Audeze LCD-X Review: Uncovering Sonic Mastery

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!

Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!

Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…

Let’s take a look at an interesting headphone in Audeze’s LCD line and find out if it’s worth a purchase.

We’ll discuss build, comfort, sound, amplification requirements, genre pairing, and more.

By the time you’re finished reading this, you’ll know if it’s right for you.

Why Listen To Me?

I’ve spent nearly 20 years mixing, EQing, and critically listening to music, with hands-on experience across over 200 pieces of audio gear. My focus is simple: break down how something actually sounds/performs, determine price to performance, and help you decide if it’s right for your setup.

• Required Reading: My Ethos

Specs, box contents, and pricing towards the end!

Introduction

To be blunt, putting on the LCD-X is like strapping a small elephant to your melon.

Don’t make any sudden movements, or you’ll find yourself with a face full of hardwood flooring.

They use planar magnetic drivers, which are typically (but not always) heavier than your standard dynamic driver.

• Read: What is a Planar Magnetic Driver?

This was one of the first headphones that made me understand the importance of Planar Drivers in an Open Back and how they improve the sound tremendously from a typical dynamic.

It’s also the first in the LCD line to take a departure from the usual Wood finish found on both the LCD-2 and LCD-3.

• Recommended: 8 Audeze Headphones Ranked Worst To First

Here, we’re getting a Metal finish but with the same leather padding and an all-black physique.

Weight-wise, the LCD-X should probably go on Weight Watchers.

This mammoth elephant-sized headphone is even heavier than the LCD-2, which I didn’t think was possible.

Just for grins, let’s take a look:

• LCD-2 Classic: 544g
• LCD-2: 595g (Rosewood), 580g (Shedua/Bamboo)
• LCD-3: 635g
• LCD-4: 690g
• LCD-X: 612g.
• LCD-XC: 677g.

The X, XC, and LCD-4 are the same headphones as the others, only after stuffing their face with food for 2 months straight without moving.

If the LCD-X were a person, it would be on that show “My 600-lb. life.”

LARGE AND IN CHARGE.

Now that we’re sort of on the subject of obesity, let’s discuss the build.

Build

The build continues the greatness of the LCD line, and by now, I feel like I’m beating a dead donkey.

The same grilles are present, the same headband adjustments, the same-sized ear cups, the same Mini-XLR termination, and the same 1/4″ plug at the business end.

The only real differences are color, weight, and cable material. Instead of the wood variants seen in the LCD-2, LCD-3, etc, the LCD-X is all black and made of mostly solid metal.

The LCD-X comes with a 20 AWG OCC copper cable, though whether that materially affects sound is still up for debate.
Still, Audeze headphones have always struck me as unusually resolving, so there may be something to it.

Overall, I really do enjoy the build of the Audeze line, and the LCD-X is no different.

I feel as though they can all withstand abuse and are constructed very well.

The headband adjustments are a bit odd, but they work, resembling Grado adjustments but feeling much more robust.

Just be aware that everything about this package is in your face and massive. Not for the faint of heart, so be warned.

Comfort

Unfortunately, this is not a comfortable headphone, no matter how you slice it.

• Related: The Most Comfortable Headphones Of All Time [Definitive Guide]

The clamping force is good, and the earcups are large enough, but they are rather heavy, coming in at a whopping 612g. This time around, instead of an elephant on your head, you’ve got a jetliner.

Awesome!

I’d wager that the average listening duration you’ll be able to tolerate is about 30-45 minutes at a time; maybe an hour if you’re a bit more forgiving.

I have to make at least a few adjustments during my listening session, and often I’ll take them off for a minute or two because of how overwhelmingly heavy they can be.

Overall, not completely horrible but also not ideal, even in a studio environment.

COMFORT SCORE: C/C-

Sound

I have demeod the LCD-X on multiple occasions, but for whatever reason don’t have more original photos.

• Amp Used: NAIM DAC V-1
• Source: FLAC/Lossless
• Albums: Chon’s “Homey”, Sufjan Stevens – Illinois, Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon, The Roots – Things Fall Apart.

Bass

The bass response of the Audeze LCD-X is nothing short of remarkable.

It’s akin to a bottomless well of deep, resonant lows that extends far beyond what you might expect from many other headphones.

This flat-line variety bass is a genuine delight for both avid bass enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.

The texture of the bass is incredibly rich and nuanced, adding layers of dimension and clarity.

Every note is brought to life with remarkable articulation, making the bass not just a presence but a key player in terms of audio performance.

What’s especially noteworthy is the LCD-X’s ability to portray individual bass notes with ease.

It doesn’t allow the low frequencies to blend into an indistinct rumble, but rather, presents each bass note with precision and clarity.

This means that you can discern the subtle variations in basslines, enhancing your overall listening experience and making the LCD-X a perfect choice for genres heavily relying on deep and intricate bass, such as Electronic, Hip-Hop, Rock, and even orchestral music.

One of the hallmarks of a good low-end is your ability to follow a bass line from start to completion. Every note. This rarely happens with cheaper products, and a big factor in what sets apart headphones like these from the competition.

In other words, the resolution of, well, everything is rather remarkable.

This can be clearly heard on an album like “Illinois” by Sufjan Stevens. The title track is unusually busy, but a good headphone like the LCD-X really highlights individual bass notes, separates sounds incredibly well, and provides a clear picture of what the artist intended.

Mid-Range

The mid-range performance of the LCD-X is equally impressive and complements its exceptional bass qualities.

In this critical frequency range, the X again showcases remarkable resolution, allowing guitars, other musical instruments, and vocals to shine with clarity and authenticity.

Instruments

Ever want to hear how the guitars in “Time” by Pink Floyd actually sound? An LCD-X will get you most of the way there. I noticed something similar in my LCD-3 Review, and the X gives off much of the same vibe. One thing that stood out immediately was how natural guitars sounded. The texture, body, and harmonic detail came through in a way that felt especially lifelike.

Timbre, (the unique tone) of the instruments also plays a big role here, sounding very close to the way you’d expect them to sound in real life.

It all comes alive like Peter Frampton, and you can hear the subtle vibrations and harmonics that give the instrument its unique character.

Other musical instruments also benefit from the LCD-X’s mid-range resolution.

The tonal qualities of pianos, brass instruments, and woodwinds come through convincingly, which helps Jazz, Classical, and orchestral music stand out especially well.

Vocals

Vocals, too, are a highlight, sounding clearer and easier to understand. Lyrics come through with better definition, and the human voice has a level of realism that makes it easy to get pulled in.

Guitars, instruments, and vocals all benefit from the X’s ability to resolve fine detail without sounding forced. There’s a level of authenticity that can make you sort of feel as if you’re in the same room as the musicians. It’s not like actually being there, but you do get small glimpses of it from time to time as your heart drops into your stomach.

Treble

The treble response of X, while impressive in many respects, can be a bit of a mixed bag for some users.

One notable characteristic is its reluctance to become sibilant or overly sharp, even at higher volumes.

This means that you won’t be overwhelmed by piercing “s” and “sh” sounds, making it a comfortable listening experience, especially during extended sessions.

The X, like most of the LCD line, opts for a dip around 9-10kHz which helps mitigate the effects of sibilance. After 10kHz there’s some air and sparkle, which contributes to a sense of clarity and openness without feeling like the headphones are overly bright and hissy.

This is a huge problem in many consumer products, and thankfully, Audeze avoids falling prey to it. 

Despite that, for some users, the treble might still be described as slightly veiled.

This means that it doesn’t have the same bright, sparkling quality that you’d find in headphones with a more pronounced treble emphasis, but I think the tuning works well here, all things considered.

In other words, the excellent resolution of the X can somewhat compensate for this, as it allows you to perceive the subtle nuances and details in the treble range that might otherwise be masked.

It’s worth noting that the somewhat subdued treble can be a deliberate choice by Audeze to provide a smoother and less fatiguing listening experience.

This approach might be appealing to those who prioritize a more relaxed and balanced sound signature, particularly for genres where a bright treble can get tiring REAL fast (cough Grado cough).

Spacious Soundstage

The LCD-X also offers a spacious and immersive Soundstage, though you’ll find conflicting points of view here.

In my experience, the LCD lineup has above-average, near exceptional Soundstage. You’ll frequently experience those “out-of-your-head” moments, when it feels like stuff is happening outside of you, and this only adds to everything else that makes an Audeze so great.

A lot of this does depend on the song in question, so be aware of that.

Still, when you combine the superior Timbre, top-tier Resolution, and fantastic separation with the great Soundstage, it creates a sense of depth and realism that’s almost hard to believe at times.

No, they still aren’t speakers, but, in my experience, the Imaging and Staging are so convincing that it comes darn near close.

For mixing & reference

That said, it still might not be the first headphone you look to when mixing. The reason for this is that its mid-range is a bit too laid back for serious studio work, and the treble can wax overly dark at times. 

Still, the superb resolution here almost makes up for some of its tuning deficiencies, but I’d still peg this as more of a casual listening headphone than a professional workhorse.

Amplification

There are subtle differences between the LCD-2, LCD-3, and LCD-X as far as amplification goes.

The LCD-2 at 101dB does not need much power from an amp, but still benefits from a good pairing like the ifi micro iDSD Black Label, which is what I primarily used it with.

The LCD-3 is not efficient at all and most certainly needs A LOT of power from an amp at 91dB.

The LCD-X is somewhat of an outlier at 20 Ohms Impedance and 103dB Sensitivity.

These can absolutely be driven by a phone, and you may not even need an amp.

But…

If it were up to me, and after all that said, I still wouldn’t rely on my phone long-term to drive an LCD-X as these are mostly made for studio-type environments.

In other words, you’re going to want the most from your purchase, given that they still hover around $2k.

ATOM

If I had to recommend something amazing to get you started, but that won’t destroy your wallet, I’d go with a simple clean combo of JDS ATOM + ATOM DAC.

Why?

Well the LCD-X, while not veiled in my opinion, isn’t going to pair all that well with an amp on the warm-ish side/one that has a higher output impedance.

I like something neutral here as it will help mitigate any issues, and the ATOM is my go-to for that purpose.

Closing Thoughts

Well, this is pretty tough, so bear with me as I sort it out and help you make the best decision.

In between mid-fi but below what some people might call “Hi-Fi” lies a very awkward price range that varies between about $600-800-1000. For now, we’ll dub it “Awkward-Fi.”

This is an area in which maybe only a few headphones are actually worth a purchase (in my opinion).

For many years now, I’ve recommended around 3: HIFIMAN’s Ananda/Edition XS, Audeze LCD-2, and Dan Clark’s Aeon Flow (For a closed option).

I firmly believe those to be the best (above mid-fi but below hi-fi) out of over 140 demoed units.

Between LCD-2 and Ananda, I’d still probably lean slightly more towards an Ananda because of price and weight, but it’s very close, and I really enjoy both headphones.

I may prefer the sound of the LCD-2 to the Ananda ever so slightly.

Still, the Ananda is probably the best money can buy as a step-up from mid-fi and will be more accessible to a wider variety of people.

Update: The Edition XS has a little something to say about that.

You may be asking, well what about the LCD-X?

This is the tough part.

I’m not going to say that all Audeze headphones sound the same (because they don’t), but… they do all share very similar tuning and graphs of all generally follow the same trajectory: flat bottomless bass, a rise at 1kHz, a gentle to somewhat not-so-gentle slope (LCD-3) down into 2/3kHz, and then a relatively darker sounding treble.

My main concern for you is value.

That is, if I were to personally purchase an Audeze, which one provides the best value and the lowest weight on my head while also not burning a hole in my pocket?

Nowadays, it’s the Audeze LCD-2C (Classic).

Think about it from my perspective for a second; I’ve heard pretty much the entire LCD line, and the differences aren’t enough to warrant that I drop over $1000 when I can get the Classic for under that (and a great deal to boot).

You’re probably feeling the same way.

Make sense?

If you’re in the market for this type of headphone, I would wholeheartedly recommend it.

It’s a buttery smooth listen, with near-perfect bass response, mid-range, and treble.

If you think you’ll need more treble and don’t fall into that dark high-end camp (for lack of a better term), the Ananda/Edition XS is the solution.

In other words, I can understand why people may not like the Audeze house sound.

It’s truly not for everyone.

There’s very little about the LCD line that I personally don’t enjoy, and the LCD-X is no exception.

The only problem is comfort.

You’re going to be adjusting these pretty frequently on your head, but I still think the overall sound is worth it.

This headphone is still priced very high, so I would take a look at the LCD-2C first.

It’s a revamp of the original LCD-2 and seems to strike a great price point for what it provides.

It’s a bit lighter than the original, and now more affordable while still retaining that incredible sound.

Learn More:

 

For those who need a crisper treble response,

 

As a final step-up from Awkward-Fi into bona fide actual Hi-Fi territory, it’s the Utopia hands down.

NEXT: FOCAL UTOPIA REVIEW

 

Audeze LCD-X: Pricing

Price: Check Amazon! | Audeze! | Apos Audio! | B&H! | eBay!

In The Box

Audeze LCD-X Planar Magnetic Headphones

Travel Case

Limited 3-Year Manufacturer Warranty (For Drivers)

Limited 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty (For All Other Parts)

Specifications

• Type: Open back, Planar Magnetic.
• Fit: Circumaural (Around the Ear).
• Impedance: 20 Ohms.
• Frequency Response: 5Hz – 20kHz extended out to 50kHz (per the Audeze website).
• Sensitivity: 96dB/mW.
• Material: Metal, lambskin leather.
• Color: Black.
• Cable: Detachable mini XLR. What is XLR?
• Weight: 21.6 oz. (612g)
• Cable Length: 2.5m.

Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Audeze LCD-X Review.

What do you think about them?? What about the LCD-2C? Would you consider investing in those? Let me know!!

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Let me know in the comments below or contact me!! I would love to hear from you.

Until then, all the best and God bless…

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

Can’t decide which headphones to purchase? Interested in a complete buyers guide outlining over 40 of the best options on the market? Click on over to the best audiophile headphones to learn more!!

Be sure to also check out my Reviews and Resources page for more helpful and informative articles!

Don't forget to share if you found it helpful!