Audeze LCD-X Review (2021 Edition Headphone)

[Blorg]

@Liya just bear in mind Audeze has absolutely huge batch to batch variance, they can be 6dB+ out in places. Oratory's LCD-X measurements don't seem to match my one, for example, if I use his EQ directly it makes them much too bright/shouty. It seems mine are more forward in that area than his was. They are definitely recessed there, just not as much as the measured set was. I don't have this issue with his measurements of anything else, this is specifically an Audeze thing.

So I would be prepared to sanity check and modify it manually.

To be honest what other measurements of Audeze cans gives you at best is an indication of general shape, you need to adjust the amount yourself. Use a sine sweep and try to get it smooth, this does not necessarily mean same volume as I do hear the pinna gain as increasing volume. But try to get it as smooth as possible.

I don't have a measuring rig for over-ears; I do for IEMs. This is the Audeze Euclid. You can see there is a certain commonality as to shape, but if you had Precog's one and tried to EQ from VSG's measurements, just imagine how that would end up sounding. I have my own measuring rig for IEMs, so I was able to get these just perfect, but it would have been impossible from third party measurements.

Audeze do not make the same headphone twice. So one you sort of do need to use your own ears (or a personal measuring rig). I believe you can also request the FR of your own personal unit from Audeze, but I'm not sure it comes in a format that is EQ-friendly.

 

[staticV3]

I believe you can also request the FR of your own personal unit from Audeze, but I'm not sure it comes in a format that is EQ-friendly.

Not directly:

Harman EQ For Audeze LCD-3 (Fazor)

If I got an Audeze LCD-3 (Fazor) and requested its measured frequency response chart from Audeze, would it be possible to create a Harman Curve EQ for it based off the chart? Does Audeze supply a "data containing" file (containing mathematical data points) or just a "printed" file (eg a PDF)...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Liya]

@Liya just bear in mind Audeze has absolutely huge batch to batch variance, they can be 6dB+ out in places. Oratory's LCD-X measurements don't seem to match my one, for example, if I use his EQ directly it makes them much too bright/shouty. It seems mine are more forward in that area than his was. They are definitely recessed there, just not as much as the measured set was. I don't have this issue with his measurements of anything else, this is specifically an Audeze thing.

So I would be prepared to sanity check and modify it manually.

To be honest what other measurements of Audeze cans gives you at best is an indication of general shape, you need to adjust the amount yourself. Use a sine sweep and try to get it smooth, this does not necessarily mean same volume as I do hear the pinna gain as increasing volume. But try to get it as smooth as possible.

I don't have a measuring rig for over-ears; I do for IEMs. This is the Audeze Euclid. You can see there is a certain commonality as to shape, but if you had Precog's one and tried to EQ from VSG's measurements, just imagine how that would end up sounding. I have my own measuring rig for IEMs, so I was able to get these just perfect, but it would have been impossible from third party measurements.

Audeze do not make the same headphone twice. So one you sort of do need to use your own ears (or a personal measuring rig). I believe you can also request the FR of your own personal unit from Audeze, but I'm not sure it comes in a format that is EQ-friendly.
View attachment 360522

Thank you. Well, I haven't clicked 'buy now' button yet on the LCD-X. Initially, I wanted Dan Clark's Expanse, then I though: 'I'm not spending that much on headphones' and I looked for cheaper planars... now, after reading about all sort of Audeze's 'problems', I am not sure again. Cheaper Aeon 2s are not without issues either.

 

[Blorg]

Thank you. Well, I haven't clicked 'buy now' button yet on the LCD-X. Initially, I wanted Dan Clark's Expanse, then I though: 'I'm not spending that much on headphones' and I looked for cheaper planars... now, after reading about all sort of Audeze's 'problems', I am not sure again. Cheaper Aeon 2s are not without issues either.

If you haven't got it yet, the Hifiman HE1000 Stealth ($1,399) is a much better headphone. So is the Arya Stealth ($759) or to be honest from a tuning perspective even the Ananda Stealth ($399) or Edition XS ($379). Before you discount these for being so much cheaper, bear in mind the OG Ananda was released at $1,000, far closer to the LCD-X at the time. While the OG Edition X was $1,799. Hifiman just very aggressively drop their prices.

The LCD-X does have the best bass impact, a certain physicality, that is the one thing I have it for. But even that, the HE1000 has a little rise there and is close. While being much better tuned, much better soundstage, much lighter and more comfortable too.

 

[Liya]

Thank you, I will check them out.

 

[phoenixdogfan]

In case anyone is unaware, if you own the OG LCD-X with the really bad treble trough, it is possible to send your unit to Audeze to update it to 2021 tuning. This update will completely replace the drivers and pads and has a three year warranty. It costs $590 and takes 2-3 weeks for them to turn around. I had mine done and it does sound a lot better and more usable for things like watching movies. If you have the old headband, it can be updated to the current one for an additional $99.

I know it seem pricey, but, in effect, it gives you a brand new headphone for $600-700.

 

[Rayman30]

In case anyone is unaware, if you own the OG LCD-X with the really bad treble trough, it is possible to send your unit to Audeze to update it to 2021 tuning. This update will completely replace the drivers and pads and has a three year warranty. It costs $590 and takes 2-3 weeks for them to turn around. I had mine done and it does sound a lot better and more usable for things like watching movies. If you have the old headband, it can be updated to the current one for an additional $99.

I know it seem pricey, but, in effect, it gives you a brand new headphone for $600-700.

Good to know, but at that point would it make more sense to sell the old pair and purchase a new 2021 pair from a seller and get a new warranty?

 

[phoenixdogfan]

Good to know, but at that point would it make more sense to sell the old pair and purchase a new 2021 pair from a seller and get a new warranty?

Audeze warranty for new LCD-X's is three years for the drivers and 1 year for the pads and headband. It's the same as for this service, so it's like getting a new set of $1200 headphones for $600--except you don't get a new frame.

 

[Rayman30]

Audeze warranty for new LCD-X's is three years for the drivers and 1 year for the pads and headband. It's the same as for this service, so it's like getting a new set of $1200 headphones for $600--except you don't get a new frame.

Ahh so you get a new warranty, that's pretty cool. I absolutely love my LCD-2021, id never sell them. I have been meaning to update my avatar but I am lazy.

 

[AustreV]

Maybe Iam missing something. Can someone explain why a lot of headphones use XLR connection, while their requirements for any integrated amp, for example cheapest toppings model 3.5 output or 6.3 for desktop enough to drive them even for insane or painful 120dBs? For 100dBs its super low, something like 0.09v.

 

[staticV3]

Can someone explain why a lot of headphones use XLR connection

They offer XLR because customers want XLR. Simple as that.

Logic is optional. It's emotions that sell products.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Maybe Iam missing something. Can someone explain why a lot of headphones use XLR connection, while their requirements for any integrated amp, for example cheapest toppings model 3.5 output or 6.3 for desktop enough to drive them even for insane or painful 120dBs? For 100dBs its super low, something like 0.09v.

Some believe, balanced is inherently superior!

 

[Postlan]

It’s simply a matter of trying to reduce the effects of cable impedance by keeping the left and right grounds separate. I don't know if we can hear it or not.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

It’s simply a matter of trying to reduce the effects of cable impedance by keeping the left and right grounds separate. I don't know if we can hear it or not.

Nothing to do with that.
Balanced output stage on any amplifier is a method to quadruple the power output while running on the same powersupply voltage.
It really comes to its own with a portable amp that has to work with low voltage PSU. For example, if it happens to be dongle, it has no more than 5V on the USB power lines.
If in single ended it can output 100mW, in balanced (using the same 5V) it can output 400mW.
But remember, now we are using two amplifiers, so total noise and distortion would be higher.

 

[Opalius]

Hi everyone,

Just a small introduction—I just got the LCD-X yesterday and I'm really happy with it. It's a marvelous headphone!

Anyway, I have been reading up on the headphones and the measurements that Amirm has provided. I wanted to ask if it’s really possible to add 20 dB in the bass region without the headphones distorting or getting damaged?

The reason I'm asking is because when I wasn't looking, my kid was playing with the EQ settings and added a couple of +15 dB notch filters around 50-500 Hz, and some -5 dB filters from 2000 to 10000 Hz (and yes, it sounded absolutely horrible).

Anyway, when I got to my daughter, she had been listening for some 10 minutes or so, and I'm just happy the volume was not anywhere near ear-blowing—maybe around 90 dB.

But would something like that damage the headphones?

Thank you for your response—really appreciate it.

Best regards,
Thomas

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Hi everyone,

Just a small introduction—I just got the LCD-X yesterday and I'm really happy with it. It's a marvelous headphone!

Anyway, I have been reading up on the headphones and the measurements that Amirm has provided. I wanted to ask if it’s really possible to add 20 dB in the bass region without the headphones distorting or getting damaged?

The reason I'm asking is because when I wasn't looking, my kid was playing with the EQ settings and added a couple of +15 dB notch filters around 50-500 Hz, and some -5 dB filters from 2000 to 10000 Hz (and yes, it sounded absolutely horrible).

Anyway, when I got to my daughter, she had been listening for some 10 minutes or so, and I'm just happy the volume was not anywhere near ear-blowing—maybe around 90 dB.

But would something like that damage the headphones?

Thank you for your response—really appreciate it.

Best regards,
Thomas

It is not the EQ that might damage the headphones, but sound level.
For as long as you keep the volume down, you can EQ anything!
However, 20dB EQ boost is just wrong :
- digital EQ boost, specially at lower frequencies requires preamp cut of at least same value, or you get digital overloads.
- Applying large preamp cuts, very quickly would eat away at your amp's gain. final sound loudness erodes away.
- if you think a pair of headphones needs 20dB EQ of any type, don't buy it, don't use it.
Enjoy your new headphones. They are excellent. but please please give your ears a week or two of listening, before you start EQing them because some guy or chart tells you to.

 

[Opalius]

It is not the EQ that might damage the headphones, but sound level.
For as long as you keep the volume down, you can EQ anything!
However, 20dB EQ boost is just wrong :
- digital EQ boost, specially at lower frequencies requires preamp cut of at least same value, or you get digital overloads.
- Applying large preamp cuts, very quickly would eat away at your amp's gain. final sound loudness erodes away.
- if you think a pair of headphones needs 20dB EQ of any type, don't buy it, don't use it.
Enjoy your new headphones. They are excellent. but please please give your ears a week or two of listening, before you start EQing them because some guy or chart tells you to.

Thank you for your response. I'll take it as a confirmation that my headphones are not damaged. The reason I was experimenting with the EQ was to try out the Reveal app plug-in for Audeze.

So far, I think the headphones are really great, even without any EQ adjustments!

 

[anaveragebear]

Just adding my input --- my own experience so far also does not support the EQ that Oratory has up. I wouldn't use his measurements for the LCD-X, rather I'd use sine sweeps and comparison to other headphones, speakers, and IEMs that you altready know sound perceptually "flat" or "correct" to your ears, maybe referencing Oratory's measurements for a general idea of where some issue areas might be and where the center frequencies for some peaks could be set. I don't know why this is; usually Oratory's EQs are pretty useful for starting points, but in this case his profile causes more issues than it solves imo.

 

[Ken Tajalli]

Just adding my input --- my own experience so far also does not support the EQ that Oratory has up. I wouldn't use his measurements for the LCD-X, rather I'd use sine sweeps and comparison to other headphones, speakers, and IEMs that you altready know sound perceptually "flat" or "correct" to your ears, maybe referencing Oratory's measurements for a general idea of where some issue areas might be and where the center frequencies for some peaks could be set. I don't know why this is; usually Oratory's EQs are pretty useful for starting points, but in this case his profile causes more issues than it solves imo.

Headphone measurements are not accurate! it depends on many variables, any of which could and does affect the final results, enough, to for you to take it a pinch of salt.
But are they useless? not at all. Headphone measurements are very valuable to find out:
- Large (wide band) peaks and dips in FR from 150Hz or so up to 5 or 6kHz.
- Showing diaphragm breakups, and other anomalies.
- General distortion patterns.
But to use an FR curve for exact EQing? that's madness! As a guideline, perhaps.
If for nothing else, for the fact that EQing is a personal thing. Nobody can tell me that my headphones are bright, and I need to fix them, if I don't think so. But sadly, many do.

 

[Robbo99999]

Headphone measurements are not accurate! it depends on many variables, any of which could and does affect the final results, enough, to for you to take it a pinch of salt.
But are they useless? not at all. Headphone measurements are very valuable to find out:
- Large (wide band) peaks and dips in FR from 150Hz or so up to 5 or 6kHz.
- Showing diaphragm breakups, and other anomalies.
- General distortion patterns.
But to use an FR curve for exact EQing? that's madness! As a guideline, perhaps.
If for nothing else, for the fact that EQing is a personal thing. Nobody can tell me that my headphones are bright, and I need to fix them, if I don't think so. But sadly, many do.

It's not madness, the Oratory EQ's are not madness. Using a frequency response measurement to derive an exact EQ is as good as the measurement is, factors like unit to unit variation coming into play and some on-head variation, but it's not madness to do an exact EQ from a measurement. Often it's a great starting point, but it can be an end point too, depends how lucky you get and if you like the Harman Curve. Generally those EQ's will improve a headphone for most people, it's a result of the research. That doesn't mean you have to like the Harman Curve though, perhaps you gain enough EQ experience with different headphones to know what kind of a target curve you prefer - it might be a slight or somewhat significant variation on Harman, or it might just be Harman, then you can use measurements to do exact EQ to your favourite target curve and then that would be your best starting point or even an end point.