For me,the great lcd bass isn't about being overblown, a la beats. That is, IMHO, the lcd series are not basshead phones. The bass is just controlled, tight, full, and deep. That's what I like the audeze bass, and it's a bummer the el-8 might be missing this
@mangler:
I don't have the closed-back EL-8s (as most of you know) but I felt obligated to tell you that, after 100 hours of pink-noise and various frequency sweeps via the burn-in discs I mentioned earlier (using the classic XLO system burn-in disc, the Ayre disc, and Nordost System Tuning Disc - ALL ripped to my SSD) the bass, and especially the sub-bass via the open-back EL-8s is definitely getting tighter (and faster)
It's gaining more and more control and dimension as time passes! The bass extension is, in addition, not only getting deeper - but the overly-silky/warm sonic characteristics I mentioned in some of my first
Early Impressions has literally dissipated! And believe me: I've been throwing everything at the open-back 8s ever since I noticed this!
I wanted to hear if those traits were the result of a particular system configuration, or if it was an unfortunate kink in the EL-8s sonic armor. It appears to have resolved itself, and so I'm going to DOUBLE MY BREAK-IN TIME from now on! I also see this as a big PLUS for the resolving capabilities of the EL-8 open-backs - As I've been able to hear the sonic evolution of the 8s SQ since the first morning I tried em after my first all-night break-in session via all those burn-in tools I listed above. That's impressive, as I looked through my EL-8 notes I confirmed that I wrote about/consistently observed these changes - which (IMHO) speaks volumes regarding the transparency of their overall detail retrieval, and their capacity for reproducing both micro and macro-dynamic-details.
These cans have become impressively resolute, after (lets just get down to it) a pretty short period of time! Though, admittedly (and this is where OCD comes in-hand) when I'm not listening to them they're ALWAYS being fed a signal for the purpose of break-in/burn-in, whatever we prefer to call it - and it seems to be working really well.
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The lower midrange and bass have improved greatly using this rig - and was especially noticeable during playback of "Eyesdown (ARP 101 Remix)"off
Black Sands Remixed - Bonobo. The bass-line is more defined and weighty. The soaring synths collide w/ the various kick-drums hits, and now I can pick out the kick while these sounds are enmeshed. When I first started taking notes using this track - on this system- I made comments about that seeming overly-silkiness/warmth clouding the strike of the kick -
Listening RIGHT NOW:
Not only can I pick out the kick with ease, and it's velocity has intensified (like I remember it - as this has been one of my top-ten sonic acid test tracks over the last couple years). Plus: While all these electronic sounds and organic instruments intertwine and ripple across the sound-stage, there's more of a presence to the sound - it's far more dimensional than when I first played it.
This is GOOD NEWS to me!
As I've been more than satisfied with their sound reproduction capabilities thus far (nothing can be PERFECT) - but now I'm beginning to get more and more excitable when listening through the EL-8s. My anticipation, to sit down and listen, especially after catching a power nap, has grown tremendously since I first fired em up!!!!
Because - their sound is evolving right before my eyes (well, ears
) and they're actually turning into the terrific headphones I KNEW they COULD be!!!!
PSYCHED for more sonic adventures with the EL-8s.... and I have a bunch of Impressions notes that I gotta get crackin' on!!
BTW:
@warrenpchi and I found that 200 hours of pink-noise was the magic number for breaking-in our LCD-Xs & LCD-XCs - so I expect Everything to keep changing for awhile!!
FANTASTIC sunrise listening sesh this morning - w/ the EL-8s +
Woo Audio WA7 Fireflies (+ upgraded tubes - Electro Harmonix gold-tips)
HRT MusicStreamer HD USB DAC
Using TIDAL as source via my MacBook Pro Retina SSD + Amarra sQ!!
Nordost Heimdall 2 interconnects
Locus Design/Cryoparts Nucleus USB