[aarontyson]

 
Not required with LC. SE input will have both SE and balanced output 

Understood but if you want to use your headphones in another source/amp thats not the LC and only has SE... You will need an extra cable that goes from XLR to 1/4" or 3.5mm.

 

[hemtmaker]

Not required with LC. SE input will have both SE and balanced output 

As far as I know only the RCA single input can have balanced output

 

[aarontyson]

As far as I know only the RCA single input can have balanced output

I think we are talking about output to headphones and not source inputs.

 

[hemtmaker]

I think we are talking about output to headphones and not source inputs.

Okay... so one can use XLR to headphone in SE mode with carbon?

 

[aarontyson]

Okay... so one can use XLR to headphone in SE mode with carbon?

With an adapter cable.

 

[Barry S]

   
Well to be fair, if you don't have a soldering station, solder, snips, helping hands, etc already, it's going to cost quite a bit to reterminate that cable.  But if you do have that stuff, soldering a 4-pin XLR is easy mode.

 
I'd be happy to help out people that don't have soldering supplies by reterminating cables for a very nominal cost.
 
 

   
Well you do need to choose between a sandwich or a reterminated cable, and if the sandwich is from Potbelly, that's a really hard choice! 

 
Mmmmmm, Potbelly. 

 

[MattTCG]

I'd vouch for Barry. He does good work and often can be bought for beer money

 

[ksb643]

I would be interested! 

 

[Barry S]

I'd vouch for Barry. He does good work and often can be bought for beer money

 
Thanks Matt! 
 
Not trying to run a business, but happy to help out fellow head-fiers.

  I would be interested! 

 
PM me and we can work out the details.

 

[zerodeefex]

Big thumbs up to Barry for his generous offer

I can't wait to hear more impressions from more familiar gear.

 

[ksb643]

PM sent!

 

[SuperU]

(I posted this in the wrong forum originally and just realized it.)
 
Ok, I have a question that is plaguing me.
 
So we have the Liquid Carbon coming out - an SS amp.
 
How does this compare with the Liquid Gold other than the Gold being 6.5 times more expensive? 
 
The price difference is considerable. Anyone who knows or has an idea, I'd love to hear your thoughts.
 
My amp is decent and I really now want an end game amp to go with my LCD-X headphones.
 
I could financially do either one, but hate to throw money at something beyond what is necessary but also want an end game amp.
 
One difference is the Gold is MUCH more powerful. Don't know if the LCD-X's would need more than 1.5 watts.
 
Any ideas on this beyond just the evaluation of the money? I can not easily sell one if I don't need it due to where I am geographically. And don't need 3 amps. Would like this purchase to be my end game purchase (even though a few years from now I may get another. lol)
 
Thoughts?

 

[goldendarko]

I think in general what you are going to get with a higher end version of a similar amp (like the Gold) is more headroom, better dynamics, better seperation, etc. How much better would be difficult to say without hearing both, but the law of decreasing returns will certainly kick in pretty hard going from something like the Liquid Carbon to Liquid Gold, in other words 6 times the price won't nearly equal 6 times the performance. Especially considering the Carbon is supposedly an extreme value at it's current pricing, and the Gold is, well, very expensive.

 

[DigitalFreak]

I think in general what you are going to get with a higher end version of a similar amp (like the Gold) is more headroom, better dynamics, better seperation, etc. How much better would be difficult to say without hearing both, but the law of decreasing returns will certainly kick in pretty hard going from something like the Liquid Carbon to Liquid Gold, in other words 6 times the price won't nearly equal 6 times the performance. Especially considering the Carbon is supposedly an extreme value at it's current pricing, and the Gold is, well, very expensive.

Good comment, I agree whole heartedly. 

 

[SuperU]

I think in general what you are going to get with a higher end version of a similar amp (like the Gold) is more headroom, better dynamics, better seperation, etc. How much better would be difficult to say without hearing both, but the law of decreasing returns will certainly kick in pretty hard going from something like the Liquid Carbon to Liquid Gold, in other words 6 times the price won't nearly equal 6 times the performance. Especially considering the Carbon is supposedly an extreme value at it's current pricing, and the Gold is, well, very expensive.

You know, it's funny... the first headphones I bought were the Mad Dog Pro's from Mr. Speakers for around $450. Then I bought the LCD-X. They cost 3.5 times more. But they sure do not sound 3.5 times better. Now, when I listen to them I hear just how much better the LCD-X is and it is considerably better. Still it is not 350% better.
 
I'd gladly forego 5% or so for the more than 6 times the Gold costs over the Carbon if that's all I would be missing. And I guess that's my question. I could put the difference I would pay for the amp into a good dac - maybe the Yggy. Maybe I'd be all set.
 
Just hate to spend another $600 before reaching my end game (probably a mythical concept). 
 
I do believe getting the LC should be a big step up from my Asgard 2. And I will bet it will be in the same category as the Ragnarok if you take out the extras for driving speakers and just use it for headphones, but I don't know.