what did you listen to?
What was the listening environment like?
What was your source material along the different sets?
I think the HD800s alone represent a huge jump from all the other sennheiser sets, even if i dont particularly find their sound very "fun".
Did you try the LCD3-F's?
Note, this was at CanJam Socal 2015. Environments ranged from hotel rooms to large, indoor pavilion. Sound environment was relevantly quiet (little to no conversation occurring), to group conversations in the background. So it was not good for critically listening to open back headphones. I also tend to listen at low listening levels as that is what I am conditioned to.
Source material was dependent on the booths set up. A few I could listen to my own sources (iPod loaded with 320 kps AAC content), CDs, DSDs, and other lossless files ranging from CD standard to higher resolution audio files.
Please note that I am not including sound descriptors, but general indicators (is there bass, is there mids, is there highs)
I did not pay attention to many of the $1000+ amps/dac model numbers, but the headphones I tried were:
Stax: SR-009 (one hooked up to a Bluemoon amp and another a custom amp), SR-007, Sigma 404, one other Stax model I am blanking on SR-407-SR507?). If money was of no concern I would jump straight to the end goal and purchase a Stax system. But I have no need or desire to spend that much.
Audeze LCD3, LCD2, LCDX, LCD-XC (I liked this one, mainly because I could listen at a comfortable level versus needing to blast the sound into my ears. Completely forgot to note the amp it was paired to but it was one with a digital volume control) - LCD3: Bass was represented, mids was fine, highs were lacking.
Sennheiser HD 800 (environment was not conductive to listening to this properly), HD 650, HD 600
Abyss AB-1266 - Certainty impressive and rather different for a headphone design. Don't remember it's sonic signature.
I admit, I did not research into different versions under the LCD3, so I can only assume Audeze brought the latest version.