Post by Deleted on May 2, 2018 18:45:30 GMT
I posted this elsewhere today, but I thought it was also worth sharing here:
Just enjoyed a comparative listening session to AudioQuest Nighthawk, Grado RS1000 and Audeze LCD 2. I was using the lovely new Cyrus 1 amp with Audiolab transport. Here are a few thoughts:
1. AudioQuest Nighthawk. Very smooth sounding and well made. Comfortable too, just lacking a bit of overall clarity. I think in the long term, they wouldn't be clear enough to keep me satisfied.
2. Grado RS1000. Sounded a bit thin and bright coming after the Nighthawks, but my ears quickly adapted. The extra clarity then hit home. Downsides? Just not enough bass for me. I don't really think they are significantly better than the RS2es that I already own and their lack of bass would make them a step backwards.
3. Audeze LCD2. Very well made and they had me wanting them from just picking them up and handling them. Sound was like a better defined version of the Nighthawks. Not really a great deal more clarity though and the bass was still a bit thuddy. They were insanely heavy too. Not sure I could tolerate that weight for long, although the pads were very luxurious. Given that these are planar magnetic cans, I'd expected something special with soundstaging. Honestly, I heard nothing to suggest the technology behind them was different from the Grados or AQs.
So where does this lead me? Well none of them were a step up from the RS2e that I own. But then even they aren't anywhere near as good as I want. So far I still haven't heard a pair of headphones that approach even a budget pair of speakers. Unless I find a pair of phones that are stratospherically better than those I have heard so far, I will remain a headphone skeptic. My mate has a pair of Stax Lambda Pro Signatures that he will let me try at some point, but they will have to completely bury every other headphone I have heard to raise my interest. Having the sound "inside your head" with no soundstaging just isn't "hifi" to me. I see little worth in spending more than the cost of a used pair of SR60s because the improvements from spending lots more are pretty small. Maybe I just have different priorities to people who enjoy headphones.
Just enjoyed a comparative listening session to AudioQuest Nighthawk, Grado RS1000 and Audeze LCD 2. I was using the lovely new Cyrus 1 amp with Audiolab transport. Here are a few thoughts:
1. AudioQuest Nighthawk. Very smooth sounding and well made. Comfortable too, just lacking a bit of overall clarity. I think in the long term, they wouldn't be clear enough to keep me satisfied.
2. Grado RS1000. Sounded a bit thin and bright coming after the Nighthawks, but my ears quickly adapted. The extra clarity then hit home. Downsides? Just not enough bass for me. I don't really think they are significantly better than the RS2es that I already own and their lack of bass would make them a step backwards.
3. Audeze LCD2. Very well made and they had me wanting them from just picking them up and handling them. Sound was like a better defined version of the Nighthawks. Not really a great deal more clarity though and the bass was still a bit thuddy. They were insanely heavy too. Not sure I could tolerate that weight for long, although the pads were very luxurious. Given that these are planar magnetic cans, I'd expected something special with soundstaging. Honestly, I heard nothing to suggest the technology behind them was different from the Grados or AQs.
So where does this lead me? Well none of them were a step up from the RS2e that I own. But then even they aren't anywhere near as good as I want. So far I still haven't heard a pair of headphones that approach even a budget pair of speakers. Unless I find a pair of phones that are stratospherically better than those I have heard so far, I will remain a headphone skeptic. My mate has a pair of Stax Lambda Pro Signatures that he will let me try at some point, but they will have to completely bury every other headphone I have heard to raise my interest. Having the sound "inside your head" with no soundstaging just isn't "hifi" to me. I see little worth in spending more than the cost of a used pair of SR60s because the improvements from spending lots more are pretty small. Maybe I just have different priorities to people who enjoy headphones.
