[OzarkTom]

I listened to a pair of HiFiMan HE500's through an Emmeline "The Dark Star" and was very pleasantly surprised - I need to look into them a bit more. A/B'ed them against the Sennheiser 850's. TOTALLY different sound. The Sennheisers seemed cold and analytical, little to no warmth, and lacking in bass. Not quite sure how much was the Cans and how much was the amp, but I was tempted to purchase right on the spot. Walked away.

Came back later, and everything had been switched around. HE500's weren't connected. Went to a different vendor. Different headphone amp (can't remember). Not impressed at all.

Maybe it was a good synergy. Maybe I was in a vulnerable mood  . Don't know, but I'll have to back tomorrow and try some different combos.

There is a very good selection and wide variety. This is my first RMAF/CanJam, but biggest selection I've ever seen.

I listened to the HE6's on the Dark Star. I had the same results as you. Then I switched to the LCD2's and it was so dark that it was unlistenable. The Dark Star maybe the perfect amp for the brighter Hifiman cans.

[eclein]

Tabrink--I know what you are saying about the HE4's, I have the 5LE's and I enjoy the sound so much I don't even think about what I could be missing. I firmly believe that right now I would have to buy a new headphone amp and very high end cans lets say needing a combined budget of 3000 dollars to better what I'm hearing now. I think the next jump, leap in sound quality is more like a 10% increase at most at this point but the required financial output makes it unreasonable for me to even consider.

[dBel84]

Hi all. I have been lurking on the circle for a while but wish I had thought that a few of you would have been at RMAF, always good to get to know people who share interests.

Great to see so much "ortho" love , planar magnetics are by far my favourite and there is just so much available now to feed the passion that it amazes me how we struggled for years with vintage drivers before someone had the gall to start making new ones.

my 2c is that the HE500 is an easier listen than the HE6 but that the LCD3 is without question my preference.

..dB

[DaveNote]

Hi all. I have been lurking on the circle for a while but wish I had thought that a few of you would have been at RMAF, always good to get to know people who share interests.

Great to see so much "ortho" love , planar magnetics are by far my favourite and there is just so much available now to feed the passion that it amazes me how we struggled for years with vintage drivers before someone had the gall to start making new ones.

my 2c is that the HE500 is an easier listen than the HE6 but that the LCD3 is without question my preference.

..dB

dB, OzarkTom has told us how the LCD3 compares to the LCD2. How do you think they differ?

Dave

[dBel84]

well , i didn't think it could get much better than the lcd2 originally. Not without some sacrifice. The problem with tuning this style of headphone is that when you increase damping, you tighten everything up which gives you more top end extension , more responsive bass but less of it. In many ways you lose the musicality of the headphone. I am not a huge fan of sizzle at the top end and a rolled off top quite suites my preferences as long as you still have definition within the detail. The LCD2 is essentially the reference for which I had aimed at when tuning other orthodynamic headphones - keeping the wonderful bass textures, the smooth mids and detail in the top. The LCD3 is listening to the LCD2 through a wide angle "lens". It has that deep textured / layered bass which is tight and responsive, the mids remain very smooth BUT the top end just keeps going with a lot of detail and "air". Not unlike a stat but not as wide as the stats. I will have a better feel for them when I spend more time with them but this is what I took away from the show.

..dB