Amp recommendations for Audeze LCD-3 - Page 19

Ya. I'm seriously considering picking that up. 

USB 1.0 handles all the used bitrates.
USB 2.0 will do 32bit x 384kHz

It leaves USB 3.0 with nothing to add basically.

64bitx768khz = headphone euphoria? 

 

but ya, i see what you're saying.

Looking to buy a DAC and amp for LCD-3's. Have roughly 1800 to spend give or take. After reading this thread and a few more it seems like the Gungnir and Mjolnir are the best bet for my budget. 

I was wondering though, are there any all in one DAC/amp's that would be a better choice? Something like a Burson Conductor?

What would you describe their sound signature like?

 

From my experience, the Soloist has better clarity and resolution, and relatively passive and laid-back sounding compared to the Mjolnir. Mjolnir on the other hand sounds more lively and full of energy. I personally found the Mjolnir to be a better match for a wider range of genres. I still recommend the Soloist if your musical tastes lean mainly toward classic, jazz, and acoustic.

I think I'll go with the WA6SE first and get the Mjolnir afterwards.

 

songmic pretty much nailed it.  I would add, now that I'm back to the LCD-2, the Soloist isn't passive so much that it isn't alive enough for the also passive LCD-3.  The Soloist and on the LCD-2 and HD800 is very dynamic.

Are there any bass heavy or ones with boost that anyone would recommend? I know it's not really in keeping with the usual "summit fi" tastes but I thought I'd ask.

I've been using the KICAS Caliente and I love it. I've tried a few others, including the Mjolnir, but as long as I tried they all feel like they're missing something. I'm addicted to a heavy low end.

Anything that sounds great and has great bass as well?

KM

I'm astounded with Ray's B52 amp and the LCD3s. Bass is super satisfying: deep, powerful, and natural and well defined, but not overwhelming the mids/highs at all,

which both stand out and are also natural. 

The B52 works great with high impedance phones like Audezes, and the Dact stepped attenuator works well with them, and a fine volume level is pretty easy to achieve.

I think it's a great pairing, better than any other phone with the B52. (LCD2 Rev 2s are also great with it.)

Some people have said that the B52/HD800 combo is one of the best they've heard-can you comment on that pairing?

 

-Daniel

The B52/HD800 sounds great, very clear and natural and controlled in the highs (and lows). It's quite beautiful actually.

I first fell in love with the HD800s when trying them with my B52 (I even sold off my R10s thinking they were overall not as satisfying as the HD800s with the B52).

It's tubey in the best sense of the word,

real and full of texture but not rolled off, just nicely extended and clear. The only issue is if you have a high gain source (like the 5 volts on the

XLR outputs of my EMM cdp), the Dact stepped volume control can make getting a proper volume level difficult. The LCD3 is a better match impedance-wise.

 

I actually had talked seriously with Ray about reducing the gain on my B52 (he said it could be done) but I didn't go through with it in the end.

Edited by rgs9200m - 2/11/13 at 5:38pm

Oops, wrong thread.

Edited by songmic - 2/11/13 at 5:48pm

How much of an upgrade is the GS-X from the Mjolnir? There's one on that's around 600$ cheaper http://www.head-fi.org/t/645536/fs-headamp-gs-x-balanced-amp-first-gen-priced-to-sell

 

You should look at the Audio-gd Reference 10.32. Its an awesome combo, especially when used with the 4-pin XLR out of the amp, it has plenty of gusto to drive the phones to their full potential.

i'll take a look at that and see what people have to say. Would definitely be an easy solution.