New Audeze LCD3

[writereviews]

Quote:

What's a "desktop amp" anyway?

 
The O2 is stuck between portable and desktop. I'd call it transportable, you can transport it easily unlike a desktop amp but it's not for portable usage.
I'm waiting on the ODA.

 

[hekeli]

Quote:

 
The O2 is stuck between portable and desktop. I'd call it transportable, you can transport it easily unlike a desktop amp but it's not for portable usage.
I'm waiting on the ODA.

 
I could say my G109S is also transportable since it's smallish and built like a tank. I'm just poking at the silly desktop generalization. If this had option to run on 4x9V batteries or something silly like that, what would people say? Get a real desktop amp?

 

[MorbidToaster]

While I haven't heard the LCD 3 with either the new Bryston BHA-1 is a fantastic performer with all the cans we tried at the Dallas meet. I'd call it a bargain at $1300 for a solid state amp.
 
Also consider a B22. I've heard one with LCD 2s and it was fantastic. You can often get used very well built betas on the forums here for around $1500 or less. 
 
Quote:

 
Of course all this "lacking" might be just lack of some coloration, extra treble etc. The word has an unnecessarily negative vibe. What's a "desktop amp" anyway? Is my G109S one? It's still pretty small and basic but it's performance is compared to V100/V200 which are "highly regarded". I heard so little initial difference between my G109S and O2 that I couldn't care to compare in depth. Also someone (Naim FC) whose thought process and testing methods seemed very sane, found extremely tiny differences between O2 and V200. That was refreshing instead of the usual "lacking this that" without anything concrete. Yes I'm sure there can be tiny differences between SS amps, but if finding them requires extreme training and effort, what's the point?
 
So can someone tell me if there's a clearly better solid state amp for my LCD-3? I have zero interest in tubes. If I want that, I just use EQ/DSP like I already do.
 
Maybe I'll try Soloist if I can get it somewhere to try. But if the difference is as "amazing" as for example the sample here, seems a bit pointless. Probably someone tells me next that I need a better DAC to hear the amazing differences.

 
Yes I know I'm in probably in wrong forum ("last 5% subjective performance"), but I'd still like someone to prove to me it's sane to spend even a grand on an SS amp soundwise.

 

[sphinxvc]

@Hekeli - An engineer that designs a portable amp has to take space into consideration.  It takes a certain amount of effort to design a circuit in a smaller footprint, and you can be sure that effort is built into the cost, generally at the expense of performance.  That's why even the most basic desktop amps tend to outperform their portable cousins (even though the portables cost much more - see Ray Samuels).
 
Since the O2 is not supposed to have "any shortcoming" then you can't really call it out for sacrificing space for performance.  I guess it's just not as good and doesn't apologize about it.
 
But generally this is how I've observed it broken down around here:
 
Desktop
Runs off mains power + difficult to move/carry
Transportable
Runs off mains power + easy to move/carry (or)
Runs off batteries + difficult to move/carry
Portable
Runs off batteries + easy to move/carry
 
What everyone was referring to by saying "desktop amps" in the last page were the well regarded full-size amps generally recommended around here.  Peak/Volcano.  Beta 22.  Balancing Act.  And so on.
 
You might want to get a feel for what everyone's talking about here before posting your "2 cents."  Or 1 cent rather.

 

[hekeli]

Sphinxvc, thanks, but if you didn't notice I wasn't completely serious.
What I'm serious about is someone convincing me about SS amp to try after G109S. I'm just not looking anything that is "5%" better at 200% cost. Or something that I can achieve with EQ. What people are talking about is that you get more resolution or whatnot (EQ can't create missing information - and that's what people are suggesting is missing with cheap amps or dacs imo, feel free to correct me). I'd just like some sane examples and not "lacking this and that". But I understand many people don't care to analyze things deeply - not even I. I'd just like people to say if things really are "5%" or "night and day" when commenting on something. You can't assume everyone here is in the 5% mindset.

 

[MorbidToaster]

I absolutely hate the term night and day and would honestly avoid it when looking into new gear. Unless they give specific things that changed for the better I'd almost disregard it completely. 
 
I've only had a 'night and day' experience once in my entire time in this hobby.
 
Quote:

Sphinxvc, thanks, but if you didn't notice I wasn't completely serious.
What I'm serious about is someone convincing me about SS amp to try after G109S. I'm just not looking anything that is "5%" better at 200% cost. Or something that I can achieve with EQ. What people are talking about is that you get more resolution or whatnot (EQ can't create missing information - and that's what people are suggesting is missing with cheap amps or dacs imo, feel free to correct me). I'd just like some sane examples and not "lacking this and that". But I understand many people don't care to analyze things deeply - not even I. I'd just like people to say if things really are "5%" or "night and day" when commenting on something. You can't assume everyone here is in the 5% mindset.

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

I absolutely hate the term night and day and would honestly avoid it when looking into new gear. Unless they give specific things that changed for the better I'd almost disregard it completely. 
 
I've only had a 'night and day' experience once in my entire time in this hobby.
 

Are ya converting over to the dark side (stax)?

 

[MorbidToaster]

I really...really...really want to.
 
Quote:

Are ya converting over to the dark side (stax)?

 

[Anaxilus]

Quote:

Of course all this "lacking" might be just lack of some coloration, extra treble etc. 

 
What's funny is the O2 sounds brighter than my other amps I find more detailed.

 

[grokit]

The difference between a desktop and a portable amp is...
 

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

The difference between a desktop and a portable amp is...
 

Wrong thread, Grokit. 

 http://www.head-fi.org/t/397407/lets-talk-metal

 

[dailydoseofdaly]

My lcd3 came in the mail this afternoon! only had a chance to listen on the iPhone so far but it sounds very promising, can already hear some of the positive attributes that I've read on this thread. Now I get to go home and hear what it can really do. Never looked so forward to being exhausted at work in the a.m

 

[paradoxper]

Quote:

My lcd3 came in the mail this afternoon! only had a chance to listen on the iPhone so far but it sounds very promising, can already hear some of the positive attributes that I've read on this thread. Now I get to go home and hear what it can really do. Never looked so forward to being exhausted at work in the a.m

It's about time! 

 

[dailydoseofdaly]

It's about time! 

For real, I feel the same about selling that damn BMW as well

 

[dailydoseofdaly]

One last observation,I don't remember seeing this on here. The vegan lcd3 pads that came on my 3 are the same width as the leather ones (also came with the phones). However they are much more firm, like memory foam and don't compress near as easy as the leather pads. They feel comfortable but need more time to see how they affect the sound.