Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Benno1988]

Ok, but how does it sound compared to something like the OOR?

It will sound like all the other Topping and SMSL amps.

Personally not a fan.

 

[deafenears]

It will sound like all the other Topping and SMSL amps.

Personally not a fan.

The OOR?

 

[Benno1988]

The OOR?

He asked how that cheap Topping would sound.

The OOR was ok though Don't think its anything too special with the LCD5, might be the super low impedance. Anyway, I sold it.

I lent it to mate with Susvara and he said it was ok, doesn't compare to running them off big power amps though. Its good, its not cheap, its compact. It has a lot of hype. I think if you don't need the 8W, so anything below Susvara/HE6, the SparkoS Aries was more impressive sonically

 

[tawmizzzz]

He asked how that cheap Topping would sound.

The OOR was ok though Don't think its anything too special with the LCD5, might be the super low impedance. Anyway, I sold it.

I lent it to mate with Susvara and he said it was ok, doesn't compare to running them off big power amps though. Its good, its not cheap, its compact. It has a lot of hype. I think if you don't need the 8W, so anything below Susvara/HE6, the SparkoS Aries was more impressive sonically

I realized the Ferrum is extremely transparent from the DAC feeding it (and not to ruffle any feathers from non-believers, but also the cables/ICs/power). I initially preferred it with the iDSD Pro Signature which is ultra dynamic, digital-sounding with a hint of warmth over the out-of-box Spring 3--- but after letting the Spring 3 burn-in, I can see why people rave about the pairing. Natural, effortless, clean yet musical. LCD5 is definitely on the clean side overall but I am obsessed with the microdynamics specifically-never experienced this from other HPs or TOTL IEMs.

Agree that Ferrum isn't perfect with Susvara-the 23R gave it more of the kick it deserves.

 

[BowWazoo]

go to the audio science site where you will be told measurements say it is the best HP amp available and better than amps 20 times more expensive

There are people who just don't want to understand that hi-fi has nothing to do with voodoo...

 

[BowWazoo]

Ok, but how does it sound compared to something like the OOR?

Like the most Amps:
the DX5 didn't "sound".
It amplifies a signal completely neutral.

I have the Aurium here.
It sounds like an amplifier should sound:
It doesn't "sounds"
An amplifier should not "sound".
An amplifier should just amplify signals as cleanly and neutral as possible.
And that's exactly what 95% of all amplifiers also do effortlessly.
In other words, amplifiers cannot change the sound at all, when they are working properly.
The only exception is when the impedance of the load brings the amplifier to its knees. So when they are not current stable.
This is possible with dynamic drivers, because their impedance depends on frequency.
This is not the case with planars.
These usually (exception e.g. Meze) have a frequency-independent impedance value.
In that case there is a sounding through the amplifier in the form of an uncontrolled change of the FR.
Usually this concerns tube amps.

The Head-fi Forum has not yet experienced an "Reconnaissance phase".
Here a lot of Hifi fairy tales are told...

Amplifiers have their own sound. So do DACs and of course cables.
All this is not verifiable in a blind test.

Back to the Aurium. Even if it has tubes in the preamp, and thus produces significantly more distortion...
These distortions are superimposed by the music signal, and are therefore not audible...

There is a tube myth that the distortion of the tube (K2) adds up to the harmonics of an instrument, creating a particularly full and warm sound.
But this is only an assertion that has not been proven.

Here is an interesting article. Just have it translated into English:

https://www.hifiaktiv.at/gibt-es-verstaerkerklang/

https://www.hifiaktiv.at/verstaerker-allgemein/

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Like the most Amps:
the DX5 didn't "sound".
It amplifies a signal completely neutral.

Yeah, every amp I have is neutral. My RME Adi is as neutral as my OOR, but sounds completely different. Not sure if you knew that's possible, but it is.

 

[Benno1988]

Just because two headphones have an identical frequency response doesn't mean they sound the same.

All DACs and Amps that measure the same sound the same?

 

[BowWazoo]

More than that. By far not everything we can measure in terms of differences is audible.

Here is a small example of 2 FFT measurements (harmonic distortions).

Above we see the Soloist 3x, below the DX5.
As you can see, the DX5 is far ahead in terms of measurement.
The first harmonic distortion is about - 80 dB quieter with this device than with Soloist.
But what is the meaning of this, if the harmonic distortion of the Soloist is below - 60db of the output signal?
Nothing!
-60 dB away from the output signal, in fact, is a lot. It is absolutely inaudible.
That as only a small example.

DACs have been overdeveloped for decades.
Every HF technician laughs at the processing of signals in a range of 20 to 20 Khz.
These chips do that perfectly, and with ease.

 

[BowWazoo]

Anyone interested?

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/groneberg-quattro-reference-power-cable.24910/

 

[chargedcapacitor]

These are just tricks of your mind.
In a blind test, the differences you thought you heard, dissolve into nothing within seconds.

To be honest, I would also like it to be different.
But that is the sober reality.

If an amplifier runs as it should, it has no sound of its own.

Oh boy.

 

[BowWazoo]

Are you aware of the fact, that there have been many serious and elaborate double-blind tests, and no one has been able to pick out amplifiers?!
If so, then I would call that fact resistance.

 

[JLoud]

If you cannot tell the difference between solid state and tube amps your ears are broken. Now if you are comparing very neutral solid state amps then the differences may not be very apparent.
Remember many people are not looking for neutral “wire with gain” sound. I believe the amp plays a role in achieving the sound I am looking for. My preference not the artist or mixing engineer.

 

[Benno1988]

Are you aware of the fact, that there have been many serious and elaborate double-blind tests, and no one has been able to pick out amplifiers?!
If so, then I would call that fact resistance.

Sources. We need your sources!

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I have always admired how that ASR guy managed to convince his readers that there is no difference, but at the same time they all need to buy Topping, not just anything.