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HD800 and LCD-2 rev2, or LCD-3 alone

post #1 of 51
1/21/13 at 6:03am
Thread Starter 

I currently own LCD-2 rev2 headphones and am thinking about two possible variants:

 

1) Selling the LCD-2 rev2 and replacing them with LCD-3 to get a "perfect headphone" for me

2) Keep the LCD-2 rev2 and purchase HD800 to let them completement each other since I already love LCD2

 

Amp/DAC: O2/ODAC desktop version

Music: Pop, rock, metal (no jazz, no classical, little acoustic or OST)

 

 

 

 

Have a few questions to clarify better what I need to know:

 

1) How much better HD800 is in providing 3D soundstaging? Depth is the most important factor...

2) How much better HD800 is in instrument placement with pin-point accuracy?

3) How much more forgiving LCD-3 are?

4) Which headphone is the more balanced one, more neutral?

5) Is the bass of HD800 non-existent, or only not as full as with Audezes?

 

And of course: HD800 + LCD-2 rev2 (have the best from both worlds), or LCD-3 alone (all-in-one experience)?

 

 

 

 

Thanks for suggestions! smily_headphones1.gif


Edited by RustA - 1/21/13 at 9:12am
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post #2 of 51
1/21/13 at 6:33am

For me, the choice would be to buy the HD-800

They would make a very complementary pair for different genres

Cheers

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post #3 of 51
1/21/13 at 6:36am

Given your music preferences I would recommend you skip the HD800's and consider the T1's instead.

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post #4 of 51
1/21/13 at 6:48am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigeljames View Post

Given your music preferences I would recommend you skip the HD800's and consider the T1's instead.

 

Not interested in T1, Hifiman, Grado, Stax, ... Only HD800 + LCD-2 rev2, or LCD-3.

 

3D rendering and accurate imaging is very important for me + near-to-neutral FR right now. LCD-2 rev2 are excellent and offer very balanced performance from the bottom to the top but I want to get a better spatial image. But of course, my genre preference is also important...

 

I know that HD800 are maybe not ideal for modern music... But that's why I ask whether I should get HD800, or pay the huge cost for LCD-3 when HD800 are the technically better headphone. The question is HOW MUCH BETTER HD800 are from the technical perspective over LCD-3?


Edited by RustA - 1/21/13 at 6:51am
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post #5 of 51
1/21/13 at 6:56am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jtinto View Post

For me, the choice would be to buy the HD-800

They would make a very complementary pair for different genres

Cheers

 

Valid point... I can have two headphones that will cover all the genres if I get more interested in classical. The question is if LCD-3 are "one-headphone-have-it-all" product?

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post #6 of 51
1/21/13 at 7:46am

Based on your music preference alone I would go with the LCD3. The HD800 would sound really thin and harsh with modern pop and rock. Anything Audeze would render a much more enjoyable listening experience with below par recordings. Besides you love the Audeze house sound so why change?

 

One thing though, I've read that the O2 doesn't drive the LCD3 well, you may want to look into that.

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post #7 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:01am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by beaver316 View Post

Based on your music preference alone I would go with the LCD3. The HD800 would sound really thin and harsh with modern pop and rock. Anything Audeze would render a much more enjoyable listening experience with below par recordings. Besides you love the Audeze house sound so why change?

 

One thing though, I've read that the O2 doesn't drive the LCD3 well, you may want to look into that.

 

Not interested in different amp than O2 to be honest, do not believe in those "synergy" statements... As the O2 is perfectly neutral, I will clearly hear how balanced the headphone really is to my ears.

 

The major concern with LCD-3 for me is that if they are not as good at 3D rendering as HD800 and do not offer as full-bodied experience with tight bass and stunning mids as you can get with LCD-2 rev2 then they could become a "double-fail" for me... But on the other hand, they are maybe a perfect fusion of both.


Edited by RustA - 1/21/13 at 8:02am
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post #8 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:11am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RustA View Post

 

Not interested in different amp than O2 to be honest, do not believe in those "synergy" statements... As the O2 is perfectly neutral, I will clearly hear how balanced the headphone really is to my ears.

 

The major concern with LCD-3 for me is that if they are not as good at 3D rendering as HD800 and do not offer as full-bodied experience with tight bass and stunning mids as you can get with LCD-2 rev2 then they could become a "double-fail" for me... But on the other hand, they are maybe a perfect fusion of both.

I think you need to widen your perspective a bit.

 

O2 isn't the perfect amp for everything. Not believing in synergy makes it hard recommending a headphone to you.

Which headphone is best for you? Well I can tell you one thing. HD800 out of a O2 doesn't even portay 50% of what it's capable of. Better go for the LCD-3 then.

 

But remember, I'm a biased non-O2-owner.

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post #9 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:22am

You're going to find that quite a lot of amps will measure very much the same but still have minor differences in their sound and refinement.  In the world of hi-fi, it is quite often all about the matching between the headphone's sound and amp's sound, and how this combination sounds to the user.  O2 is not the last word in amps.

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post #10 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMRaven View Post

You're going to find that quite a lot of amps will measure very much the same but still have minor differences in their sound and refinement.  In the world of hi-fi, it is quite often all about the matching between the headphone's sound and amp's sound, and how this combination sounds to the user.  O2 is not the last word in amps.

 

From the technical perspective, O2 is fully-capable of driving both LCD-3 and HD800 and as it is deadly-neutral, it is going to work equally well with both... I would rather spend 1000-2000 USD for a new pair of headphones than an amp or DAC. So could we get back to the topic, please? What do you recommend, what's your opinion?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by ValentinHogea View Post

I think you need to widen your perspective a bit.

 

O2 isn't the perfect amp for everything. Not believing in synergy makes it hard recommending a headphone to you.

Which headphone is best for you? Well I can tell you one thing. HD800 out of a O2 doesn't even portay 50% of what it's capable of. Better go for the LCD-3 then.

 

But remember, I'm a biased non-O2-owner.

 

So you have heard both headphones out of O2?


Edited by RustA - 1/21/13 at 8:32am
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post #11 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RustA View Post

 

From the technical perspective, O2 is fully-capable of driving both LCD-3 and HD800 and as it is deadly-neutral, it is going to work equally well with both... I would rather spend 1200USD for a new pair of headphones than an amp or DAC. So could we get back to the topic, please?

 

 

So you have heard both headphones out of O2?


Yup!

 

And if you're ready to buy a almost 2000 USD headphone, you should consider the fact that there may be better amps out there than O2.

 

HD800 is a tricky beast to drive correctly. Driving it with a O2 will add you to the "No bass, harsh treble"-subcategory of ex-HD800-owners. Sure LCD-3 ain't that easy either, but LCD-3 will sound more like it should out of a O2.

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post #12 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by RustA View Post

 

From the technical perspective, O2 is fully-capable of driving both LCD-3 and HD800 and as it is deadly-neutral, it is going to work equally well with both... I would rather spend 1000-2000 USD for a new pair of headphones than an amp or DAC. So could we get back to the topic, please? What do you recommend, what's your opinion?

 

 

 

 

No one is saying the O2 isn't fully capable to drive the LCD-3 and HD800.  O2 will drive both correctly, but I'm saying there's most likely lots of amps out there that'll do a better job at it, and with a more satisfying combination of sound.  I have heard the HD800 with the O2.

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post #13 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:39am

Although the LCD-3 is a great headphone, it's not the best at everything

I still think that keeping your LCD-2r2 and buying an HD-800 makes sense now and in the future when you inevitably upgrade your amp ... wink_face.gif

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post #14 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:46am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMRaven View Post

 

 

No one is saying the O2 isn't fully capable to drive the LCD-3 and HD800.  O2 will drive both correctly, but I'm saying there's most likely lots of amps out there that'll do a better job at it, and with a more satisfying combination of sound.  I have heard the HD800 with the O2.

 

And I am not saying that O2 is the best amp ever... I just want to have a final headphone setup before I decide to upgrade my amp or DAC since both works pretty impressive... The best and most neutral combination I have ever heard (so far, of course). They could cost 3x more and the price would be still fair enough in comparison to the other amps I have heard so far. smily_headphones1.gif

 

So what do you think about O2 + HD800? And what music have you listened to with this combination?

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post #15 of 51
1/21/13 at 8:48am

i love how the op is asking for suggestions and then arguing everyone of them.

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