[donlin]

I think some gear is very heavily engineered toward balanced operation. For example the Sennheiser amp was pathetic single ended but excellent balanced. The balanced Musical Fidelity amp I currently have is very close either way.

 

[Zombie_X]

Totally. I still use balanced for many of my headphone because the amp seems to drive them better than on my single ended amps. The extra dB's from balanced output is always welcomed, but I dislike the stepped POT on my ROC. Everytime I turn up the volume there is either a loud click or pop.
 
donlin, the reason the Sennheiser amp sounded bad from it's single ended output is the same reason the ROC does,  current and output voltage are halved.
 
Doesn't the Musical Fidelity amp have a high output impedance of 20Ohms or so? That things going to have a negative effect on the HD700, not so much on your HD650. The GH-1 will also be effected and will sound mushy or congested.
 
Quote:

  Have to agree…a few dBs can make a large difference in perceived sound quality, which is why many believe balanced is the way to go...I just mentioned it as that is the way I have things configured....but besides the added gain...when levels are matched between balanced and single ended the difference is really negligible if non existent with headphones. Obviously with inefficient phones that greater increase in volume is greatly appreciate which is why I use it... but there shouldn’t be any difference in sound quality, but many beg to differ.
Interconnects on the other hand when long distance are employed..... a balanced configuration can make the world of difference, especially with regards to noise rejection.

 

[donlin]

No the MX-HPA output impedance is 3.5 ohms. It is wonderful with the 700's, the best of the amps I've tried so far.

 

[Sundown]

The midrange isn't as clear or as good as the HD600/HD650's imo but it's still good. Comfort and slimness outbeat them though.

 

[Rob80b]

Alert !!!!!!!
 
Hi Guys…here I was trying to wrestle with the sound of my newly owned Audeze LCD2.2 and while checking them with my Stereophile Test CDs discovered one of the channels of my stock balanced cable is out of phase, dah !!! 

Confirmed by swapping it with the stock single ended 1/4 “cable and a custom cable with a 1/8” plug…so I’ll need to redo my comparisons with the HD700s.

Oddly I’m very familiar with the effects of things being out of phase...not as pronounced as with speakers...but still I knew there had to be something off as the LCD-2s just didn’t appear to stand up to all the hype…especially concerning the base.
I've edited/erased the previous impressions, except for the first post which was done with the single ended cable....so ignore most of what I've written....I'll keep you up to date.
Meanwhile I'll contact Audeze with my discovery.

 

[donlin]

  Alert !!!!!!!
 
Hi Guys…here I was trying to wrestle with the sound of my newly owned Audeze LCD2.2 and while checking them with my Stereophile Test CDs discovered one of the channels of my stock balanced cable is out of phase, dah !!! 

Confirmed by swapping it with the stock single ended 1/4 “cable and a custom cable with a 1/8” plug…so I’ll need to redo my comparisons with the HD700s.

Oddly I’m very familiar with the effects of things being out of phase...not as pronounced as with speakers...but still I knew there had to be something off as the LCD-2s just didn’t appear to stand up to all the hype…especially concerning the base.
I've edited/erased the previous impressions, except for the first post which was done with the single ended cable....so ignore most of what I've written....I'll keep you up to date.
Meanwhile I'll contact Audeze with my discovery.

Although Audeze seems to have quite a few quality control problems, it makes you wonder how often this happens with any headphones.

 

[Rob80b]

Quote:

 
Although Audeze seems to have quite a few quality control problems, it makes you wonder how often this happens with any headphones.

Apparently AKG shipped out a few K702s..I believe... with polarity reversed inside the phones..at least with the Audeze it was just the cable.
Been listening to the LCD-2s all morning, they are indeed a fine phone now that I discovered what the problem was, base is back and they sound way more coherent for obvious reasons

…..different from the HD700s…but a keeper. : )

 

[Sundown]

Just so happens these make a great headphone stand. 

 

[DavidA]

@Sundown, hope the pads are not compressed too much?  I used to have an Omega stand and the pads on my HE-400 got flatten really quickly so stopped using it and any stand that compresses the pads.

 

[amnesiac75]

@Sundown
, hope the pads are not compressed too much?  I used to have an Omega stand and the pads on my HE-400 got flatten really quickly so stopped using it and any stand that compresses the pads.

+1 I cringe when I see a headphone pad being squashed by a stand it's always best to let your ears shape the earpads as they break in.

 

[donlin]

+1 I cringe when I see a headphone pad being squashed by a stand it's always best to let your ears shape the earpads as they break in.

Same here.  Those stands always look like they would do a lot of damage. 

 

[Sundown]

There isn't really enough clamp to smush the pads. Just took it for a picture as I know what you mean. I never leave my headphones like that but thought it was a fitting picture. Anyway, enjoy your stand with the bar smushing the middle of your headband. 

 

[raze94]

Avoid the smush and use the box it came in.

 

[DavidA]

  There isn't really enough clamp to smush the pads. Just took it for a picture as I know what you mean. I never leave my headphones like that but thought it was a fitting picture. Anyway, enjoy your stand with the bar smushing the middle of your headband. 

The bar smushing the middle of the headband is another thing I don't like and have modded my stands with memory foam and leather so they are like the picture below:

 

[Krutsch]

Hmm... I spent part of my morning listening to various tracks (alternative rock) with the HD-700s using my NAD D 1050. This DAC/amp combo really makes my Grados sing, believe it or not, but with the 700s it was seriously fatiguing.
 
Edgy, bright, hollow mids... I don't know how to describe it, but I can see why so many people hate these cans, depending on the playback chain.
 
When I use these cans with (some) tubes, they are wonderful, as I suppose the tubes are rolling off some of the high frequencies and allowing the other portions to shine through.