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The strings come alive, and you can hear the subtle vibrations and harmonics that give the instrument its unique character. The LCD-X transducer is specifically designed to work with a wide variety of driving sources. From portable players to studio use, the LCD-X provides high volume without a headphone amplifier even though all LCD-series products benefit from a high-quality amp. All three of these headphones are big, heavy, open designs suited for studio, home, or private office listening almost exclusively. These are not headphones for portable use. 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. This means that you won’t be overwhelmed by piercing “s” and “sh” sounds, making it a comfortable listening experience, especially during extended sessions.
These are not expensive. If you think these are expensive, you're approaching this from the wrong direction. These aren't electronic devices like TVs or imported Chinese bluetooth headphones or computers that go obsolete or fall apart every couple of years; these are professional American-made wired headphones that don't go obsolete and should last a lifetime. I still have expensive headphones I bought in the 1970s and 1980s that work just as well today as when they were new. The treble is probably where the biggest difference starts to show. While the LCD-X 2021 sounds soft and very pleasing in the upper frequencies, the HEDDphone is shinier, more forward, and crispier sounding. It’s not harsh or unpleasant sounding though, as the resolution of the entire HEDDphone is better than the LCD-X 2021, thanks to that wonderful AMT driver. Having in mind the price difference, I must admit that both the LCD-X and the HEDDphone are very, very impressive, and you can’t go wrong with either. The Audeze LCD-X never wowed us with its sound quality... but in this case that's a good thing. Its tonal balance is exceptionally neutral and we can see why it's marketed as a headphone for music producers. Bass is extremely tight and fast, and there’s a nice sub bass rumble. Mids are incredibly detailed and vocals sound incredible through the LCD-X. Highs have great extension and are never sibilant. We do wish there was a tiny bit more treble sparkle but treble-sensitive listeners will find the LCD-X’s frequency response just about perfect. Audeze has been upgrading the LCD X for years and years and years while keeping the model number unchanged. Unlike Japanese cameras, American Audeze doesn't trouble you with "Mark II, Mark III, Mark IV, Mark V … Mark 92" every time they improve something. They make so many improvements so often that they would have run out of Mark numbers long ago. Update: The Edition XS has a little something to say about that. You may be asking, well what about the LCD-X?Oftentimes you’ll get those out-of-your-head moments regardless of what headphones you’re listening with simply due to the fact that the song was engineered in such a way to give off that illusion. Technical performance - I'm going to switch away from my regular format and talk about LCD-X 2021's impressive technical performance first because that is the first thing that grabbed my attention. It has a very nice soundstage, very good detail retrieval and even better left to right separation. It not only makes you aware of every little nuance in the song since everything is so well separated, spaced out and cleanly presented but also makes for a very interesting and exciting listen since the signature is very musical. Diaphragm materials are slightly different in all models but the LCD-X and LCD-XC which use the same material. We found the headphone to be relatively comfortable over long listening sessions, but we were always aware we were wearing headphones. The ear cups are large, fitting around our ears with ample space. Clamping pressure is mild but the headphone sat securely on our head. To test sibilance on headphones I use Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes. The intro trumpets are a bit sharp, which is unusual, but it’s only on higher volumes. There is a tad bit of sibilance, but nothing crazy, definitely towards the lower to mid-end of the spectrum.
Audeze is a high-end audio headphone manufacturer based in Costa Mesa, CA. Established in 2009, they have grown from a garage based startup to one of the most innovative audio companies in the past few years. LCD-X was first introduced in 2013. Today, the updated LCD-X, more commonly referred to as LCD-X 2021, leverages patented Audeze technologies, including Ultra-Thin Uniforce™ diaphragms, Fazor waveguides, and powerful neodymium magnets to deliver extremely accurate and detailed sound. The sophisticated planar magnetic drivers achieve high efficiency with low impedance, such that LCD-X can deliver great sound from nearly any device with a headphone output. Audeze also lowered the weight for increased comfort. It features a suspension headband for even weight distribution, and highly-cushioned premium ear pads for support.mW into 20 Ω (rated) is 141.4 mV or -16.99 dBV, which as my 13-year-old son knows means 120 dB SPL at 1V.
These are big and comfy, but heavy. You will feel them on your head and as you move your head, but they don't ever pinch.They each have the same great bass assuming you turn-up the LCD-1 to match the overall level of the more sensitive LCD-X. Bravo! Unique to Audeze, Fazor elements complement the magnetic structure by influencing sound waves. This enhanced control gives reduced distortion, better imaging, more accurate frequency extremes and an improved phase response. It’s this technology that makes the LCD-X amongst the most transparent-sounding headphones you can buy.
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