[caenlenfromOCN]

  Grace designs Massdrop M9xx has quite a few fans as does the Gustard H10 (amp only).

That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

 

[x RELIC x]

Is something like the Schiit Fulla 200mw at 32 ohm capable of powering the LCD-2 ok? Or would I need the Magni 2/Labs Element?

The Fulla may not have the juice, but I haven't heard it so I can't really say.

 

[DavidA]

  That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

I wouldn't get anything until you have the budget to get something that will really be worth your limited funds.  Take your $200 and save until you have about $400, this is where the best bang for the buck is IMO with amps that will do your LCD-2 justice.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

Are you looking in the used market? Can really stretch your budget.

 

[Sonic Defender]

  I wouldn't get anything until you have the budget to get something that will really be worth your limited funds.  Take your $200 and save until you have about $400, this is where the best bang for the buck is IMO with amps that will do your LCD-2 justice.

Have to agree, save a little more if possible, or certainly look used, even used Canadian audio sites are a great deal if you are in the US as the exchange rate is very good for US citizens, shipping is fast and seamless and pretty darn affordable.

 

[Sonic Defender]

@DavidA, how is the game?

 

[x RELIC x]

Actually, I started with the FiiO X5 and the e12 portable stack with my LCD-2. The e12 (not e12A) has 880mW of power @32 Ohm and didn't sound half bad with the LCD-2, and has a good bass boost. Of course there are better sounding options out there, and the decision to go with a Schiit stack, or a portable stack, or something else will be just a stopgap. The LCD-2 are resolving enough to scale with much better gear so just know that down the line you can upgrade your source chain and notice the improvements with the LCD-2. Or wait to buy better gear at a slightly higher budget.

 

[SearchOfSub]

That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

How about Audioquest Dragonfly RED. Currently have it paired up with LCD 2.2 and sounds nice. Plenty of power to drive these cans.

 

[Madcat207]

Actually, I started with the FiiO X5 and the e12 portable stack with my LCD-2. The e12 (not e12A) has 880mW of power @32 Ohm and didn't sound half bad with the LCD-2, and has a good bass boost. Of course there are better sounding options out there, and the decision to go with a Schiit stack, or a portable stack, or something else will be just a stopgap. The LCD-2 are resolving enough to scale with much better gear so just know that down the line you can upgrade your source chain and notice the improvements with the LCD-2. Or wait to buy better gear at a slightly higher budget.

I will second the notion that the E12 does a surprisingly good job with the LCD's.  I Pair my E12 with my LG V10, and take my LCD on the go, and am quite happy.  No doubt a desktop setup could get a little more oomf, but the LCD-2 isn't THAT hard to drive...

 

[MRC001]

  That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

The LCD-2 doesn't need a lot of power. It's a purely resistive load, not too low impedance, easy to drive. What's more important is a clean amplifier. The cheapest amp I have seen that is clean enough to drive the LCD-2 is Jan Meier's Corda Jazz. I have one in my second system and it is excellent. It would be hard to differentiate it from my Oppo HA-1 in a level matched double blind test. The Jazz has features you won't find at over twice the price: electronically actuated ladder stepped attenuator volume control, active balanced ground, very high quality parts and build quality.
 
If you want the best possible sound on a budget I can recommend what I built for my second system: An ESI Juli@ sound card, use unbalanced analog outputs to a Corda Jazz. About $400 total: $50 for the card used on eBay, $350 for the amp. Then you can listen to anything your computer can play: CDs, DVDs, Blu-Rays, high-res audio files, etc.
 
If there exist cheaper alternatives having excellent sound I would be very interested. I'm considering another little audio system for my office.

 

[qaminh]

I wonder when Audeze released their LCD 2 fazor ? In 12/2014 , right ? 

 

[DavidA]

  I wonder when Audeze released their LCD 2 fazor ? In 12/2014 , right ? 

I believe it was in Jun 2014 IIRC

 

[MRC001]

  I wonder when Audeze released their LCD 2 fazor ? In 12/2014 , right ? 

It was earlier than that. I bought my LCD-2 Fazor in April 2014. From what I read, it was one of the first.

 

[johnzz4]

  That is way too much for me I am afraid, even $350 is over my budget technically speaking... really would like to find something for $200 range... so I am guessing Schiit Stack is my only option sadly. Surprised no other company has tried to win that market of $200 budget.

 
The Element is a great bang for the buck.  I've been using it since it came out.  I also have a Nuforce HDP that's been great as well ($449 new).  If you want something good to get you going for short $$, I'd part with it cheap since I'm drowning in gear.

 

[qaminh]

It was earlier than that. I bought my LCD-2 Fazor in April 2014. From what I read, it was one of the first.

I believe it was in Jun 2014 IIRC

The prefazor im going to buy was in 11/2013, it has no longer warranty, does it??
In a method that the lcd 2 has the driver failure, can i ask the manufacture to repair it or replace driver fazor 2016 eventhought out of warranty date (pay fees, of course) ?