ctsooner22
1000+ Head-Fier
I went an auditioned a lot of headphones two weeks ago. I listened to the Audeze Sine with lightning cable via my phone using Tidal as well as my own Apple Lossless recordings. I listened to both EL-8's, the LCD 3, 4 and the XC's (both). I don't like the XC at all. They were harsh. I ran singled ended through the Woo DAC that was on display in the room. The 3's were very musical and the upper bass didn't bleed into the mids like some have told me they do. When putting on the 4's, it was an all new ball game, but for twice the price, there is no way they are worth it for me as I'm still a two channel speaker guy. I have an new Ayre QX5 with balance headphone amp and I want to use it. The amp is KILLER to say the least.
I also had my Noble Savants with AQ Red DAC that I use daily. The Sine's were really nice for the price and what they offer. I'd own them if I wanted a full size can for travel, but the Nobles CRUSHED them at ever step. Then it was onto the EL-8's via the Woo as well as via my phone and AQ Red. Again, the open back were the best by far (not even close to me). I heard the Titanium model. The Savants again crushed them, even in the bass region and that surprised the heck out of me. I never thought that would happen. Going into this, I really felt that the Audeze's would kill it in the bass and have a huge advantage over the Savant's and I was wrong.
I also listened to the less expensive Headfiman models and they weren't in the running for me as they too were harsh in the high end. Got to listen to the Elear also and it too was too harsh on a few recordings. It's comfortable and I wanted to like the sound much more than I did. Nice look and build. I know their market and they are going to love them. I find many things too harsh on sibilance etc... I listen to a lot of live music (Joe Bonamassa was incredible the other night!) and I know what highs sound like to me. Even when it's a 'harsh' piano, it's not fatiguing which is what I mean by harsh.
Then it was the Savant vs the LCD 3's. The 3's beat them in the bass and were fun to listen to, but their weight made them uncomfortable for me over the course of time. I do feel the Savants MORE than held their own as they were more spacious and the mids were just more musical. I didn't expect that either. I like a more neutral sound I think and that's the strong point of the Savants'. I have been told by many that a full size can will just sound better and do more than an IEM. I don't think that's true anymore, but that's not to take anything away from the full size can's. That LCD 4 was just awesome to listen to, but it's even too heavy to listen to for more than an hour or so for me.
I know I'll be getting the new Headphone Cosmic when it's released early next year. I have been told that for 1k it's already just a shade under the sound of the LCD 4. I trust the person who told me as I know how he listens to music. I guess for a headphone that costs what these all cost, I want great build, comfortable and great sound all in one. I know for similar prices I can find a speaker or two that give me that. I know this industry is all about compromises in any component. If you can handle a heavy can, like most of you can, then the Audeze 3 or 4 are great can's. I have heard the 2's in the past and enjoyed them too, but I think they may need to figure out a way to cut back the weight of these things and do it soon as others are doing that and still producing nice sound at the same time. JMHO
I also had my Noble Savants with AQ Red DAC that I use daily. The Sine's were really nice for the price and what they offer. I'd own them if I wanted a full size can for travel, but the Nobles CRUSHED them at ever step. Then it was onto the EL-8's via the Woo as well as via my phone and AQ Red. Again, the open back were the best by far (not even close to me). I heard the Titanium model. The Savants again crushed them, even in the bass region and that surprised the heck out of me. I never thought that would happen. Going into this, I really felt that the Audeze's would kill it in the bass and have a huge advantage over the Savant's and I was wrong.
I also listened to the less expensive Headfiman models and they weren't in the running for me as they too were harsh in the high end. Got to listen to the Elear also and it too was too harsh on a few recordings. It's comfortable and I wanted to like the sound much more than I did. Nice look and build. I know their market and they are going to love them. I find many things too harsh on sibilance etc... I listen to a lot of live music (Joe Bonamassa was incredible the other night!) and I know what highs sound like to me. Even when it's a 'harsh' piano, it's not fatiguing which is what I mean by harsh.
Then it was the Savant vs the LCD 3's. The 3's beat them in the bass and were fun to listen to, but their weight made them uncomfortable for me over the course of time. I do feel the Savants MORE than held their own as they were more spacious and the mids were just more musical. I didn't expect that either. I like a more neutral sound I think and that's the strong point of the Savants'. I have been told by many that a full size can will just sound better and do more than an IEM. I don't think that's true anymore, but that's not to take anything away from the full size can's. That LCD 4 was just awesome to listen to, but it's even too heavy to listen to for more than an hour or so for me.
I know I'll be getting the new Headphone Cosmic when it's released early next year. I have been told that for 1k it's already just a shade under the sound of the LCD 4. I trust the person who told me as I know how he listens to music. I guess for a headphone that costs what these all cost, I want great build, comfortable and great sound all in one. I know for similar prices I can find a speaker or two that give me that. I know this industry is all about compromises in any component. If you can handle a heavy can, like most of you can, then the Audeze 3 or 4 are great can's. I have heard the 2's in the past and enjoyed them too, but I think they may need to figure out a way to cut back the weight of these things and do it soon as others are doing that and still producing nice sound at the same time. JMHO
