Senn HD 800 + Grado PS1000 or Audeze LCD-3
Aug 24, 2012 at 1:36 AM Thread Starter Post #1 of 102

Sahara

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Hi there.
 
I own a Senn HD800 + Woo Audio 2 OTL, Im very happy with this combo but now I would like to have a second pair of headphones -not to replace the Senn's just to have a complementary stetic sound-  and Im thinking in Grado PS1000 or Audeze LCD-3.
 
The new model must be driven for the WA because I want to keep it.
 
Which one is more appropiate for WA2?
Which one is closer to HD 800 in sound terms?
 
I hear jazz at 95% of the time -small group and soloists- and appreciate resolution ,wide scene, and natural sound.
 
What's the best choice for it?
 
Thank you very much
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 2:05 AM Post #2 of 102
I would choose the lcd3 mainly for it's unique and different sound sig in comparison to the HD800's/PS1000's. The grado's are somewhat of a closer sound sig to the HD800's (microdetail retrieval and brighter sound sig) which doesn't really diversify things.
 
The lcd3 are very rich sounding and musical, very black blackground being a planar and does very well with poorer recordings.
 
They would definitely compliment your HD800's better on your rig.
 
 
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Aug 24, 2012 at 3:34 AM Post #5 of 102
Quote:
I would choose the lcd3 mainly for it's unique and different sound sig in comparison to the HD800's/PS1000's. The grado's are somewhat of a closer sound sig to the HD800's (microdetail retrieval and brighter sound sig) which doesn't really diversify things.
 
The lcd3 are very rich sounding and musical, very black blackground being a planar and does very well with poorer recordings.
 
They would definitely compliment your HD800's better on your rig.
 

Thank you. I´ve read  - I dont remember where, maybe in the WA thread- the LCD-3 sounds very well with th WA2.
Do you think the 480 mW @50 Ohm of the WA2 are enought power to drive the 92 dB of LCD-3?
 
What´s the sonic diferences between Audeze LCD3  and PS 1000?
What you think about "audiophile mitho" of no convenience planars and OTL  association?
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 9:18 PM Post #7 of 102
Quote:
I think the lcd3 is a great contrast to the hd800, and they sound pretty good out of my wa2.

Agreed. The LCD-3 IMO destroys the PS1000s. It would likely sound not bad on the WA2....but both your HD800s and LCD-3s would sound fantastic on say a WA22. 
evil_smiley.gif
 buhahah.
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 9:31 PM Post #8 of 102
I would also choose the LCD3 over the PS1000. I've had them both and the LCD3 is really something special. The PS1000 isn't terrible, but it's not as good as the other flagships at representing a recording accurately.
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:39 PM Post #9 of 102
Quote:
Agreed. The LCD-3 IMO destroys the PS1000s. It would likely sound not bad on the WA2....but both your HD800s and LCD-3s would sound fantastic on say a WA22. 
evil_smiley.gif
 buhahah.


I have never owned the ps1000s, But I did audition them and I thought the rs1s sounded better. I have 2 telefunken ez80s, 2 mullard cv2492s, and 2 tung sol 5998s on my wa2 and its the best hd800 set up I have ever tried but I think I could do better with the lcd3.
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 10:42 PM Post #10 of 102
Quote:
I have never owed the ps1000s, But I did audition them and I thought the rs1s sounded better. I have 2 telefunken ez80s, 2 mullard cv2492s, and 2 tung sol 5998s on my wa2 and its the best hd800 set up I have ever tried but I think I could do better with the lcd3.

I totally agree with you on the PS1000....I still think the RS1i is the best current John Grado headphone out there. The WA2/HD800 is fantastic (so is the T1/WA2). The LCD-2/3s work surprisingly well with it too. But being OTL maybe not the most ideal. But on the tubes....you've got the best ones for the amp IMO (look oddly familiar 
smile.gif
).
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 11:00 PM Post #11 of 102
just to add to the chorus of differing opinions, i auditioned all three phones with the wa2 a couple of weeks ago. the hd800 and ps1000 impressed but the lcd3 was a disappointment. it sounded dull and lifeless.
frown.gif

 
Aug 24, 2012 at 11:07 PM Post #12 of 102
The LCD-2/3s may not audition well (a well documented point), but over time, they typically move to the top of the list. While the WA2 can be a good amp for them, they still have much more to offer with better suited and more powerful amps. FWIW, I also found Tyll's review very similar to my experiences (except I found the LCD-3s much less forgiving of poor recordings).
 
http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/spectacularly-yummy-audeze-lcd-2-and-lcd-3
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 11:17 PM Post #14 of 102
Quote:
it certainly didn't.
wink.gif
i spent quality time with all three phones in a quiet listening environment and the lcd-3 came in a very distant third on that rig.

20 minutes versus weeks in one's home with a more suitable amp might change your mind. Or not (being a W5000 fan 
wink.gif
). Good thing there are many headphones out there for most tastes.
 
Aug 24, 2012 at 11:29 PM Post #15 of 102
I don't think it's the rig. I think shimmer n roar just prefers a more treble focussed sound. The LCD3 shelves it down a bit - no secret there. The HD800 has a bit of elevated treble, especially at 6 kHz and the PS1000 has a bunch of huge peaks and valleys in the treble that can sound fun or enveloping with certain songs (but I found grating with most of my music library).
 

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