LCD-3 / HD-800 amp - Page 11

That's probably because most stat amps you'll hear are generally good. Very different from the sea of dynamic amps.

 

The HD800 is also super revealing.  Much easier to tell amps apart with it than say an LCD-3.

 

Just something to consider.  The HD800s are certainly not as flat in this regard as orthos. 

 

 

  

Edited by MacedonianHero - 2/16/13 at 10:14pm

Yes, based on the impedance curve you should hear differences with wildly different output impedance.

 

But you'll also hear differences between two amps with outs that measure very close on output impedance. These differences are not always as readily apparent with headphones like the LCD-3.

Have a look at how linear the ortho is vs. the wild swings of the HD800s wrt frequency. I would most certainly expect the non- ortho to be more dependent on amp.

Otherwise we'd be telling headphone manufacturer's to please go ahead and design headphone transducers with wild impedance swings vs. frequency so that we need to scour the earth to find proper amps to drive them and in turn we'll say that your transducers are "more revealing" of amping. I think in this case we're talking about the nature of orthos (flat impedance vs. frequency) as a bad thing here and I think its actually a strength.

Now when swapping sources/DACs, both the LCD-3 and HD800 are very close with regards detecting upstream changes. IMO of course.
Edited by MacedonianHero - 2/17/13 at 7:30am

In this case it seems MO is different than YO.  I hear better micro-detail with the HD800 that is present with some amps and not others, and source changes are also more easily detectable for me.  I still enjoy the my LCD-3 more overall.

 

DSFDF and all that stuff.

I actually agree with you here.  I'm just attributing it to the significantly less flat HD800's drivers (with respect to impedance vs. frequency) for being more difficult to pair with a proper amp. Orthos on the other hand do not have this issue are are all relatively flat....thus easier to pair with upstream amps (just as long as they bring good clean power and current).

Whoa!!  It will be great to read your listening impressions!

Glad to hear it. You won't regret it.

 

 

Radio_Head (we've talked before), you may be able to offer a helpful opinion or two. I have the SR-507 and the LCD-2R2. One is super revealing, transparent and detailed, but maybe a bit sterile sounding, or at least intolerant of poor material. The other is maybe the most fun headphone I have yet heard: sweet, dynamic and punchy, but also pervasively colored. So now I am thinking, what is the best way to find the Goldilocks Zone, the sweet spot in between these sounds and virtues: Omega 2/Mk. 1; LCD-3; HD-800 with careful system tailoring. I want it all, but I want both my kidneys, so the SR-009 is not an option. :) 

To get the best out of an O2 mk1 you'll need at least an Electra if not a BHSE. Scratch one kidney.

 

Fostex TH900?

 

Oh, Noooooo... (What's the matter, Mr. Bill?)

 

Thanks for the idea, Asr, but I have never liked closed headphones.