From my own experience, I can also mention the Little Dot 1+ for the price-conscious.
Replace the original tubes with Brimar or Mullard and enjoy.
The power is quite sufficient to drive it.
I have not yet tried it with the Western Electric tubes.
I also find it very good on the Singxer Sda 2.
@mochi saw you recently got a 2pf in, how are you liking it compared to the 2f?
I like it a lot better than the 2F. I think the F is more technically proficient in terms of resolution and imaging (that’s the only thing that stood out, didn’t spend much time on it as I really didn’t like it) but I felt the tuning was somewhat wonky and fatiguing. The bass felt slightly boosted/bloated but also overall it’s a bit shouty in the same time (and I’m guessing there’s also sth weird about the treble in an attempt to make it less dark and more airy). Irrc the 2F is also more closed in with a narrower stage.
The 2PF is just tuned more sophisticatedly to me as it the transition between bass/mid/treble feels more natural and the staging is more coherent. It is quite coloured so it’s pretty fun for male vocal and the bass is actually real nice with the slam not overly done and without too much of a “wall of sound”, almost claustrophobic presentation. It’s also probably the first sub-1k planar that I’ve liked so so far really glad with it. Whilst not as technically proficient as the DCA A2C, the 2PF to my ears has better dynamics and more organic slam as well so overall the lower resolution and imaging don’t bother me as much as it’s just damn enjoyable.
Both were listened on BF2+MLP with Siemens 7308 tubes, and FAW hybrid cable.
Yes I’ve always been more impressed with the pre fazor as well, glad you are liking it. Wish audeze would bring non fazors back in a non half assed state (lcd 2 classic), but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. So I guess snatch up your pf while you can still get them lol
How much better is the 3PF? Realistically though I don’t think I’m able to deal with the weight. Something like the size and weight of the LCD5 with a 2PF tuning would be quite nice, maybe a LCD25 lol?
LCD-24 is really nice - oops wrong thread…
Much prefer the 24 to the 2pf I had - but that’s personal prefs. I’m sure.
I should add some context - I really liked the 2pf
Upon hearing a lent lcd x a new gate has been unlocked for me called audeze. From what I read the 2pf has 2c’s sound signature with great dynamics like the x, is that sorta true or is the x worth the extra money?
Id prefer vocals more forward on the x, the rest is perfect or can eq it.
It’s close enough for the thread lol, it’s what the 2f should have been + overall elevation of performance
They are pretty different tbh, also fairly different amp demands as well
For sure, then I just wonder if the pf has a signature like the lcd2c which I preferred over lcd x’s
Oh you liked the signature of the 2c? Then the 2pf is absolutely worth trying, assuming you mean 2 classic the classic is a very watered down version of a real 2pf
Yes exactly, the classic sounded weak and restrained, but their signature was a very good concept.
Im going to get a schiit lyr 3 to drive either these pf or the he6seV2, next thing on my wishlist.
What does the Lcd 2 Pf actually look like?
Is it the one with the wooden frame or something completely different?
There was or is the Lcd 2 classic, which is completely black, and the other one with the wooden frame.
I was told they were the same, but the wooden one was more expensive because it was supposed to be made of wood.
And drivers are supposed to be the same.
Or is that story wrong?
My hybrid amplifier from the custom manufacturer should be ready in mid-October.
I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Lcd 2C will do then.
I expect another improvement between the Felkis Euforia and Little Dot 1+ amplifier and the Singxer Sda 2C.
It will be driven by 2 6Sn7 tubes and 5W.
So there will definitely be no lack of power.
I assume that resolution and detail reproduction will benefit.
I am already very curious about it.
I found it quite difficult to compare Dan Clark headphones with the Lcd range.
With the R/T closed and Lcd2c I came to a personal draw.
Both are on a top level, one headphone can reproduce better in certain areas than the other and vice versa.
In the end I kept both because depending on the mood, both are fun and have their advantages.
I would like to take the Audeze up a notch because the comfort for my head is unbelievably good, but it’s damn expensive for an upgrade and not easy.
What I generally find a shame is that the Planar headphones worked best with hybrid amplifiers.
And because you want to drive the drivers in the low impedance region, it makes it even harder to find suitable amplifiers that can handle the distortion.
Technically, I think we’ve only reached the point where there are enough amplifiers that can now drive yesterday’s planar headphones optimally.
I don’t really like the trend that is going on at the moment.
Because the amplifier manufacturers in particular are not ready yet.
There are two LCD-2’s currently in production. The LCD-2 (often referred to as LCD-2F which stands for Fazor) which is made with wood on the cups. The LCD-2 Classic which is all black. The LCD-2 has fazors and is a higher tier headphone than the Classic. The Classic has no fazors and was meant to replicate the LCD-2 pre fazor.
The LCD-2 pre fazor is an older model no longer in production. They have wood on the cups and no fazors. There are 2 revisions of the prefazors which are often referred to as LCD-2.1 PF and LCD-2.2 PF.
Thank you for your answer.
What is the difference between the Classic and Fazor version?
Is the upgrade worthwhile or could one rather look at the Lcd -X or higher?
No problem.
Can’t help you there. I’ve only heard the 2pf 3pf 24 and 4z.
If I undesrtand correctly:
The classic is meant to sound like the original 2.0 version, then came the 2.1 and 2.2 prefazors and then fazors.
The regular lcd 2 has a fazor and is the latest revision.
The fazors should sound more restrained but have improved staging, less resonances and tighter sound.
I just gave back the lent lcd X I had, and got a lcd2c lent instead, they have a different sound signature, but the X has so much better technicalities and is closer to neutral.
Im trying to figure out as well which audeze I want and I think is the XC, I dont know if the PF is on the resolutive level that I want.
Hmm okay.
The overview of the product range is a bit confusing.
A table might be helpful to be able to better classify one’s preferences.
I would have a bit of a problem if I ordered the Lcd X for 1500€ and had to return it because I didn’t like something.
Even if it were legitimate, we hardly have any dealers here in the area where you could go and test them.
The other side is that the drive seems to be very dependent on the model.
When I think back to the Lcd 2C with the Feliks Euforia with its Ps vane tubes, the bass is quite thin, but the rest is totally neutral.
And wares Wunderwerk with the Linlai tubes with bass increase, and again increased in the mid and treble range.
I imagine something similar with underdimensioned solid state amplifiers.
Also when we talk about planar headphones that generally need power for a clean sound.
Yeah, lcd2c’s bass even though its very present it doesn’t slam or punch, regardless of source, its bass is on the smoother, relaxed side. I think the prefazor should have a lot more slam while keeping the beautiful forward vocals.
The lcd x has a lot more impact than the 2c thanks to the much improved dynamics (both micro and macro) and is less source picky.
The lcd x is actually easier to drive, you only need about betweeen 250mw and 750mw.
No I believe the classic is trying to mimic the general Pre-Fazor sound since the 2.1 and 2.2 were discontinued years ago when fazors were introduced, but people still craved the PF sound.
2.1 and 2.2 refer to revisions on the same lcd-2 model. The fazor is technically a revision on that same lcd-2 model, but it was changed so radically that the 2.1/2.2pf and 2f distinction became prominent.
No. Fazors improve imaging, but ruin soundstage width. Fazors also increase the treble a tad, but at the expense of the bass also being reduced.