I'm going to jump in before someone yells that "ANYTHING BEYOND AN O2 DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE!"
Planars like headroom, as it makes things sound better. Setting that subjective opinion inside, the Lyr 2 is a tube amp that, depending on what tubes you get, produces a warm but balancing sound for the LCD 2 (as in, can balance out some of its faults.)
The O2 doesn't give much headroom for the LCD 2 rev1, but the Lyr 2 gives it LOADS of power that it really really really wants.
That said, I honestly liked the Soloist SL better with it, so that would be a good upgrade if you like solid states.
Don't bother changing out the ODAC though unless you really really really really want to spend 1000+ for a DAC that has filters and other things in it that actually make a difference. You're good with the ODAC.
thanks so much for the help. I'll look around some more and see what I can find. I just feel like I'm under powering my lcd-2s, and when I listen to songs with electric guitar, it feels like I'm not fully immersed into it and doesn't feel as detailed and wonderful as acoustic guitars sound.
for example (please don't judge my music tastes), if I listen to "name" by the goo goo dolls, I can hear the guitar and it is so immersive and awesome. if I listen to "adam's song" by blink 182 though it feels like the music is flat and not detailed and just sounds bland. I do wonder if it could be these things though:
1. I am using spotify
EXTREME!!!! quality streaming
2. the loudness war is the problem, since I'm using a "greatest hits" version of "adam's song"
3. it's my o2 being lame
4. the mastering just sucks in general
5. my lcd-2s just don't like electric guitars
I'm not sure though, but I'll do some more researching. I have compared my lcd-2s and hd 650s side by side and there's a big difference in sound quality in every way, so my lcd-2s are definitely good.
either way, if I can find a reasonably priced lyr somewhere I'll buy it. I just
really don't want to put $450 more into my crippling headphone addiction (not really crippling, just don't want to spend $450 more haha).
thanks again and sorry for the long post!