I would add the
Sony TA-ZH1ES to your list.
The Sony works great as a pre-amp and has a great DAC and a lot of options for outputs.
The LCD-2 sound good with every amp I've tried them with. They are very good headphones, but perhaps not resolving enough to point out the shortcomings or highlights of most decent quality headphone amps. They aren't terribly difficult to drive.
I auditioned the LCD-4 with it and it was the best headphone / amp combination I have yet heard (not that I've heard them all). I prefer the Sony over the Oppo HA-1, Schiit Mjolnir, and Auralic Taurus MK II to give an idea of what I have owned to compare it to. I own the LCD-2, but not the LCD-4. They're on my wish list.
The LCD-2 sound good with every amp I've tried them with. They are very good headphones, but perhaps not resolving enough to point out the shortcomings or highlights of most decent quality headphone amps. They aren't terribly difficult to drive.
I auditioned the LCD-4 with it and it was the best headphone / amp combination I have yet heard (not that I've heard them all). I prefer the Sony over the Oppo HA-1, Schiit Mjolnir, and Auralic Taurus MK II to give an idea of what I have owned to compare it to. I own the LCD-2, but not the LCD-4. They're on my wish list.