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Battle Of The Flagships (57 Headphones Compared) UPDATE: Ultimate Ears UERM added (4/14/13) - Page 52

post #766 of 3817
11/11/12 at 7:26am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by joebobbilly View Post

Hi David,

 

Yea... after reading some select portions of this... Have to say... might be considering the HE-500s in the future as an upgrade.  Currently loving the HD 650s... but would you recommend saving to scale up my HD650s (perhaps to balanced?) or would it be better to try out saving for HE-500?

 

Regards and again, THANKS FOR YOUR DEDICATION!!!  Killer review.
 

I can't be sure which you'll prefer, but I can tell you that (assuming you already have an amp to power the HD650), nothing you can do it will make it sound as sonically different as the HE-500 will sound straight out of the box.  So it's a matter of whether you want to really concentrate on enhancing one type of sound signature that you love OR if you are looking to have a varied sound signature.

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post #767 of 3817
11/11/12 at 7:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMRaven View Post

Just took that pitch perception test.  Got a .7875 average and the lowest it went down for me before I messed up at one point was .0 something, under .1.

 

I blame my HE-400 for having too much distortion in the low mids.  biggrin.gif

Take it again at a lower volume level maybe :)

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post #768 of 3817
11/11/12 at 9:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rgs9200m View Post


Get the LCD3s. Mine have only improved with more time on them. I just had a great session with them yesterday. (I have HD800s too.)

 

I've seen a few posts now saying exactly the opposite. The sound has degraded over time.

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post #769 of 3817
11/11/12 at 9:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DavidMahler View Post

Take it again at a lower volume level maybe :)

 

Nah I was listening at a pretty low level.  Maybe around 75db.

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post #770 of 3817
11/11/12 at 10:00am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shahrose View Post

 

I've seen a few posts now saying exactly the opposite. The sound has degraded over time.

Yes, I saw those posts too, and I was just about to pull the trigger on a pair.

I am starting to think I should wait for the Audeze closed phones to be released before deciding, cuz I'm not a fan of bright and unforgiving, and the HD800's tend that way from what I have read.......decisions decisions 


Edited by Soned - 11/11/12 at 10:01am
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post #771 of 3817
11/11/12 at 1:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Soned View Post

Yes, I saw those posts too, and I was just about to pull the trigger on a pair.

I am starting to think I should wait for the Audeze closed phones to be released before deciding, cuz I'm not a fan of bright and unforgiving, and the HD800's tend that way from what I have read.......decisions decisions 

 

I think you should try LCD-2 rev2... You can even get both LCD-2 and HD800 for the price of LCD-3. You should definitely not spend 2000 dollars for headphones you are not PERFECTLY sure of.

 

I haven't heard LCD-3 but there doesn't seem to be a person on this planet who things LCD-3 are 100% worth 1000 dollars extra in comparison with LCD-2 rev2 (or do anyone really thing LCD-3 are 2x better than LCD-2?). With angled connectors and revised pads on LCD-2, I don't see a point in purchasing LCD-3 really.


Edited by MHOE - 11/11/12 at 1:33pm
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post #772 of 3817
11/11/12 at 2:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MHOE View Post

 

I think you should try LCD-2 rev2... You can even get both LCD-2 and HD800 for the price of LCD-3. You should definitely not spend 2000 dollars for headphones you are not PERFECTLY sure of.

 

I haven't heard LCD-3 but there doesn't seem to be a person on this planet who things LCD-3 are 100% worth 1000 dollars extra in comparison with LCD-2 rev2 (or do anyone really thing LCD-3 are 2x better than LCD-2?). With angled connectors and revised pads on LCD-2, I don't see a point in purchasing LCD-3 really.

Not a bad idea.I have been intrigued by the many who say the Audeze and Liquid Fire is a marriage made in heaven , that could be the way to go.I really do want a pair that is a definite step up from my T1's though 

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post #773 of 3817
11/11/12 at 3:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MHOE View Post

 

I think you should try LCD-2 rev2... You can even get both LCD-2 and HD800 for the price of LCD-3. You should definitely not spend 2000 dollars for headphones you are not PERFECTLY sure of.

 

I haven't heard LCD-3 but there doesn't seem to be a person on this planet who things LCD-3 are 100% worth 1000 dollars extra in comparison with LCD-2 rev2 (or do anyone really thing LCD-3 are 2x better than LCD-2?). With angled connectors and revised pads on LCD-2, I don't see a point in purchasing LCD-3 really.

I don't think they are worth twice the price, but I find them more than twice as good for their versatility and tonal balance. I find the shelving of treble in the lcd-2 to be somewhat flawed (less so on the rev3's) making the lcd2 is just too dark for me.

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post #774 of 3817
11/11/12 at 3:21pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Soned View Post

Not a bad idea.I have been intrigued by the many who say the Audeze and Liquid Fire is a marriage made in heaven , that could be the way to go.I really do want a pair that is a definite step up from my T1's though 

 

"A definite step up" is very tricky to assess... It depends on what you are looking for.

 

I am looking for perfect fidelity and therefore I use O2 w/ ODAC, both working flawlessly in this area. It has been proved by measurements available to anyone. Having an option to change gain resistors anytime I want gives me an opportunity to calculate and use the best gain for any headphone in my inventory).

 

Also, I am waiting for my Audeze LCD-2 rev2 to achieve close-to-real-life performance for affordable money (these are the best cans for this because of their flat bass and mids response and so you only need to adjust treble a bit using the graph which is unique to every single pair), This way, I will listen to my music exclusively, not to my gear. This is what I want from my gear.

 

So my advice would definitely be to get Audeze... Not only because of things mentioned above but also for their versatility as they are much easier to drive than HD800 and should offer better performance in terms of realistic sound. But anyone expects different things from their phones, you know.

 

My opinion on the article is that the author has a preference in enhanced treble for sure... He prefers HD600 over HD650, HE500 over LCD-2, HD800 over LCD-3 etc... Maybe you do as well. Maybe you do not. But it is an important factor if you are going to decide between HD800 and LCD-2/3. Closed Audeze are not going to be as good as their open-back variants in terms of fidelity I guess.


Edited by MHOE - 11/11/12 at 3:24pm
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post #775 of 3817
11/11/12 at 3:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by dleblanc343 View Post

I don't think they are worth twice the price, but I find them more than twice as good for their versatility and tonal balance. I find the shelving of treble in the lcd-2 to be somewhat flawed (less so on the rev3's) making the lcd2 is just too dark for me.

 

Twice as good for their versatility and tonal balance? Explain please.

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post #776 of 3817
11/11/12 at 5:01pm

Why no Koss ESP-950 in the battle? Some say it's equal to HD800 .. 

 

I don't understand why those phone are always put aside.. 

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post #777 of 3817
11/11/12 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Audiolic View Post

Why no Koss ESP-950 in the battle? Some say it's equal to HD800 .. 

 

I don't understand why those phone are always put aside.. 

i didn't really put it aside, I just don't have it yet.  It will be there though :)

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post #778 of 3817
11/11/12 at 5:31pm

I recently purchased a pair of HiFiMan HE-5LE's mostly because of (a) cost and (b) not wanting to connect a pair of headphones to my speaker terminals. I am very pleased with them running through ten feet of Moon Audio Silver Dragon cable into a Woo WA22 with "Fifty Year(s) Treasure" driver tubes. The sound is warm but, like my LCD-2's, very smooth and dynamic. As much as I love my Black Dragon T1's--and I do love them--I do believe they are bright whereas the HiFiMan and the Audeze are more neutral. I also have some AKG K701's with about 15 feet of Audio Note AN-SPx speaker cables on them and while they image very well and have an excellent soundstage, I think the T1's sound closer to my speakers.

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post #779 of 3817
11/11/12 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MHOE View Post

 

"A definite step up" is very tricky to assess... It depends on what you are looking for.

 

I am looking for perfect fidelity and therefore I use O2 w/ ODAC, both working flawlessly in this area. It has been proved by measurements available to anyone. Having an option to change gain resistors anytime I want gives me an opportunity to calculate and use the best gain for any headphone in my inventory).

 

Also, I am waiting for my Audeze LCD-2 rev2 to achieve close-to-real-life performance for affordable money (these are the best cans for this because of their flat bass and mids response and so you only need to adjust treble a bit using the graph which is unique to every single pair), This way, I will listen to my music exclusively, not to my gear. This is what I want from my gear.

 

So my advice would definitely be to get Audeze... Not only because of things mentioned above but also for their versatility as they are much easier to drive than HD800 and should offer better performance in terms of realistic sound. But anyone expects different things from their phones, you know.

 

My opinion on the article is that the author has a preference in enhanced treble for sure... He prefers HD600 over HD650, HE500 over LCD-2, HD800 over LCD-3 etc... Maybe you do as well. Maybe you do not. But it is an important factor if you are going to decide between HD800 and LCD-2/3. Closed Audeze are not going to be as good as their open-back variants in terms of fidelity I guess.

Saying "step up" from my T1's was harsh , I really enjoy them.I actually meant I was looking for a different sound signature , to compliment the T1's ,.Kinda like Surf and Turf beerchug.gif

Maybe rev2 and a snappy aftermarket cable is the way to go

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post #780 of 3817
11/11/12 at 11:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MHOE View Post

 

Twice as good for their versatility and tonal balance? Explain please.

To most people, the lcd-3 is just a slight upgrade, but to me, the fact that it almost nails a more balanced sound while keeping a warmish tone with a natural frequency response makes them much more impressive than the lcd-2. Sometimes the little things really make a big difference. Yes, the lcd-3 are still on the warmer side of things, and don't really compete with the HE-6 or HD800 in terms of resolution and soundstaging; but they are very forgiving, and oftentimes portray more vocal emotion and sub-like bass without over-doing it (something the lcd-2's do too often with their more prominent bass)

 

To my ear, the lcd-2 sound a bit too boxed in, kind of like a night club's sound system (something that I am very used to). The lcd-3 open up and have more depth, which really help me appreciate the music more. It may not have the same openess as the HE-6 (properly amped) and HD-800's which are significantly airier, recreating the concert hall or recording studio more accurately; but it's pretty darn good. The lcd-3 makes up for it with it's smooth sound/lushness and emotion, and the bass and lower mids are a bit more forward bringing out vocals and good amounts of detail from the lower registers; but not overwhelmingly so.

 

Now if were to price current planars, it would go like this LCD-3 1300$, HE-6 - 1200$ (not the same quality in materials), LCD-2 - 750$ and HE-500 - 700$ (best value flagship in my opinion as well)

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