LCD-2 rev2 impression and thoughts

[grev]

Got my LCD-2 rev2 at work, the mids are great, very good actually, then the bass is amazing, it's amazing because it extends so much further than the normal dynamic drivers, lots of extension, love it.

I used the Objective2 to drive it tonight, with the Ipod gen5 straight into it and also with my Ipod touch 64gb into CLAS into the O2, both sound very good, the CLAS is better of course.

Further observations will be recorded, when my portable tube amp arrives.

[Antihippy]

The O2 can actually run it well?

Wow.

[grev]

Actually all of my little portable amps run it, except for the PA2V2 which doesn't sound as good as the others, so the O2 runs it well, the JDSLabs cmoy runs it fine too, I haven't tried my ZO2 yet. And possibly would like to try the JDSLabs c421 to run it too.

[grev]

Another brief listen today (tonight), it's very revealing, listening to Dream Theater's 'On the back of angels' and it revealed some imperfections, also listening to the Radiohead catalogue revealed many sounds I haven't heard of before.

[Deniz]

But Marcus says the LCD2 is so power hunger and needs powerful high end amps...

[grev]

But Marcus says the LCD2 is so power hunger and needs powerful high end amps...

I can't speak for Marcus, but my Objective2 with 1x/3x gain settings (down from the default 2.5x/6.5x setting) drives the LCD-2 rev2 at the 1x setting being fed from my CLAS.

The cmoy drives it too and that was on 4/5x gain setting.

How well (aside from the volume) it drives the LCD-2 rev2 though is what I shall find out tomorrow when my ALO The Continental portable tube amp comes in, which apparently is one of the best portable amp, so I'll see how they differ.

[Marcus]

Yeah volume was just the beginning, but it may also have been the amps that I was comparing at the time.
I need to pull out some of the more recent options that have increased gain settings.
Beyond that it was more of a case of setting a point of reference and comparing them to what they sound like when matched with something high end.

A cmoy can "drive" the Beyer DT880s and AKG K701s, but they'll sound blah.

[theeyealtering]

I guess, if you are surrounded by lower end amps, it is a bit hard to say whether or not it is reaching its full potential until you try it on something a lot better.

[Drubbing]

I guess, if you are surrounded by lower end amps, it is a bit hard to say whether or not it is reaching its full potential until you try it on something a lot better.

Yes.

Almost any portable amp can get most headphones to produce enough volume. Opening them up is another thing. I think you need far more than portables to find out what they can do, regardless of how exclusive they market themselves.

I listened to the planar magnetic HE5 on the Matrix. It sounded good and went loud on top whack, but not ear damage loud. It really felt like the phones were being restricted, and had far more in reserve than the matrix could give it.

[grev]

Well my 'The Continental' is coming and my purpose is to keep it as portable (or transportable) as possible, I'll compare the O2 and Continental, or maybe I need to sink some more money into that Ray Samuels stuff, eh?

Or the Triad Audio L3...

[Drubbing]

It's a sickness with you isn't it?

[grevillea]

Dont worry, grev - drubbing used to say exactly the same thing to me. He doesnt realise what its like to have all that disposable income and no friends.

I must admit that there is a certain amount of freedom that comes from no longer surrendering to every new FOTM that comes down the pike - the ZO2 cured me of that. Unlike the Steamer, it really was a plastic POS.

[kelvinyap9]

On a somewhat relevant note:

Anybody gave/borrowed Marcus an O2 amp to play around with yet?

[daystrom_matthew]

The O2 can actually run it well?

Wow.

That was my reaction too

Anybody gave/borrowed Marcus an O2 amp to play around with yet?

I can bring mine with me next time in Perth, and leave it with him for a bit, but I don't know when that will be
That or finally deciding on (and ordering) my DAC/Amp combo to replace my 'temporary' setup, thus freeing up the O2.

Cheers
Matt.

[Zeruel83]

The LCD 2 was up for consideration last year, ended up getting MS Pro and came in under budget (thanks Headphonic).

I was really curious about Planar Magnetics, but was sceptical of Head-Fi particular circle jerk on the matter. I had only the Talisman T-35HP at the time, which I guess like the T-33 would be up to task.
Since then, I've acquired a Woo Audio 2, which according to the spec sheet has higher output than the T35hp, which says > 150mw in various loads.

I'm still curious about the LCD 2.

Imo Head Fi is a recipe for doubt. Their Woo Thread says Low Impedance headphones basically suck on the WA2 (no output transfomer), but I think MS pro sounds fine. The very same thread says Denon Headphones (also low impedance) sound great. It's pretty schizophrenic.