This is a review and detailed measurements of the 2021 edition of the Audeze LCD-X open-back planar magnetic headphone. It was sent to me by the company and costs US $1,199 by itself or you can get the premium version with case and such for $1,699.
The LCD-X is one serious looking and feeling headphone:
I am not a big fan of its adjustment mechanism as shipped. It is hard to adjust just one notch. It either doesn't move or overshoots. I understand there is an adjustment mechanism for this which I did not play with.
This is a substantial headphone clocking at 610 grams which I understand is lighter than its original version:
Wearing it though, I found them pretty comfortable. I quickly forgot about them until I took them off and then felt the pressure the pads were putting on my face.
The cup inside dimensions are rectangular at 67mm by 50 mm. The depth is variable and at its highest is 26 mm.
Note: The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. Headphone measurements by definition are approximate and variable so don't be surprised if other measurements even if performed with the same fixtures as mine, differ in end results. Protocols vary such as headband pressure and averaging (which I don't do). As you will see, I confirm the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers mostly in bass and above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests. If you think you have an exact idea of a headphone performance, you are likely wrong!
Fitment on the fixture was very easy given the large pads.
Audeze 2021 LCD-X Measurements
As usual we start with the headphone frequency response as comparison to our preference curve:
We immediately see that the deep notch that existed in the original LCD-X is fixed:
A bit of boost is also provided around 2 to 3 kHz which is appreciated but still not enough to reach the natural gain of our hearing anatomy. The trough between 3 and 5 kHz will likely cause significant damage to spatial qualities of the headphones. Here is the relative frequency response which is useful for development of the needed equalization:
Bass deficiency is not much but still, you want to EQ that. It would be a shame to get a large driver like this and not let it produce proper bass!
Here is the best news:
Distortion is extremely low (ignore the bit at 10 kHz -- it is not repeatable). If you boost the response by 10 dB, you only travel from blue curve to red which is almost no difference! Even 20 dB gets you to green curve which is again nothing. Our 40 dB target is easily reached across the full range:
This makes the headphone a blank canvas to equalize as we wish.
Group delay says very little:
Impedance is flat as is typically the case with planar magnetic headphones:
Sensitivity is slightly better than average:
Combined with low impedance, you should be able to drive the LCD-X with most headphone outputs.
Audeze LCD-X Headphone Listening Tests and Equalization
The sound out of box is quite boring and bland. So equalization tool came right out:
I used dual filters to try to better shape the low frequency boost as it has a complex shape. I then used another pair to fill in the hole in 3 to 5 kHz. The final filter in yellow at 5.8 kHz is just a "stopper." I use a bit of negative gain to make sure there is no boost at that point and farther in frequency response. It helped keep the headphone from sounding too bright post EQ.
Once there, these headphones were a delight to listen to. The sound is now light and airy with really good spatial qualities. Dynamic ability is excellent letting you listen at any level with no hint of distortion. The sound is so nice that a day later, I am listening to them as I type this review.
Conclusions
It is great to see Audeze respond to clear flaw shown in measurements and fix the egregious rough/cancellation that existed in the older design. What is there now is improved in that regard from tonality point of view but is still far from ideal response. A lot of goodness is left on the table with deficient lower treble and deep bass. Once those are fixed the sound becomes wonderful given the exceptionally low level of distortion.
I am happy to strongly recommend the Audeze LCD-X 2021 revision with equalization. Without it, it is a pass for me.
----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
The LCD-X is one serious looking and feeling headphone:
I am not a big fan of its adjustment mechanism as shipped. It is hard to adjust just one notch. It either doesn't move or overshoots. I understand there is an adjustment mechanism for this which I did not play with.
This is a substantial headphone clocking at 610 grams which I understand is lighter than its original version:
Wearing it though, I found them pretty comfortable. I quickly forgot about them until I took them off and then felt the pressure the pads were putting on my face.
The cup inside dimensions are rectangular at 67mm by 50 mm. The depth is variable and at its highest is 26 mm.
Note: The measurements you are about to see are made using a standardized Gras 45C. Headphone measurements by definition are approximate and variable so don't be surprised if other measurements even if performed with the same fixtures as mine, differ in end results. Protocols vary such as headband pressure and averaging (which I don't do). As you will see, I confirm the approximate accuracy of the measurements using Equalization and listening tests. Ultimately headphone measurements are less exact than speakers mostly in bass and above a few kilohertz so keep that in mind as you read these tests. If you think you have an exact idea of a headphone performance, you are likely wrong!
Fitment on the fixture was very easy given the large pads.
Audeze 2021 LCD-X Measurements
As usual we start with the headphone frequency response as comparison to our preference curve:
We immediately see that the deep notch that existed in the original LCD-X is fixed:
A bit of boost is also provided around 2 to 3 kHz which is appreciated but still not enough to reach the natural gain of our hearing anatomy. The trough between 3 and 5 kHz will likely cause significant damage to spatial qualities of the headphones. Here is the relative frequency response which is useful for development of the needed equalization:
Bass deficiency is not much but still, you want to EQ that. It would be a shame to get a large driver like this and not let it produce proper bass!
Here is the best news:
Distortion is extremely low (ignore the bit at 10 kHz -- it is not repeatable). If you boost the response by 10 dB, you only travel from blue curve to red which is almost no difference! Even 20 dB gets you to green curve which is again nothing. Our 40 dB target is easily reached across the full range:
This makes the headphone a blank canvas to equalize as we wish.
Group delay says very little:
Impedance is flat as is typically the case with planar magnetic headphones:
Sensitivity is slightly better than average:
Combined with low impedance, you should be able to drive the LCD-X with most headphone outputs.
Audeze LCD-X Headphone Listening Tests and Equalization
The sound out of box is quite boring and bland. So equalization tool came right out:
I used dual filters to try to better shape the low frequency boost as it has a complex shape. I then used another pair to fill in the hole in 3 to 5 kHz. The final filter in yellow at 5.8 kHz is just a "stopper." I use a bit of negative gain to make sure there is no boost at that point and farther in frequency response. It helped keep the headphone from sounding too bright post EQ.
Once there, these headphones were a delight to listen to. The sound is now light and airy with really good spatial qualities. Dynamic ability is excellent letting you listen at any level with no hint of distortion. The sound is so nice that a day later, I am listening to them as I type this review.
Conclusions
It is great to see Audeze respond to clear flaw shown in measurements and fix the egregious rough/cancellation that existed in the older design. What is there now is improved in that regard from tonality point of view but is still far from ideal response. A lot of goodness is left on the table with deficient lower treble and deep bass. Once those are fixed the sound becomes wonderful given the exceptionally low level of distortion.
I am happy to strongly recommend the Audeze LCD-X 2021 revision with equalization. Without it, it is a pass for me.
----------
As always, questions, comments, recommendations, etc. are welcome.
Any donations are much appreciated using: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/how-to-support-audio-science-review.8150/
