Audeze LCD-2 Orthos

[kwkarth]

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In my experience, they leak a lot of sound.  Especially if you have to turn them up a little because of ambient noise in an office, I would expect your music would be clearly audible to anyone around you.

Of course!  They're an open back / open air design.  If you need a sealed / closed back headphone, then these are not what you're looking for.

 

[Equus]

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I have found with most reviews done here by the guys who have been around for some time are reliable. I believe I have always been steered the right way. But as always it is best to listen with your equipment to make a  decision. What worries me the most in this economy the survival rate for these little start up companies in a niche market trying to compete in the big boy class. How will the long term reliability of the products be and what if any issues develop how they will be resolved. A 14 day trial with a 20 percent restocking fee is not telling me a company is fully committed to the customer he sells his product too. I like to see that this company as any start up is   financially able to handle the market demands before plucking down 1K and being able to supply customer service . I can name a few companies such as Mark Shifter AV123 which will probably end up with him in prison and many customers stuck with shabby product and the inability to have it serviced. I am not saying that this product or company is shabby. From what I have read so far is the product is something special and it does excite me but caution is now in my language as I owned 15K Genesis Five with drivers that went bad and was unable to get anyone on the phone when genesis crashed and burned. I will keep looking forward to the reviews on these cans.

For something that you'll probably keep as long as a good set of headphones and when dealing with smaller companies that don't have multi-billion dollar portfolios on the stock market, there's always some risk.  OK...even with publicly traded companies, in today's economy there's risk involved.  I'm not saying your hesitation is unfounded or irrational...it's your decision and your money, after all.
 
As far as customer service, I had some email correspondence with them about possibly getting replacement grills for my set, since mine arrived with some cosmetic scratches.  Alex also offered to replace the grills if I sent the headphones back, but I don't really want to part with them that long.  The responses were reasonably quick given how busy they probably are right now.  We'll see if and when I get the grills, but I can't find fault in the responsiveness and courtesy so far.  Maybe the email responses could be faster, but I also work for an online behemoth with dedicated customer service centers, so I'm a little spoiled.

 

[Kabeer]

All four of them are open back.....the HD800 seems open in every way. So I would think isolation/leakyness woulnt be at all good anyway..

 

[Equus]

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So much worse than the other three then, because they are tolerable for my two colleagues who also on occassion use phones?

 
I know I stood next to someone at a meet with T1's on, and I couldn't hear a as much of what they were listening to.  With the open design of the LCD-2, I was able to carry on a conversation at a normal volume with my friend while he had them on and I could make out the lyrics of the song he was listening to.
 
EDIT - the caveat is the T1 was at a meet, so there was a ton of ambient noise.
 
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Of course!  They're an open back / open air design.  If you need a sealed / closed back headphone, then these are not what you're looking for.

Yup!  Thank goodness I don't need any more closed headphones...at least for now.  LOL.  For what it's worth, I have heard some open designs that aren't quite as loud to folks around the wearer.  Not a negative, in my book, but like most things is subjective and depends on needs and situation.

 

[pyramid6]

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What I find impressive, without having heard them, is that it appears they can rival a good O2 setup.  Perhaps not beat it, but hang with it for a good portion of the time.  So for $1K versus over $2K new, you already have over $1K more to put towards an amp.  Then factoring in the flexibility of a good powerful amp to drive the LCD-2s can also drive other dynamic or ortho cans as well as a set of efficient speakers is what nails it for me.  A modded PS in a F5 clone will get the noise and ripple down to acceptable levels for headphone use.  25W Class A at 8R should scale down nicely at 50R.  The balanced Liquid Gold would be around 15W at 6R for speaker use.  The tube amp I really want to hear with the LCD-2s is a Decware Mini Torri.  It's about 6W at 8R, so it could be used with the LCD-2s right off the speaker terminals, even with a resistor network, though I'd still build one with low values and 5W Mills or Caddocks for a little protection. 
 
All of those amps are in the $1500-$4K range, within the same range or cheaper than a dedicated Stax amp.  Heck, add the new Woo energizer and you're equal or under a good O2 system and you could always add the O2s and still under the cost of just a BHSE.  Cake?  Yes please, I'll have three slices:  LCD-2s, O2s, and speakers, all off the same system for under a O2/BHSE (commercial retail) system.  But I already have the SR-Lambdas and I love them, as well as SR-001s, so I really have no desire to add O2s. 
 
Anybody know how much blood plasma goes for nowadays?
 
 

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment.  Unless I missed a post, the only ones that claim the LCD-2 are as good or better than Stax are people who don't really like Stax to begin with.  I would really like to hear more direct comparisons.  That being said, I'm trying to figure out how to buy me a pair.  I have no doubt they are worth every bit of $1000, but I'm not convinced that they are better than a $7500 Stax setup.  But again, they won't be $7500.

 

[sachu]

How could we forget, price is the only factor that determines how a system or an audio component sounds.

 
 

 

 

 

[monsieurguzel]

That is really good to know!!  I currently have an O2 + KGSS system as well as a Woo5 + HD800 system and I'm excited about the prospect of possibly ditching the stax system if the LCD-2 would have similar characteristics without the heavy amp requirements.  When I look at the way the O2 and LCD-2 generate sound on a single plane, as well as the size of their drivers, open back nature, and soundstage created it seems that they are very very similar in nature.  With this in mind, I feel that it would be redundant for someone to own both an O2 as well as LCD-2 unless they have drastically different sonic signatures that apply for different kinds of music.
 
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Yes, that's what all the excitement is about.  As far as I know, the mass of the LCD-2 diaphragm is lower than competing designs, which, in part, along with the strength of the magnet structure, enables it to be so fast.  Time will tell as more people have the opportunity to give it a listen.
 

 

[sachu]

well Kabeer owns them both, though his O2 is on loan out to someone else..Expect to hear some comparisons from him..I hazard a guess that the O2 will soon be on his chopping block.

 

[sokolov91]

 
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Even though many have expressed concern, all of the concern has been unfounded thus far, and no complaints about the comfort of the headband.

 
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Although he has provided some valuable information, I find kwkarths tone regarding this item quite alarming, particularly his repeated defense of it, with an unsubtle offensiveness.
 
I honestly don't see how any complaint about anything is possibly unfounded. Everything can always get better.

 
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Are you trying to be funny?  Or is it that you have trouble comprehending what I wrote?  
 
I find your unfounded attack on my character, offensive and unsuitable.
 
I'll type this more slowly so perhaps it's easier to read...
 
Myself and others have expressed concern about the ability of the foam on the headband to hold up.  In spite of all of our concerns, so far so good.  That's why, so far, that particular concern is still, at this moment in time, unfounded.  I still am concerned about the sturdiness of the foam, but I cannot argue with its comfort.
 
I say what I believe, and stand behind it.  Is that what you're taking issue with?
 
unfounded |ˌənˈfoundid| adjective having no foundation or basis in fact

 
kwkarth,
 
With all due respect, you are a mod here -your position is different when talking about products as I am sure you are all aware. People will call shenanigans if they feel someone with a status such as your own is not giving unbiased information or is sugar coating things. Whether or not that is the case is another story and one I do not want to be involved with, but I do enjoy your impressions and find them interesting.
 
 
[size=12pt]fact[/size]  (f

kt) n. 1. Knowledge or information based on real occurrences
 
Concerns about comfort and durability are indeed "founded" as they are critiques of the build quality and materials used.  The fact that this product physically exists and that foam is perhaps not the best choice makes any complaint founded, just not necessarily true.
 
Comfort is also a relative fact of sorts, as what is true for you, might not be true for others. Even 99/100 people think the LCD-2 is super comfy, it does change the fact that someone else finds it uncomfortable for whatever reason. 
 
Fearing letting a serial killer out of jail because he might kill someone again is founded, even if he does not actually kill someone again in the future. Therefore The same way people fearing the foam will not last is indeed founded even if the foam ends up lasting super well. Foam rips, gets sweaty, degrades, rots, etc etc... 
 
Lastly, MrGreen's attack on your character was founded on his interpretation of your comments. It was based on the real occurrence of your repeated defense of the product. So it is indeed founded, just not flattering on your end. Perhaps it was uncalled for, but that is MrGreen decision by posting.
 
Text, especially forum posts, is open to many interpretations. Instead of biting anyones head off who didn't read your comments the way you intended, you could just clarify and keeps things cool.
 
Having someone question your motives or how unbiased your comments are is indeed offensive, but in turn questioning their intelligence / mocking them is no better if not worse given your position... continuing to telling them off for doing what you just finished doing yourself is pretty inappropriate among other things if you ask me.
 
My 2 cents. 

 

[pyramid6]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.  I never said that price mattered.  For a lot of people the O2, plus KGBH or WES is the pinacle of headphones, especially Stax, that costs $7500.  The only ones who claim the LCD-2 maybe better than that, are people who don't care for Stax.  I have yet to see someone sit down with a Stax system, and the LCD-2 and directly compare the two side by side.  
 
Someone may have both, but they haven't given a direct comparison.  I have three amps, two dynamics and one Stax, I want to sell the Stax and buy the LCD-2, it is a better investment.  I don't want to wish I had gotten better Stax later.  To do that I need to see a direct comparison.  Right now I'm reading a lot of hearsay and flavor of the monthism.  It doesn't mean the LCD-2 isn't a good ( or even great headphone), it just means, I am not convienced it is better than a top of the line Stax. 
 
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How could we forget, price is the only factor that determines how a system or an audio component sounds.

 
 

 

 

 

[Kees]

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I'm not sure I understand what you mean.  I never said that price mattered.  For a lot of people the O2, plus KGBH or WES is the pinacle of headphones, especially Stax, that costs $7500.  The only ones who claim the LCD-2 maybe better than that, are people who don't care for Stax.  I have yet to see someone sit down with a Stax system, and the LCD-2 and directly compare the two side by side.  
 
Someone may have both, but they haven't given a direct comparison.  I have three amps, two dynamics and one Stax, I want to sell the Stax and buy the LCD-2, it is a better investment.  I don't want to wish I had gotten better Stax later.  To do that I need to see a direct comparison.  Right now I'm reading a lot of hearsay and flavor of the monthism.  It doesn't mean the LCD-2 isn't a good ( or even great headphone), it just means, I am not convienced it is better than a top of the line Stax. 
 

 

I have both, and I can tell you they are definitely in the same league. They even have a somewhat simalar sound signature.
My LCD2 arrived only today, so it is too early for a more detailed comparison, but I can tell you that the hype is not exagerated this time.
 

 

[Kabeer]

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I have both, and I can tell you they are definitely in the same league. They even have a somewhat simalar sound signature.
My LCD2 arrived only today, so it is too early for a more detailed comparison, but I can tell you that the hype is not exagerated this time.
 

Agreed, the sound signature is more similar to the O2 than to my other orthos I think. In the sense both seem very neutral and uncoloured. I think the O2 is a little airier, and the LCD-2 a bit more solid and "there". The LCD-2 bass is also a bit more oomphier.
I think they are in the samue league wise, but I do not own a top end typical rig for either .
 
I only got mine last night as well, so I am still forming my opinions too.
Ultimately final preference will come down to a user sitting down and listening to both. But quality wise they both seem to be very technically proficient and full range.
Im going by my memory of my O2 from last week btw, so this is not a direct comparison.
 

 

[sachu]

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I'm not sure I understand what you mean.  I never said that price mattered.  For a lot of people the O2, plus KGBH or WES is the pinacle of headphones, especially Stax, that costs $7500.  The only ones who claim the LCD-2 maybe better than that, are people who don't care for Stax.  I have yet to see someone sit down with a Stax system, and the LCD-2 and directly compare the two side by side.  
 
Someone may have both, but they haven't given a direct comparison.  I have three amps, two dynamics and one Stax, I want to sell the Stax and buy the LCD-2, it is a better investment.  I don't want to wish I had gotten better Stax later.  To do that I need to see a direct comparison.  Right now I'm reading a lot of hearsay and flavor of the monthism.  It doesn't mean the LCD-2 isn't a good ( or even great headphone), it just means, I am not convienced it is better than a top of the line Stax. 
 

So you want to hear from someone who thinks nothing can top an O2+BHSE system..fair enough. And as to your statement "pinnacle of headphones, especially stax",  I have no qualms in agreeing with you that the O2 indeed is the pinnacle of electrostat transducers (at least the ones i have heard thus far), but headphones in general..?? nope.
 
But yeah, I too would be very much open to hearing what devoted stat owners think of the LCD-2..that is a trial by fire indeed. But stop thinking anything Stax or anything O2 is" OMG!! that's the best"..its not..well not to everyone. And this isn't because we can't afford them, just that they don't sound all THAT great to some of us, cause we have heard better.

 

[cyd2025]

 
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Agreed, the sound signature is more similar to the O2 than to my other orthos I think. In the sense both seem very neutral and uncoloured. I think the O2 is a little airier, and the LCD-2 a bit more solid and "there". The LCD-2 bass is also a bit more oomphier.
I think they are in the samue league wise, but I do not own a top end typical rig for either .
 
I only got mine last night as well, so I am still forming my opinions too.
Ultimately final preference will come down to a user sitting down and listening to both. But quality wise they both seem to be very technically proficient and full range.
Im going by my memory of my O2 from last week btw, so this is not a direct comparison.
 

thanks for sharing your initial impression.

 

[pyramid6]

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I have both, and I can tell you they are definitely in the same league. They even have a somewhat simalar sound signature.
My LCD2 arrived only today, so it is too early for a more detailed comparison, but I can tell you that the hype is not exagerated this time.
 

That is good to hear.   I look forward to hearing further impressions.