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Audeze LCD2C Headphone Amp Suggestions

Joined
Nov 24, 2018
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Hi,

I finally did pull the trigger on the Audeze LCD2C. I usually use them if I am working on the laptop with a ifi Nano iDSD (1st Edition) for listening mainly Spotify premium quality. If I want to chill, and if the Mrs and kids are already in bed I go to the living room and put my laptop linked to the ifi, then wired it up to the main amp (Marantz PM6005). Now, I am thinking on getting a dedicated headphone amp. Why? You might ask... well the TV is also connected to the amp by optical cable and the sound comes from the speakers, so if I want to listen musin on my headphones, I can't without cutting the TV sound off (and that might lead to divorce...)

So what Amp should I get? I was advised by a fellow LCD owner to go for the Aune S6, which is a Amp + DAC and has balanced headphone outup. Nice... buit costs 500 Euros which I am renitent to drop. Do I really need the DAC? Erm... no... Balanced outputs? Nice! Do I really need them? Do they really make a difference? Don't know... for sure... maybe not...

So what amp is a nice deal and is clear and powerful enough for the Audeze's?

I looked at Aune X7S, but their ouput impendance is too high. And has balanced output.
I looked at Arcam's rHead, which I can get nowaday new for 250€. Is this a good option? Is it powerful enough?
The JDS Atom also might be a possibility but I think is hard to get in Europe?
I looked in the past also for the Topping DX3 Pro, but also has a high output impendance and I've read about some reliability issues with some units...

What do you guys think?
 

solderdude

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Output resistance is of no concern to LCD2 as it is a planar.
So Aune X7S can still be on the table.
JDS Atom can provide 1W into LCD2 as well which is enough.
 

flipflop

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I looked in the past also for the Topping DX3 Pro, but also has a high output impendance
No, it has a very low output impedance at 1 ohms. And as solderdude already pointed out, LCD-2/LCD-2C are planars, so the output impedance doesn't matter anyway.
On top of that, they're highly sensitive. You can plug them into any source and get a satisfactory listening level.
If I were you, I'd get an Atom and never worry about amplification ever again.
 
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