The LCD-X is one of the more efficient headphones in Audeze line-up (i.e. it doesn’t need much power to reach 120 dB SPL to give you max headroom). At 20ohms and with 95 dB/mW sensitivity, the LCD-X only needs 315 mW of power (0.13 mA of current) to reach 120 dB SPL. With 1.3W available for a 50ohm load, the Liquid Spark should be plenty of amp for the LCD-X. The question is whether you are completely happy with the synergy of your E30+Liquid Spark setup with the LCD-X. I have the THX AAA 789 that gets little to no use these days compared to my Cavalli Tube Hybrid and Liquid Platinum amps. The THX amps are likely going to be more sterile sounding. Compared to my Liquid Platinum, the dynamics of my 789 sounds more more compressed.
If I had to take a guess, the Cavalli Tube Hybrid (CTH) is likely a side-grade at the very least to the Liquid Spark since it offers a more tube-like experience than the Liquid Platinum (LP) when rolled with the right tube. The LP is probably more of an upgrade to the Liquid Spark sound offering more detail in the typical smooth Cavalli way. I wish I had an Liquid Spark on hand to make this comparison more valid.
One thing I do like to add is that the CTH and LP are not without build problems, mainly their respective volume pots that Drop and Monoprice elected to use. Let’s say that the volume pot on the CTH is crap and becomes scratchy with time (it took mine about a month to develop massive scratchiness). Opening up the CTH and applying a healthy application of Deoxit (the liquid kind not the spray) to the volume pot solved the problem.
For the LP, the lack of a gain switch means that volume tracking is not linear and you’ll hit the dreaded 11 o’clock position which causes a huge jump in volume. For example, from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock, the volume changes minimally if not at all, and then a huge jump at 11 o’clock. In my first LP unit, there was channel imbalance one you hit the huge volume jump and then quickly turn down the volume knob. That volume pot on my first LP unit was trash. The second LP from Monoprice was significant better (no channel imbalance) but the 11 o’clock volume jump remained (less so though). There is a workaround for this issue, but that would require a preamp. In other words, it is best to buy LP direct from Monoprice for their warranty service, which is fine in my experience (I live in the same state as Monoprice).
Lastly, my THX AAA 789 developed the scratchy pot syndrome a little over a year, which is beyond the 1-yr warranty provided by Drop. Monoprice’s warranty is considerably longer. Again, opening up my 789 and applying liquid Deoxit solved the problem (for now).
Thanks all for the responses! It seems the general consensus is to get the Liquid Platinum, but that’s $500+ which is a substantial investment for an amp considering I have a $100 amp currently. You guys also recommend a balanced DAC to complete the setup which would be another $200+, plus a balanced cable. Total, that’s about $800 for this type of setup.
What are the advantages of using a balanced DAC compared to single-ended w/ a balanced AMP?
Any other recommendations that won’t break the bank?
Wait. So much of this hobby is being patient. The LP is the right choice, buy it once. I know it’s a sucky answer but man it will save you lots and lots and lots of money over time.
EDIT: BTW if you become a member in the monoprice site I think they display a cheaper price. If you decide to hunt around you can get one used for give or take $400 usd.
Lol, this hobby gets expensive quickly! My original comment about RebelAmp, G111, RNHP, Lyr 3 is that those amps are typically found <$500 and thus close in price to the Monolith 887. That becomes even more true if you’re willing to buy used.
I don’t think we recommended a balanced DAC, actually. We had a discussion as to whether you need a balanced DAC yet and the answer is no. Even if you go with the Liquid Platinum amp (Amazon currently has 2 ‘used-very good’ LPs listed for $452), you’re perfectly fine to use a SE DAC (like your E30) until you’re ready to upgrade down the road. If you go with the Liquid Plat, you will need to get a balanced Audeze headphone cable (I recommend checking out Hart Audio Cables), which will drive up the cost of buying the LP.
In terms of pure sound quality there really isn’t a true audible difference. Well-designed balanced and SE amps/dacs/preamps can both sound phenomenal. However, if you buy an audio component, particularly one <$1K that has balanced inputs/outputs, you should do your best to use those balanced connections. That’s because it’s very likely more care was put into the balanced portion of the design and the SE portion was added as a convenience (although according to Alex Cavalli, the Liquid Plat doesn’t care if you use its balanced or single-ended input, just be sure to use its balanced headphone output). Balanced connections are better if you have ground-loop problems in your circuitry, though. Because each channel connects to ground they are more noise-resistant. However, if you have no noise issues than you’ll never hear a quality difference between a well-designed and built balanced system or a well-designed and built single-ended system.
I put one in my original response with the Schiit Asgard 3 amp. It’s $200. It is audibly superior to the Liquid Spark, IMO. But, you will get another jump in quality if you go with any of those ~$500 amps I mentioned previously. I own both an Asgard 3 and a Liquid Platinum. The LP is the better amp and the one I use most often. The A3 is no slouch though and will handle the LCD-X well.
However, I think I agree with what @db_Cooper just posted. The LP is probably the amp you want. Wait until your money situation is such that you can comfortably get that amp and a balanced headphone cable for the LCD-X.
Happy hunting! Please report back what you decide.
Yes! But you must also get one of these interconnects:
@brux (the mastermind behind Hart Audio Cables) uses a modular system for his cables. So if you ever need to go back to a single ended or ever get a mobile amp with a different balanced connector, you need only get the appropriate interconnect from them rather than buy a whole separate cable. Saves some real $ in the long run.
Enjoy the new toys! Please tell us what you think of the sound after you’ve had a proper listen.
My 2 cents? Get a RNHP secondhand (around $300-350) and pair it up with a geshelli enog2pro for the balanced dac connection until you can upgrade to a bf2. This combo will have great synergy with the LCD-X and not be too expensive. Great price to performance and you won’t have to buy balanced cables since the RNHP is a great SE output amp.
There is no set answer for this question. Set it to what works best for you. I use an XLR switch to switch between an SMSL SU-8 DAC and an iFi Zen DAC, both of which have preamp functions. The SU-8 has 38 volume intervals and I have it set it 30. The Zen has a potentiometer and I leave it at about 2:00. Those settings smooth out the LP’s volume jump between about 11:00 and 12:00 fairly well.
Have you ever used a tube amp before? (technically the Liquid Plat is a tube hybrid) I don’t know if the tubes in your used unit will be fully burned in. If you listen right away you may notice a channel imbalance and/or a harshness to the sound. These oddities are normal in tube amps until the tubes have had sufficient time to stabilize into their normal electrical behavior. You may get lucky with a used unit and have pre-burned-in tubes or you may not. If things sound weird at first, leave the unit powered on with something playing (you can turn the volume down so you don’t constantly hear things) for at least 48 hours. Only if things sound weird much past that should you worry.
This is exciting! Do let us know how it turns out for you.
I’m new to the audiophile scene, so yea, this is my first tube amp. If I notice any abnormal sounds, I’ll give it 48 hours burnin… hate having to wait that long though
Yeah, understandable. Chances are the LP arrives first because of Prime. Using it’s SE headphone output will be sufficient for burning it in while you await the balanced cable’s arrival.
Yes, if your Topping has a preamp feature, then you should be able to use that. For the LP, you set its volume to its unity gain level (1:30 as stated on Head-Fi) and use your Topping E30 preamp function. Of course, start the preamp at a low volume and raise it to your comfort level. You don’t want to blow out your ears or headphone driver.
Were you actually dissatisfied with the Liquid Spark? (And what bothered you, if so?)
Or did you just figure the headphone was higher tier, and want to get something more expensive to match?
