24-Sep-2015, 08:41
(23-Sep-2015, 14:33)MattC Wrote: I can offer some of my experience of hunting for headphones, I listened extensively to a number of headphones including HD800, HIFIMan (the house sound seemed to bright/lightweight for my tastes) and the Audeze range as an upgrade to my HD650.
Firstly I would say that the HD650 are a fantastic pair of headphones, but the extra expense of the headphones I auditioned to replace them was always justified in my opinion (taking into account the law of diminishing returns of course!). There really was a big jump in performance.
I found the HD800 far to sterile and bright and require very careful matching with the amp, I was using my Chord Hugo and it didn't suit my tastes. In the end I came down to the Audeze LCD-X and LCD3 and after a lot of back to back listening I chose the LCD-X as I found them to be less laid back, more exciting, faster and with more impact. The LCD3 mids where magical but in the end just a little too relaxed in their presentation. I would have been happy with either however and a dream set up would be to have both for different moods/types of music.
The HE1000 were not available when I auditioned so I can't comment but they are another jump up the price ladder I believe and bring them into a similar price range as the Stax 007/009 electrostatics.
Thanks for your input. The Audeze range are actually a brand I can audition as a fairy local dealer stocks them. However I have read that they are a tad uncomfortable as they are a heavy headphone. They also appear to have a reliability issue with many units being returned.
I will probably shell out for a more costly model as I will always wonder what if, if I dont , if that makes sense.
The problem is I will struggle to audition before buying although one dealer said he could maybe courier a pair of HE-1000 up to me for a day or so.
After extensive reading and forum visiting ( I know this is not as good as a home audition, but its best i can do ) my order of preference is HE-1000, HD800 and then LCD-3.
The amp arrives today so really looking forward to hearing it with my Q701s as they are a decent headphone
Devialet 200 -- Roon Nucleus-- Sonus Faber Olympica 2 -- Tellurium Q Black Speaker Cables --
Chord Qutest -- Niimbus US5 Pro Headphone amp —HifiMan HEK, Abyss 1266TC
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Chord Qutest -- Niimbus US5 Pro Headphone amp —HifiMan HEK, Abyss 1266TC
Newcastle upon Tyne, England