Audeze LCD-2 vs LCD-X

Headphones Headphone Discussion / Help
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I tried out the LCD-2 (2016) and LCD-X for a couple hours and ended up getting the LCD-2 because at the time I felt the LCD-X wasn’t worth the much higher cost. I thought the LCD-X was more musical, more close in, with exciting treble. I thought the LCD-2 was more dynamic and had enough of the detail I wanted.

I might get a second hand LCD-X in future to compare - it’s much nicer to compare gear at home.

At home I think the LCD-2 sounds excellent in many ways but maybe a bit soft and distant. Slightly odd signature. It could just be I need more time with them - which I will.

What are your thoughts?

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I’m really starting to like my LCD-2 more. I think Z was a bit unrealistic to say they’re garbage compared to LCD-X. I’d say they’re more “different” than worse. But I still want to give the LCD-X another listen.

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Personally I much prefer the pre fazor lcd 2’s over the lcd x for music listening, really nice headphones imo, different sonic goals compared to the x, so it’s not like they are really trying to compete with each other tbh

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Why pre fazor? I’d be surprised if the fazor affected anything drastically and surely it would be an improvement.

Well anyway mine is fazor and I like it. Haven’t heard the earlier.

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It was a pretty significant change imo for being called the same headphone afterwords. Imo the pre fazor has better timbre, a more pleasing signature, more organic impact and layering, a smoother and more liquid sound, also more spacious. The fazor gave the lcd 2 better imaging, more treble presence and detail, and a bit better separation and a slightly more intimate and cleanly sound, but imo lost what drew me to the LCD 2 in the first place. I would say that pre fazor isn’t better than fazor and vice versa, it’s really like a different model of headphone in the same category. I personally prefer the pre fazor a fair bit more, but some might enjoy the fazor model more, comes down to preference and what you want out of the headphones

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Interesting. Well I probably can’t hear a pre-fazor before purchase anyway so I don’t think I made too much of a mistake.

One thing I would say about my LCD-2 is that they sort of sound Semi-Open instead of the Open they are in reality. Quite squeezed inwards.

I can’t remember exactly but the LCD-X I think sounded a bit more free and open. Not necessarily “better” but “different”. It was however, amazing.

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Yeah most pre fazors are older than 2014 so pretty much anything you can demo in a store will be fazored. If you are enjoying yours then you didn’t make a mistake lol

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Anyone more opinions (preferably someone who has heard both headphones in title)?

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That was what turned me off of the LCD-2F when I demoed it at a local dealer. The soundstage sounded a bit unnatural to me: supremely tall but pretty narrow. Thankfully, I managed to find two LCD-2 prefazors down the line (revs. 1 and 2). Between the rev. 2 prefazor and the fazor units, I find @M0N’s assessment to mirror my own.

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Well I tried the 2020 LCD-X for a final time and I think I can say I prefer my LCD-2 (Fazor) - a pleasant surprise given the substantial price difference. The LCD-2F sounds just exemplary, and while the LCD-X sounds a bit clearer in the bass and more treble detail, it’s at the expense of the awesome signature of the LCD-2F. Just the dynamics and the timbre of the LCD-2F are astonishing. Imaging/Soundstage is not that amazing but I’m not fazed by it :wink:

I have not tried the LCD-3 but if it’s a refined LCD-2F, I bet it’s just for me. Sadly it’s about 3x the price I paid for the LCD-2F. I would love to hear the LCD-3 at a point where I have the funds.

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