driving through slush on the way to Seattle and hydroplaning through insane amounts of rain on the way back.

Am leaning toward early March because of weather. This is suppose to be a bummer winter. Any more suggestions would be appreciated.

Big Poppa and Doc "B"...will take up the opportunity to come to another NW meet at Bottlehead HQ.  I can see Doc "B" is doing something with a pair of Beyers...and looks to be in prayer devotion in his Trappist monk wear listening to something heavenly.
 
Rickyricky: Welcoming you to a great group of folks.  They have been very (VERY! LOL) understanding...for reasons you will certainly hear about at the meet...  Hope you do come.
 
Some of you mentioned the HE-6 and amps to properly drive the LCDs well.  Just as it turns out, i am awaiting delivery of the HIfiMan HE-5 headphone and EF5 tube amplifier combo from Grokit.  Being that the HE-5s are slightly harder to drive than the LCDs, I think we might have a good match to listen to with the EF5 amp.  I will bring both to the meet.   Maybe somebody will get a HE-6 from Santa or the IRS...
 
Equus: it was while listening to your LCD-Stacker combo that gave me the jump over to orthos....just can't afford the LCDs and a high-current amp together right now....the HE-5 may lead to a HE-6...or an LCD next year...(God willing and the plastic don't get taken by my beloved).
 
I am also awaiting delivery of 2005 model year 250 ohm Beyer DT880s and am hoping to snatch up a pair of AKG 501s this week in a bidding war of sorts...
 
Doc "B"....I'd like to hear the K1000s...but if the last meet was any lesson....it might be too loud for other's comfort...what to do?
 
Sachu: Will the Liquid Fire be up for sale by then?  
 
Wishing you all a great Holiday Season!  

I will update the 1st post tonight. Tried to get to it yesterday. We have a meet coming.

1ST POST AND TITLE UPDATED!