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kwhv

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Posts posted by kwhv

  6. Posted · Report reply

    IPB Image

     

    HM-801 contender from iBasso. Suppose to play most 24bit/192khz lossless music.

     

    Quite awesome specs,

     

    • Support up to 24/192 Decoding

    • ES9018 DAC Chip

    • Built-in +/-8.5V Headphone AMP

    • Up to 24/192 Optical/Coaxial Output

    • 256-Steps Digital Volume Control

    • 64G Onboard Flash

    • Support up to 32G External MicroSD

     

     

  8. Posted · Report reply

    I have both Rev 1 and Rev 2, LCD3 sounds more like Rev1 with better extension at both ends. I think "more bass" is too general a term. I never understand why some Rev 1 owners complain that it lacks sub-bass. Only when I heard the LCD3 at the ISSE I understand what they meant. IMHO I feel that the LCD3 bass isn't just deeper, there's better definition too. This is through a humble Squeezebox Touch with iBasso DB2 and PB2. With better equipment, improvement in the mids and high frequency becomes more obvious.

     

    Some feel that the LCD Rev 2 has better clarity. However the LCD3 at the ISSE isn't run-in yet according to the exhibitor. IMO, the LCD3 is also more particular on equipment partnering.

  9. Posted · Report reply

    I found these amps on Amazon but they cannot be shipped to Singapore.

    Anyone knows where in Singapore can I get any of these?

    • ART HeadAmp4 Four Channel Headphone Amplifier
    • Behringer HA400 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amp
    • Rolls HA43-Pro 4 Output Stereo Headphone Amplifier
    • Pyle-Pro PHA40 4-Channel Stereo Headphone Amplifier

     

    For Rolls amp you can try Hung Bros at Sim Lim Square level 3 (just in front of escalator).

     

    ART product Singapore distributor,

     

    ProAktiv Systems Pte Ltd

    10 Ubi Crescent #01-89

    Ubi Techpark, Lobby E, Singapore , 408564

    Singapore

    Phone: 65-3125 2121

    Fax: 65-3125 2131

    Web: http://www.proaktivsys.com

     

    For S$100, you'll have to try those made in china amps on ebay.

     

  10. Posted · Edited by kwhv · Report reply

    Yes this may seems surprising. I must say I have bought quite a number of items from them and they have been great.

     

    I'm writing this not to discredit them. I hope that this will be a learning experience for others, Stereo and myself.

     

    I called Stereo (PS) this evening to enquire about the availability of an item. After a moment of asking and checking, a staff told me that it is in stock. So I went down from Jurong to PS to get the item. When I reach there, one of the staff told me no stock after searching the cabinet and store. I told him I called earlier and was told there were stock. So he notified the staff who took my call. He too look through the cabinet of boxes which are all empty.

     

    They finally confirm they only had the display set. I ask to check Ion branch and also no stock. They didn't even apologise. I felt miserable and left the shop feeling that I've been fooled.

     

    I now learn not to put too much trust on the staff, I would ask more persistently to get them check the boxes.

     

    A note to Stereo: Get rid of those empty boxes in the cabinet. It's misleading to the staff that there's stock when they are all empty. They end up misleading customer and the customer end up wasting time and effort.

  12. Posted · Report reply

    Choices are pretty limited for that budget. You can try Audio Technica AT-HA20. Can drive the LCD pretty well. Very lively amp. However it lacks refinement of the better amps, highs are bit grainy and mids not as full as I like.

     

    Maverick D1 is probably also in your budget. Have never heard that before. You can audition both of them at Jaben. Matrix M-Stage another option but dunno where you can audition that.

     

    If you wish to up your budget, the amp to try is CEntrance DACmini. Or just try it, it may make you change your budget :grin:

     

  13. Posted · Edited by kwhv · Report reply

    Against my other contending headphones in my stable, it is the most obscuring when it comes down to details, so much so I'm considering trying silver headphone cables to try with my lcd2s. Very comfortable to use for listening to vocals, but not my go-to headphones for orchestral or instrumental music. Of course, this is my own personal assessment only, ymmv!

     

    I think I might understand the 'organic/natural' feel towards hifi...am a Harmonix tweak freak! :party:

    LOL I see we're on opposite camps on this matter. Better not get into endless debate. :))

     

    I'm a tweaker too. Love to "roll" opamps and tubes. :grin:

  15. Posted · Report reply

    Just ordered a pair of LCD-2 from Stereo at Plaza Singapura this afternoon. They don't have stock yet. Hope to receive it mid next week, the earliest. I have an old Bryston BP25MC pre amp with headphone section and also a Creek SE headphone amp. Not sure if any of these are a good match for the Audeze, or should I purchase a better one. Heard that Burson headphone amp is a good match.

     

    Do bring your LCD2 to audition the Burson. I tried it, not my cup of tea.

  16. Posted · Report reply

    Was hoping to audition Blossom headamps with LCD2 but apparently there's no distributor in Singapore. So went to audition the Graham Slee Solo. NICE!!!!! I find it very neutral sounding and I like it a lot with the LCD2. Gets out of the way and just provide the juice for LCD2. I chose SRG II over Linear cos I find Linear a little "lean" for my taste. But I have to mention that both amps are not well burn-in during the audition cos they are relatively new from the box.

     

    On other note, LCD2 now also available at Stereo Electronics.

  17. Posted · Report reply

    haha dun use those powerpack... woo I bought a sanyo(on friday)... I measured the dc voltage, i didnt even bother to see the oscilloscope ... is not for audio

     

    there is a voltage regulator inside, which is very noisy and very unstable

     

    u probably need a 24V lifepo4 or SLA battery pack,, direct connect it

    Thanks for the advice and suggestion. Wah those packs are heavy. I have been using energizer power packs XP8000 and XP18000 with several audio products. No noise and no problems. They are pretty good.

     

     

     

  20. Posted · Report reply

    Nice!...looks well made. What kind of cable was used, and does it weight down the whole headphones a lot more?

     

    What kind of improvements are you getting vs the stock cord with your custom one?

    It's Kimber 4TC. It's definitely heavier than the both stock (new and old) but not a problem for me. Kind of gotten used to it like i have gotten used to LCD2's weight. I can listen to it for hours.

     

    Sonically, everything was a notch or two higher in quality. Better high frequency extension resulting in more space and air. This is without sacrificing midrange body which some cables do. Midrange has greater sense of presence. Now vocals sound even more palpable. This is probably related to better imaging.

     

    It has this "live" feel yet maintaining control/focus and refinement.

  23. Posted · Report reply

    Hi all,

     

    I have also purchased the Audeze LCD2 from David. Here's some more info if anyone is interested,

     

    John Woo

    Order Processing Department

    D&A International

    Singapore office

    Email: dnaintl@pacific.net.sg

    Contact: +65 9199 1885 / 9818 6448 / 6300 8638

    Fax: +65 6234 3364

     

    Sorry fellas, this is going to be a very loooong post cos I would like to share my experience with the LCD2. I just have to write something about it after listening to it.

     

    I like headphones with excellent transparency and most importantly good midrange. I thought of getting into ortho headphones after the rave reviews about HE6 and LCD2 since late last year. However I could not decide which to get. The two are opposite of each other in terms of specs. I nearly ordered the HE6 with promo price plus free delivery because of its details and transparency. However, I held back cos I was worried about the amplification for HE6. On the other hand, the LCD2 is easier to drive with a fabulous midrange but many reviews mentioned that it was dark sounding, not as airy and spacious. I was worried it was too dark for my taste when someone mentioned it reminded him of HD650. I didn't like 650, I prefer HD600. I can still remember how amazed I was by the HD600 when I first heard it. When I learnt that LCD2 is in town from this thread, I grab the chance. After an audition, I bought the LCD2.

     

    Have been listening to the headphone for the past week. I must say it's a legend in the making. I don't think I need to mention anything about the phenomenal midrange that everyone knows about which is superior to anything on the market right now. Don't be put off by others saying that it's dark and not as transparent. While others think that it's "rolled-off" at the higher frequency and bassy or "dark" in nature, I feel that it is none of those. Yes, you do not get as much sense of space and air compared to the other headphones. But details and clarity are still very good, i do not feel that I lost any details. Instrument and vocal clarity is superb.

     

    As for the bass, it is very deep and tight with excellent impact. But it is not over powering and bloated like Sennheiser HD650 (IMHO). At first I thought my HD600 had stronger bass but I was wrong, HD600 was deceiving me with a lower mid-bass hump which gives me the perception of strong bass. With more listening, LCD2 is far more superior in the bass, it's very deep but there's no boom. Extremely well controlled. Really fantastic.

     

    So much so about the frequency range. What I feel so fascinating about it, is how balanced the headphone is. It's so natural across the board. Extremely "even-handed" and I stress again balanced. COHERENCE is the word. Everything sounded palpable and as a whole. The level of realism is just amazing. Just let you enjoy the music. With other headphones I feel that I'm listening to recordings. With the LCD2, I embrace music. It brought me closer, more intimate. Everytime I go back to my other headphones (Senn HD600, Beyer DT880 and Audio Technica M50), they sounded "unreal". midrange lacks body, over-emphasis of high frequency etc. Everything doesn't seem to sound quite right. Well at the price, LCD2 is suppose to be a lot better and it is. I have auditioned the Senn HD800 and Beyer T1 before and yes I feel that they are very good but I wasn't "moved" enough to be irrational ;-) Although I do not have a side by side comparison, I can still remember how they sound according to my ears and memory. The HD800 is soundstage king, great sense of space and imaging however it can be too bright for many recordings. Beyer T1 have better mids than HD800 but do not have HD800 sense of space though it's high frequency is still more extended than LCD2. However, LCD2 midrange and bass quality thrashed both of them. Most importantly, music through the LCD2 has this coherence, palpability and realism that they fail to deliver. Music sounded more enjoyable. If one wants to listen, analyse and dissect the recordings, go for other headphones. If one wants to feel and embrace music, go for the LCD2.

     

    All the above comments are based on the stock canare 4S6 cable. I got two custom cables with Mogami 2534, one single-ended (3.5mm plug) and one balanced (round 6-pin connector for ibasso Toucan portable headphone amplifier). It sounded better with the balance output from the amplifier I do get more details and slightly more air but I lose some of the midrange body. So I still stick to the stock cable. When I use the stock cable with the single-ended output of the ibasso Toucan connected to my portable cd player Sony D25S, I prefer music direct from the Sony D25S. Connecting with the amplifier seems to make the music less "live". I like the LCD2 direct pairing with the Sony D25S. It's a really good match for me. I'm going to get the canare 4S6 cables with the ibasso Toucan balanced output and do another comparison cos it will be better than the single-ended output and may be better than direct from the Sony D25S player.

     

    Changing the cables of the LCD2 can improve it's clarity and details but like others have found out, I find that it may lose it's midrange body. Some have found cables that improve the clarity and still maintain the midrange body. I'm going get some UPOCC copper and silver cables to try out. The latest news at Audeze website mention that the newer batch of LCD2 will come with a better cable. Apparently the folks at Audeze are listening to their fans and constantly upgrading their design. Let's hope the new stock cable will bring the LCD2 to new heights. That said, the LCD2 with 4S6 cables is already phenomenal. It made me reaccess my perception with music and other headphones. Cheers!

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