Audeze LCD -3

[freesteve]

If you own these which DAC or headphone amp are you using? Thank you.

[Timothy Hoang]

If you own these which DAC or headphone amp are you using? Thank you.

 

I am driving them with my X-Sabre DAC and GS-X MKII (DACT) Headphone Amplifier.

 

It can also be driven with the cheaper units like Schiit Gungnir/Mjolnir, however does not sound as musical nor transparent than the $2000+ ones, however, closer to subtle difference.

 

They also sounded good on a Aualic Vega + Taurus MKII combo.

 

Have also tried them with Schiit Asgard 2, LYR, and ASUS Essence One in which they sounded just good, but not great.

 

Waiting right now for the Schiit Ragnarok beta to finish so i can order one. It should sound great with the LCD-3 considering their amps are pretty much made for planner magnetic headphones.

[One and a half]

Use LCD3 with SPL Phonitor 2, excellent, Sony PHA-2, shows up res of the Dac. Getting used to the clamping pressure.

[freesteve]

Thank you for the responses...

[BobP63]

Burson Soloist, headphone amp, is an excellent match for the LCD-3.

[freesteve]

[burnspbesq]

When I had them, I had an Ayre QB-9 and Bryston HPA-1. Ran them balanced.

 

I only kept them for about four months. They didn't suit me as well as the Senn HD800.

[Kelly]

Have used them with BMC PureDAC as a combo dac/amp balanced and it is superb. My current amp now is the Red Wine Audio Cassabria. It is absolutely first rate for a hybrid/tube sound. It uses a single 12ax7 or 6922 so it gives lots of relatively inexpensive options for rolling. It is end game for me on the amp side. I am using a iFi micro iDSD as a dac only and like it a lot, but i am on the lookout for something a bit higher end (maybe a ps audio directstream, or vega.) I also have an NAD M51 that I lovewith the RWA and lcd3 but it is in my loudspeaker system as a dac/pre.

[MiTT]

For portable use I'm running my LCD-3's off of an ALO Continental V2 fed by a Cypherlabs Algorhythm Solo R from a 160G iPod Classic. In my listening room I'm using the headphone output from my AURALiC Taurus Pre. DAC is the AURALiC Vega.

[Tone Deaf]

Ayre QB-9 DSD, HeadAmp GSX Mk II - no wish for anything more.

 

I have also used them with a more portable Cypherlabs Solo -dB and HeadAmp Pico Power. It isn't a bad combo, but after listening for a while I start to feel that the LCD-3 needs a better source and a bit better amp. A significant part of the naturalness of the big system is missing with this portable combo. I actually prefer to listen to this dac / amp combo with a less revealing headphone.

[ssedtohavs]

Waiting right now for the Schiit Ragnarok beta to finish so i can order one. It should sound great with the LCD-3 considering their amps are pretty much made for planner magnetic headphones.

[esimms86]

Waiting right now for the Schiit Ragnarok beta to finish so i can order one. It should sound great with the LCD-3 considering their amps are pretty much made for planner magnetic headphones.

 

Like you, I'm also looking at the Ragnarok for my LCD-3. I'm waiting for reviews of the Ragnarok paired with both the LCD-3 and the Sennheiser HD800. The Auralic Taurus is also rated highly with both sets of cans, plus it would obviously look great next to the Auralic Vega and Aries that I already own. The price difference is 200 USD in favor of the Ragnarok.

 

Esau

[Timothy Hoang]

Seems like we are all in favor of Class-A amplifiers.

 

Looking forward to see how well it does with the LCD-3 and HD800 especially.

 

"ssedtohavs" is right, knowing Schiit's history it's practically designed for planar magnetic's, but i'll have to say mainly Audeze as I haven't found HiFiMan to sound as good with their gear. Maybe it can even hold it's weight against end game solid state amplifiers like the GS-X and Beta 22.

 

Can't go too wrong with high end amps nowadays as they've pretty much all transitioned to powering orthodynamics, just as how the Auralic Taurus was.

[KDinsmore]

I would suggest the Cavalli Liquid Gold.

[Matias]

Been using the LCD-3 latest version with fazors with Burson Soloist amp and a Calyx DAC. Very nice setup, I am really impressed.

[solidstate]

Skylab's from Innerfidelity enjoyed the LCD3/Soloist combination, that's one setup i'm looking forward to demo when i have a chance.

[sandab]

Just got a Auralic Taurus mk2 little over a week ago and it's excellent with my fazored LCD-3. I use a balanced Moon Audio Silver Dragon V3 HP cable and balanced XLR interconnects with a Yulong Sabre D18 DAC. Had some glare problems with the DAC when driven over coax from a Peachtree X1 that were resolved with a Wyrd, although I'm redoing the whole USB front end around a Gustard U12. Never noticed it before, because no HP amp I ever owned or tried before had this level of transparency and clarity.