^ that would be anecdotal evidence at its best. A small sample size it appears as I've seen several that are quite different. Please read this for the difficulty at measuring frequencies higher than 4kHz. Basically you get different plots with the exact same pair:

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/expert-tests-innerfidelitys-headphone-measurement-repeatability-and-reproducibility

My LCD3s sound awesome and I wouldn't change a thing. I got the very first run and had the RMA for the driver replacement just a few weeks later (early 2012).

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macedonianhero said:

^ that would be anecdotal evidence at its best. A small sample size it appears as I've seen several that are quite different. Please read this for the difficulty at measuring frequencies higher than 4kHz. Basically you get different plots with the exact same pair:

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/expert-tests-innerfidelitys-headphone-measurement-repeatability-and-reproducibility

Click to expand...

There are CSDs done on LCD2s and LCD3s from another source that I trust to be reliable in its FR/CSD measurements (the website of which shall not be named), which basically showed the same patterns as what I was saying. Measurements there were done on LCD3s during the "veiled vs unveiled" era and showed very variable behaviour also in the 2-10kHz region, even with variable frequencies for the "ortho wall of ringing". The guess about diaphragm tension control being the issue with LCD3 veil issues early in its inception are not mine, they correlated really well with those particular measures.
 
Anyway the IF article was specifically about the accuracy and precision of Tyll's own headphone measurement setup and methodologies, you can't just generalize that somehow the same variability would apply to everything else. To be honest, it's pretty hard to interpret the upper end of Tyll's FR measurements anyhow, due to his particular HRTF compensation and scales.

Arguing with the author of the article about what the article was about is a little weird, just saying.

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solude said:

Arguing with the author of the article about what the article was about is a little weird, just saying.

Click to expand...

 
On another note, I do agree that during the veiled era (late 2011/early 2012) of the LCD-3s, things weren't as under control. No arguments here. 

Anyone know a place in Ontario, Canada - near Toronto where you can audition Audeze's. I've been thinking of upgrading to the LCD-3s from my LCD-2.2, much more than upgrading from HE-500 to HE-6. I would like to get a listen this time before buying.

I've been contemplating selling both LCD-2 and HE-500 to get a LCD-3 or save up and sell LCD-2 to get LCD-3 in order to keep the HE-500 for another flavour.

My personal view is the he-500s as good as they are do not bring enough when you have the lcd-3s. But yours msy differ...

having owned the lcd-2 and he6, my experience tells me that it is worth doing anything you can to get an LCD-3. I needed another flavor but only for classical, so i kept my hd800. the he6 was not comfortable for me. i also like the sound sig of the lcds more then the he6 so it was no contest for me. if you really like the hifiman sig, you may end up being happy you kept the 500. but the lcd3 is on another level, as is the he6 when amped decently.  

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analog'd said:

having owned the lcd-2 and he6, my experience tells me that it is worth doing anything you can to get an LCD-3. I needed another flavor but only for classical, so i kept my hd800. the he6 was not a comfortable for me. i also like the sound sig of the lcds more then the he6 so it was no contest for me. if you really like the hifiman sig, you may end up being happy you kept the 500. but the lcd3 is on another level, as is the he6 when amped decently.  get taht LCD-3!     

Click to expand...

 
The sound sig I am okay with for Hifiman. I like the treble and airy feel to it. I like the FR upto 2 kHz better on the LCD-2 than on the HE-500. I also like the wide nature of HE-500. However the biggest problem I have with HE-500 is that it's pretty much all width. Minimum/no height with little depth. I find the LCD-2 more 3-D and more enveloping, even though it's not as wide as HE-500. I have read some people complaining about the LCD-2/3 being as claustrophobic because it's not wide and open sounding apparently in comparison to HE-500. For the past few months, I have also started feeling that, except for the HE-500 instead. It's almost like living on a long line where you can only take a few steps back and forward without any jumping. LCD-2 is more of a little private island where you are free to run and jump around doing whatever you want.
 
Regarding amp, I'm using the Emotiva mini-x-a-100 (50 Watts @ 8ohms). Powerful enough for sure, quality wise I think it's decent enough for the moment. Probably going to upgrade the DAC before amp.
 
My concern with jump from LCD-2 to LCD-3 isn't about the difference in money to value ratio but rather about if I'll like the LCD-3 or not. So far it seems that LCD-3 has more airy feel to it and better treble response, which I can get along with. Not too sure about the difference in mids. The bass is what's throwing me off. I have gathered that LCD-3 has a little better texture in the bass region? however it loses out on the weight and impact of LCD-2's bass. Also something about revised drivers in LCD-3 along the way, if that makes a difference or not. Currently have LCD-2 Revision 2 (although one of the early batches of Revision 2)

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negura said:

My personal view is the he-500s as good as they are do not bring enough when you have the lcd-3s. But yours msy differ...

Click to expand...

 
I am not sure if I understand.

Quote:

analog'd said:

having owned the lcd-2 and he6, my experience tells me that it is worth doing anything you can to get an LCD-3. I needed another flavor but only for classical, so i kept my hd800. the he6 was not comfortable for me. i also like the sound sig of the lcds more then the he6 so it was no contest for me. if you really like the hifiman sig, you may end up being happy you kept the 500. but the lcd3 is on another level, as is the he6 when amped decently.  

Click to expand...

 
NVM - read it wrong..

Well having spent a bit of time with my new LCD3s here are some initial impressions: Very much worth the extra grand to acquire. Improved soundstage and treble sweet and clean. Bass does not seem quite as pervasive but tight clean and punchy. And yes these cans just love to rock. But then they sound superlative with all genres I have listened to thru them. Kind of remind me of first trip to Costa Rica. Trippin on shrooms up in northwest going thru jungle and a black leopard jumped over the land cruiser... Then first drop into triple overhead glass at the rivermouth. Just like that. These cans are sweet. Detailed rendering an improvement over the LCD2r2s. Not beating up on those cans at all but the improvement with the LCD3s are indeed tangible. Speed detail and soundstage all very nice. Can't wait to see how the Silver Widow works with these phones. BTW they are really beautiful. Will need to do a photo session in beautiful light to capture the extreme finish of these cans. Just really really impressed with these... all I can say is they are a fine instrument and seem to love the Mjolnir/Gungnir... Seem plenty capable of handling very complex passages and the shift from fully amped up involved down to very quiet vocal at a whisper just buttery smooth and sweet. Don't know if I can impart an accurate impression but suffice to say that every session with these cans is additional wow factor.
 
The more I immerse my self into the sound imagery the more enamored I become. Gosh what a total trip. Yes I am in love.

I recently bought the LCD3 and Mjolnir and paired them with a Sony XA5400ES SACD player. I'm currently running with the balanced outputs on the CD player to the Mjolnir, so it's totally in balanced mode. Is this better than running the single ended RCA jacks out into the MJ?
Or is the totally balanced approach best?

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commtrd said:

Kind of remind me of first trip to Costa Rica. Trippin on shrooms up in northwest going thru jungle and a black leopard jumped over the land cruiser... Then first drop into triple overhead glass at the rivermouth. Just like that. 

Click to expand...

 

 
 
In all seriousness though, I have no idea What that means, but at the same time, I kinda do.  I was once a psychonaut...  
 
But either way, I think whatever the heck you just said should be included on Audeze's website.  I think anyone reading a headphone testimonial about close encounters with leopards on cloud nine will be so intrigued they'll have to buy a pair... I know I am, especially now.  I wouldn't mind having some pleasant "flash backs".  
 
Anywoot, thanks for sharing, been waiting to hear your impressions for awhile now.  
 
I'm on the verge of getting the LCD-3's and Mjolnir, just not sure about the DAC.  Waiting to hear some impressions about the Concero HD before I pull the trigger.