Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[chargedcapacitor]

Let’s suppose you only can spend $6000 in a Dac/amp combo to pair with the LCD-5: what would you guys choose?

I’m from Brazil and the import tax for electronics is (I kid you not), circa 100%. The more portable the solution, the bigger the chance of it slipping through customs unnoticed, but the tax dodging is not my main concern (it is a factor, though).

So far I’m leaning towards the Chord TT2. Also considering: Ifi Pro Idsd signature.

thanks

If you do not plan on using EQ, then I would recommend the iCan Signiture with a DAC of your choice. The Xbass function on it is amazing, IMO. There are tubes, which can be rolled, but I always preferred the solid state option.

If you do plan on using EQ, then I might suggest the Ferrum OOR, without the hypsos. It could work better on more headphones and be the last amp you ever buy, with an upgrade option with the hypsos power supply.

 

[PrestonSturgesEnthusiast]

If you do not plan on using EQ, then I would recommend the iCan Signiture with a DAC of your choice. The Xbass function on it is amazing, IMO. There are tubes, which can be rolled, but I always preferred the solid state option.

If you do plan on using EQ, then I might suggest the Ferrum OOR, without the hypsos. It could work better on more headphones and be the last amp you ever buy, with an upgrade option with the hypsos power supply.

I thought about it. OOR + Hypsos, 3000, plus something like the Adi-2, $1300

 

[chargedcapacitor]

I thought about it. OOR + Hypsos, 3000, plus something like the Adi-2, $1300

That's what I have, I love it.

 

[nwavesailor]

the last amp you ever buy,

You are in danger of having your audiophile license taken away with this type of talk!!!

 

[sahmen]

You are in danger of having your audiophile license taken away with this type of talk!!!

Except that there is this little clause in the mentioned license agreement :

"In the interest of the mental health of audiophiles and the bottomline of audio gear manufacturers alike, any talk about potential 'endgame' gear or speculations thereof shall be protected under the mahna mahna amendment"

 

[eee1111]

Let’s suppose you only can spend $6000 in a Dac/amp combo to pair with the LCD-5: what would you guys choose?

I’m from Brazil and the import tax for electronics is (I kid you not), circa 100%. The more portable the solution, the bigger the chance of it slipping through customs unnoticed, but the tax dodging is not my main concern (it is a factor, though).

So far I’m leaning towards the Chord TT2. Also considering: Ifi Pro Idsd signature.

thanks

Because the lcd 5 doesn’t need a ton of juice

I’d go for a holo spring and maybe a gsx mini

 

[PrestonSturgesEnthusiast]

That's what I have, I love it.

Does the adi-2 have

That's what I have, I love it.

Just confirming: can you eq with the Adi-2 without using Roon?

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Does the adi-2 have

Just confirming: can you eq with the Adi-2 without using Roon?

Yes, it has a 5 (technically 7) band equalizer. It also has crossfeed, mono, and several other features. You can output on the XLR and RCA outputs at the same time as well. You can store up to 20 different EQ profiles. The only caveat is that the EQ can only be used up to 192kbps. It states it's technical capabilities in the very robust manual.

 

[tawmizzzz]

Let’s suppose you only can spend $6000 in a Dac/amp combo to pair with the LCD-5: what would you guys choose?

I’m from Brazil and the import tax for electronics is (I kid you not), circa 100%. The more portable the solution, the bigger the chance of it slipping through customs unnoticed, but the tax dodging is not my main concern (it is a factor, though).

So far I’m leaning towards the Chord TT2. Also considering: Ifi Pro Idsd signature.

thanks

I've tried several AMPs with the LCD5, and depends which sound sig you want to go for. As others have noted, LCD5 benefits from EQ if the stock tuning is a bit too aggressive. The Dragon L2 is an excellent hybrid SS/tube that oozes musicality out of the LCD5 at slight expense of thickening and softening the transients, but it is large. Enleum 23R is not an ideal synergy for LCD5 to my ears (somewhat lifeless-sounding) and likely out of budget anyways as per above.

I would personally go with the Ferrum OOR + Hypsos for LCD5. The amount of detail, precision, and dynamics while exhibiting slight analogue undertones makes it an excellent pairing. As for DAC, the IDSD Pro signature with the Ferrum stack is brilliant with LCD5 but a bit on the cleaner side. I am burning my Spring 3 in currently so can't say much there but also likely is an excellent option if you are a fan of R2R. (5-6 week wait though and pretty damn big for a DAC).

P.S. I do not love LCD5 from just the iDSD Pro Signature as it is just a bit too clinical sounding, even with EQ. I prefer using it as a DAC + preamp into a standalone AMP.

 

[Olmanwood123]

Let’s suppose you only can spend $6000 in a Dac/amp combo to pair with the LCD-5: what would you guys choose?

I’m from Brazil and the import tax for electronics is (I kid you not), circa 100%. The more portable the solution, the bigger the chance of it slipping through customs unnoticed, but the tax dodging is not my main concern (it is a factor, though).

So far I’m leaning towards the Chord TT2. Also considering: Ifi Pro Idsd signature.

thanks

I would agree with the TT2. At that price range, it is one of the best all-in-one options and leaves room to grow by possibly adding a speaker amp and Mscaler in the future. I think you will find the LCD-5 will benefit from a bit more power than most headphone amps provide. The TT2 (and I am now using a WEISS Dac) offers a good experience, but through in something with more power for something great. IMHO of course.

 

[cantara256]

I would agree with the TT2. At that price range, it is one of the best all-in-one options and leaves room to grow by possibly adding a speaker amp and Mscaler in the future. I think you will find the LCD-5 will benefit from a bit more power than most headphone amps provide. The TT2 (and I am now using a WEISS Dac) offers a good experience, but through in something with more power for something great. IMHO of course.

@PrestonSturgesEnthusiast ^^^

Don't underestimate the power needs for the LCD-5, especially if you use EQ. Even on the TT2 I found the volume knob close hovering around 90% for some tracks, because of the gain adjustment necessary. As an example, Resolve's EQ needs a gain adjustment of -7.3db. That's a lot!

I am extremely happy with the TT2 by the way, highly recommend it also.

I also recently bought a Chord Hugo 2 for portable use with my LCD-i4, and as an experiment tried it with the LCD-5. It's fantastic! So another option, particularly if you might want a tube amp, is to get Hugo 2 (half the price of a TT2) and combine it with your tube amp of choice.

If you mostly listen to your own music (no streaming), I highly recommend pre-processing your audio through PGGB (https://www.remastero.com/guide.html). You can resample your files to 32 bit/768 kHz (or less if disk space is an issue, as files will average 2GB), with your EQ of choice, so you don't lose any dynamic range at all with EQ and don't have to worry about gain adjustment. The files will play at the same volume as without EQ and sound better to boot.

 

[ra990]

@PrestonSturgesEnthusiast ^^^

Don't underestimate the power needs for the LCD-5, especially if you use EQ. Even on the TT2 I found the volume knob close hovering around 90% for some tracks, because of the gain adjustment necessary. As an example, Resolve's EQ needs a gain adjustment of -7.3db. That's a lot!

I am extremely happy with the TT2 by the way, highly recommend it also.

I also recently bought a Chord Hugo 2 for portable use with my LCD-i4, and as an experiment tried it with the LCD-5. It's fantastic! So another option, particularly if you might want a tube amp, is to get Hugo 2 (half the price of a TT2) and combine it with your tube amp of choice.

If you mostly listen to your own music (no streaming), I highly recommend pre-processing your audio through PGGB (https://www.remastero.com/guide.html). You can resample your files to 32 bit/768 kHz (or less if disk space is an issue, as files will average 2GB), with your EQ of choice, so you don't lose any dynamic range at all with EQ and don't have to worry about gain adjustment. The files will play at the same volume as without EQ and sound better to boot.

You can always tap into the balanced outs from the rear XLRs if you need more headroom. The TT2 has more power than the LCD 5 could ever need, regardless of EQ pregain adjustment.

 

[BowWazoo]

Dekoni will "soon" bring out pads. Will you try?

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Dekoni will "soon" bring out pads. Will you try?

I will certainly be interested, but I think I will wait a bit before I rip my current pads off.

 

[Barone Birra]

In my case, definitely technical performance/some smoothing over of rough edges.

The dark treble are already smoothed
I tested the LCD5 with
- IFI Pro iCAN: very good, punchy and energetic, not the layering and soundstage of the following amps, but thunderous bass with the Xbass on (if you prefer so)
- Benchmark HPA4: transparent, extended, neutral, pinpointing, the ultimate studio monitoring device (yet musical)
- Luxman p750u: a hint of warm, grandiose perception of space, tactility and realism of vocals, drums and electric instruments