🔶 Audeze LCD-X

[Adler762]

Nice write-up! Amp synergy is definitely something interesting, I prefer the LCD-2’s off of my Class-A and my X’s from the LP. Really makes this hobby incredible and expensive, lol,

[DagoRed]

@Grant

I should have my GSX mini by next week. Hoping that pairing will seal the deal.

Using that pairing right now. Play “Wild” by The Avener. Man does it sound good, punchy, and twinkly. Not to my same taste with the RNHP with the holographicness of that but this amp sounds more natural than the RNHP. However, the slam for the GS X mini will make you love this amp.

[Grant]

There is a final verdict on the LCD-X. I love them, but have to send them back. After extended use these are impacting my neck. They’re honestly amazing, but I need to be able to turn my head most days. Really sad about this

[ValentineLuke]

That’s a bummer, man. Fortunately the weight wasn’t an issue for me. Not sure what the alternative would be?

I don’t remember, but have you tried the Focal Clear?

[Grant]

Yeah. I have some Clears and I can see the similarities. I would describe them as a gutless LCD-X .

I was considering Aryas but I’m not sure they’ll be much different than the clears and I’m honestly a bit put off by hifimans build. Especially compared to the Audeze tool quality build.

I’d love to have something with the body these deliver but I’m afraid it may be a function of the density of the materials used to control the massive drivers they use. I hope I’m wrong

[Souldriver]

Just get a neck brace for listening times. I i think the best thing for audeze to do is move things to a newer lighter chassis. I heard they put the 4s in the lighter 4z chassis so what else can they do.

I love their wood cans but i heard so many not be able to deal with the weight.

[monkey32]

How do they compare the LCD 2 closed backs…I guess I can see heavy cans being obnoxious a bit - if they are anything like the closed but just how long are you wearing them? And then maybe motivation to hit the gym a bit no? I’ve been listening to the closed for 2 + hours every night for last two weeks and while I notice the weight, it isn’t painful and it’s not like they are build to walk around with. No se, I guess to each their own.

[DagoRed]

I would ask that question in the new LCD 2 thread.

[Grant]

I think the pain may come from a motorcycle accident I had in my 20s. Likely irritates an issue with compressed discs that already exists.

That said the 2 series are a hundred or so grams lighter than the X from Audezes reporting.

[DagoRed]

What about the carbon fiber head band for the LCD headphones? Also… The headphones to get I think for you would be the Abyss Diana V2.

[Grant]

I’m terrified you’re right about the Diana

I also weighed the steel headband and it came in at 54g vs the 60g reported from Audeze on the CF band. I’ve heard the CF also has a higher clamp force. If there were a significant weight advantage to the CF band I would probably go for it. It’s wild that it could weigh more. In general I think Audeze should invest in some quality scales

Do Diana’s ever go on sale or do they sell open box? I can’t find anything like this.

[DagoRed]

Just jump on deal when you see them. But if you want high resolve and bassy, worth every penny… So I’m told. There are some Diana V2 owners on here but I can say the GS X mini + Diana Phi that I have is a match that cannot be over looked. The V2’s will probably sound even better if you want that and resolve better than the LCD X.

[monkey32]

Reread what I wrote…sorry if that came off dickish. Didn’t mean it to be. I get it with old injuries and sometimes I lose sight of how individualized this hobby is.

[monkey32]

Reported Masses
LCD- 2 Closed Backs 1.338 kg ~ 2.9lbs
LCD -X 0.612 kg ~ 1.34 lbs

And then based on reddit:

[Grant]

That’s my internal debate. Phi seem to be a larger upgrade. And there’s part of me that can say if it’s $3k it might as well be $4k.

Hopefully I’m able to find a deal sometime in the future. Though I’m generally more comfortable buying new because of warranty issues I’ve run into.

[Grant]

No worries, I have said probably the same thing in other context

[DagoRed]

Don’t equate money = sound quality. Honestly the only reason why I got the Diana Phi is that a dealer in Las Vegas was closing their shop. I literally got got the Phi at the V2 price… but with a cable that is so far still useless to me and without the DMS ear pads. Honestly, the V2’s still have an appeal that make me consider buying both, but it’s because I know what I want in my sound signature with my setup. I have a feeling the V2’s may treat you better than the Diana Phi’s, and the only reason I bring up the V2’s is that they are light so you’re not worried about weight as much.

Just trying to help and give perspective. Also make sure you’re not missing out on something you enjoy with LCD X seeing how you see the need to part ways with the headphone.

[czalarenta]

I received a great used LCD-X a couple of weeks ago, and I’ve got to say, the LCD-X is really fantastic****
*weight
*driver variance
*pad heat
*EQ may be needed for some people on some units

Those asterisks may be non-issues or complete dealbreakers, but if you can deal with those, what you’re left with is a phenominally detailed, fun, and impactful set of cans. Between this and my Focal Elex, I’m totally set with headphones until I’m at a place in my life where I have way more money than sense.

You just can’t beat the speed, impact, and enormity of the LCD-X. I mean, talking about soundstage is just funny to me with these because it sounds like I’m strapping two giant concert guitar amp stacks to my face. These are just absurdly good at rock and metal.

When I got them and first put them on, they made everything sound compressed, like all my FLACs were suddenly 128kbps mp3s like they were 20 years ago. I bought them expecting I would likely have to EQ them, and I knew the risks going in! Thankfully, I figured out a few EQ profiles that I’ll probably write up in a separate post sometime so that people can reference them and try 'em out if they feel like it.

I’m also happy I finally own a good set of planars. I tried and quickly returned a couple of cheap planars about a year ago. The HE-400i had a strange timbre to it and had poor build quality, and the M1060c was just painful on every level. After expereincing two sets that felt like they would fall apart at any moment, the LCD-X couldn’t be a bigger contrast when it comes to build quality.

[czalarenta]

I figured I’d share some of my work with EQs for the Audeze LCD-X. I reverse-engineered a couple of corrective parametric EQs from Sonarworks and from Crinacle’s headphone database, which had five different samples that I averaged from. So, if you like what Soundworks software does to your LCD-X, I have it for you here in PEQ form!

Some background: I was prepared to EQ these when I bought them used, and was partly encouraged by a recent video by the Headphones show specifically about EQing the LCD-X. I used his EQ, and the result was hilariously awful on my set! He didn’t do anything wrong, but his was a 2020 while mine is 2018/19, plus unit variance… yeah this wouldn’t be easy. So I did some research to figure out some way through the unit variance issue, and I found Sonarworks first. I used their trial and tried out their EQ, and it sounded much better, but it was proprieitary to their software and setup. Fortunately, they showed what their corrections were doing, so I built a parametric EQ that matched their corrections. I also found that crinacle’s graphing tool had five different samples showing similar things, so I did the same process there.

I’ll put the EQs in the next post. Personally, I prefer the Crinacle EQ, as the Sonarworks one can be a little harsh on some songs on my set.

[czalarenta]

Both of these EQs require a 10-band PEQ.

Audeze LCD-X Sonarworks EQ

Preamp -7 dB
All filters in this one are peaking filters

1. 28 Hz 4.8 dB Q 0.7
2. 293 Hz -1.0 dB Q 0.5
3. 1721 Hz 0.9 dB Q 2.8
4. 2350 Hz 1.8 dB Q 2.1
5. 3208 Hz 6.2 dB Q 2.3
6. 3868 Hz -0.6 dB Q 3.4
7. 5282 Hz 1.6 dB Q 6.5
8. 6085 Hz -1.3 dB Q 2.7
9. 8068 Hz 4.7 dB Q 3
10. 14134 Hz -3.5 dB Q 0.8

Audeze LCD-X Crinacle graph EQ (5-sample average)

Preamp -9.2 dB
First entry is a low-shelf, the rest are peaking filters

1. 120 Hz 3.0 dB Q 1 (low shelf)
2. 44 Hz 0.9 dB Q 1
3. 293 Hz -1 dB Q 0.5
4. 2628 Hz -1.7 dB Q 7.5
5. 3331 Hz 6 dB Q 3.1
6. 3868 Hz -3 dB Q 5.1
7. 4840 Hz 1.6 dB Q 2.4
8. 6085 Hz -1.6 dB Q 3.3
9. 8803 Hz 9.7 dB Q 2.4
10. 14134 Hz -2 dB Q 0.8

If you have more than 10 bands, this will be a bit more accurate. Keep 1-5 and start from here:

6. 3868 Hz -2.5 dB Q 5.1
7. 4840 Hz 1.6 dB Q 2.4
8. 6085 Hz -2.7 dB Q 2.2
9. 7676 Hz 4 dB Q 2
10. 9025 Hz 7.3 dB Q 6.1
11. 10746 Hz -1.6 dB Q 2.4
12. 14000 Hz -2.5 db Q 2.2