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- May 26, 2009
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Immitbiker, Baka1969 and Frank I met today at my house shared some pizza and had the opportunity to listen to all the major players in the marketplace today and as is the case in audio we shared some similiar impression about each headphone and some each of us preferred more than the other. What I do want to say these are all contenders for the best headphone but one thing they all have in common is they have both strong and weak point to each, Please be advise my opinion is based on my observations and as always are only my opinion. The others will have different views which is what makes this so much fun. I also have been listening to the HE6 since Wed so my impressions are not fully completed and will post a separate report on the HE5 loaner paid.
The equipment that was used mainly consisted of my Marantz DV6001,Onkyo DX7555 and Sony 999ES Sacd player with my Matrix SS amp and Decware CSP=2. Ross had his Netbook with DacMagic and brought his HD800. Aaron brought himself and a 12 yr old single malt scotch which Ross seemed to enjoy. Posting impression is just that for me as this is not a review as really have not had enough time to post a complete review on the LCD2 so my opinion can change as I get more hours on them. I received the LCD2 yesterday so they are still new to me and I am still in the honeymoon face. The T1 are my reference cans and I am very familiar with what they do well and the ones I have spent the most time with, Listening mostly with the Decware to the LCD2 and some time with both SS amps I feel the major strong point of the LCD2 is vocal. IMO they reproduce vocals better than any other headphone I have heard, The bass is also really special. It is tight,very controlled and extended. The highs are crystal clear and some have said slightly recessed but I have not heard any recession and just enjoy the music, Drum cymbals have proper sheen and high hats have space in between that I can hear very clearly. The major weakness that I see with the LCD2 is a small sound stage with very little air and space with instruments is not as wide as the other headphone except the HE6 which shares the air and space issue that I did not experience with the T1 or HD800. Instrument tone is very good and the LCD2 has great detail as all these cans have. Violins and cello are pretty special and the tone is very musical.
The t1 has everything the LCD2 has but more space and a wider sound stage with similar transparency. Vocals are produced well but not as well as the LCD2. Overall I bought the T1 was because I decided that really I could find very little they do wrong. I still believe they are uncolored and very musical and they will always be my go to can. The areas that the T1 excel in are musicality, tone and transparency with very nice bass just not as deep or extended but still very good.I have posted a full review so my feeling are shared in the review.
This was the first time I actually spent some time with the HD800 and listening on my system. The Decware mated very well with the hD800 ans IMO a real nice fit. The soundstage was the biggest and deepest on any headphones that were on hand. It has great transparency and really good on vocals. The area that concerned me most with the HD800 is bass too light for my taste and what I seek in the ultimate headphone. I also noticed a spike in the highs which caused them to sound harsh with horns and instruments that reach high in the tremble. The piercing sound coming from highs could become annoying to some people. For me the HD800 while doing so well with the mids and soundstage better than the other cans would not suit my musical preferences and the spiked tremble would be bothersome to me. To other they may be a non issue.
The HE6 will be separate impressions for me on Monday or Tuesday in the HE6 loaner section. So whats this all mean. I would say all people hear differently. They have different music preferences and ways of delivering the music to their headphone. I will say not one can is better than the other. They all have their strong points and yes they all their weakness. There is no one perfect headphone and in the end all that really matters is what makes each and everyone of us enjoy our systems. Whats right for me may be different than others. More important to me is the music and when you have the right combination of amps and sources the cans will fall into place. So synergy is most important as is enjoyment of the music. So those are my impressions of what I heard and encourage everyone to listen to them all and buy what suits you best
The equipment that was used mainly consisted of my Marantz DV6001,Onkyo DX7555 and Sony 999ES Sacd player with my Matrix SS amp and Decware CSP=2. Ross had his Netbook with DacMagic and brought his HD800. Aaron brought himself and a 12 yr old single malt scotch which Ross seemed to enjoy. Posting impression is just that for me as this is not a review as really have not had enough time to post a complete review on the LCD2 so my opinion can change as I get more hours on them. I received the LCD2 yesterday so they are still new to me and I am still in the honeymoon face. The T1 are my reference cans and I am very familiar with what they do well and the ones I have spent the most time with, Listening mostly with the Decware to the LCD2 and some time with both SS amps I feel the major strong point of the LCD2 is vocal. IMO they reproduce vocals better than any other headphone I have heard, The bass is also really special. It is tight,very controlled and extended. The highs are crystal clear and some have said slightly recessed but I have not heard any recession and just enjoy the music, Drum cymbals have proper sheen and high hats have space in between that I can hear very clearly. The major weakness that I see with the LCD2 is a small sound stage with very little air and space with instruments is not as wide as the other headphone except the HE6 which shares the air and space issue that I did not experience with the T1 or HD800. Instrument tone is very good and the LCD2 has great detail as all these cans have. Violins and cello are pretty special and the tone is very musical.
The t1 has everything the LCD2 has but more space and a wider sound stage with similar transparency. Vocals are produced well but not as well as the LCD2. Overall I bought the T1 was because I decided that really I could find very little they do wrong. I still believe they are uncolored and very musical and they will always be my go to can. The areas that the T1 excel in are musicality, tone and transparency with very nice bass just not as deep or extended but still very good.I have posted a full review so my feeling are shared in the review.
This was the first time I actually spent some time with the HD800 and listening on my system. The Decware mated very well with the hD800 ans IMO a real nice fit. The soundstage was the biggest and deepest on any headphones that were on hand. It has great transparency and really good on vocals. The area that concerned me most with the HD800 is bass too light for my taste and what I seek in the ultimate headphone. I also noticed a spike in the highs which caused them to sound harsh with horns and instruments that reach high in the tremble. The piercing sound coming from highs could become annoying to some people. For me the HD800 while doing so well with the mids and soundstage better than the other cans would not suit my musical preferences and the spiked tremble would be bothersome to me. To other they may be a non issue.
The HE6 will be separate impressions for me on Monday or Tuesday in the HE6 loaner section. So whats this all mean. I would say all people hear differently. They have different music preferences and ways of delivering the music to their headphone. I will say not one can is better than the other. They all have their strong points and yes they all their weakness. There is no one perfect headphone and in the end all that really matters is what makes each and everyone of us enjoy our systems. Whats right for me may be different than others. More important to me is the music and when you have the right combination of amps and sources the cans will fall into place. So synergy is most important as is enjoyment of the music. So those are my impressions of what I heard and encourage everyone to listen to them all and buy what suits you best
