Could use help - selling my LCD2s to get??

I just bought the LCD-2 rev.1 in the exchange and I guess they're not for me.

Maybe my high frequency hearing is damaged from work and being in my 40's but the LCD2s are just a little to warm for me.

I find the soundstage a little to intimate, too much of what I'm hearing feels right between my ears and when the music gets busy, I find that separation fails and things get a little blurred by all those low frequencies.  I just have too few "wow" moments for me for the price.  I'd love to try the Rev.2 but that's just too much right now.

Now,,,  when I put on something with few instruments like Max Richter or Eva Cassidy then these are very nice!

I have never heard instruments so lifelike from headphones.

I had headphones quite a while ago when I worked my way through the Grado lineup ending with the RS-1s.  Those blew me away.  It was my first taste of "HiFi".  Listening to the second track of P.Glass's Koyaanisqatsi when the flute comes in I could see the player's position clearly.  Less so with the LCD2s but the tone of the flute is good.

Recently I got back into this through the Denon D2000's.  I really enjoyed those but now having heard the LCDs, they sound a bit like I have cotton in my ears.  (only in comparison)

Then I got out of headphones for a standard system which ended up being phenomenal.  On Eva Cassidy, I could hear where people in the audience we sitting and could hear that, from the mic being on stage, it felt like I was watching the show from the stage rather than the tables..  weird..  I only mention this to show where I'm coming from.

This was my system:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vdone&1136790341

So.. I don't need the hyper detail or gigantic soundstage because coming from a full system, I'll never get the same effect but I am looking for something a little zippier, and a little more spacious.

I am thinking HE-500's?  Any other ideas?    I don't want to go back to Grados and can't afford to go up to something like the HD800's.   I need to do a lateral trade $$ wise or even drop down a notch and look at getting a Cypher Labs DAC.

I am currently using an O2 amp and the latest Ipod classic through a furutech LOD.

There are a set of HE-400's available in Canada so that's appealing... 

HD-700 reviews don't really look great for me but there are so many reviews about so many phones..... arrgh.

Music is pretty varied but mostly Classical.  I like to throw on some female vocals, NIN, some electronica from time to time...

but, like I said, mostly non-orchestral Classical..  Solo piano, trios, string quartets, Max Richter,  etc.

Any help or recommendations would be appreciated.  

Thanks but both the HD800 and LE-6 are well above my price range.  As I had the LCD2 r.1, I am looking at the $750 or less arena.  

Thanks.  Hmm... I was very close to buying the ESP-950's before I made the deal for the LCD2s..  Maybe I should revisit that idea.

I've often been drawn to Stax having tried them in a shop in Vancouver.  I couldn't get over that sense of space they have.  It was like a dimensional shift to put those on and have a hall inside them.  Like a TARDIS.

Commercial Electronics.  Downstairs in the basement next to all the used gear was the Stax.  They had about 4 sets..  The Omega's blew me away.

Hmm.. They used to be on Burrard just across the bridge but that was about 6-7 years ago. It looks like they've moved to West 7th so maybe they don't have them anymore.  

Quote:

Originally Posted by MalVeauX 

Heya,

 

Based on what you're describing, look into:

 

Denon D7000 (used $600ish)

Hifiman HE-5LE

Beyer DT880

Beyer T1 (used ~750~850)

Sennheiser HD600

Ultrasone PRO 2900

 

Very best,

Thanks!

I did own the HD600s back when I had the Grado RS1s.

I am very interested in the HE-5LE but wonder about the power needed.  Not sure if my little O2 will power them.

From my reading, I doubt the D7000 would suit my tastes though I did enjoy the D2000s.

I'll look up the others more closely.   I appreciate the recommendations.

Thanks but the HD800 costs too much.  I like the look of the Beyer T1..  Gonna read some more reviews about that one.