HE-400 + Lyr vs LCD-2 Rev. 2?

[daniel521]

I've heard many people say the HE-400 was fantastic with the Lyr and Bifrost, that it was a different beast. However, the Lyr+Bifrost is a 900 dollar setup which is pretty damn expensive. The HE-400 + Lyr+ Bifrost will cost 1300 dollars, and with that money I could get a hi-fi setup. Since it would be as expensive as a hifi setup, I wanted to know if it would be as good. I could get the LCD-2 Rev. 2 + the Audio gd NFB10 for about 1550 dollars. So to summarize:
 
HE-400 + Lyr + Bifrost = 1300 dollars
 
VS
 
LCD-2 Rev. 2 + Audio gd NFB-10 = 1550 dollars
 
Which one would be worth the money? I listen mostly to rock and metal, some electronic, and some pop. I will be using these for gaming as well.

 

[KCxSmacker]

With that much money I would find somewhere to test both the headphones if you can. I wish I was able to. I love my HE-400s even though I got the bad rev3 version and are on their way back. I cant imagine what they will sound like when they get back. Obviously the LCD-2s are going to be amazing. 
 
Now take my opinion with a grain of salt as I have not heard the 400s on the lyr or the lcd2 at all but the HE-400s sound great on the asgard, which is the SS amp from schiit. That would cut the price down of the first build by 200 dollars. I dont know if that changes your mind at all. 
 
Also With how many headphones I have bought now I could probably have afforded the 2nd combo you listed. I think I would have gone with the 2nd combo if I knew what I knew now, but at the same time I have many headphones that all have different purposes. So you can look at it that way too. You could get a 1000ish build with the he-400s and spend that extra 550 on another headset or two. But Its really on where all you listen to music. 
 
 
TL;DR LCD-2.... Maybe ^_~ lol
 
I'm sure someone with more headphone testing will chime in and be more helpful but I figured I would give my 2 cents as I have used the he-400s at least. 

 

[TMRaven]

Always get the best headphone you can buy for the money.  The amp's significance is minimal compared to the headphone, no matter what people on head-fi would try to tell you otherwise.
 
The Audio GD should be powerful enough for the LCD.  Later down the line you can upgrade to a different amp or dac if you want.

 

[KCxSmacker]

Quote:

Always get the best headphone you can buy for the money.  The amp's significance is minimal compared to the headphone, no matter what people on head-fi would try to tell you otherwise.
 
The Audio GD should be powerful enough for the LCD.  Later down the line you can upgrade to a different amp or dac if you want.

I agree with this I guess. I really think the best headphone is what sounds best to you though. Thats why I suggest you try to try out the headphones if you can.

 

[daniel521]

Quote:

Always get the best headphone you can buy for the money.  The amp's significance is minimal compared to the headphone, no matter what people on head-fi would try to tell you otherwise.
 
The Audio GD should be powerful enough for the LCD.  Later down the line you can upgrade to a different amp or dac if you want.

Since the amp doesn't have that much significance (Unless it can't power the headphone properly), do you think it would be smarter to get the NFB12.1 rather than the NFB10 for the LCD-2? NFB12.1 is 215$ while the NFB10 is 550$... I read somewhere that there is a big difference between the NFB12 and the NFB1o on the LCD-2 but I'm not so sure.

 

[TMRaven]

You might research further on that.  But the LCD's impedance curve is straight flat from what I remember, so it's not like its sound signature will change dramatically depending on the amp, and as long as the amp itself can put out at least 1 watt, I think you'll be fine.  Any differences between the amps would probably be subtle refinements and changes in their sound signature, so it wont be anything major.

 

[RushNerd]

Lyr+recabled 400+Essence ST= $999
 
Could have actually done an asgard with LCD2's for all that cash, but I feel like i'm getting the better setup here.

 

[TwinQY]

I agree with getting the best headphone you can buy over spending exorbitant amounts on the rest of the chain. However, the HE-400 and LCD-2s sound different enough that a "best" really can't be decided without some personal preference settling in. The LCD-2's bass sounds more linear and textured, but the HE-400 have tighter and leaner bass. Not really better or worst either way. The mids are lusher, with better timbre and detailing on the LCD-2, while the HE-400s are again leaner, but with IMO more clarity and less mushiness. Treble is like an exponentially increasing curve on the HE-400s, while the LCD-2s are linear, but with less quantities relative to the rest of the spectrum. Prioritizing which sound you would like more is probably more important than concerning about which is "better" overall, because the "best" simply doesn't exist.

 

[wolfetan44]

Are you planning on getting more headphones in the long run? If so the HE400 and Lyr would be ideal. But if your looking for endgame then I would recommend the LCD2 and NFB 10. Also keep in mind the LCD2 are very heavy.

 

[MattTCG]

I'll vote for used lyr and he400 and odac= $350+360+150=$860 

 

[wolfetan44]

Quote:

I'll vote for used lyr and he400 and odac= $350+360+150=$860 

MattTCG, this has always been a lingering question I have been wanting to ask. Do I need a DAC?

 

[MattTCG]

Yes. And for the money I'm suggesting the odac built by Joe at Audio Poutine. There is also one built by JDS labs, but I like Joe's better. So yes, you need a dac. 

 

[wolfetan44]

Quote:

Yes. And for the money I'm suggesting the odac built by Joe at Audio Poutine. There is also one built by JDS labs, but I like Joe's better. So yes, you need a dac. 

Hm, ok thanks.
Off topic: 500th post!!

 

[fortitude]

I've had both, still have my LCD-2's.  Always get the best headphones you can possibly get and upgrade the other pieces as you can.  The LCD-2s do run best on something like the Lyr however, they actually sound damn fantastic on a cheap combo of the O2 + Odac---fitting in well under your $1500 budget.

 

[jerg]

IMO HE400s and LCD2r2s are so similar in technicalities and so different in voicing that they deserve to be separate but equal in weighting for anyone considering between them.
 
The former is more of a diamond in the rough, with a more polite presentation and significantly more airy treble and overall a more "open" sound; the latter is more refined, more forward in presentation and has a more mellow treble with a more "in-your-head" or "in a small room" sound.
 
From the auditioning I did between the two, the bass is a trade-off, the former is a bit more revealing and textured, the latter more solid and physical.
 
 
 
 
Thus in the end, it's all about priorities, priorities, PRIORITIES. For anyone seeking a more laid-back and open sound, they'd be a fool to choose LCD2s over HE400s; inversely so for anyone looking for a more aggressive and cohesive sound.