[wrathzombie]

 
Too many old albums to enjoy anyway. I will only waste my time on a new album if a quick scan makes me feel it to be worthy

Its just that I had high hopes for the following releases this year:
 
Opeth
Fallujah
Beyond Creation
Tool(maybe)
 
and so far Opeth and Fallujah, do not meet my high expectations. So, I will continue to hope...

 

[Trogdor]

Its just that I had high hopes for the following releases this year:

Opeth
Fallujah
Beyond Creation
Tool(maybe)

and so far Opeth and Fallujah, do not meet my high expectations. So, I will continue to hope...

Let's not forget about Nachtmystium's swan song (who knows?) as well as Panopticon's latest.

 

[Music Alchemist]

Let's not forget about Nachtmystium's swan song (who knows?) as well as Panopticon's latest.

 
I enjoyed Nachtmystium's Instinct: Decay far more than their other albums.
 
As for this year, I am looking forward to Hymns For The Broken by Evergrey. Although In Flames is my favorite band, what I have heard from their upcoming Siren Charms was mediocre at best.

 

[markm1]

   
When I demo'd it, it was personally a resounding 'meh' with metal. Instruments had a fuzzy edge to them and it was a bit mellow for my taste. Definitely get it if you like your metal smoothened out, but I really missed hearing cymbals, snare snaps, and guitar distortion like I do on my HE-6.
 
To be fair, my reference is an HE-6, so the sound signature of the LCD-X probably wasn't compatible with my ears to begin with.

Tough call, just not enough time and too many cans, amps, DACS to come away with definitive impressions. Listening on to a laptop with someone else's music-not metal-not ideal.
 
One big take away is the affect of top end amplification and DAC. I've got an A-2 and LD1+ w/ my Grado RS1i which do the trick, but when I listened to some $11 or 1200 WOO piece of kit on my RS1i with a 3K Meridian DAC, I was literally stunned at the difference....and for the money, duh! But, it really bowled meover. 
 
At this point, I did like the LCD-2 overall (don't see spending over 1k when and if I do make a move) and I want something to contrast my RS1. I left feeling the amp aspect for Audeze would be more involving and pricey to get to really sound optimal. I thought the 400i was pretty lively and would probably sound great for metal, but I might be inclined to go with the 560 which is more refined...not necessarily better for metal....but more of a contrast to what I've got.
 
For the money, I thought the Mr Speakers Alpha Dog sounded good across genres (again, didn't hear any metal) for almost half the price of the LCD-2, but not as lush/warm perhaps. But, a good value. I'd probably go for the LCD-2 or He 560. If I didn't have my RS1i which I do thinks pairs well w/ rock/metal, I might be inclined for the 400i given the money....and I still might be convinced.

 

[vaed]

Let's not forget about Nachtmystium's swan song (who knows?) as well as Panopticon's latest.

 
Austin is a man of perpetual quality.
 

 
Tough call, just not enough time and too many cans, amps, DACS to come away with definitive impressions. Listening on to a laptop with someone else's music-not metal-not ideal.
 
One big take away is the affect of top end amplification and DAC. I've got an A-2 and LD1+ w/ my Grado RS1i which do the trick, but when I listened to some $11 or 1200 WOO piece of kit on my RS1i with a 3K Meridian DAC, I was literally stunned at the difference....and for the money, duh! But, it really bowled meover. 
 
At this point, I did like the LCD-2 overall (don't see spending over 1k when and if I do make a move) and I want something to contrast my RS1. I left feeling the amp aspect for Audeze would be more involving and pricey to get to really sound optimal. I thought the 400i was pretty lively and would probably sound great for metal, but I might be inclined to go with the 560 which is more refined...not necessarily better for metal....but more of a contrast to what I've got.
 
For the money, I thought the Mr Speakers Alpha Dog sounded good across genres (again, didn't hear any metal) for almost half the price of the LCD-2, but not as lush/warm perhaps. But, a good value. I'd probably go for the LCD-2 or He 560. If I didn't have my RS1i which I do thinks pairs well w/ rock/metal, I might be inclined for the 400i given the money....and I still might be convinced.

 
Hehe, looks like you have some decisions to make! Also remember that the AD comes with a 15-day return policy, and the LCD-2 and Hifimans probably retain their value fairly well, so you're fairly safe!

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Tough call, just not enough time and too many cans, amps, DACS to come away with definitive impressions. Listening on to a laptop with someone else's music-not metal-not ideal.
 
One big take away is the affect of top end amplification and DAC. I've got an A-2 and LD1+ w/ my Grado RS1i which do the trick, but when I listened to some $11 or 1200 WOO piece of kit on my RS1i with a 3K Meridian DAC, I was literally stunned at the difference....and for the money, duh! But, it really bowled meover. 
 
At this point, I did like the LCD-2 overall (don't see spending over 1k when and if I do make a move) and I want something to contrast my RS1. I left feeling the amp aspect for Audeze would be more involving and pricey to get to really sound optimal. I thought the 400i was pretty lively and would probably sound great for metal, but I might be inclined to go with the 560 which is more refined...not necessarily better for metal....but more of a contrast to what I've got.
 
For the money, I thought the Mr Speakers Alpha Dog sounded good across genres (again, didn't hear any metal) for almost half the price of the LCD-2, but not as lush/warm perhaps. But, a good value. I'd probably go for the LCD-2 or He 560. If I didn't have my RS1i which I do thinks pairs well w/ rock/metal, I might be inclined for the 400i given the money....and I still might be convinced.

 
So you heard the WDS-1? That's the first desktop DAC I plan on getting.
 
(Edit: I only skimmed your post and just noticed you meant a Woo Audio amp, not a DAC.)
 
Someone I know posted another comparison of the HE-560 and HE-400i:
 

  The 560 and 400is are comming to Headphone.Guru for review. Awesome cans that I heard today.
 
400i's were smooth but the 560's were much more dynamic. Especially in that the 560's had a great spatial presense and a wide soundstage and a much better frequency seperation than the 400i. 
 
However, the 560's have a slight spike in the upper mids that aren't harsh, but are a bit of an annoyance at times. It's just not perfected and is slightly off. It's a bit too sharp at times and takes away from the song when your attention is constantly pulled into the 'crack' sound from the cymbals. Despite that, the 560's are awesome.

 

[Tom Yum Goong]

Huh.
Zack Ohren, the guy who mastered the new Fallujah album, offered me an un-loud version of the entire new Fallujah album, given that the band allows it.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  Huh.
Zack Ohren, the guy who mastered the new Fallujah album, offered me an un-loud version of the entire new Fallujah album, given that the band allows it.

 
Sweet! What format will you receive it in?

 

[Tom Yum Goong]

   
Sweet! What format will you receive it in?

No clue. I don't even know if his offer is still a thing since it is almost two weeks old....Facebook decided to not notify me.

 

[Music Alchemist]

  No clue. I don't even know if his offer is still a thing since it is almost two weeks old....Facebook decided to not notify me.

 
Bummer. I convinced a few bands to eventually send me copies of their studio masters...but some aren't digital audio files, so it might take more time and effort.

 

[markm1]

   
So you heard the WDS-1? That's the first desktop DAC I plan on getting.
 
(Edit: I only skimmed your post and just noticed you meant a Woo Audio amp, not a DAC.)
 
Someone I know posted another comparison of the HE-560 and HE-400i:
 

Sounds about right-the review-I listened to a Woo amp and I  believe Meidian DAC at a combined price point of over 4K! So, it should make a difference, right?!
 
I left feeling like the 400i which they said is closer to the old 500 is more "fun" and lively and probably really good for metal, but for other stuff-I like jazz and some electronic, yada, yada, maybe even classical the 560 is probably a "better" can.

 

[vic2vic]

A question for the people following constantly this thread (and with good memory). Some months ago, I think around beginning of the year, somebody published a music video of a (black?) metal band, in which the members were dressing up as players from various famous metal bands. I clearly remember the video started with an Immortal-like rendition, then moved into some Thrash, covered Grunge, a bit of Poison and it included the best Crab walk that I can remember in any metalcore video

 
 
Anybody can help me with the band/song title ?

 

[Tom Yum Goong]

  A question for the people following constantly this thread (and with good memory). Some months ago, I think around beginning of the year, somebody published a music video of a (black?) metal band, in which the members were dressing up as players from various famous metal bands. I clearly remember the video started with an Immortal-like rendition, then moved into some Thrash, covered Grunge, a bit of Poison and it included the best Crab walk that I can remember in any metalcore video

 
 
Anybody can help me with the band/song title ?

Your welcome.

 

[vic2vic]

 

Your welcome.

Tom Yum Goong --> Best memory ever 

This video is amazing.

 

[SoupRKnowva]

  Tom Yum Goong --> Best memory ever 

This band is amazing.

FTFY