LFF Code-X love/impressions

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by gbeast, Sep 3, 2016.

  1. E_Schaaf

    E_Schaaf MOT: E.T.A Headphones

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    To be totally honest if you listed those on HF I'm 90% sure a rando with deep pockets would pay 2k for those within 72 hours.

    Around here, $1400 seems reasonable.
     
  2. frenchbat

    frenchbat Almost "Made"

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    Does that mean whoever gets this will have blood on his hands ?
     
  3. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Nah, it just implies that this pair was cherry-picked.
     
  4. InsanityOne

    InsanityOne Acquaintance

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    I would absolutely second this.

    On an unrelated note, I wish my Code-X was still in as mint of a condition as most of the ones I see photos of here. I mean, I'm not that upset considering what I paid, but they are definitely pretty rough around the edges!
     
  5. InsanityOne

    InsanityOne Acquaintance

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    I'm not normally one to double-post, but I just wanted to share this Imgur album with you all. Due to COVID-19 I've had a lot more time at home, and I decided to spend some of this time repairing my badly beaten pair of Code-X's. You can find the link to my album of "before" pictures at post #168 in this thread.

    Album: https://imgur.com/a/1Soe0M0

    If anyone has any questions about anything feel free to let me know. I'm probably one of the only ones crazy enough to actually fully dismantle a pair of Code-X. But I haven't been able to listen to them for more than a year due to me being busy and the headband being completely broken. Honestly I had forgotten how much I missed them, but now that they are back I just can't stop listening!
     
  6. Ksorota

    Ksorota Friend

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    LFF HE5LE – aka Code LEX

    I am a little late on this headphone, but late 2020 I was able to pick this up from @E_Schaaf as bit of a project can since it needed some repairs and I sure glad I went for it.

    Overall condition was not terrible, but it needed a new headband, and also some “extraction” work to get the cups to sit with it since the nuts had either come free or sheared off on the cups. I picked up a headband from HFM and then scored a set of NOS HE5 wood rings to bring the headphone back to as new condition as possible. I rounded out the upgrade with a Draug 3 cable hardwired to get rid of the SMC and avoid any other problem areas. See link for details
    https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...hifiman-cups-swap-complete.10548/#post-336363

    I have been listening to these headphones for nearly two months and comparing them to my HE6 (modded with bluetak, rug liner, damping material on half of driver, rear grill mod, Ether pads) and stock HD6XXs, but honestly have had a hard time taking them off and switching back to the other two.

    Chain: M1 Mac mini > USB Chord Qutest > Headamp GSX-mini > Norne Cables
    Headphones: LFF HE5LE , HE6 (mod), HD6XX

    Build: No need to go over this…its OG HFM
    Note – The NOS HE5 wood cups and of course cracked one of them in the process…they still look gorgeous though

    Comfort:

    The new headband assembly from HFM is very nice and much more comfortable to the original…mostly due to being new I would assume. Out of the three headphones here the comfort is probably the best; I find the Senn to be a bit clampy even after modest stretching and the HE6 is just heavier. The new headband is low on clamp pressure and relies more on top of head support, which I Like. While they do not disappear on my head like my former JAR600s did (real nice stretch on those guys) they are good for all day listening while at work, or at home listening.

    Impressions:

    As many here know, these are special headphones and upon first listen gave me a bit of a wow moment with the amount of air and clarity these had over the other two, particularly the HE6. I have been working on modding my current 4-screw HE6 for much of 2020 looking at new ways to improve the overall presentation and felt pretty good about their current sonics, well that was prior to the LEX.

    The Code LEX is a great sounding headphone, excelling at detail, air, instrument separation and soundstage. They LEX has great synergy with acoustic music in particular, but really handles all genres well. The stock LEX is brighter than the HE6 by a fair margin, and somewhat makes their counterpart sound dark. For the last two weeks, I have been using a set of DCA black felt tuning pads in the Ori pads and feel that it reduced a bit of the brightness, enough to take care of the treble bite without removing the detail.

    Bass: LEX is faster and more “punchy” sounding than the HE6, but the HE6 gets the overall nod for bass depth and intensity. If not side by side in comparison I might not have noticed as the LEX extension is just as low, but perhaps a bit more delicate. The 6XX provides a bit more “punchy” dynamic bass, but is not able to resolve nearly as low or sustain the bass notes like either of the HFMs. On the mini, the bass of the LEX and HE6 are very very similar, perhaps a nod to the LEX for its speed and decay...makes it feel more detailed.

    Mids: This is a tough one. In the mids, the LEX and HE6 are very similar with a warmer tone. Going to the HE6. In this case the 6XX and HE6 are just about even, with a bit better vocal presence with the Senn. and a more cohesive presentation. The LEX can provide some super pinpoint accuracy of vocals, but can come across as too sharp, particularly when recordings are bad. The mids are not overly emphasized on the LEX, with a bit of a recession, but very slight. They are not the end all in vocal presentation, but timbre does not suffer from it. The overall presentation is natural and life like.

    Treble: Treble to is where I think the LEX really wins. It is elevated compared to the other two, but also not overly so with a bit of extra damping. I love the details being extracted in the high frequency percussion instruments, rock guitar, and string and brass instruments. The treble is extremely detailed and layered and can bite, but my fears of fatigue were never founded. In fact, they made the HE6s sound a bit too damped in front of the driver and have me thinking of some changes.

    Soundstage: LFF worked his magic on these and they can somehow soundstage all around my head. They allow you to pick apar the location of instruments and vocalists in good recordings. I say good recordings, because bad recordings can be too harsh in the accuracy. Where it can be jarring when you are hearing such dramatic separation.

    Conclusion: Love the LFF HE5LE aka Code LEX. I would not call it a master of all since it can be too transparent and resolving of bad mixes/recordings, but it does handle most music with ease and tonal authority. I listen to a lot of 311 and have been to many concerts at small and large venues and find the LEX is one of the closer headphones I have hear to concert like presentation of the music. The LEX can almost be summarized up as being a dynamic yet delicate headphone. I am keeping them long term, and now am getting ready to sell my HE6s…just don’t need both at this point!


    Standout Tracks: The LEX really shines on many types of music and here are a few that caught me over the last few months

    Chris Jones – The Last Fallen Leaf - acoustic guitar was one of the first tracks that had hair standing up…

    Mr Right Eye – Haunting track by Laurie Anderson that sucked me in hard and left me wanting more.

    311 Welcome – That bass line…almost miss it with 6XX

    Vordhosobon – Richard Houghten really showing off the speed of the LEX and dynamics. The whole track. Comes across as cohesive and exciting.

    Thats all for now...Glad I took the jump
     

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