Portable amp for LCD2 - Page 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by edvardd 

It seems quite affordable. I'm looking more at PB2

 

The thing about going balanced is that it seems so expensive when you have to buy another cable too.

You could just re-terminate the stock cable with a mini-xlr and go from there with different adapters but I see your point. Just thinking about the best sound for the buck as the LCD-2 seems to respond well to balanced amplification. The PB2 sounds like an even better better option, more $ but more power.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

 

You could just re-terminate the stock cable with a mini-xlr and go from there with different adapters but I see your point. Just thinking about the best sound for the buck as the LCD-2 seems to respond well to balanced amplification. The PB2 sounds like an even better better option, more $ but more power.

"Balanced" amplification?  What is that vs. something else?  Do you mean that a 200mWPC "balanced" amp will sound better than a 2WPC single ended amp?  Or a 2WPC balanced amp will sound better than a 2WPC SE amp?  What is this thing with "balanced" magic with no other qualifiers?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwkarth 

"Balanced" amplification?  What is that vs. something else?  Do you mean that a 200mWPC "balanced" amp will sound better than a 2WPC single ended amp?  Or a 2WPC balanced amp will sound better than a 2WPC SE amp?  What is this thing with "balanced" magic with no other qualifiers?

Don't understand the question, vs. SE, yes with the LCD-2 according to consensus, ditto, and deal with it 

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

 

Don't understand the question, vs. SE, yes with the LCD-2 according to consensus, yes again, and *huh*?

 

Power matters far more than topology.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwkarth 

Power matters far more than topology.

Man you're quick! I never said it didn't.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

I never said it didn't.

 I seemed to me that you were saying that with all other things being equal, a balanced amp would sound better on an LCD-2 than a SE amp.  Sorry, I guess I misunderstood you. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pale Rider 

Power does matter more than topology with the LCD-2s. My RSA Apache, a desktop, had a 32v swing, the same I believe as the PB2. I sold it, in part because it simply could not drive the LCD-2s adequately on dynamic, high resolution material without clipping in SE or balanced on any gain setting. My SE Taboo drives them handily.

Having said that, the PB2 is an interesting little amp. I could see wanting to be able to carry the LCD-2s to a destination location and have adequate amplification when I get there, but actual portable use? Really?

Wow, that's the first time I have heard that about the Apache with the LCD-2, I would guess that a higher-voltage source might make a difference there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwkarth 

 I seemed to me that you were saying that with all other things being equal, a balanced amp would sound better on an LCD-2 than a SE amp.  Sorry, I guess I misunderstood you. 

No worries. All other things being equal is easier said than done when comparing SE to balanced though, as there's a lot of variables with input/output, source/amp capability etc. I agree that overall power as well as the quality of components and overall design topology are more important than SE vs. balanced.

^^ Lol I have his Apache. Greg I find that really odd since I don't have any issues driving my LCDs. Setting the gain on low is more than enough to drive them. It might have been a voltage issue.

Infact, the Apache with my Havana is the best combo I've ever heard for the LCD-2s and I've listened to most of the high-end tube amps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grokit 

 

Wow, that's the first time I have heard that about the Apache with the LCD-2, I would guess that a higher-voltage source might make a difference there.

Higher voltage sources would not help anything if current delivery capability is what's lacking in a given amplifier.  It would simply be driven into clipping at lower volume position settings by a higher voltage source.  The statement has been made that Orthos like lots of voltage.  That is not entirely true.  They like lots of power.  Power is voltage times current.  You need both voltage and current to deliver the power.
 

I know but this is very different than all the other testimonials I've read regarding this matchup so I am trying to account for the varience.

Well he sold me his amp and I have no problems driving the LCDs even at low gain so I don't know what could have been the issue.

Hi Bolardito!

Quote (from the Amp recommendations for Audeze LCD-2 thread):

Originally Posted by Bolardito 

Hi everyone. I'm really tempted to get the LCD-2 however I don't want to spend a ton of money getting a DAC and amp. I currently own a Lisa 3 amp with the LLP power supply combo so I would be pairing the LCD2 with this amp and an Ipod Classic and CLAS as source. So I have two questions that hopefully someone can help me answering:

 

1. Is the Lisa 3 with the LLP capable of driving the LCD2?

2. If someone have tried this combo, is there a good sinergy between the LCD2 and the Lisa 3?

 

This would be my firtst full size can. I have a long history with IEM's and currently I use the Lisa 3 with my JH13 Pro and I´m waiting for the JH3A system. However I wonder how much am I missing by only using IEMS.

 

Thanks a lot for any help (advise) you can provide me!

 

Ianmedium uses an iPod Classic + CLAS + Meier Stepdance + LCD-2 and is extremely pleased with his rig, but like me, he has expressed some curiosity regarding the more expensive Lisa III.  There are a couple of people who have had a chance to compare the Lisa III with the Stepdance and there's more than a couple of them (I don't remember who) that have said the Lisa III is significantly "better" than the Stepdance, as sell it should be, considering the price difference.

Like Ianmedium, I use the Stepdance with the LCD-2, but I don' use the iPod Classic + CLAS.  My source is a Sony PCM-M10 recorder/player (see my pics, below).

Ian and I are both huge fans of the Stepdance with LCD-2, so unless there's some unsavory lack of synergy between the Lisa III and LCD-2, I suspect the portable rig you have described would sound every bit as good, if not bettter.  This would be especially likely in terms of dynamics, given the higher power output of the Lisa III.

Mike