Audeze LCD-2 Source discussion.

[Paganini Alfredo]

I was curious if any other members here, now that the LCD-2 has been out for a few months, have used them with the HR lineup of DAC/Amps. I have an UD with DPS and it sounds great, but haven't heard the LCD with any other sources or amps.

Can anyone comment or compare and contrast to other sources with HR gear? Thanks.

 

[Equus]

Quote:

I was curious if any other members here, now that the LCD-2 has been out for a few months, have used them with the HR lineup of DAC/Amps. I have an UD with DPS and it sounds great, but haven't heard the LCD with any other sources or amps.

Can anyone comment or compare and contrast to other sources with HR gear? Thanks.

 
Wish I could help you.  Of all the DACs other folks have that I've run across in meets, haven't seen or had any time with HR sources.  Have you heard anything else you'd compare them to?

 

[Paganini Alfredo]

Nope. Listening to my current rig however is giving me the impression I don't even need to, but I try to keep on the lookout for others who have. I know a couple other members around here have the LCDs with HR gear but we tend to keep our head out of the way

 

[SP Wild]

I thought I'd bump this thread because there has been a lot of talk in the main LCD2 about transients and decay.  Some, including myself at one stage, felt that the LCD2s over emphasised transient edge ahead of the decay and sustain of an individual note and I complained about it in the amplification thread.  I never had this problem with any other cans and not even the HD800 exhibited this odd phenomenon.
 
To this end, I found that my Cayin HA1A tube amp set to SET helped to lessen the transient grip and flesh out the decay and sustain of any individual note (for me it was problematic when I heard acoustic guitars).  So in that sense amping synergy was important...unfortunately for me, my mid level tube amps was not always ideal as the price I paid for a better fleshed out tone was a lesser grip on percussions.
 
I have since discovered that the problem was also addressed when I paired the LCD2 with the Reference 7 DAC and comparing this to my Bryston...it was really obvious that the LCD2 were merely ouputing whatever the DAC was signifying.  The fault was in my DAC, the LCD2s only fault was being too honest.  I have also found great synergy with a $60 NOS dac in my possession.  Both the Reference 7 and the NOS dacs share a common R2R DAC architecture, albeit the NOS was a very crude implementation and significantly less refined in all areas.
 
A lot of attention has been placed on amping the LCD2s and not enough in sourcing...which is extremely vital in the sort of resolutions capable by these cans, and it is no less important than amping...and in ways, more so. As what is missed by the source cannot be reclaimed by the amplifier.
 
My preferences so far with the LCD2s in terms of digital source is as follows:
 
1.  Audio GD Reference 7
2.  Muse Mini DAC TDA1543 X 4
3.  Bryston BDA-1
4:  Silicon Chip DAC kit
5.  Dacmagic
6.  Pioneer Elite DV79a
7.  Ipod Classic 120GB (6th gen)
 
From 1-3, these dacs do not induce any significant fatigue.  From 4 onwards, these dacs, I find fatiguing, which manifests itself in a lethargic sensation and an inability to focus on the music within 20 minutes.  1,2,4 and 6 produce a tonality I prefer - where tones are a little more fleshed out.  3, 5 and 7 sound leaner.  However I believe reducing digital fatigue is the primary concern when selecting a DAC.  Tonal preferences are subjective, although I find Burr Brown chips favourable but I ultimately prefer the R2R architecture over any of the DS architectures I've heard.  Hopefully soon I will be able to listen to a dual mono balanced Buffalo 2 using dual Sabre DACs in it's ultimate configuration and provide some feedback.  This beastie has 4 toroidals feeding separate analogue and digital sections, it is being built by Wink.

 

[Santamaria]

The character of LCD2 changes notably with analog sorurces. With digital sources the sound is a bit weighty with a reduce soundstage that in the long run can be a little tyring. Perhaps there is a concensus that this is the signature of LCD. With analog the signature changes completely  to a bigger sounstage, better separation, more airy presentation, softer and more nuances notes with more harmonic richnes. Naturally with analog you lack the dynamics and general clarity of digital. My conclusion: LCD2 are so good that most probably they are the strongest element in you chain, showing you with precision the caracter of the other elements.

 

[NapalmK]

I'm in the market for a good dac and I'd like to know if the Parasound 1100 or AMB y2 have good synergy with the LCD-2. A comparison would be great if someone has been able to hear both.

 

[Francoy]

Quote:

My preferences so far with the LCD2s in terms of digital source is as follows:
 
1.  Audio GD Reference 7
2.  Muse Mini DAC TDA1543 X 4
3.  Bryston BDA-1
4:  Silicon Chip DAC kit
5.  Dacmagic
6.  Pioneer Elite DV79a
7.  Ipod Classic 120GB (6th gen)

A 50 $ DAC ranked #2 !!!!
 
I’m gonna have to try that... For once, the wallet isn’t going to shiver and sob in the dark because of it.

 

[vrln]

Heh, you sure are providing some comedy material for people looking into buying a Bryston and stumbling along these forums

 

[NumLock]

Anyone try a Meier StageDAC?

 

[vrln]

Quote:

Quote:

My preferences so far with the LCD2s in terms of digital source is as follows:
 
1.  Audio GD Reference 7
2.  Muse Mini DAC TDA1543 X 4
3.  Bryston BDA-1
4:  Silicon Chip DAC kit
5.  Dacmagic
6.  Pioneer Elite DV79a
7.  Ipod Classic 120GB (6th gen)

A 50 $ DAC ranked #2 !!!!
 
I’m gonna have to try that... For once, the wallet isn’t going to shiver and sob in the dark because of it.

Have you found where to buy one? I could try it too

 

[Francoy]

Quote:

Have you found where to buy one? I could try it too

That’s the link provided earlier in the thread by SPWild for the silver version (there’s a black one also if you snoop around)
http://cgi.ebay.com/HI-FI-DIR9001-4X-TDA1543-parallel-connection-NOS-DAC-S-/120612153492?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c150b6894#ht_2823wt_907

 

[Jian]

What I did was just skiping the DAC, feeding them with a bad ass cd player.

 

[BebopMcJiggy]

Bad ass CD player == still a DAC.  I see the moon eclipse uses 4 pcm1704uks :O.  Did you compare other dacs with it, or have you just been using this da... err cd player all along? :O

 

[Dynobot]

Interesting...
 
Quote:

My preferences so far with the LCD2s in terms of digital source is as follows:
 
1.  Audio GD Reference 7
2.  Muse Mini DAC TDA1543 X 4
3.  Bryston BDA-1
4:  Silicon Chip DAC kit
5.  Dacmagic
6.  Pioneer Elite DV79a
7.  Ipod Classic 120GB (6th gen)
 
From 1-3, these dacs do not induce any significant fatigue.  From 4 onwards, these dacs, I find fatiguing, which manifests itself in a lethargic sensation and an inability to focus on the music within 20 minutes.  1,2,4 and 6 produce a tonality I prefer - where tones are a little more fleshed out.  3, 5 and 7 sound leaner.  However I believe reducing digital fatigue is the primary concern when selecting a DAC.  Tonal preferences are subjective, although I find Burr Brown chips favourable but I ultimately prefer the R2R architecture over any of the DS architectures I've heard.  Hopefully soon I will be able to listen to a dual mono balanced Buffalo 2 using dual Sabre DACs in it's ultimate configuration and provide some feedback.  This beastie has 4 toroidals feeding separate analogue and digital sections, it is being built by Wink.

 

[vert]

Would be interesting to see if anyone on here has used these with a high end source, Bel Canto 3.5, Chord QBD76, or Weiss.