DannyBuoy
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Oct 15, 2008
- Posts
- 244
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- 14
For what its worth; I owned a WA6SE (Sophia Princess) with Audio-Gd premium power cord and Audio-Gd NFB2 DAC when I first got my LCD2. I thought the sound quality was a big advancement from my D7000 cans and I liked it a lot.
About a week later I ordered a Violectric V181 with 24/96 USB module (needed to sell WA6 and NFB2 to fund V181) and for a week or so I had both the V181 and the WA6. After a few A/B comparisons, I unplugged the WA6 and boxed it up for sale. I was thoroughly convinced the SQ of the V181 was vastly better than the WA6 with the LCD2.
However, when I did an A/B between my NFB2 DAC and the option USB module in the V181 I was disappointed. The USB module was a waste of money for me. The NFB2 although slightly warmer had much more dynamics in the music. So after selling the NFB2 and WA6SE I decided to buy an Audio-Gd Ref5.
So now I am connected to my music server via coax optical to Ref5 and via balanced XLR between Ref5 and V181. During this time I also ordered a Norse Audio 8 wire balanced cable with a nice Neutrik 4 pin connector (which is what the V181 uses). I am on a whole-nuddder-level now. The clarity in the mids and highs are incredibly more detailed and increased separation. The bass is bangin, slammin now. The whole system is just tighter, firmer, crisper, and on and on...
I can only speak for what I have tried and what my opinions are of course is based on what I like in sound so keep that in mind but I am very happy (I just got a few cables from Cullen Cables and have replaced the XLR interconnects and coax optical, but still have to connect the power cord but need to drill a 2 inch hole in my desk as the power cord is massive).
Good luck!
Quote:
I'm going insane but I'm making some headway for my headphone rig. I'm only going to buy one headphone so I ordered a pair of LCD-2's last Sunday night. I didn't want to do the trek thru the cans by getting different cans thru time so I decided to just go ahead and get the LCD-2's. I don't really have any experience with cans other than my daughters Grado 80's and her Audio-Technica ATH AD700's. They're not very inspiring. Last week I sold off all my high end speaker gear which has been absconding my living room forever and decided since I spend more time listening to music now in my computer/office/reading room it's time to try headphones.
For years I had a Theta DAC and realize how very important a good DAC is so I've settled on a Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2 to go with the LCD-2's. That's 2 out of 3. But now I'm completely torn between some of the amps I've posted earlier. I'm not set in concrete when it comes to buying something made here in the U.S. but I feel more comfortable about the manufacturers being nearby even in today's world of next day shipping.
Here are the choices still splitting my head open and my thoughts about them.
TUBES
Decware Mini-Torrii.
Pros for me: Folks with LCD-2's love it and apparently it drives them perhaps better than any amp except the Leben. It can also drive a pair of Mirage M-190's that I currently use at my iMac when I'm composing my own music and listening to tunes in general. So it and drives the LCD's and a pair of speakers.This is a big plus. Apparently it doesn't get extremely hot, a good thing since I live in the Sonoran desert. Even with air conditioning extra heat is extra heat. Lifetime warranty, got to dig that. Plus Skylab digs it and I don't really know if Skylab has 2 tin ears or not but his passion for "all things tubed" is contagious and compelling.
Cons for me: Headphone jack and speaker mod option to have speakers turn off when using headphones is $200 more as combined options. Not really a big expense in the long run but I wanted to bitch about it because I just realized that. There are a lot of tubes and I don't know if I've mellowed enough from my tube amp days in the late 80' and early 90's not to worry if the tubes are "OK" every time I hear one of them burp. But maybe I have overcome my audiophile neurosis since I was able to hold off buying new gear for almost 16 years after having spent a King's fortune on it every other month for an entire decade before the final system came into place.
Woo Audio 6SE or the Woo Audio WA-2.
Pros for me. 2 well respected amps that folks have paired with the LCD-2's and enjoyed. I suspect the Woo Audio WA-2 with the power tube upgrade might edge out the Woo Audio 6 SE but I do not know and I really need you guys to help me on that. The Woo amps have a good build reputation. That means a lot. In my travels I've had quite a few great sounding pieces of gear that just weren't made well and that never ended well.
Cons for me. Neither come with a power cord? What the hell is that about? Is that a standard with todays manufacturers? Damn dude at least toss in something to plug it in with. Not a deal breaker of course but I wanted to bitch about it. Neither can drive speakers.
Shiit Lyr.
Pros for me. I'd be lying if I didn't say the price was compelling but although price isn't completely a deciding factor it is incredibly affordable. I don't mind paying the price of the other amps if they are going to give me that extra bit more because I'm only going to be getting one amp and I want to try to get the best sound and if they do give that extra bit more I want it and will pay for it. However I cannot afford the Leben. One of the designers Mike Moffet gives this amp some real credibility for me. I casually knew Mike from his Theta Ds Pre Gen I-III days and he personally modded my Gen I to a Gen III and that DAC really did it for me for 2 decades. Not too many tubes to worry about.
Cons for me. I'm not sure if it delivers what the other amps can in terms of that little bit extra. It's relatively new on the scene and I'm afraid the perspective of the personal reviews may still be the glow of infatuation. Doesn't drive speakers.
Solid State. I'm clueless at the moment. I need suggestions for a solid state amp without a built in DAC since I'm going for the Wyred 4 Sound DAC-2. The Audio GD Phoenix looks good but I am very fearful of the heat it puts out and I'm not sure about using it single ended. The Violectric HPA V200 also looks good but I am confused as to whether or not it has a built in DAC or if the DAC is just an option you can add to it. The Burson HA 160 is also interesting but I'm not sure if it's up to the task when compared to the Woo, Lyr, or Decware.
The Meier Concerto was a real front runner for me but it seems as soon as I ordered my LCD-2's he decided t stop making it. Now my comments may seem controversial for some about this topic but here they are. The guy was making an amp that many have declared works really well with the LCD and then he decided to dimply stop making it. Come on man! I don't know why he made the decision but to me it shows a bit of a lack of respect for an audiophile community that has greatly supported his products. The least he could have done was continue to produce it until his next amp come on the market. So for this he gets the "Slap Down" award for designers.
So once again any comments you folks can muster up will be very helpful with my searching.