Is this the best setup I can get for the price?

[FatEskimo97]

Ok I've found some other things and need to know which is the best for what I've previously said I want to use these headphones for.

HE-500 + Magni + Modi (analog version for dolby surround)

HE-500 + 02 + Onboard audio (for surround once again. I'd prefer this selecton because it costs less but would not having a DAC make a difference in quality?)

LDC-2 + 02 or Magni + Onboard

HE-6 + onboard for both amp and DAC

HE-560 + Magni + Onboard

[creatip123]

HE-6 + onboard for both amp and DAC

 

 

Good luck getting that combination to work....

[FatEskimo97]

@creatip123 why is it so hard to drive? Would it be able to be driven with an O2 and onboard DAC?

[MayflowerElectronics]

@creatip123 why is it so hard to drive? Would it be able to be driven with an O2 and onboard DAC?

 

They are one of the hardest headphones to drive that you can buy. You should be good with just the O2 since the DAC has nothing really to do with output levels.

[FatEskimo97]

They are one of the hardest headphones to drive that you can buy. You should be good with just the O2 since the DAC has nothing really to do with output levels.

Will the sound quality be affected if I don't get a DAC?

[MayflowerElectronics]

Will the sound quality be affected if I don't get a DAC?

 

No, not really, as long as you get a good motherboard

[Lays]

If I decide to get the LCD-2 I wont have the money for a DAC right away. I'm going X99 which has a good onboard sound system so would just having an amp be fine?

 

 

I really recommend getting LCD-2, it's more comfortable than the he-6 + he-500 IMO, and sounds better than the he-500 for me.

 

Not having a dac won't make a giant difference, so it'd be ok to wait on it.

 

If you do get LCD-2, make sure to buy them here, since it's $200 cheaper than anywhere else:

 

http://www.razordogaudio.com/products/audeze-lcd-2-high-performance-planar-magnetic-headphone-bamboo-leather?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googlepla&variant=544162129&gclid=COnQurPij8ECFUxqfgodOIAA6A

[BoredErica]

The HE-6 is borderline on O2. It depends on how loudly your listen (although for your hearing's sake I'd suggest turning it down from insane volumes) and the types of tracks you listen to (modern pop vs audiophile jazz for example), and who's specs we believe (Hifiman's or Inner Fidelity's).

 

The Hifimans will give a bit more treble. The LCD 2 will be a bit more muted at the treble. I think the LCD2s are a bit warmer. It has wooden earcups. Don't these need some basic maintenance?

[Lays]

The HE-6 is borderline on O2. It depends on how loudly your listen (although for your hearing's sake I'd suggest turning it down from insane volumes) and the types of tracks you listen to (modern pop vs audiophile jazz for example), and who's specs we believe (Hifiman's or Inner Fidelity's).

 

The Hifimans will give a bit more treble. The LCD 2 will be a bit more muted at the treble. I think the LCD2s are a bit warmer. It has wooden earcups. Don't these need some basic maintenance?

 

 

Takes like 1 minute every 6-12months, considering how beautiful they look it's well worth the tiny bit of maintenance required IMO

 

It comes with wood care + a small cloth, you just apply a tiny bit of the polish to the wood, and rub it in for 20 seconds or so per earcup, then wipe off excess after it soaks in for a while, which you can use the headphones while waiting for that.

 

You should be doing maintenance on any headphone anyways every so often by cleaning pads of dirt / dust etc, so you could just do it then.

[TheGrapeEscape]

The HE-6 is borderline on O2. It depends on how loudly your listen (although for your hearing's sake I'd suggest turning it down from insane volumes) and the types of tracks you listen to (modern pop vs audiophile jazz for example), and who's specs we believe (Hifiman's or Inner Fidelity's).

 

The Hifimans will give a bit more treble. The LCD 2 will be a bit more muted at the treble. I think the LCD2s are a bit warmer. It has wooden earcups. Don't these need some basic maintenance?

 

Hifiman's focuspads will help bring down the treble spike on their headphones. I'm using it on the HE400/ODAC/O2 combo and I'm noticing a big enough difference that now I can listen to them for longer than 2 hours without getting fatigued. Didn't notice much of a difference on the HE500/AuneT1 combo since the dac is warm enough to take any harshness off already. YMMV.

 

Comfort also goes up as they don't need any wearing in, unlike the velours which are like velvety rocks when they first come out of the pack.

[BoredErica]

Takes like 1 minute every 6-12months, considering how beautiful they look it's well worth the tiny bit of maintenance required IMO

 

It comes with wood care + a small cloth, you just apply a tiny bit of the polish to the wood, and rub it in for 20 seconds or so per earcup, then wipe off excess after it soaks in for a while, which you can use the headphones while waiting for that.

 

You should be doing maintenance on any headphone anyways every so often by cleaning pads of dirt / dust etc, so you could just do it then.

Ok, that's not too bad. I still prefer the LCDX look though.

[creatip123]

Hifiman's focuspads will help bring down the treble spike on their headphones. I'm using it on the HE400/ODAC/O2 combo and I'm noticing a big enough difference that now I can listen to them for longer than 2 hours without getting fatigued. Didn't notice much of a difference on the HE500/AuneT1 combo since the dac is warm enough to take any harshness off already. YMMV.

 

Comfort also goes up as they don't need any wearing in, unlike the velours which are like velvety rocks when they first come out of the pack.

 

Focuspad looks great. Except now that I know that it's actually derived from a DIY project of a head-fi-er, the Jergpad: http://imgur.com/a/MdBfW

 

Don't get me wrong, of course a factory produced pad should be better in most ways. It's just the price that bothers me a bit. $40 (while the velvet pad is only $10), and it's not even their original idea....

[TheGrapeEscape]

Focuspad looks great. Except now that I know that it's actually derived from a DIY project of a head-fi-er, the Jergpad: http://imgur.com/a/MdBfW

 

Don't get me wrong, of course a factory produced pad should be better in most ways. It's just the price that bothers me a bit. $40 (while the velvet pad is only $10), and it's not even their original idea....

 

Oh, they're horribly overpriced... much like every "audiophile" product 

[creatip123]

Takes like 1 minute every 6-12months, considering how beautiful they look it's well worth the tiny bit of maintenance required IMO

 

It comes with wood care + a small cloth, you just apply a tiny bit of the polish to the wood, and rub it in for 20 seconds or so per earcup, then wipe off excess after it soaks in for a while, which you can use the headphones while waiting for that.

 

You should be doing maintenance on any headphone anyways every so often by cleaning pads of dirt / dust etc, so you could just do it then.

 

Try getting a cue wax, wax for pool cue shafts. It makes wood surfaces extra smooth and smells nice. Small containers are cheap, and last quite a while. Shouldn't ruin any wood surfaces. If it's safe enough for a $5000 wood shafts, it should be good with other wood surfaces

 

 

Oh, they're horribly overpriced... much like every "audiophile" product 

 

Well, $40 on Sony or Sennheiser pads might not be considered as much, but I've stereotyped Hifiman's accessories as reasonably priced. I'm guessing the focuspad is quite pricey because of the hype on the original Jergpad mod + the launching of their 400i and 560. 

[TheGrapeEscape]

Well, $40 on Sony or Sennheiser pads might not be considered as much, but I've stereotyped Hifiman's accessories as reasonably priced. I'm guessing the focuspad is quite pricey because of the hype on the original Jergpad mod + the launching of their 400i and 560. 

 

I think it's pretty much that. They had to do more RnD than a regular earpad, they're slightly more complicated to make, and older headphone owners are going want to upgrade. The JergPad hype certainly doesn't help.

 

I think they're priced fairly well considering, though they are far more expensive than their other stock earpads.

[Lays]

Try getting a cue wax, wax for pool cue shafts. It makes wood surfaces extra smooth and smells nice. Small containers are cheap, and last quite a while. Shouldn't ruin any wood surfaces. If it's safe enough for a $5000 wood shafts, it should be good with other wood surfaces

 

 

 

Well, $40 on Sony or Sennheiser pads might not be considered as much, but I've stereotyped Hifiman's accessories as reasonably priced. I'm guessing the focuspad is quite pricey because of the hype on the original Jergpad mod + the launching of their 400i and 560. 

 

 

The wood polish that comes with it is an oil treatment that soaks in and makes them smell nice as well as making it smooth, it's probably the same stuff TBH

[BoredErica]

The wood polish that comes with it is an oil treatment that soaks in and makes them smell nice as well as making it smooth, it's probably the same stuff TBH

I wanna sniff.  :wub:

[FatEskimo97]

I think I can remove some superfluous peices from my build and move my audio budget up a bit. I think I'm gonna go with the HE-6 because I've heard its better than the LCD-2 if I want separation and listen to metal (please correct me on this if I'm wrong).

Which amp would be better with the HE-6? The Schiit Asgard 2 or Valhalla 2?

Do I need to buy a Modi too or would the Asus X99-Deluxe have good enough onboard audio?

[FatEskimo97]

Ok so I guess I was wrong about the HE-6 being better for rock. I'll probably just go with the LCD-2 + Asgard 2 + modi and try to find a good silver cable for them. Any recommendations on the cable?

[FatEskimo97]

Well I was just told that my origial statememt about the HE-6 being better was correct if you have a good enough amp lol.

I'm going to go HE-6 + Hifiman EF-5 + onboard DAC

[Lays]

Well I was just told that my origial statememt about the HE-6 being better was correct if you have a good enough amp lol.

I'm going to go HE-6 + Hifiman EF-5 + onboard DAC

I have seen mixed opinions on he6 vs lcd2, some like one more than the other. But lcd2 has a better warranty and is more comfortable.

They will sound relatively the same, he6 will have a tiny bit bigger soundstage and more treble. Lcd2 will be more comfortable, better build quality and more of a depth in the low end bass.

The lcd2 will have better imaging and accuracy of soundstage though according to this review:

http://www.headfonia.com/hifiman-he-6-vs-audeze-lcd-2/

This is with the old lcd2 as well, the new one has a better more accurate soundstage then it already had, with better separation and positioning

Since his review the pads have gotten better, the headband has gotten better as well.

[BoredErica]

HE6 and LCD2 are very different cans. You have to decide which sound signature you like better first.

[Lays]

snip