[Solude]

Quote:

Quote:
i owned the LF and DS, side by side in my rig for over 5 months.
and, with ortho headphones, the DarkStar was better to these ears.

 
Now if only it had pre-outs

 

[driver 8]

I essentially ignored everyone's cable suggestions and got a dual 3-pin XLR Silver Dragon for the convenient form factor and the fact that I've had nothing but positive experiences buying from Moon Audio.
 
So yeah, now that I can listen to WA22 -> LCD-3 without having to take the amp apart, I'm enjoying it a lot!  Everything's fuller than the previous LCD-3 combos I had access too, but it's by no means slow, veiled, or anything else of the sort; this fullness seems pretty evenly distributed across the spectrum.  I guess the Liquid Fire's the big new thing now, but I personally think this combo is great.
 
I don't know if anyone in this thread saw my impromptu TH900 video, but if you did, disregard what I said about these being uncomfortable.  I'm actually finding them to be quite the opposite now after playing with headband adjustments more.  Their weight's evident when I lay back, but otherwise they feel just fine. 
 
-Edit-
 
Soundstaging compared to other headpones I've been using:
 
Width - HD800 > LCD-3 >> TH900
Depth - HD800 >(=?) LCD-3 >TH900
Coherence (my blend of placement and separation) - TH900 > LCD-3 > HD800, if only for the fact that, to my ears, the HD800's channels don't blend as well, also harshness.
 
(I've never been good at discerning height in headphones.  Typically, if I can, it's for all the wrong reasons.)
 
^ Those are obviously early impressions with the new amp, but I think it's safe to say these image decently.  People don't think otherwise on account of the LCD-2's reputation here, do they?  I think the 3's added transient response really help here.

 

[SteveM324]

Quote:

Well, since you still own them all, I guess you're not saying there is "no way back" to the top tier dynamics, even if you hold the 009 as the favorite. Or did you? Is the "best" your favorite?..

Yes, I still own them all.  I would not say there is "no way back" to dynamics.  I do prefer my electrostatic system but I could easily live with my dynamic headphones and amps and be happy.

 

[SteveM324]

Quote:

Quote:
i owned the LF and DS, side by side in my rig for over 5 months.
and, with ortho headphones, the DarkStar was better to these ears.

Yup, for the LCD 2 & 3 and the HE6, I agree 100% and I still own both amps.  For my efficient headphones like my LA7000, the LF is better. 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

One of these days I am going to have to bit the bullet and buy a really killer Stax rig.

Come to the 'dark side" Rob! I already did and I am amazed with the SR-009 sound. My other two systems are good but they do not have the clarity, purity, holographic detail and separation that the Stax system provides IMO. That is just with the SRM-727MKII the next step will be the A10 in some time.

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

009&KGBHSE would be the rig but get in line and get comfortable

To me is the SR-009 and RSA A10 Thunderbolt.

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Somehow, that sounded almost as a threat...
 
 
Anyway, I am getting slightly bored by the Stax mafia always stating there is "no way back". I find myself going back and forth all the time, and find it strange that people cannot appreciate more than one headphone no matter how freakin good it is.. 

I agree with you. My Stax rig has been the one getting the more headtime lately but from time to time I go back to my WA5-LE with the HD800 or W3000ANV for some sweet tube sound or my DS with the HE-6 to rock on 

 

[musicman59]

Quote:

Well that's just his opinion.  I own not only the LCD3 but the DarkStar, LF and the Stax SR-009/RSA A-10.  To my ears, my best system is the Stax SR-009, and RSA A-10 Thunderbolt.  That's my opinion.  No one is right, and everyone has their own preferences.  As far as dynamic headphone systems go, I like my HE6 driven by the DarkStar every bit as much as the LCD3 driven by either the LF or the DarkStar.

Totally agree with you Steve 

 

[drez]

Quote:

He's way out of his element. 
 

 
What about calling the DarkStar transparent when it is pretty well known to be slightly warm (or is this only with the HE-6?)...  Maybe Steve can better comment on this?

 

[Lan647]

I think I'd take the LCD-3 and especially the rev.2 instead of the 009. The 009 is clearer and certainly a masterpiece in terms of build quality, but it's not as fantastic as people seem to believe. The midrange is a bit thin, just not the most natural. The bass is great and the treble is clear and open without sounding sharp and so on, but the midrange just isn't state of the art IMO. The SR-007 mk1,5 is the better headphone I would say. 

If you want that clear, open sound with great detail retrieval, buy an HD 800 instead, details are more prominent there and you save $4000.  

I found the LCD-3 slightly grainier in the treble than the rev.2 and thicker in the lower mids/upper bass. It should be said though that I don't know if the LCD-3 I heard was veiled, and I know my friend's rev.2 is a fine example. The 3 is definitely more comfortable, though. Those pads are wonderful. In comparison the LCD-2s almost hurt the first few minutes after you've put them on. 

 

[Grev]

OFF TOPIC:  you guys are old.

 

[Solude]

Quote:

OFF TOPIC:  you guys are old.

That you wrote this on page 386 is just pure gold  And if you had to google it, you aren't old

 

[dyl1dyl]

Quote:

That's my opinion.  No one is right, and everyone has their own preferences.  

 
Absolutely agree. We all hear differently so when you cross certain price boundaries, it really comes down to taste. What I do think we can agree on to a larger extent is that certain headphones (only looking at still in production models) hold close performance levels, such as IMO, the Hifiman HE-6, LCD-3 (rma'd), Stax 007 m2, Stax 009 and HD-800 forming the top tier of performance, followed by IMO again, a second tier consisting of the Hifiman HE-500, Beyerdynamic T1, Grado PS1000, Stax SR-507,Sony MDR-SA5000 and Sennheiser HD-650. These class divisions are still debatable (I'm sure some people would question the HD-650s inclusion in "tier 2") but it's probably easier to group headphones by boundaries rather than as "best" or "second best" as that would be more subjective.

 

[Icenine2]

Quote:

Well that's just his opinion.  I own not only the LCD3 but the DarkStar, LF and the Stax SR-009/RSA A-10.  To my ears, my best system is the Stax SR-009, and RSA A-10 Thunderbolt.  That's my opinion.  No one is right, and everyone has their own preferences.  As far as dynamic headphone systems go, I like my HE6 driven by the DarkStar every bit as much as the LCD3 driven by either the LF or the DarkStar.

 
Steve.  You clearly have too much time on your hands here with this many rigs and need to share them with the other children here.  My hand is raised first!

 

[YoengJyh]

AHUUU! Me too!