** Confessions of a Failing Audiophile ** - I hated the LCD2 - Page 7  

I'm amazed that many companies like Sennheiser, Grado, Ultrasone and STAX still manufacture flagships.

I know the crux here is discussing the cost vs performance of these headphones, but there is another

silent cost - development for a new model that will sell very units. Hence why you see serial numbers

on these things.

The real argument is whether the 'high tier' market is growing or shrinking? I'm yet undecided, I

see contradicting examples. On one hand, Audeze are selling a decent amount, Grado are

releasing new models like the PS500 but on the other - AKG appear happy with the K70x

as a $400 flagship and Sennheiser are yet to announce if the HD600/650/800 will have

successors.

Companies like Audeze should be applauded for bringing a hand-made product like the LCD-2 to market

with a nice storage wooden box for $995USD. It's an amazing feat for a small producer, I bet their margins

are fairly small.

Ok, rant out.

I am actually inclined to agree with swbf2cheater,  mid-fi is really where we should be at.  Our sets costing $1000, with amps and DACs costing likewise, it just sheer ludicrousness, a lot of these cans do not cost more than $100 to make I'm sure, they are just absurdly marked up like that. 

I've been around the block and I think I've pretty much decided that my current high end setups will be my last really expensive pieces -- LCD2 and Merlins are the peak for me, I can't really justify spending more unless I become made of money. I won't be leaving the hobby though; there's a lot of fun to be had in Mid-Fi and you can get setups that sound as good as (or at the very least close enough in pleasure) an LCD2 or what not at much more reasonable price points. It's just nice to have a really high end setup as reference, but there's a lot of fun to be had where things are cheaper.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gwarmi 

I'm amazed that many companies like Sennheiser, Grado, Ultrasone and STAX still manufacture flagships.

 

I know the crux here is discussing the cost vs performance of these headphones, but there is another

silent cost - development for a new model that will sell very units. Hence why you see serial numbers

on these things.

 

The real argument is whether the 'high tier' market is growing or shrinking? I'm yet undecided, I

see contradicting examples. On one hand, Audeze are selling a decent amount, Grado are

releasing new models like the PS500 but on the other - AKG appear happy with the K70x

as a $400 flagship and Sennheiser are yet to announce if the HD600/650/800 will have

successors.

 

Companies like Audeze should be applauded for bringing a hand-made product like the LCD-2 to market

with a nice storage wooden box for $995USD. It's an amazing feat for a small producer, I bet their margins

are fairly small.

 

Ok, rant out.

LOL no, I will bet you anything the LCD2 doesn't cost more than $200 in materials, if even that. The margins on the LCD2 are at least half of the price you are paying, I bet it's more. 

I would love for nothing more than the "high tier" market to die out, it's a market for people with money to burn and fools who have better things to spend on but choose to drink in the snake oil.

Very nice review. But I have to disagree though I know headphone sound is just a matter of personal preference. Give it more time. I am sure the one you try out is rev.2. They are IMO not as good as rev.1 but still better than Ed.8 (I love Ed.8).  Only the comfort of Ed.8 wins here.

I must say that in the last 2 or 3 years, high end headphones have indeed flourished...LCD2, PS1000 & PS500, HD800, T1 & T5p, Edition 10, HE500, D7000, especially in light of the GFC,

I like LCD2 however I agree that the cable connectors on LCD2 earcup are in the wrong place.

I often sit down on the lazy chair and the connector are touching my upper chest, it's pretty uncomfortable.

Speaking of being heavy and bulky, I agree also, LCD2 is pretty heavy and uncomfortable which makes me to use more UE8 or AH-D7000.

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbf2cheater 

I'm definitely Jaded and very proud.  I do not feel okay with justifying anything or making excuses for keeping/buying something with some problems.  If some people can't accept that, well thats there prerogative and I support it regardless :)

 

We should not have to make any excuses or compromises.  They manufactures should be doing that, not us.

 

Edit: Oh and btw, I do feel like I failed the community.  I lost my audiophile card and had the tech nerd version of a nervous breakdown over having to make so many excuses to people asking about the headphones i own. 

 

 

 

 

Word.

I've ranted about this many times, but I feel it worth repeating, it's hilarious, this hobby of ours. This is one of the few hobbies on the planet where people will rabidly defend companies that sell $500 cables and $1,000 pieces of plastic with magnets in them for every problem they encounter, and say it's all good and they got great customer service yada yada. This is a dangerous, dangerous hobby with a very complacent crowd that thinks it's okay to bend over backwards for any company with a product priced over $500, as if that high price automatically means quality (with a few companies excepted, like Bose and Monster -- the "fallen from grace" companies that can do no right no matter if they price high or low).

People need to be more careful, more discerning in this hobby and not be so eager to label anything with a high price tag as infallible. The sheep in you will make you say yes along with everyone else who thinks those $1000 hunks of plastic are a level of quality above the cheaper offerings. Beware this. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by swbf2cheater 

I love you mochan :)

 

<3

Anytime bro, I got your back!

I should make it clear that I am not unilaterally condemning high tier gear.  If you have the moolah to spend, and the desire to, by all means. But I just caution people to be very discerning and critical about their purchases and not just irresponsibly using superlative adjectives to describe every little $1000 thing.

And to remember that a lot of these $1000 things only offer 5%, 10% improvement over their lesser siblings, and a lot of it is really just the comfort and peace of mind you get from "buying the best" so to speak.  But a lot of these gears do have some performance (and aesthetic) improvements over their lesser priced brethren, and if that's what you are looking for then by all means. Don't feel guilty on my account. I've done that myself, I still am pretty happy with my high end purchases. I just probably won't do it again for a long, long time.

That's my take on it. Peace, this hobby is very personal but I do hope people become more aware of what they are buying.

Maybe the OP should do a poll, High End Gears: Condemn or Indulge??

the fun part is the journey, not the destination.  like you've said you heard every thing.  i feel the same too sometimes.  jh16 is good and everything.  t1 is almost everything i dreamt for.  but, really i was having much more fun when i was just er6i and dt990 pro. 

we should go back to kittens, or football.  it's football season