[fradoca]

Thanks
These seem a bit expensive to get in Europe. Other recommendations in the sub-2000€ area?

i live in europe and i bought my he-9 from magnahifi.Great guys and great service.highly recommended

 

[soundofmed]

Had the chance to audition them, was very underwhelmed when comparing them to HD800S. But then again, maybe needed to give them more time...

 

[Harry_H]

Thanks johnzz4, fradoca, David B, pippen99 and jlbrach for good suggestions. There was some amp listed also that I wasn't familiar earlier (Milo), looks like that I need to educate myself a bit more. As living here in Northern Europe there is not too many possibilities to test before the buy, so most probable need buy it without testing first..... or maybe need to write a few messages more so that I can WTB place add (I guess you need to 30 msg's or so), if some would be willing sell his/her amp based on what I have been reading/browsing forums today maybe it will be one of these GS-X mk ll / HE-9 / 430HA

 

[Audio-Phile]

Myself and others have recommend the Pro iCan for the LCD4s in this thread, I don't find it too warm at all, especially not in solid-state mode. It's got plenty of power, is very quiet, soundstage is solid, the bass boost and 3D sound tweaks are fun to play with, it's built well....for the money I think it's a great option. I use a Modi Multibit DAC as well. Overall I very much enjoy my system, only thing holding it back if anything is the DAC, but for now it's perfect for me.

 

[Slim1970]

Myself and others have recommend the Pro iCan for the LCD4s in this thread, I don't find it too warm at all, especially not in solid-state mode. It's got plenty of power, is very quiet, soundstage is solid, the bass boost and 3D sound tweaks are fun to play with, it's built well....for the money I think it's a great option. I use a Modi Multibit DAC as well. Overall I very much enjoy my system, only thing holding it back if anything is the DAC, but for now it's perfect for me.

I have the Pro iCan as well and I don't think it's warm at all. It's powerful, detailed, and airy. I'm using the Mojo as my DAC and it's has plenty of clarity in SS mode. I have the LCD-3's (2016) at the moment and I can't wait until I'm able to upgrade to the LCD-4's in the coming months.

 

[fradoca]

I have the Pro iCan as well and I don't think it's warm at all. It's powerful, detailed, and airy. I'm using the Mojo as my DAC and it's has plenty of clarity in SS mode. I have the LCD-3's (2016) at the moment and I can't wait until I'm able to upgrade to the LCD-4's in the coming months.

my pro ican sounds in solid state mode a little bit warmer and slower when compared to my audio-gd he-9.
Both have plenty of power for sure.In the end apart from money it's just a matter of sonic tastes..

 

[Audio-Phile]

my pro ican sounds in solid state mode a little bit warmer and slower when compared to my audio-gd he-9.
Both have plenty of power for sure.In the end apart from money it's just a matter of sonic tastes..

I haven't heard the HE-9 admittedly but I sure wouldn't want anything less warm than the Pro iCan in SS mode, especially if you're not using a NOS DAC. But...tastes will vary for sure. Also I may be very sensitive to brightness, I can't stand it at all. For reference I found an LCD-X powered by a Bryston BHA-1 to be far too bright.

 

[pessoa00]

i live in europe and i bought my he-9 from magnahifi.Great guys and great service.highly recommended

Thanks, I'll check them out.
I'm torn between the Ifi, Simaudio and he-9 to drive the lcd-4 and Sony Z1r, and any future headphone I might get in the future. Is anyone one of them clearly better than the other? The Ifi is significantly cheaper, which is important. A big bonus would be their performance as a pre to a high end 2 ch amp (sold my ARC GS150 and am now waiting for the new soulution 311 Stereo or the 330 int, subject to total cost)

Btw, the my sources are a Dcs Puccini and a SME Mod XV with a nagra vps. I also have a AK 380 which drives the Z1r well and can be us d with the dcs as a transport

 

[Articnoise]

Thanks, I'll check them out.
I'm torn between the Ifi, Simaudio and he-9 to drive the lcd-4 and Sony Z1r, and any future headphone I might get in the future. Is anyone one of them clearly better than the other? The Ifi is significantly cheaper, which is important. A big bonus would be their performance as a pre to a high end 2 ch amp (sold my ARC GS150 and am now waiting for the new soulution 311 Stereo or the 330 int, subject to total cost)

Btw, the my sources are a Dcs Puccini and a SME Mod XV with a nagra vps. I also have a AK 380 which drives the Z1r well and can be us d with the dcs as a transport

If it’s also going to be used as a pre, a remote may be of importance?

Master 9 is a HE9 without power regenerator. If you already have a good power conditioner or power regenerator Master 9 is great for less money.

 

[johnzz4]

If it’s also going to be used as a pre, a remote may be of importance?

Master 9 is a HE9 without power regenerator. If you already have a good power conditioner or power regenerator Master 9 is great for less money.

I own the Master 11 (basically a combo of the Master 9 and Master 7). I also have a PS Audio P3 for regenerating power. There is a sizeable difference in detail and dynamics when moving to the Wells Milo from the Master 11. Read through the Wells Milo thread and see comparisons with the Master 9.

 

[fradoca]

I own the Master 11 (basically a combo of the Master 9 and Master 7). I also have a PS Audio P3 for regenerating power. There is a sizeable difference in detail and dynamics when moving to the Wells Milo from the Master 11. Read through the Wells Milo thread and see comparisons with the Master 9.

my previous amp was the master 9 and now i own the he-9.
He-9 is a much better amp with not only power regenerator.It's built with selected and higher quality components and mostly is built on request.
The Simaudio amp is not a good match with the lcd-4 and i don't understand why the 430HA is so much praised when sonically it's an inferior amp compared to the he-9.
By the way for me things have changed since i've installed Roon and started to use it with the audeze preset built inside its dsp.

 

[pippen99]

Here is my new accessory for the LCD-4. This is a Double Helix Prion4. I am not sure I can really wrap my head around burn-in for cables but I will give it some hours before I critically listen. Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship by Peter of Double Helix!

 

[David B]

The Simaudio amp is not a good match with the lcd-4 and i don't understand why the 430HA is so much praised when sonically it's an inferior amp compared to the he-9.

I'm a little surprised by your comment about the Simaudio 430HA amp (which I do not own) since it's one of only 8 amps specifically recommended by Audeze for the LCD-4. See:

https://audeze.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001679686-Headphone-Amp-Recommendations-for-LCD-4

Can you comment a bit more? Have you tested it out with your LCD-4? In what areas did you find it lacking, sonically-speaking?

 

[fradoca]

I'm a little surprised by your comment about the Simaudio 430HA amp (which I do not own) since it's one of only 8 amps specifically recommended by Audeze for the LCD-4. See:

https://audeze.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001679686-Headphone-Amp-Recommendations-for-LCD-4

Can you comment a bit more? Have you tested it out with your LCD-4? In what areas did you find it lacking, sonically-speaking?

the fact that the 430ha is not on top of the that (questionable at least for me) list confirms my thoughts.I've a friend of mine who has a LCD-4 200 ohm.We tested first the lcd-4 first with his 430ha than with my he-9 using the same balanced furutech diy cable and the same lynx hilo dac.
The 430ha had less speed, transparency and transient articulation when compared to the HE-9.I'm not saying it's a bad amp but for sure not on par with the HE-9.
I'm suprised that Audeze do not recommend Audio-gd amps for their headphones because it's a fantastic match (maybe because audio-gd is chinese and has not the same marketing appeal of simaudio)
By the way i'ts just my opinion and it's for sure criticizable.Maybe because i'm very picky about audio due to my audio mastering duties over the last 20 years.Maybe because i tend to be very critical and analitical when it comes to listen or make comparisons.
After all i'ts part of my job

 

[RCBinTN]

Here is my new accessory for the LCD-4. This is a Double Helix Prion4. I am not sure I can really wrap my head around burn-in for cables but I will give it some hours before I critically listen. Absolutely beautiful craftsmanship by Peter of Double Helix!

Hey! Congratulations. That's a fine looking cable.

Oh wait - are those the right connectors for the LCD-4?
- Just joking, my friend...

Enjoy the ride to better sound.
Prost,
RCB