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I need a perfectly flat headphone amp

post #1 of 11
10/4/12 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 

I've been looking around for information on this matter, and nothing has turned up, probably because its an odd or obvious question: is it normal for headphone amps to have a totally flat frequency response, or do most tend to add some flavor to certain frequency ranges.

Anyway, I need an absolutely pancake flat (in terms of freq response) amp for my LCD-2s for under $250!

Thanks Head-Fier's

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post #2 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:08pm

I may be incorrect, but isn't that what the O2 is designed to be?

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post #3 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:11pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverS View Post

I've been looking around for information on this matter, and nothing has turned up, probably because its an odd or obvious question: is it normal for headphone amps to have a totally flat frequency response, or do most tend to add some flavor to certain frequency ranges.

Anyway, I need an absolutely pancake flat (in terms of freq response) amp for my LCD-2s for under $250!

Thanks Head-Fier's

 

Usually solid state amps are designed to be flat.

Under 250, the O2 seems like a good option.

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post #4 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:17pm
Virtually every solid state headphone amp is desgned to be flat.
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post #5 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:21pm
Thread Starter 

Well, then which solid state amp will offer the most clarity for $250~

The LCD-2s are pretty revealing so I wanna pair them with the best amp that I can

also looking at the O2, it's really nice, just wanna make sure there isn't an alternative before buying


Edited by SilverS - 10/4/12 at 7:24pm
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post #6 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverS View Post

Well, then which solid state amp will offer the most clarity for $250~

The LCD-2s are pretty revealing so I wanna pair them with the best amp that I can

also looking at the O2, it's really nice, just wanna make sure there isn't an alternative before buying

 

The O2 itself is transparent, so it'll give you whatever the source does. What're you going to be using it with?

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post #7 of 11
10/4/12 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 

Peachtree Audio DAC-iT

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post #8 of 11
10/4/12 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverS View Post

Well, then which solid state amp will offer the most clarity for $250~

The LCD-2s are pretty revealing so I wanna pair them with the best amp that I can

also looking at the O2, it's really nice, just wanna make sure there isn't an alternative before buying

 

Not only is the O2 designed to be flat, it is measurably flat within its design limits.

 

The question is whether the LCD-2 really is within that amp's limits. I think the powering the HE-500 was a design goal not quite met by the final product. Is the LCD-2 another low-impedance, high-current headphone?

 

I'd check that carefully before buying an O2 for a planar. I think the idea of the O2 is absolutely astounding, but it's designed for "98%" of headphones. The $995 LCD-3 may be part of the "other 2%".

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post #9 of 11
10/4/12 at 8:53pm

Then O2 should drive the LCD2 fine. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/495631/amp-recommendations-for-audeze-lcd-2/4815

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post #10 of 11
10/4/12 at 10:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tzjin View Post

Then O2 should drive the LCD2 fine. 

http://www.head-fi.org/t/495631/amp-recommendations-for-audeze-lcd-2/4815

 

Sounds good.

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post #11 of 11
10/9/12 at 8:15pm
Thread Starter 

I got my O2 in the mail today this thing is incredible! Really lets every little detail through crystal clear, thank you everyone who recommended it. I will say it lacks the luster and warmth of my tube amp (obviously), but its so clean I can't believe what I'm hearing, love it! o2smile.gif

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