Hype? What hype? Audeze has probably created the least amount of hype and advertising of any of the flagship headphones. They don't even have any professional photographs on their site. They now finally have some that don't look homemade, but they still are not up to what even Hifiman has made of their phones (the ones you see in the ads here). Sennheiser creates WAY more hype for their HD800 in their imagery, their statements, their tactics, their pricepoint, and even the looks of the headphone itself. The reason that the LCD-2 thread is long is because they have an enthusiastic fan base. And that has nothing to do with hype.
The secret to Audeze's success is that they have 0 competition with the other flagship headphones, or in fact, with any headphone within a 600 dollar radius. I agree with Innerspace, over the past couple decades, every headphone manufacturer has seemingly moved in the same direction- towards a more analytical signature whose top priority is to eek out as much detail as possible at the expense of everything else- sometimes with fast drivers as in the HD800, but always with uneven, peaky treble. The HD650 is and has been for years one of if not the most popular headphone in it's price range because it has a natural, peak free sound signature that is well rounded in it's strengths and is about more than just detail. Before the LCD-2, the only upgrade path from the HD650 was the Stax Omega2, which is hugely expensive and requires a complete change of equipment. For people who invested a lot in their HD650 rigs and didn't want to let them go, the O2 was not an option, and the HD650, a 400 dollar headphone, was as far as they could go if they liked that sound signature.
So the LCD-2 doesn't need to be the most comfortable, or the most refined looking (I personally like how they look), or have the nicest cables, and it doesn't even need to sound perfect (I think it is very close to perfect), because it has no competition. If you like that sound signature and want something in the price range between HD650 and O2, or you dont' like the 650, or you want the best headphone with that sig but can't afford the 02 or don't want an electrostatic rig, than the LCD-2 is the only option. And I think a lot of people fall into that category.
The LCD-2 thread is so huge and people are so enthusiastic about them not because of "hype" but because I think people have waited a long time for a headphone like the LCD-2. I think a lot of people felt stuck with the HD650, or were, maybe for years, desperately wanting something with that signature but without the slow sound it has. I am the same way. I've gone through so so so many headphones and been so frustrated by the lack of variety (they all have tons of treble/upper mids), I even resorted to buying old vintage headphones that were made when manufacturers had different priorities. And so the LCD-2 was like "FINALLY!!!" Unfortunately I hear a reverb/ringing issue with them, but the company themselves are really my only hope for a good high end headphone, because they seem to be the only manufacturer who is catering to music lovers who do not listen analytically.
I just hope they can work on perfecting the LCD-2 without falling into the trap of elevated treble in an attempt to please those who find them "dark and bassy".
