Amp recommendations for Audeze LCD-3 - Page 42

Interesting that Uncle Jesse's look like my new ones, and my old graph looks like the other owner's replacement graph.  But while they seem to group in a few basic variations, there is a pretty wide disparity in these graphs, which is surprising, assuming the tests are all done on the same equipment.  There apparently is some craftsmanship involved in building these headphones, whether in building the parts or assembling them, which is causing variations in the units.  Given the groups, it could be that there are 2 or 3 people building the parts or the units, and each person has their own processes or techniques, which leads the units they build to sound a certain way, slightly different than the others. 

 

Or else these are just some kid's random scribbles that Audeze sends out to entertain us and mess with our heads... but that's what headphones are supposed to do, right?

IIRC it's very hard to get repeatable measurements in the high part of the charts (say over 12KHz - something like that). Any variations elsewhere, especially midrange, and their relative differences are more interesting. Lots of stuff has been written around that in relevant threads. Overall, it seems wider band trends within or between graphs are more meaningful than a narrow-band difference in one or two places, not to mention FR is only one measure. Purrin and others mentioned some interesting FR and other correlations in the waterfalls thread, whilst noting other SQ differences don't seem to correlate with anything they could readily measure.

Gary, you could be right about the building and assembly. I have a hunch that's the case with the Decware tube amps, for example

I had my LCD-3s and listening for about a month now. Been enjoying them immensely, using them with a Gungnir/Mjolnir Schiit stack fully balanced with a Q-Audio cable.

I recieved the new upgraded USB board for my Gungnir last week and replaced the old stock one. Powered everything up and was surprised by a slight increase in SQ.

Then for just for giggles I swapped out my Meng Music Angel 6N1/6P1P amp for the Mjolnir and used the stock Audeze TRS cable. That shouldn't work...... a cheap Chinese tube amp I bought second hand for $100 a few years ago. I had earlier modded it with schottky diodes in the PS, obbligato coupling caps, and eichmann RCA jacks. I also retubed with inexpensive Soviet era EB grade NOS military tubes. I use the amp with my highly efficient vintage Altec speakers, and it sounds really good with only 8 watts.

Anyway, on the LCD-3s it sounds very good. Not as fast paced and frantic in the bass, but the high frequencies really outclasses the Mjolnir. The soundstage opens up and there is just more natural details being heard. The little tube amp really sings with the LCD-3s, adding flesh and bone to the sound, making it more like musicians performing and not a sterile electronic replica. It is not perfect, but it is very very good. Got me to start piecing together a proper PP 6v6 amp.

BTW, the little tube amp is not nearly as good driving my LCD-2.2s. Too syrupy and dark for my tastes. But with the LCD-3s, tasty indeed.

Moral of the story..... try other amps with the LCD-3s. Even ones that "shouldn't work". You might be pleasantly surprised.

Here is my review of Bakoon HPA-21: http://www.head-fi.org/t/664097/bakoon-hpa-21-headphone-amplifier-one-of-the-best

I've compaired it to BHA-1 that you have discussed.

 

Alex at Audeze likes BHA-21 too!