Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more?

Posted by 2chJunkie (A) on January 9, 2012 at 07:47:25

As a new member to headphone audio, Im not sure how to approach this or what to be looking for.

Just got a very nice tube head amp made for myself. Happy to post more on it shortly. Its using a single 6SL7 driving a 6L6 and can do about 1000mw into 100 ohms per channel. So can drive all but the most crazy designs and no electrostats. So thats my power limits.

Currently using HD600s and really love the sound. So far Im finding their short comings being not much emphasis below 50hz. That bugs me the most. They dont have the end all in 3d / staging. Not terrible but not awe inspiring either. I really like their neutral sound. They arent shrill to me at all. And on the whole seem really well designed. Just sucks they dont do sub bass much at all. They also can get a bit congested at loud complex passages. Not bad though. Im glad I got them for use right now. Got em cheap and feel they are a great value.

Im going to be using ALLOT of digital as a source. Currently have a MHDT Havana which I absolutely love. And am an all tube pre and amp guy too. There will be vinyl used too. But so far not as much due to convenience of my digital sources. I all about warm rich detailed sound. But need my sub bass too. Im not after the end all in sparkle and top end detail. I cant stand the mastering of so much digital that I try and make my system tolerable to it.

From what Im reading the sound of the HE500 and LCD-2 sound like they would be right up my alley with what I feel Im missing. Its hard to say without direct exposure though. Im here in SE Wisconsin so not sure of any place to hear within reason. Work all the time and have my son.

One thing that puzzles me about Audeze. They seem really serious as a US company and appear to be trying hard. Wish we could see more like that. But why the 1 year warranty? HiFi man is 3 years and many of the other offerings in the $1K area offer 2 or more. I have no plans of driving em to damage but it would be really nice to see greater stand behind for that kind of money. Im also a little scared by their move to offer the next generation at 2X the money! Seems a bold and maybe dangerous move to long term stability of the company. I wish them all the best and they clearly have made a major splash. But yeah, Im not some super rich audiophile by a WIDE margin. Work hard to scrape up spending $ for my love and try to make it well spent.

Up for all ideas and thoughts on where I should be looking. I certainly not sold on any one product yet. Just yearning for the next level and loving the headphone scene. Listening more and more since getting into it.

Thanks so much for thoughts and reading this.

Dave

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Topic - Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - 2chJunkie 07:47:25 01/09/12 (35)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - BigguyinATL 10:20:01 01/31/12 (3)

Thanks. This is why I didnt skimp on the amp.... See link - 2chJunkie 15:10:06 01/31/12 (1)

RE: Thanks. This is why I didnt skimp on the amp.... See link - Kberube80 18:51:18 03/01/12 (0)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - Travis 11:12:02 01/31/12 (0)

3 year warranty from audeze - rmilewsk 16:04:26 01/24/12 (6)

oh for petes sake!!! - 2chJunkie 05:51:10 01/25/12 (5)

RE: oh for petes sake!!! - Frank I 09:28:42 01/26/12 (0)

RE: oh for petes sake!!! - Frank I 09:24:31 01/26/12 (1)

RE: oh for petes sake!!! - 2chJunkie 14:03:44 01/26/12 (0)

RE: oh for petes sake!!! - rmilewsk 21:48:42 01/25/12 (0)

RE: oh for petes sake!!! - boboli 08:20:30 01/25/12 (0)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - rmilewsk 20:27:39 01/21/12 (2)

Thanks, info is what Im looking for... - 2chJunkie 06:21:04 01/22/12 (1)

RE: Thanks, info is what Im looking for... - rmilewsk 18:01:55 01/22/12 (0)

As with loudspeakers... - genungo 05:46:14 01/20/12 (3)

RE: As with loudspeakers... - 2chJunkie 16:32:50 01/21/12 (2)

Sounds good... - genungo 17:35:21 01/21/12 (1)

And the bass re-enforcement :-) -txt - 2chJunkie 05:33:28 01/22/12 (0)

Is the HD650 a serious upgrade over the HD600? - Mike K 09:03:37 01/19/12 (4)

RE: Is the HD650 a serious upgrade over the HD600? - Perfume 01:15:54 02/06/12 (0)

Cant say - 2chJunkie 13:44:18 01/19/12 (2)

Bass rolloff in HD600s - Mike K 08:45:01 01/20/12 (1)

RE: Bass rolloff in HD600s - 2chJunkie 16:18:57 01/21/12 (0)

Audeze - mbnx01 08:56:36 01/15/12 (3)

Any experience with HiFi Man headphones, opinions? -txt - 2chJunkie 06:08:35 01/16/12 (1)

RE: Any experience with HiFi Man headphones, opinions? -txt - flatmap 14:49:20 01/19/12 (0)

RE: Audeze - Travis 15:26:56 01/15/12 (0)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - Frank I 04:53:16 01/10/12 (2)

Yes transformer based, Heres a link with lots of pics... - 2chJunkie 06:34:30 01/10/12 (1)

RE: Yes transformer based, Heres a link with lots of pics... - Frank I 04:32:37 01/11/12 (0)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - rmilewsk 23:08:05 01/09/12 (2)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - 2chJunkie 06:18:56 01/10/12 (1)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - rmilewsk 15:28:13 01/10/12 (0)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - Travis 18:25:24 01/09/12 (1)

RE: Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more? - 2chJunkie 06:12:44 01/10/12 (0)

Upgrade from HD600, leaning HE500 or LCD-2 but more?

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