[abcd]

Hello. I'm looking at buying the HE-5le or LCD-2 depending on how low I can get them for.
 
I've read the reviews of both and both of them seem very appealing. I have a few questions:
 
1. How would my ODAC effect the performance of the he-5le's and the lcd-2's?
2. I think the cheapest amp I can get that will be reasonably effective is the Schiit Lyr, is this correct?
 
3. Now, according to my music tastes, which one would you recommend:
 
Alt Rock (90s stuff -- Third eye blind, blink-182, lit, semisonic)
Ambient/Deep house (not sure what to call it) -- Rameses B and ODESZA
Progressive house -- Mango, Blue Harvest, Roald Velden
Rock -- Rolling Stones, Paul Simon, etc
Folk -- Bon Iver
Electronic -- Lemaitre
 
4. I already have the HD-650s and O2+ODAC, how much of an improvement would the HE-5le's and LCD-2's be?
 
Thanks so much to those of you answering these questions. I appreciate your help

 

[KG Jag]

No--you don't need an amp as powerful as the Lyr for these two cans--although you can certainly use it with both.  The Lyr is the "cheapest" amp that I know of that will properly power the HE-6.
 
The two planars you are considering are, I would say, objectively better than the HD 650.  However, that doesn't necessarily mean that you will will like either or both better.  Further the two planars have sound signatures that differ from one another.  On top of that, I think the HE-500 is a bit better can and quite possibly cheaper the 5LE.
 
Perhaps the best place to start is to read these pieces on the 650, 500 & 2:
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-compared-update-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2-6-4-13#user_HD650
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-compared-update-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2-6-4-13#user_HE500
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-compared-update-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2-6-4-13#user_LCD2
 
and
 
http://www.head-fi.org/t/634201/battle-of-the-flagships-58-headphones-compared-update-audeze-lcd-2-revision-2-6-4-13#user_LCD2b