Starter Setup Needed- ~$2000 to spend

My highest recommendations would be this:

http://www.headphone.com/packages/serious-audiophile-package.php

Is is a package at Headphone.com that I personally think will be the best option for your $2k.  The LCD-2 is a great headphone, but not worth the $950.  My reasoning is this.  The frequency response is so flat that most of the music you listen to on a day to day basic will sound somewhat dry and lifeless.  Over time this becomes troublesome as most of tend to listen to music for the joy of it and not analyze every bit of the sound stage.  The "Serious Audiophile Package: from Headphone.com is probably one of the finest setups I have listened to.  They do offer it with the AKG-701 headphones, but other headphones can be combined as mentioned in the link.  I suggest the AKG-701 if you like a slightly dry and analytical sound whereas the Denon AH-D2000 would be my suggestion for fun an immersive listening.  I have personally listened to this setup for many days and being fed via USB the Ultra Desktop Amp/DAC does an amazing job.

I can say with absolute certainty that the package mentioned above paired up with the AKG-701 and Denon AH-D2000 is an amazing and pleasurable experience.  This package used with a pair of Grado SR-325i's is also amazing.  I still suggest the AKG-701 and Denon over the Grado.

Please let us know what you decide on and how you like it.

Best of luck.

i had LCD2 with Peachtree Nova.

they were pretty good, via usb.

LCD-2 and Apex Audio Arete (if you have a source already) or Butte (if you don't. Still $500 left for a source). Hard to do any better for under 2k!

Quote:

Originally Posted by NA Blur 

 

The LCD-2 is a great headphone, but not worth the $950.  My reasoning is this.  The frequency response is so flat that most of the music you listen to on a day to day basic will sound somewhat dry and lifeless.  Over time this becomes troublesome as most of tend to listen to music for the joy of it and not analyze every bit of the sound stage. 

Have you heard the lcd2? Dry and lifeless would be the last way I would describe them.

I would go LCD-2 rev2 with a Schiit LYR and Bifrost combo, with the money left pick a nice pair of tubes and you're good to go.

Because of some bad performance of the Lyr (switch on "plop", background noise, etc.) I wouldn't not recommend this amp.

I would go with a Violectric V200 or a woo amp.

I never had any problem with my LYR when I had it and it was comparing very nicely to some much much more amps I owned, namely the RWA Audeze edition, was it as good...no...obviously no! but for the price for money I haven't found a better match for the LCD-2 yet.

Do you already own a good source?

If you like music with bass and beats, an LCD-2 and Burson 160-DS/D setup would be really hard to beat imo.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NA Blur 

Is is a package at Headphone.com that I personally think will be the best option for your $2k.  The LCD-2 is a great headphone, but not worth the $950.  My reasoning is this.  The frequency response is so flat that most of the music you listen to on a day to day basic will sound somewhat dry and lifeless.  Over time this becomes troublesome as most of tend to listen to music for the joy of it and not analyze every bit of the sound stage.  The "Serious Audiophile Package: from Headphone.com is probably one of the finest setups I have listened to.  They do offer it with the AKG-701 headphones, but other headphones can be combined as mentioned in the link.  I suggest the AKG-701 if you like a slightly dry and analytical sound whereas the Denon AH-D2000 would be my suggestion for fun an immersive listening.  I have personally listened to this setup for many days and being fed via USB the Ultra Desktop Amp/DAC does an amazing job.

I find it hard to describe the LCD-2s FR to be flat.  There is an obvious tilt towards the low end with shelved treble.  Inferior to the HE-6, yes, but lifeless, no.  Have a super nice source and amp the hell of the 701s if you want, but it still can't compete with an LCD-2 out of meh dac/amp.

Back to the OP, if you feel convinced the LCD-2 is right for you, then go for it.  It is a pretty damn good headphone.  These amps we have shown you aren't speakers amps but they are headphone amps.  You will definitely need a real amp and a real DAC if you want the LCD-2 to sound properly good.  LCD-2 are pretty power hungry so do strive for a decently powerful amp.  A real DAC is also super important as the soundcard in your computer is crap.  Pretty much any on board sound is just plain garbage.  The gear you will need to buy will be a bit bulky but they do the jobs they are supposed to do!

I really recommend buying used gear from the For Sale section.  You save a lot of money - or in your case - you get to buy better quality gear at a price that would normally be unattainable at the suggested retail price.  Most headfiers are honest with the sales and inherently take care of their gear very well.  If there are any issues, they will probably be mentioned so buy with ease.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dyl1dyl 

If you like music with bass and beats, an LCD-2 and Burson 160-DS/D setup would be really hard to beat imo.

My recommendation exactly. It's hard to get a better DAC>Amp>Headphone trio for the same amount of money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ohhgourami 

I find it hard to describe the LCD-2s FR to be flat.  There is an obvious tilt towards the low end with shelved treble.  Inferior to the HE-6, yes, but lifeless, no.  Have a super nice source and amp the hell of the 701s if you want, but it still can't compete with an LCD-2 out of meh dac/amp.

 

Back to the OP, if you feel convinced the LCD-2 is right for you, then go for it.  It is a pretty damn good headphone.  These amps we have shown you aren't speakers amps but they are headphone amps.  You will definitely need a real amp and a real DAC if you want the LCD-2 to sound properly good.  LCD-2 are pretty power hungry so do strive for a decently powerful amp.  A real DAC is also super important as the soundcard in your computer is crap.  Pretty much any on board sound is just plain garbage.  The gear you will need to buy will be a bit bulky but they do the jobs they are supposed to do!

 

I really recommend buying used gear from the For Sale section.  You save a lot of money - or in your case - you get to buy better quality gear at a price that would normally be unattainable at the suggested retail price.  Most headfiers are honest with the sales and inherently take care of their gear very well.  If there are any issues, they will probably be mentioned so buy with ease.

Agree

For a specific setup, I'd get:

Parasound source -> Dynahi -> LCD2r2 if going the Audeze route for 2k.