[nassq8]

  You guys will probably be surprised to hear this one, but..
 
After a long absent of nothing but listening to the LCD-4 and HD800S, I've decided to sell off my LCD-4 and keep my HD800S.
 
Many reasons.
 
To my tastes in sound quality, I'm more on the upper registry kind of guy. Meaning, I do appreciate the LCD-3/LCD-4 for their lush sound and superb bass depth, although I just don't feel like it's open sounding or clear as I would like it to be. The LCD-4 was a step up indeed, but in the end, with a HD800S and proper equalization from SonarWorks, I preferred it.
 
Another few thing is that it's large. Sitting at around 600grams, even with the improved headband, it is still just too uncomfortable. Getting years and years into this hobby now, that's another thing i realize that I favor and base my purchases around, and that's comfortability. I wouldn't say power was an issue when I used them as I have a balanced Beta 22 which does incredibly well.
 
Hmm.. I do want something higher up than a HD800S, but wouldn't want to go into STAX territory as that'll force me into a new amplifier. Any ideas?

LCD-4 + balanced Beta 22 are pair made in heaven! Hard to let them go compared to other headphones and amps I have. 

 

 

[nvfan]

You guys will probably be surprised to hear this one, but..

After a long absent of nothing but listening to the LCD-4 and HD800S, I've decided to sell off my LCD-4 and keep my HD800S.

Many reasons.

To my tastes in sound quality, I'm more on the upper registry kind of guy. Meaning, I do appreciate the LCD-3/LCD-4 for their lush sound and superb bass depth, although I just don't feel like it's open sounding or clear as I would like it to be. The LCD-4 was a step up indeed, but in the end, with a HD800S and proper equalization from SonarWorks, I preferred it.

Another few thing is that it's large. Sitting at around 600grams, even with the improved headband, it is still just too uncomfortable. Getting years and years into this hobby now, that's another thing i realize that I favor and base my purchases around, and that's comfortability. I wouldn't say power was an issue when I used them as I have a balanced Beta 22 which does incredibly well.

Hmm.. I do want something higher up than a HD800S, but wouldn't want to go into STAX territory as that'll force me into a new amplifier. Any ideas?

The closest analogue to the HD800 in terms of TOTL headphones is probably the Hifiman HE1000v2. Its reasonably light (420g vs 380g for HD800), has a wide soundstage (probably the widest of any flagship outside of the HD800), is pretty airy in the treble (but is behind the HD800 in that regard), and a much warmer, thicker bass and midrange. Since getting the HE1000v2 I havent felt the desire to listen to the HD800S and its been relegated to gaming cans. Of all the TOTL non-electrostat headphones (including the Utopia) IMO only the HE1000v2 could be construed as a reasonable upgrade path for an HD800 users since it maintains most of strengths while doing things the HD800 cant do (like subsonic bass impact or warmer tonality).

It does have a similarity to the LCD4 in that both have sub-500 nanometer diaphragms.

 

[jlbrach]

I owned the 800 and 800s..after listening to the LCD-4 i sold them....no contest for me,not in the same ballpark...I like everything about the LCD-4 better including the soundstage

 

[Gamergtx260]

  I owned the 800 and 800s..after listening to the LCD-4 i sold them....no contest for me,not in the same ballpark

I owned the 800 and LCD 4 sold them both for the HE 6

 

[jlbrach]

  I owned the 800 and LCD 4 sold them both for the HE 6

To each his or her own,thats why there are tons of choices 

 

[Gamergtx260]

  You guys will probably be surprised to hear this one, but..
 
After a long absent of nothing but listening to the LCD-4 and HD800S, I've decided to sell off my LCD-4 and keep my HD800S.
 
Many reasons.
 
To my tastes in sound quality, I'm more on the upper registry kind of guy. Meaning, I do appreciate the LCD-3/LCD-4 for their lush sound and superb bass depth, although I just don't feel like it's open sounding or clear as I would like it to be. The LCD-4 was a step up indeed, but in the end, with a HD800S and proper equalization from SonarWorks, I preferred it.
 
Another few thing is that it's large. Sitting at around 600grams, even with the improved headband, it is still just too uncomfortable. Getting years and years into this hobby now, that's another thing i realize that I favor and base my purchases around, and that's comfortability. I wouldn't say power was an issue when I used them as I have a balanced Beta 22 which does incredibly well.
 
Hmm.. I do want something higher up than a HD800S, but wouldn't want to go into STAX territory as that'll force me into a new amplifier. Any ideas?

ooh traitor I had the same opinions bro, they are very heavy too. Have a listen to the HE 6.

 

[nvfan]

I owned the 800 and LCD 4 sold them both for the HE 6

Have you ever compared the HE6 to the HE1000?

 

[Gamergtx260]

  To each his or her own,thats why there are tons of choices 

Exactly, I'm interested in the Ether flow. How do they sound? Would they be somewhere between the LCDs and 800s?

 

[Gamergtx260]

Have you ever compared the HE6 to the HE1000?

Nope. Never going in again for the current flagships. Way overpriced.

 

[Sonic Guild]

  Nope. Never going in again for the current flagships. Way overpriced.

Overpriced, I agree. 
 
I am waiting for the Utopia and will find out what will happen with this hoppy. 

 

[etc6849]

Do the LCD-4's really take two weeks to make? Sounds kind of crazy...

 

[Sonic Guild]

Do the LCD-4's really take two weeks to make? Sounds kind of crazy...

The diaphragm takes many days to create.
There is high rejection rate while building this diaphragm. This is why it takes them many tries to successfully build one diaphragm. 
 
Audeze, please correct me if I said it wrong. 

 

[etc6849]

Explains the price a little bit.  Sounds like they will never be a high volume product due to manufacturing limitations/issues.  Super excited as I plan on taking Friday off to give me an extra day to listen to them after they arrive.
 
Quote:

 
The diaphragm takes many days to create.
There is high rejection rate while building this diaphragm. This is why it takes them many tries to successfully build one diaphragm. 
 
Audeze, please correct me if I said it wrong. 

 

[Gamergtx260]

 

Me too. But I have ordered the HD 650 with balanced cable

 

[Hifi59]

You guys will probably be surprised to hear this one, but..

After a long absent of nothing but listening to the LCD-4 and HD800S, I've decided to sell off my LCD-4 and keep my HD800S.

Many reasons.

To my tastes in sound quality, I'm more on the upper registry kind of guy. Meaning, I do appreciate the LCD-3/LCD-4 for their lush sound and superb bass depth, although I just don't feel like it's open sounding or clear as I would like it to be. The LCD-4 was a step up indeed, but in the end, with a HD800S and proper equalization from SonarWorks, I preferred it.

Another few thing is that it's large. Sitting at around 600grams, even with the improved headband, it is still just too uncomfortable. Getting years and years into this hobby now, that's another thing i realize that I favor and base my purchases around, and that's comfortability. I wouldn't say power was an issue when I used them as I have a balanced Beta 22 which does incredibly well.

Hmm.. I do want something higher up than a HD800S, but wouldn't want to go into STAX territory as that'll force me into a new amplifier. Any ideas?

I had both at one time but sold the H800S. Why? Because while they were great for sessions under perhaps an hour, they didn't hold up to longer listening sessions. I would get somewhat bored and lose engagement. This is where the LCD-4 (and 3 for that matter) excel given the fact that your neck can support them for longer periods. I have zero issues with their weight as it is nicely distributed. I can listen to the 4s for hours on end fully engaged without any listening fatigue and to me this is the ultimate test of an amp, headphone, etc. The only other headphones, outside of the LCD-3 and 4 that do it for me, up to this point, are the Zmf Omni, the Hifiman HE-6 and HE-1K.