LCD-2 Rev 2 vs T1 comparison Round 1 (very brief break down)
Just had the most epic (portable) comparison testing session with the T1's and LCD-2's. Same tracks, same source, same interconnects, just a different portable amp for each (O2 for the LCD-2 and Continental for the T1). The O2 I felt had a touch more (defined) bass and clarity with the LCD-2 and the T1 a touch more bass, warmth and smoothness with the Continental. LCD-2's with the Continental were a touch too dark and bassy for me, but on the T1's I think they work wonderfully. Similarly, the T1's are a tad too sterile and less bassy with the O2 (just a touch mind, mainly sub bass).
In any case, I'll go in to more detail later in a separate thread. But after a few hours direct A/B'ing (as in, with a seconds gap between comparisons, over, and over, and over again lol, with dozens and dozens of tracks played exactly the same time). Not just me either, I used my brother in law and sister and we all pretty much came to the conclusions (almost) even before inferring with each other.
I think the T1's are my preferred can. Long story short, they are just a lot better at imaging and staging. They are a fair bit more three dimensional and actually cleaner. The area where the LCD-2's excel, predictably, is bass (sub bass that is, mid bass they are almost the same, T1's actually being slightly more detailed in the mid bass). Like I said, I'll detail specifics later (I have a fair bit to write), but if you listen to mainly Hip Hop or RnB exclusively, go LCD-2. If you listen to acoustic, instrumental, classical, pop, alternative rock etc, go T1. It's not that the T1's are bad with Hip Hop or RnB, they're great, but they just lack the sub bass oomph, which the LCD-2's offer and then some (but never unrefined or bloated). However, with other genre's of music, the LCD-2's bass sometimes becomes a bit of a hinderance, and instead clouds up detailing somewhat (the size of the soundstage and instrument/vocal positioning might have something to do with it too). Though the bass and thickness of sound does have benefits elsewhere, just as the T1's have pluses and minuses too.
I reserve final judgement till I've done a similar comparison with a desktop rig, but for now, the T1's edge it out (handily in some respects). Though I do love the bass of the LCD-2's, and the sometimes more realistic (not always) sound signature. Thing is, the LCD-2's have more to get done to be the 'perfect' can compared to the T1's, which imo, only need some more sub bass (mid bass is excellent), and maybe 5-10% smoother high's to reach that ideal near perfect balance.
