ctsooner22
1000+ Head-Fier
Thanks for the answers guys it helps me understand. I haven't gotten any loudspeakers before, but will definitely look at Focal when I do. Their house sound seems right up my alley and if the headphones sound like that then I am even more interested in listening!
Dillan, when you look at speakers, there are a lot of great brands and sounds. I've owned many over the years. Vandersteen, Focal, Proac are some awesome speakers that have been around for a long time, but are as good as most anything out there. All three have totally different sounds.
Being a newbie to personal audio, it's been a different ride for me trying to find a headphone that I love. I have owned many top loudspeakers and I don't change often. I'm a Vandersteen guy now and about to move up to Quatro's. It's the speed, vast soundstage if thats on the recording and the lush mids. Bass is the most expensive thing in speakers, but in headphones I'm not sure it is. When I say bass, I mean realistic levels, tight, in tune and proper dynamics compared to the rest of the spectrum.
I'm actually going somewhere with this, so thanks for bearing with me. I'm trying to figure out HOW much I need to spend as well as what to get. I'lll have an Ayre QX-5/Twenty DAC in August or so, once ESS comes out with their newest chip. I'm already in the top of the queue to receive it after the world wide dealers get theirs. The balanced headphone amp is supposed to be really really top notch and knowing Ayre (I have an AX-5/Twenty) it will be. I won't spend more than 1500 or so be it new or used. I've auditioned the LCD-2 and 3. I don't love the 2 so that's out. The 3 is about 2 years old or so and it sounded nice, but it was running of the Decard DAC/AMP and I could tell it was limiting the cans (or at least I hope that was the cause).
I've been told that the Ether is a can I need to audition, but I don't know how or where. I have heard the original 800's and felt that they lacked in the bass. It was great from the mid bass up. I couldn't be happy over the long haul with those. I own a pair of Noble Savant's. They are balanced and nice. I love them for portable listening, but I really want more and better bass. I need the dynamics. I don't listen loudly at all any more, but when the music needs punch, I DO want that! No, I don't want to have to compromise too much. All audio is compromise regardless of the sandbox you get to play in.
These new Focal headphones have really piqued my curiosity. I think I'll be able to find a dealer locally to listen to them eventually (when will they be released into the wild and not just at a few shops?). The Elear's will be the ones I'm looking at for cost reasons. Listening to Judes introduction and reading this thread, I excited to hear these. I wonder what they will sound like vs the Ether and the LCD-3? I love the look of them and I'm sure they are more comfortable than the 3's which do get a bit heavy at times.
Just wondering if anyone has been able to listen to all three and what their personal differences are. I can get a pair of 3's for cost/new or around 1200 on the used market, so the cost differences won't mean anything. Thanks.