Elysian
1000+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2011
- Posts
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I'm going to buy a HE-500 system for my brother for Christmas since his K701s broke and he's interested in getting a nice headphone setup. I would get him the LCD-2 but he wears glasses fairly frequently and the LCD-2 just doesn't play well with glasses users. Comfort is important to him so I think, unless bending the headband makes a massive difference, the LCD-2 probably isn't a good idea unless someone here (who wears glasses normally). I actually would prefer to get him the LCD-2 rev2 based on the great audition I had of the cans, but my concern is its wearability.
He listens primarily to acoustic, electronica (trance), and rock (alternative, folk, and progressive). The headphones would also be used a lot for watching TV series and movies, and occasional computer games (though he doesn't care how it sounds in computer games as long as it's functional).
He is fine with used gear. My budget for this headphones+amp+DAC system is $2000. I was originally looking at the Schiit Lyr + Schiit Bifrost, but after finding out that he's open to used, I think there are a lot more options out there. SS, hybrid, or tube are fine... any suggestions on pros/cons with the HE-500/LCD-2 matching would be great.
I had a few questions I was hoping to get help for:
1) Is it possible to get the LCD-2 to actually feel good for someone who wears glasses and is comfort-conscious?
2) What is the market price for a used 8-9/10 quality HE-500 or LCD-2?
3) What amps (new or used) should I be looking at? Anything better than the Lyr in the price range?
4) What DACs (new or used) should I be looking at? Anything better than the Bifrost in the price range? I know it hasn't been formally reviewed yet, but I'm going to assume Schiit has got its... stuff... together, and that it will compete well against $600-700 DACs.
Thanks for any help I don't know the $500-1000 range of amps and DACs very well, and I'm thinking there are probably a lot of interesting used options in the $1200ish price range. I'd prefer separate amp and DAC units. One last option is just giving him the gamma2 and buying a $1200 amp, but I have the gamma2 marked for someone else and would only do that as a last resort if the price-performance argument makes sense.
He listens primarily to acoustic, electronica (trance), and rock (alternative, folk, and progressive). The headphones would also be used a lot for watching TV series and movies, and occasional computer games (though he doesn't care how it sounds in computer games as long as it's functional).
He is fine with used gear. My budget for this headphones+amp+DAC system is $2000. I was originally looking at the Schiit Lyr + Schiit Bifrost, but after finding out that he's open to used, I think there are a lot more options out there. SS, hybrid, or tube are fine... any suggestions on pros/cons with the HE-500/LCD-2 matching would be great.
I had a few questions I was hoping to get help for:
1) Is it possible to get the LCD-2 to actually feel good for someone who wears glasses and is comfort-conscious?
2) What is the market price for a used 8-9/10 quality HE-500 or LCD-2?
3) What amps (new or used) should I be looking at? Anything better than the Lyr in the price range?
4) What DACs (new or used) should I be looking at? Anything better than the Bifrost in the price range? I know it hasn't been formally reviewed yet, but I'm going to assume Schiit has got its... stuff... together, and that it will compete well against $600-700 DACs.
Thanks for any help I don't know the $500-1000 range of amps and DACs very well, and I'm thinking there are probably a lot of interesting used options in the $1200ish price range. I'd prefer separate amp and DAC units. One last option is just giving him the gamma2 and buying a $1200 amp, but I have the gamma2 marked for someone else and would only do that as a last resort if the price-performance argument makes sense.