[PeteSTRADAMUS]

I think the Utopia and the LCD3 would make a great marriage. Cover energy, snap and fun with the Utopia, and the LCD 3 when you need to chill.

I was going to say LCD4 for the second Headphone but I haven’t spent enough time with it to know how “chill” it is.

Btw- I was all about trying to shoot for “one can to rule them all” but I think the 2 great headphone route works better for me. Sometimes I need to relax, and other times I need to punch walls and have fun

lol below.

 

[llamaluv]

I was going to say LCD4 for the second Headphone but I haven’t spent enough time with it to know how “chill” it is.

I just got the LCD4 less than two weeks ago and can say at least for myself that it does not make a good compliment to the Utopia in terms of having "chill" to go with "intense". It can definitely make a good compliment in other ways for sure, but not in the LCD3-like "laid back" kind of way. To me it's equally demanding to listen to as the Utopia.

I remember seeing a 'Z review' on the LCD4 where he described it as basically mercilessly cramming sound into your skull. At the time I was like, "Whaa?", but now I have to admit that I think I get it. The bass in particular, to me.

On the other hand, I've heard a couple people describe the LCD4 as being laid back. Maybe at lower volumes, with its mildly warmer and darker tonality and its planar smooth sound, I could see that. Anyway, food for thought...

 

[doggiemom]

My living room is so small that my speakers are almost as close to my head as the Utopia cups.

 

[BunnyNamedCraig]

I just got the LCD4 less than two weeks ago and can say at least for myself that it does not make a good compliment to the Utopia in terms of having "chill" to go with "intense". It can definitely make a good compliment in other ways for sure, but not in the LCD3-like "laid back" kind of way. To me it's equally demanding to listen to as the Utopia.

I remember seeing a 'Z review' on the LCD4 where he described it as basically mercilessly cramming sound into your skull. At the time I was like, "Whaa?", but now I have to admit that I think I get it. The bass in particular, to me.

On the other hand, I've heard a couple people describe the LCD4 as being laid back. Maybe at lower volumes, with its mildly warmer and darker tonality and its planar smooth sound, I could see that. Anyway, food for thought...

The small time that I got to hear it, I was just taken back by the detail retrieval. I also noticed it sounded more neutral then the rest of the LCD line up, and if anything closer to the LCDX. So I totally dig what your saying.

LCD3 and Utopia stand for my chill combo still ha.

Z1R and Utopia is still up there for me as well

 

[doraymon]

Having the kids & wife away for holidays today I connected Dave with my KEF X300A powered speakers.
I used a good Oyaide RCA to 3.5mm to feed the signal from Dave to the on board amplification of the KEF speakers.

I wanted to try again the sound of decent speakers against headphones.

Well the experiment lasted less than a minute. The sound was veiled and distorted compared to the Utopias.
I guess I will have take out of the box my B&W CM9 and buy a great power amp to get anywhere close...

 

[TSAVJason]

Having the kids & wife away for holidays today I connected Dave with my KEF X300A powered speakers.
I used a good Oyaide RCA to 3.5mm to feed the signal from Dave to the on board amplification of the KEF speakers.

I wanted to try again the sound of decent speakers against headphones.

Well the experiment lasted less than a minute. The sound was veiled and distorted compared to the Utopias.
I guess I will have take out of the box my B&W CM9 and buy a great power amp to get anywhere close...

You were trying to drive a speaker using a DAVE with no amplifier?

 

[doraymon]

You were trying to drive a speaker using a DAVE with no amplifier?

Active speakers...

 

[TSAVJason]

Active speakers...

Check your output voltage setting.

 

[doraymon]

Check your output voltage setting.

You mean Dave's volume?

 

[TSAVJason]

You mean Dave's volume?

The DAVE in Amp/DAC mode it’s pretty high gain at 6.8v. Your Kef made need to be set differently depending on your use. So if you can call me, I’ll help you understand and get you sorted out. 310-534-9900

 

[TSAVJason]

You mean Dave's volume?

Never mind. I just read the manual on your kef speakers. I’m pretty sure they are not compatible components.

So in preamp mode the output voltage varies and it acts just like you would expect from any other preamplifier.
The output voltage varies from zero to 9V RMS in 1dB steps.
-3dB on the volume control is 3V RMS and is the same as the fixed output when you use DAC mode.

If you’re speakers don’t sound good with the DAVE, I can only scratch my head and think possibly it’s not a match made in headgear heaven

 

[emrelights1973]

İn Order to get same Kind of detail, PRaT form a stereo par to Utopia you will have speaker cables more expensive form utopia

Head if is excepional value compare to stereo

Utopia+sp1000 you have a World Class sound that compare to only 100$ k stereo set up..

Offcourse this is my humble not Expert opinion

İ have both headfi and stereo gear.... lots of them över 30 years

 

[up late]

i don't share your "humble not expert opinion"

 

[emrelights1973]

i don't share your "humble not expert opinion"

Then you need to tell me why....

 

[up late]

no i don't