[Muffinhead]

The title says it all. Regardless of price, which one of these pair of cans would contrast more nicely with the Audeze? I have a Lyr 2 and Magni amp, in case that makes any difference. 

 

[flaming_june]

How can you go wrong with either?  I feel the t1 is the safer choice though.

 

[Me x3]

HD800 is farther away from LCD-2.
That said, it won't be easy to switch from LCD-2 to HD800.
It will demand listening time until you get used to the extremely different presentation (you'll probably say where's the bass? Why so much treble? You know...) and then when you start feeling comfortable with HD800's sound, going back to LCD-2 could be tricky as well (Where's the treble and air? You might find it bloated and closed in).
 
T1 is very different from LCD-2 but still closer than HD800, going from T1 to LCD-2 and vice versa should be much easier.
 
If you're planning to listen to the same recordings with both headphones then T1 is definitely a safer bet.
If you'll play different recordings through them, say rock on LCDs and classical on HD800 then HD800 might serve you better for contrasting purposes.
 
T1 is more intimate with some body in the bass and overall a more organic presentation.
HD800 is cooler, more distant and it's quite steely sounding in comparison. Technically speaking is extremely capable.
 
A late AKG K702 should do the trick as well. Slightly fuller sounding than HD800.

 

[Muffinhead]

I want the ying and the yang, so to speak. Something that does best what the LCD2 does worst. As for music, I mostly listen to rock (Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, grunge, etc,). There is a noticeable amount of acoustic tracks and lighter, cleaner, songs that I have in my library as well. I also have a decent number of shoegaze songs with female vocals. No classical tracks to speak of, otherwise I would spring for the HD800's no question. 

 

[Muffinhead]

I think I would use them on different recording, after trying out the new pair on every track I own And you mentioned the K702- would that have the soundstage and articulation of the HD800? A large part of my decision is based upon soundstage, so I want to know which one of these choices has the best one - it seems the HD800 does. And lastly, I want a headphone with an exceptional amount of detail in its presentation, one that I would use for tracks with more subtleties, like these two:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0zLUARh8Q4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XlP794_aCU
(try to use your imagination to fill in the detail lost due to youtube)
Let me know what you think. 

 

[Me x3]

  I think I would use them on different recording, after trying out the new pair on every track I own And you mentioned the K702- would that have the soundstage and articulation of the HD800? A large part of my decision is based upon soundstage, so I want to know which one of these choices has the best one - it seems the HD800 does. And lastly, I want a headphone with an exceptional amount of detail in its presentation, one that I would use for tracks with more subtleties, like these two:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0zLUARh8Q4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XlP794_aCU
(try to use your imagination to fill in the detail lost due to youtube)
Let me know what you think. 

Let me check those

 

[Me x3]

  I think I would use them on different recording, after trying out the new pair on every track I own And you mentioned the K702- would that have the soundstage and articulation of the HD800? A large part of my decision is based upon soundstage, so I want to know which one of these choices has the best one - it seems the HD800 does. And lastly, I want a headphone with an exceptional amount of detail in its presentation, one that I would use for tracks with more subtleties, like these two:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0zLUARh8Q4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XlP794_aCU
(try to use your imagination to fill in the detail lost due to youtube)
Let me know what you think. 

 
First Song: HD800 >= T1 > K702
HD800: Black background, crisp sound, open stage
T1: Similarly black background, more bass, little bit more focused stage, warmer vocals
K702: Almost black background but not there with HD800 and T1, similar stage to HD800 but warmer, fuller sound that's not as crisp
 
Second Song: T1 > K702 = HD800
T1: Inviting sound, very nice instrument separation and tone, soundstage is not far from HD800 and K702 but projected objects are smaller/more focused
K702: Well delineated bass, forward vocals and big stage, sometimes the mids appear too upfront
HD800: Big stage but shy bass and sibilant vocals, it holds its own against K702 because of the black background and because of K702 being too forward on certain passages, but it's no better here.
 
I would recommend any of the three for the first song, they all sounded very well and not that far from each other.
The second song is a harder match for these headphones, T1 managed to sound pleasant, while K702 and HD800 despite both having big stage and similarly neutral response failed here or there to my ears. K702 being too forward in the 2kHz region and HD800 being relatively shy in the bass and too forward in the 6kHz region.

 

[Muffinhead]

   
First Song: HD800 >= T1 > K702
HD800: Black background, crisp sound, open stage
T1: Similarly black background, more bass, little bit more focused stage, warmer vocals
K702: Almost black background but not there with HD800 and T1, similar stage to HD800 but warmer, fuller sound that's not as crisp
 
Second Song: T1 > K702 = HD800
T1: Inviting sound, very nice instrument separation and tone, soundstage is not far from HD800 and K702 but projected objects are smaller/more focused
K702: Well delineated bass, forward vocals and big stage, sometimes the mids appear too upfront
HD800: Big stage but shy bass and sibilant vocals, it holds its own against K702 because of the black background and because of K702 being too forward on certain passages, but it's no better here.
 
I would recommend any of the three for the first song, they all sounded very well and not that far from each other.
The second song is a harder match for these headphones, T1 managed to sound pleasant, while K702 and HD800 despite both having big stage and similarly neutral response failed here or there to my ears. K702 being too forward in the 2kHz region and HD800 being relatively shy in the bass and too forward in the 6kHz region.

Thank you so much. Having someone compare the reproduction of these songs is invaluable. I think I'm going to pass on the K702, and instead consider the remaining two. Are you using the 2nd gen T1? I've heard that it's better. Also, could I trouble you to listen to two more songs and compare? 
Thanks so much for your help. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yna3wMFi_W4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaXSCHE8SDI

 

[Me x3]

  Thank you so much. Having someone compare the reproduction of these songs is invaluable. I think I'm going to pass on the K702, and instead consider the remaining two. Are you using the 2nd gen T1? I've heard that it's better. Also, could I trouble you to listen to two more songs and compare? 
Thanks so much for your help. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yna3wMFi_W4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaXSCHE8SDI

I'll try them.
 
Mine is a late T1.1, best of both worlds in my book.
Early T1.1 (serial under 4000 or so) were very bright.
Late T1.1 is warmer but retaining most of the airy presentation.
 
T1.2 is even warmer than late T1.1 and has slightly different and more rolled off treble.
It departed from the classic Beyer house sound and it's less different than LCDs (still different though)

 

[Me x3]

First Song: T1 > K702 > HD800
T1 simply sounds more natural although K702 is not that far behind and provides slightly bigger image.
HD800 is not terrible but it sounds unnatural, trebly, steely, cold.
 
Second Song: K702 > T1 > HD800
K702 wins by a small margin over the T1 because of its more fluid, softer nature, bigger image and more forward guitar.
T1 is a close second more intimate with well delineated sound across the board.
HD800 again is no good match for the recording, to much tss, shh, sss, and the sound lack some fullness next to K702 and T1.
 
Keep in mind that LCDs are more forgiving than this trio with these kind of recordings.

 

[Muffinhead]

OK. Again, thanks for helping me out. I think I'll try to acquire a pair HD800's just out of curiosity, and if they don't work, then sell them and try out the T1's. Is there a specific way (e.g. serial numbers) to tell if a T1 is the late revision of the 1st gen? 

 

[Me x3]

  OK. Again, thanks for helping me out. I think I'll try to acquire a pair HD800's just out of curiosity, and if they don't work, then sell them and try out the T1's. Is there a specific way (e.g. serial numbers) to tell if a T1 is the late revision of the 1st gen? 

Yep, mine is sn. 16.8xx
T1.1 goes up to 23.000 or so...
 
I guess you're fine getting one over sn. 10.000

 

[Muffinhead]

And one more thing: How is the soundstage on the T1? Is it as large as the HD800?

 

[Me x3]

  And one more thing: How is the soundstage on the T1? Is it as large as the HD800?

No, it's still big next to most other headphones but just a tad more compact than HD800 or K702
It's more spherical, filled with smaller but more focused objects.