dfiled
500+ Head-Fier
Have you looked to see if there is a little user manual in there? It has the specs
Audeze LCD-4
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Lost by the previous owner, unfortunately.
ansel1
Head-Fier
Had an opportunity to listen to a few other headphones today, spending the most time with the Bravura (thanks to Audio Concepts in Dallas). I also listened to an LCD-3, Utopia 2022, Senn 800s, and Empyrean (not Elite). My home setup is a Bifrost 2/64->GSX mini->LCD-4.
The one thing which the Bravura did really well was vocals, both male and female. They came through full and in front, and very natural. I think that was definitely a step up from my home setup. The other thing I liked was that the voices and instruments take up a little more area in the soundstage: they have more volume. On the LCD-4, sometimes instruments sound like they are tiny point sources of sound on a black background, which is kind of cool, but not always natural. On the Bravura, each sound source occupied an appropriate amount of space in the sound stage, which I appreciated. But I don't think that's unique to the Bravura. I think most headphones are like that. I rather think the LCD-4 is the unique one in this respect.
But on almost all other fronts, I think the LCD-4 was better. I didn't feel like the Bravura had the same depth and width of soundstage. I think the imaging was probably just as good, but came across as worse I think because its sound stage was flatter. Detail was probably as good or better, given it's a high quality e-stat, but honestly, I couldn't discern it. To my ear, the LCD-4 is as detailed, imaging sounds better (or maybe just farther apart?), and the sound stage is bigger, deeper, and more enveloping.
And of course, in the bass, there was no contest. The Audeze is just much better: deeper, clearer, more slam...It felt like the Bravura was hitting a limit with how much bass it could produce, where the LCD-4 just sounds bottomless.
I didn't have my headphones there to do a direct comparison, but they did have an LCD-3, so I could at least compare the Bravura to the Audeze house sound, and I definitely had a preference for the Audeze. The LCD-3 was not as detailed for sure, but the warm, big, enveloping sound was there, like a big comforter. For me, I definitely preferred it. It's more immersive. I was honestly hoping to like the Bravura, because I like the form factor and the weight, and they had a great price, but it was not a step up for me.
Regarding the others, I only listened to them briefly, but the Utopia clearly leaned toward upper mids/low treble. It was interesting how it punched out those upper mid notes so assertively. It was quite sharp, just less laid back than the others. The 800s was a bit of a surprise: I've read a lot about them, but only listened to them for a few mins at a show, and didn't like them at all. This time, I was pleasantly surprised. Didn't find them as thin in the bass as I was led to believe. Would like to spend more time with them. The Empyrean was just meh, and I don't find them as supremely comfortable as everyone says. They're fine, just not much better than others. Honestly, I think side by side with the Audeze LCD's (after modding the tension strap to be a little shorter), comfort would be almost the same if it weren't for the added LCD weight.
Anyway, came away from a couple hours of listening thinking the grass isn't any greener.
The one thing which the Bravura did really well was vocals, both male and female. They came through full and in front, and very natural. I think that was definitely a step up from my home setup. The other thing I liked was that the voices and instruments take up a little more area in the soundstage: they have more volume. On the LCD-4, sometimes instruments sound like they are tiny point sources of sound on a black background, which is kind of cool, but not always natural. On the Bravura, each sound source occupied an appropriate amount of space in the sound stage, which I appreciated. But I don't think that's unique to the Bravura. I think most headphones are like that. I rather think the LCD-4 is the unique one in this respect.
But on almost all other fronts, I think the LCD-4 was better. I didn't feel like the Bravura had the same depth and width of soundstage. I think the imaging was probably just as good, but came across as worse I think because its sound stage was flatter. Detail was probably as good or better, given it's a high quality e-stat, but honestly, I couldn't discern it. To my ear, the LCD-4 is as detailed, imaging sounds better (or maybe just farther apart?), and the sound stage is bigger, deeper, and more enveloping.
And of course, in the bass, there was no contest. The Audeze is just much better: deeper, clearer, more slam...It felt like the Bravura was hitting a limit with how much bass it could produce, where the LCD-4 just sounds bottomless.
I didn't have my headphones there to do a direct comparison, but they did have an LCD-3, so I could at least compare the Bravura to the Audeze house sound, and I definitely had a preference for the Audeze. The LCD-3 was not as detailed for sure, but the warm, big, enveloping sound was there, like a big comforter. For me, I definitely preferred it. It's more immersive. I was honestly hoping to like the Bravura, because I like the form factor and the weight, and they had a great price, but it was not a step up for me.
Regarding the others, I only listened to them briefly, but the Utopia clearly leaned toward upper mids/low treble. It was interesting how it punched out those upper mid notes so assertively. It was quite sharp, just less laid back than the others. The 800s was a bit of a surprise: I've read a lot about them, but only listened to them for a few mins at a show, and didn't like them at all. This time, I was pleasantly surprised. Didn't find them as thin in the bass as I was led to believe. Would like to spend more time with them. The Empyrean was just meh, and I don't find them as supremely comfortable as everyone says. They're fine, just not much better than others. Honestly, I think side by side with the Audeze LCD's (after modding the tension strap to be a little shorter), comfort would be almost the same if it weren't for the added LCD weight.
Anyway, came away from a couple hours of listening thinking the grass isn't any greener.
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Regardless of wood, there are not many 100ohms out there, and we can check easily with the serial number if you're concerned about what model you have. If your driver goes bad, they'd be the newer driver repairs in either case.
The first 200 ohm Serial is 4142270 (or anything after Feb 3, 2016 build date), but at this point most 100 ohm units have also been converted.
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thefitz
Headphoneus Supremus
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Mine's about 700 serial numbers above that. No idea if that means it's an old unit or, like, one made last week! hah
Anyone in here pairing their LCD4 with an A26 or R26? Been eyeing these two DACs as they seem to be the most "bang for your buck" in that sub $2k price range, and a step up from the BF2. Wondering what would be a better pairing with a GSX mini.. Leaning towards the A26 based on impressions I've read of it being slightly faster and more dynamic versus the R26. Main concern is the treble being a bit sharper on the A26 vs R26.
ansel1
Head-Fier
Have they been compared to the BF2? Wondering if they really are a step up. At least in terms of sound. I know they have a lot more bells and whistles.
Honestly not in it for the bells and whistles. I think they are a significant step up in sound quality from some of the impressions I've read but won't know til I actually get my hands on it and directly A/B.
ansel1
Head-Fier
I'm very interested to hear your conclusions. You have essentially the same chain I do.
I noticed! Honestly just trying to squeeze every last bit of juice out of the 4s without completely breaking the piggy bank. They definitely scale well but the diminishing returns hit quite hard in the $1k+ price range so each upgrade needs to be "justified".
dfiled
500+ Head-Fier
If I were you I’d spend your money on an amp upgrade. Will make a far bigger difference to the sound of your LCD-4s
I'm taking them to Canjam tomorrow so I will let you know what amps sound best with them.
Smart man! Canjam is where I initially heard the 4, out of a Zahl HM1 which caused my initial love for them. Not a totally fair assessment though, since it better sound amazing out of a $10k amp..! Pretty happy with my GSX mini right now. I'm looking at dac options, but a noisy show floor at canjam isn't the best setting to compare dacs..
Indeed the show floor is not the ideal situation but it can give you a taste as to which amps have the best synergy if you turn the volume loud enough!
DCS have a private room so at least I will audition the Lina stack in a quieter environment.
The LCD 4 is packed and ready to go! I have packed the stock cable alongside a 4.4 cable with an XLR adaptor underneath the gloves so I am ready for any circumstance.
dfiled
500+ Head-Fier
I’m sure others will disagree, but I think the audible difference between a bifrost and a DAC three times its price will be subtle, whereas upgrading your amp, especially for power hungry planars, will give you far more obvious improvement. Nothing wrong with the GSX-mini, but you could get much more out of your LCD-4s with, say, a Ferrum Oor. Planars love power.
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