Guess you found the distortion point.

What did you compare it to? I'm a huge believer in a good amp + energizer combo. My ifi iesl + Hypex NC400 monoblocks eats every Stax amp I've heard for lunch. I'd love to compare it to a KGSV, but compared to the items in the same price range, I can't imagine anything would beat it for clarity...

Awesome! Going back to the good stuff!

I do see that in the manual, checked after I commented. The manual seems more concerned about volume considerations but I eagerly await any further info you can provide! Moved back to my Emotiva a100 for now but damn it's nowhere near as clean sounding.

Wait, why? I thought there was only a lower limit? I've had mine attached to two monoblock nc400 amps delivering 200w/channel/8ohms. Am I killing something internally or the headphones or the amps doing this? I even have it in the chain to some Magnepans! Sound quality has been absurdly...

What's an SMD?

How would you describe the way they sound vs. the LCD3?

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all this! I have a few backup headphones (Stax 007mk2.5, ZMF VC and Auteur, HD800/650) and I'm not sure where the LCD3 fits anymore. It's not as musical or fast or detailed as the VC or the Stax or even the Auteur, to my taste. I figure the LCD4 might fit the bill, but I'm...

I have an LCD 3 and am curious about an upgrade path. I was eyeing the LCD4 and would love to hear your thoughts on how they differ, as you could ABX them.

What number were you before? Roundabout, if you prefer anonymity. Trying to figure out an estimation for my own order.

I wish. I don't have a VC yet. I'm still in the 50s on the list. As long as I get them before NYC canjam, I'll be able to. The Raal is next on my to-purchase list though.

Definitely give the Stax 009s and Raal SR1 a listen if you've been out a while. Maybe the LCD4 as well, see how far Planar Magnetic headphones have come too. It's a good time to be in this hobby.

The ZMF pads still got a seal, I think the bigger problem was the smaller ear opening and the double layer of fabric covering. Forgot my Auteur pads at home this morning (Stax setup is at the office because there aren't cats leaving hair everywhere here), but I do want to try it without the...

I have perforated Auteur pads, I could give it another go. They're the same thickness as the Eikon ones, but the openings are a bit bigger, more like the stock pads. I wonder how necessary that spring loaded grill thing is. Maybe I'll try removing that too.

I just put my lambskin (unperforated) Eikon pads on my 007 Mkii. The pads feel like nicer leather, have a smaller ear opening, are shallower, and include a sewn in piece of fabric that covers the middle. I attached them with the existing Stax piece with the metal rod on it. My most immediate...

I have a few different ZMF pads, I could give it a shot. The Auteur pads look very similar to stock.

That's why you gotta keep something less resolving around. At work, I've got the Emu Teak. At home, the Sendy Aiva. For when even a 24 bit FLAC file sounds like a 96mbps lossy .mp3 played underwater because the engineer was using a '76 Ford Pinto stereo to master with.

Although I don't have my VC (yet!), I can confirm that I hear it *very* clearly on the 007 and it's present, but not as obvious through the Emu Teak. And now, I will never be able to not hear it again. Thanks.

It's a parallel out. It's just to allow you to chain equipment by sending the signal through to the next piece of equipment. My DAC has only one output, so I was running RCA to my Stax energizer and then out to my headphone amp. Also, because it's passive, you don't need to have the energizer on...

This is my experience too. I get a lot of headphone time in between 9 and 10 and again between 5-7. But every so often, when I need to write or do doc review, I will forward calls to voicemail and listen for a few hours - even if only in the background. I work much better with music playing. I...

I just tell them I've got a really big lunch planned.

With this and the SR-007 at the office, I'm not sure why I need to have a home system at all anymore... I use the Pelican case to bring the Auteurs back and forth to the office, but I wouldn't do it daily, it's like a bring on Monday, leave with it on Friday kinda thing. It's wildly bulky to...

This is why I'm keeping mine at the office - I want to encourage myself to get in, haha.

That thing looks neat! I needed the loudspeaker out for the Woo Wee though and I know it's a combo that works well for the L700.

Not only did I impulse buy the MP variant, I *already* got the need-a-new-toy shakes only two weeks later and bought myself an Emotiva A100 (and Woo Wee) to replace my Schiit Magni (and Stax SRM-252s) in my office setup where I'll be using that VC-MP when it finally arrives.