[alexsh1]

Yes it’s a very stylish cube with a heavy glass top surrounding the tubes. It has a very poor DAC in it but fortunately you can bypass that. I have it connected to the DAVE and have the choice of the clinical beauty of the DAVE output or adding the warmth of the valve amp to the DAVE depending on my mood. The LCD5 are so faithful to the chain they are a great headphone to use when you are making changes in your system. While not difficult to drive they do benefit from a strong amp. I very rarely use them with the Mojo2 for example as I find the sound a bit thin with the LCD5 from the Mojo2. Fantastic from the Hugo up though. I found a magical pairing of a 0G Grado RS1 with the Mojo2 so usually have that combo in my suitcase as my Hotel system.

Oh man, the DAVE is the DAC of DACs.
Technically speaking it can drive the LCD-5 without any amp (it has the headphone amp built in), but who can refuse a very special sound coming from a tube amp? )

 

[paulrbarnard]

Oh man, DAVE is the DAC of DACs.
Technically speaking it can drive the LCD-5 without any amp (it has the headphone amp built in), but who can refuse a very special sound coming from a tube amp? )

Yes LCD5 direct from DAVE is very good. If you are looking for pure sound this combination comes the closest I’ve heard. I listen direct from DAVE more than with the WA1 but sometimes a little bit of warmth can make you fall in love with tracks all over again.

 

[tutetibiimperes]

What’s your source please?

iPad running Apple Music Lossless via USB into the Yggdrasil.

 

[alexsh1]

iPad running Apple Music Lossless via USB into the Yggdrasil.

Pretty much my streaming setup but I am using Tidal

 

[tutetibiimperes]

Pretty much my streaming setup but I am using Tidal

I used Tidal for a while but was always let down but their relatively smaller catalog.

This was four or five years ago though so I don’t know if it’s gotten better since then.

 

[alexsh1]

I used Tidal for a while but was always let down but their relatively smaller catalog.

This was four or five years ago though so I don’t know if it’s gotten better since then.

It is much better now IMHO

 

[EMINENT]

Holo.

 

[Gaurav Tyagi]

iPad running Apple Music Lossless via USB into the Yggdrasil.

The “M” based iPads are surprisingly excellent source for streaming.

 

[alexsh1]

Did not realize you wanted more than the amp. DAC/streamer is dCS Rossini + Word Clock.

I have checked a dCS Rossini web-site. Looks like a very decent brand with a good history. Thanks for recommendation

 

[phthora]

I finally tried out my LCD-5 on my WA22 and it's a great combo! The tubes take the edge off the mids and round out the bass for more relaxing listen, but still maintain a lot of resolution. I still prefer the super clean solid state amp I have, especially with some EQ, but this pairing will definitely get some ear time too. I'm using United Electric 596, Sylvania Bad Boy 6SN7s, and Tung-Sol 5998s, for those interested.

 

[04gto]

For anyone who travels often and wants to take their LCD-5 with them, I have found a good solution. I know the LCD-5 comes with a very nice 'briefcase', but it is simply 20% larger than it needs to be. Enter the Pelican V100 Vault case. It is easily 20% smaller overall, I can actually stuff it in my backpack with all of my other carry on items if I need to. It comes in a few color choices as well. I have attached a few pics showing the size relative to the OEM case and one of my ZMF sized Seahorse cases.

 

[phthora]

For anyone who travels often and wants to take their LCD-5 with them, I have found a good solution. I know the LCD-5 comes with a very nice 'briefcase', but it is simply 20% larger than it needs to be. Enter the Pelican V100 Vault case. It is easily 20% smaller overall, I can actually stuff it in my backpack with all of my other carry on items if I need to. It comes in a few color choices as well. I have attached a few pics showing the size relative to the OEM case and one of my ZMF sized Seahorse cases.

This also solves the other problem I have with the stock case: it's too fancy. It draws attention because it looks like a movie-prop suitcase full of cash, then people invariably ask me what's in it. The one occasion in which I don't want to talk about my amazing headphones is when I'm hauling them around in public in an ostentatious, easily grabbed box. Plus, I find myself being careful not to scuff the case, and that's just annoying. I want a headphone case that I could drop down a flight of stairs and not worry about my headphones OR the headphone case getting damaged.

 

[Ken G]

In addition, the key for the case isn’t unique. I bought a second case (for my LCD-2 Closed) during the Sale a few months ago and found out that the keys for both are interchangeable.

 

[phthora]

In addition, the key for the case isn’t unique. I bought a second case (for my LCD-2 Closed) during the Sale a few months ago and found out that the keys for both are interchangeable.

I'm not sure if that's a bug or a feature. I would only trust the lock on the case to prevent curiosity, not theft, so maybe the benefit of being able to replace a missing key relatively easily outweighs the risk of someone using a duplicate key to steal the headphones sneakily. Or maybe there's a downside I'm missing.

 

[psy472]

Can one enjoy the LCD-5 without convolution filters? Or was it so badly designed that it needs these prosthetics to work well?