A question for Audeze cognoscenti: LCD 2 Fazor vs LCD X

[dlieb]

So yesterday I went to try and pick up some new earpads for my LCD2 fazor (2020 version), and ended up auditioning the LCD-X. I enjoyed the Xs quite a bit (no surprise) and my completely biased subjective judgment was that they imaged better than the LCD2. I'm wondering whether there are any real objective differences between the two headphones that would explain this, or whether I should completely write off my impressions to sighted bias. The salesperson was making noises about the driver differences, but it seemed clear they had no real idea what they were talking about.

 

[IAtaman]

Have a look here:

LCD-2 (Fazor)

back to Audeze back to measurements home published: Jul-4-2017, updated June -4-2021 NO SMOOTHING is applied to the shown plots. Most measurement sites have some smoothing applied which ‘irons flat…

diyaudioheaven.wordpress.com

I think whatever tonal differences might be there, they could mostly be ironed out with EQ. Things like "detail retrieval" or "sound stage" - I don't think you can find any reliable measurement about those.

 

[MRC01]

So yesterday I went to try and pick up some new earpads for my LCD2 fazor (2020 version), and ended up auditioning the LCD-X. I enjoyed the Xs quite a bit (no surprise) and my completely biased subjective judgment was that they imaged better than the LCD2. I'm wondering whether there are any real objective differences between the two headphones that would explain this, or whether I should completely write off my impressions to sighted bias. The salesperson was making noises about the driver differences, but it seemed clear they had no real idea what they were talking about.

I've had LCD-2 Fazors since 2014, and later updated to the 2016 drivers. Years ago I bought LCD-X and owned them for about a week to make extensive direct comparisons. I ended up returning the LCD-X and keeping the LCD-2F. Details of my experience here.

As for real objective differences, they do have slightly different drivers, significantly different frequency response and voltage sensitivity. Both have the lowest distortion you can get in a headphone. I find that parametric EQ can account for the differences, so the only reason to prefer one over the other is if you don't use EQ. But you probably will be using EQ anyway, whichever you pick, since neither tracks closely to the Harman curve.

 

[ATN]

I've had LCD-2 Fazors since 2014, and later updated to the 2016 drivers. Years ago I bought LCD-X and owned them for about a week to make extensive direct comparisons. I ended up returning the LCD-X and keeping the LCD-2F. Details of my experience here.

As for real objective differences, they do have slightly different drivers, significantly different frequency response and voltage sensitivity. Both have the lowest distortion you can get in a headphone. I find that parametric EQ can account for the differences, so the only reason to prefer one over the other is if you don't use EQ. But you probably will be using EQ anyway, whichever you pick, since neither tracks closely to the Harman curve.

I'm interested in your experience with both headphones but your link doesn't work. Could you reshare?
Thanks

 

[MRC01]

I garbled the link - edited, fixed.