[Radio_head]

I was actually wondering the same thing.  Just ordered a T1 and am on the list for LCD-2's.  I know Skylab liked both the T1's and the LCD-2's with the Concerto.  But is there a better (in my case sub-1000$) option?

 

[dallan]

As stated earlier, I bet on the V200 after first seeing the specs and then hearing it.  I have heard mixed things about Meiers amps and have only heard one.  That ones particular owner didn't have a high opinion of it either.  I think it was the model before the Concerto though.  That was at Canjam 09.  Didn't sound all that bad to me actually but when an owner complains i worry a bit.  On the other head the owner of the V200 was very happy with his and he had the LCD2 in line.

 

[kwkarth]

Quote:

As stated earlier, I bet on the V200 after first seeing the specs and then hearing it.  I have heard mixed things about Meiers amps and have only heard one.  That ones particular owner didn't have a high opinion of it either.  I think it was the model before the Concerto though.  That was at Canjam 09.  Didn't sound all that bad to me actually but when an owner complains i worry a bit.  On the other head the owner of the V200 was very happy with his and he had the LCD2 in line.

Sample sizes of one are dangerous.

 

[dallan]

You mean the Meiers?

 

[frenshprince]

So I made my décision : Its going to be the SPL Auditor.
 

 
It's incredibely good reputation and its Hi-End specifications are the reasons.
 
Frequency Response: ‹5 Hz to ›200 kHz (-3 dB)
CMR:-80 dBu (@1 kHz, 0 dBu input level and unity gain)
Crosstalk: -84 dB (@1kHz)
THD: 0,001 % (@ 1kHz, 0 dBu input level and unity gain)
Noise: -97 dBu (A-weighted)
Dynamic Range: 129 dB (@ 600 Ohms Impedance)

 

[dallan]

Only problem with that is the power is more on higher impedance.  Still probably enough but isn't the LCD-2 like 52 Ohms?  I would think that you would want that to be the focus of an amp for these phones.
 
 

1. Max. Output Performance:
   1. 1,7W (+32,2dBm) @ 1 kHz and 600 Ohms connection
   2. 360mW (+25,6dBm) @ 1 kHz and 30 Ohms connection
   3.  

 

[Kurt]

 
Quote:

So I made my décision : Its going to be the SPL Auditor.
 

Do a search for SPL and "low impedance" headphones. Also, Auditor and short circuit killing several headphones.

 

[Duckman]

Freshprince,
 
I have the LCD-2 and an Auditor at home at the moment, and the match is definitely not a good one. The Auditor is fairly good for the T1 (used to have it), but again not an ideal match IMO.
 
Cheers,
 
Dave

 

[skyblue]

I agree that the Auditor, or Phonitor for that matter, is more compatible with high impedance ( i.e. >300 Ohms ) headphones.
it is due to their 120 ohms output impedance.
 
My experience on Phonitor when paired with AKG 702 and JVC 1000 was not a satisfying one.  
 
I'll presume the LCD-2 would require an amplifier that is capable of providing superb micro dynamic/transient control to unfold the phone's sound potential.  By this an amplifier has to be stable when driving current into low-impedance phones like LCD_2.
 
Just my 2 cents ...    

 

[frenshprince]

Outch, you all killed my dream

 
If I understand, it has to be a amp with possibility to change gain according to headphones impedance.
 
So considering that the T1 and the LCD-2 have different impédance, what should I buy to be happy ?

 

[Ypoknons]

It's not just a matter of gain, it's also a matter of the amp's output impedance. When the amp's output impedance is higher than the headphone's impedance, the response is affected. It's not always a bad thing, it's possible that the headphone's FR will change for the better, but often it's bad. I liked this thread, nikongod can give a better explanation than I.

 

[frenshprince]

Thanks Ypoknons.
But It's still sound quite complicated to me.
 
So in this particular case, the Auditor will work well with T1 and other high impedance cans (like 770/880/990 at 600ohm), but not with the audeze nor cans at 80oms.
 
Am I correct ?

 

[Ypoknons]

... I can't say definitely it'll be bad, but it's a risk. There are negative listening impressions + there is technical reason to believe this combo will be bad, so I'd avoid it if I were you.

 

[Kurt]

Quote:

Am I correct ?

 
http://www.head-fi.org/forum/thread/497872/my-impression-of-grado-ps1000s-senn-hd800s-w-rsa-b52-amp-question-on-a-good-solid-state-amp-for-these#post_6723849
 
 
Quote:

Hands off the Phonitor. I friend of mine had the SPL Auditor (2 times), and these things killed 5 or 6 headphones (including one T1) in the course of time. They SPL circuits are obviously too "audiophile"... 

 
Quote:

He had bought a 2nd hand (almost new) Auditor, which sounded fine (except high distortion sounds when switching on/off or when pluggin in/out). But soon his cans died, so he sent it to SPL for repair. They officially stated the amp wasn't faulty, but nevertheless sent him a brand new as exchange. That 2nd one worked fine for a couple of weeks, then the HP started to die again (a T1 was also victim BTW). He sent it again to SPL, they said, one Opamp was defective, and they stated that is was a user fault - to slow plugging in and out with too long resulting short circuits.
 
Normal amps have protective measures for that case, but SPL is audiophile, they state it sounds better without...
 
They sent him a 3rd one, which he sold directly.

 

 

[oqvist]

Very few amps let you adjust output impedance. My Trafomatic Head One allows for switching between 30/100/300. I hope to be able to hear it some day too see how much difference it makes... Some have dual inputs one for low z and one for high z.
 
As for the Auditor it´s a neutral amp with no added warmth or audiophile tricks from my experience. Some like that some doesn´t. In comparison to my GHP I find the T1 being clearly better on the Auditor whereas I preferr the Goldpoint headphone Pro on just about all my low impedance headphones. The Auditor aren´t bad with them but doesn´t quite match up to the Goldpoint I feel. Much due to better impedance matching I suspect. I don´t know how much current the GHP is capable of delivering though I suspect it´s higher then the Auditors.
 
Both these are really nice neutral amps and thus won´t destroy nothing.
I would die to somehow get to know what current output my Goldpoint headphone Pro has though. But I suspect it has plenty enough because the bass control of it is phenomenal. And I want to believe that both the Pro 900/DX 1000 would be very revealing on sloppy bass
 
Auditor can congest a bit with my low impedance headphones just like the T1 can congest on the GHP slightly. It gives more body and "rumble" so some may actually appreciate that.