Finally was able to obtain the LCD-2. Was it everything I expected? Absolutely and then some. They arrived in a plain box, and inside cradled in foam is the heavy duty hard case. On the left of the case is a slot for a lock. On the front looks like a pressure relief valve. The latches have a button on each one to flip them up and close them. Opening the case up one can see a pretty nice gasket. In the center sits the LCD2, below them is where the cable and warranty cards sit. When you take the LCD2 out, wow they’re big and heavy. The heft and size comes from the giant 106mm which has magnets on both sides (12 per driver), not to mention the heavy duty headband. So its a good heavy, but heavy nonetheless. If youre coming from light headphones, or just iems, I would recommend starting with short listening sessions then gradually increasing time to build tolerance to their weight. The ear cushions are huge and cushy, finished in real leather. They cradle the head well, and are very cozy. These have significant clamping force, which I like, however for some it may be too much. Problems can start to show after a time if one is wearing glasses. However the sound from these can help you forget the weight and clamping. Cable is a nice and heavy braided mini-xlr on one end, 1/4 inch jack on the other. Cable feels robust, and solid.
Sound from these is.... how do I describe it..... immaculate. Largely what you get from them depends on the song. While I would not call these analytical, they can be quite analytical. Everything in a song is known, good, and the bad. Currently 8 hours total on them.
Bass can slam, can go low and rumble. To the point you can feel it. These are not basshead cans tho, they will not bloat the bass. If it is there in the song, you’ll get it. If the song calls for a walloping of bass, they’ll rattle your teeth. They’ll deliver it without muddying the wonderful mids or drowning out treble
The mids and vocals are the best I’ve ever heard. Clear and crisp. They handle female vocals and male vocals equally well. They dont favor one or the other. Vocalists with voices that some headphones present as screechy, peaky, hollow or dull on the LCD-2 is alive, energetic and accurate.
Treble is crystal clear, no fuzziness, no screechy artifacts, or anything harsh. Treble to me is pleasant, engaging.
Now onto amping. So far Ive ran these direct from the iphone, a creative e5, a little bear b4-x, and a little dot mk2. Surprisingly direct from the iphone the LCD-2 works amazingly. Nice holographic sound stage, deep tight bass, excellent vocals (this thing shines in vocals), and well formed treble.
The B4-X was disappointing, bass went light, and everything seemed congested, treble became a bit murky. Vocals remained spot on however. Not sure if the LCD didnt like the amp, or the amp didnt like the LCD.
The Creative E5 with SBX off sounds the same as the iphone, with bigger bass. However it was adding this weird wishy washy shimmer to the treble. Not sure if that was always there and the LCD’s are picking it up, or if the two dont like each other.
The Little Dot mk2 is the current winner of the amps I tested. It is pretty much like when driven direct from the iphone except more nuances appear, soundstage opens up more, plus none of that weird shimmer the E5 had. Vocals are as alive as ever.
Sound from these is.... how do I describe it..... immaculate. Largely what you get from them depends on the song. While I would not call these analytical, they can be quite analytical. Everything in a song is known, good, and the bad. Currently 8 hours total on them.
Bass can slam, can go low and rumble. To the point you can feel it. These are not basshead cans tho, they will not bloat the bass. If it is there in the song, you’ll get it. If the song calls for a walloping of bass, they’ll rattle your teeth. They’ll deliver it without muddying the wonderful mids or drowning out treble
The mids and vocals are the best I’ve ever heard. Clear and crisp. They handle female vocals and male vocals equally well. They dont favor one or the other. Vocalists with voices that some headphones present as screechy, peaky, hollow or dull on the LCD-2 is alive, energetic and accurate.
Treble is crystal clear, no fuzziness, no screechy artifacts, or anything harsh. Treble to me is pleasant, engaging.
Now onto amping. So far Ive ran these direct from the iphone, a creative e5, a little bear b4-x, and a little dot mk2. Surprisingly direct from the iphone the LCD-2 works amazingly. Nice holographic sound stage, deep tight bass, excellent vocals (this thing shines in vocals), and well formed treble.
The B4-X was disappointing, bass went light, and everything seemed congested, treble became a bit murky. Vocals remained spot on however. Not sure if the LCD didnt like the amp, or the amp didnt like the LCD.
The Creative E5 with SBX off sounds the same as the iphone, with bigger bass. However it was adding this weird wishy washy shimmer to the treble. Not sure if that was always there and the LCD’s are picking it up, or if the two dont like each other.
The Little Dot mk2 is the current winner of the amps I tested. It is pretty much like when driven direct from the iphone except more nuances appear, soundstage opens up more, plus none of that weird shimmer the E5 had. Vocals are as alive as ever.