Would you get the HD800 for $1500, the HE-6 for $1500 or the LCD-2 for $1600? (Bought the HE-500)

Owning the HE-6, I'd buy it again without qualms. I've heard the LCD-3, but not the LCD2 or the HD800. I want to.

Haven't voted yet but that is a bummer about the LCD-2 being more expensive than the HD800.  Without that piece of info I would not hesitate in recommending the LCD-2 + Lyr combination.  Haven't heard the HE-6 or HD800 but they may fulfill your quest for a brighter sound.  The LCD-2 will be brighter than the HD650 so it depends on how much brighter you want to go.  People say the HD-800 pairs well with tube amps.

Tough call here.  The LCD-2 is a solid headphone.  Is it a $1600 headphone?  No.  On principle I would almost have to go with one of the others because of the lack of markup on the original price.

Is there anyway you can get to hear a HD-800 at a local shop?  By process of elimination, if you like the HD800 then you know what you are getting upon purchase and can forget about the HE-6 because you will not have heard one so you don't know if you'll like it.  If don't like the HD800 and you don't way to pay the markup on the LCD-2 then you are left with the HE-6.  Read up on the reviews of the HE-6 + Lyr.

Are you considering anything else like HE-500 or other flagship headphones?

I voted the LCD-2, I just like it better than the HD800 or HE6 at any price, though of course it might not be for you.

Na man, you should get the Ultrasone edition 10s. Great synergy with the fiio and macbook.

Oh he will like it, the LCD-2 is a killer headphone with the Lyr.  It's just paying $1600 rather than the $950 we pay in the US is a huge turn off.  Damn import taxes.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by idletime1213 

I voted the LCD-2, I just like it better than the HD800 or HE6 at any price, though of course it might not be for you.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidgotsa 

I'm not going to buy anything right now, but I will in the pretty near future so I was just wondering what you guys thought about this. 

 

Where I live the LCD-2 is actually $100 more expensive than the HD800 and the HE-6. I might also add that the HD700 will be $960 so that is also an option but we don't know how they will sound yet so I'll see about them later. 

 

All the prices are with taxes and everything included. The headphones are all new.

 

From what I've read many people prefer the LCD-2 over the HD800 but I thought that maybe the price affected that choice. 

 

If it affects your choice, I will be getting the Schiit Lyr soon so I'll use them with that. 

 

1) Which one would you choose and why?

 

2) If I was looking for cans that were a little bit brighter than the HD650's would that change your answer on the first question?

 

Thanks in advance. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by flaming_june 

Na man, you should get the Ultrasone edition 10s. Great synergy with the fiio and macbook.

Maybe, just maybe reading the entire post before responding?

The HE-500 will give you an idea of what the LCD-2 will sound like.

To be fair, I've only owned the HD-650, LCD-2 and HE-500 and some other lower tier headphones.  None of the other flagships.  

Take your time and go through these threads, especially the Lyr thread and Lyr tube rolling thread.  Post to the Lyr thread about headphones you are considering like HE-6 and HD800.  I can tell you the Lyr and LCD-2 were fantastic.  Many people in the Lyr thread own the LCD-2 and for a good reason.  The bass will be extended and well controlled on the LCD-2.  LCD-2 has great attack, speed, and imaging.  However, based on reading, the HE-6 and HD800 will have larger soundstage.  I didn't find the LCD-2 soundstage to be bad, some people like more, it was plenty for me.  Each headphone has its compromises so you'll have to prioritize.

LCD-2 - palpable midrange, bass with great impact, excellent transients

If you can get a used one or somehow new around $1000 then that personally would be my choice.  However, $1600 is not something I would pay even if my budget was $1600 for headphones.  That's just me not paying more than what it selling for in other countries.  If money was no problem, ok, $1600 it is.  Even $1000-1200 I might change my tune, but $1600.  Nope.

Quote:

Originally Posted by davidgotsa 

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it. 

 

Well to be honest I haven't really thought about other headphones as much but maybe I should give some Denons a listen. Or maybe you can suggest some other brands? 

 

When I say brighter I mean just a little bit brighter. I have the SR80i's and they are too bright for example. I would also like a pretty big soundstage as people call it. The bass doesn't have to be emphasized but needs to be clean and accurate, I suppose all of those will offer that though. 

 

I live in quite a small city so I would have to travel by train to the nearest hi-fi store but it might be worth it. 

 

I just visited their website and apparently they do have both the HD800 and HE-6 that I can try out. They also have HE-500 so I will probably give that a listen if I ever go there. 

 

The thing is I've heard so many nice things about those LCD-2s but the price seems kinda crazy. Maybe I'll get to listen to a pair and if I like them I could possibly order them from the States, with all the import taxes and whatnot, it would still be cheaper than $1600. 
 

 

Agreed, I'm still formulating my opinion about the HE-500 but it is more similar to the LCD-2 rev2 than it is different. That's my opinion.  Some people may feel they are worlds apart but I like both orthos.  At $700 the HE-500 is a better value than a $1600 LCD-2.  At the same price, then it is a tougher decision that will depend on the type of music one listens to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by idletime1213 

The HE-500 will give you an idea of what the LCD-2 will sound like.

What about the HE-500? Will probably be on par if not better than the HE-6 out of a Lyr.