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 worth a purchase, and if it isn’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.
Deal?
Cool.
Let’s dive in!
Specs, box contents, and pricing towards the end!
Introduction
I joked at length about the weight of Audeze headphones in my LCD-XC Review, so if you’re craving a laugh or 2, definitely check that article out.
Or you can just stick around and read this one too. xD
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.
This was one of the first headphones that made me understand the importance of Planar Magnetic 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
Maybe it has to do with the “X” part?
I don’t know. Headphone manufacturers are really weird. Whatever.
Instead, 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.
Wow. I’ll refrain from adding in another joke.
Wait who am I kidding no I won’t.
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 horse.
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 cable is made of 20 AWG high-purity OCC audio-grade copper, designed with a specific thickness (20 AWG) designed for audio applications. It uses Ohno Continuous Cast (OCC) copper, known for its high purity and low impurities, which enhances signal transmission. It’s often used in high-quality audio cables to provide better sound clarity.
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 forwarned.
Comfort
Again, unfortunately, this is not a comfortable headphone no matter how you slice it.
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!
Jokes aside, I’d wager that the average listening time 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
- Amp Used: NAIM DAC V-1
- Source: FLAC
- 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 both avid bass enthusiasts and casual listeners alike.
For bass heads, the LCD-X offers an unparalleled experience, providing a level of depth and power that be felt, but more importantly heard.
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, it 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 headphones 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.
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 LCD-X again showcases remarkable resolution, allowing guitars, other musical instruments, and vocals to shine with clarity and authenticity.
Instruments
When it comes to guitars, the LCD-X excels at rendering the intricate details of string instruments.
Whether it’s the strumming of an acoustic guitar or the shredding of an electric guitar, the headphones bring out the resonance, timbre, and nuances of each note with exceptional precision, body, and fullness.
The strings come alive, 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 are faithfully reproduced, allowing you to appreciate the full range of harmonics and overtones that these instruments produce.
This makes classical music, jazz, and orchestral compositions come to life with a level of realism that’s truly captivating.
Vocals
Vocals, too, receive special attention from the LCD-X.
Whether it’s the sultry tones of a jazz singer, the emotional delivery of a rock vocalist, or the precision of a classical soprano, the headphones render vocals with a level of detail that makes the performance feel intimately close.
Every breath, nuance, and subtle inflection in the singer’s voice is unveiled, enhancing the emotional connection to the music.
In essence, the Audeze LCD-X’s mid-range resolution is a testament to its commitment to high-fidelity audio.
Guitars, instruments, and vocals all benefit from their ability to reproduce fine details and deliver them with a level of authenticity that can make you 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.
This quality makes the LCD-X a fantastic choice for those who appreciate and demand a lifelike and immersive listening experience.
Treble
The treble response of the LCD-X (from here on out we’ll refer to it as 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.
Even 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).
Resolution
The X is well-known for its exceptional resolution; a standout feature that sets it apart from other high-end headphones, especially within the planar magnetic headphone category.
Audeze, as a brand, is renowned for its commitment to delivering high-quality audio experiences, and the X is a prime example of their dedication to excellence in sound reproduction.
Planar Magnetic Technology
The LCD-X, like other headphones in the Audeze LCD line, utilizes planar magnetic technology.
Unlike traditional dynamic driver headphones, planar magnetic drivers offer several advantages, one of which is their ability to provide outstanding resolution.
Planar magnetic drivers are known for their precise and controlled movement, resulting in highly accurate sound reproduction.
Clarity and Detail
The LCD-X headphones excel in reproducing the tiniest details in audio tracks.
The exceptional resolution allows you to hear nuances, subtleties, and textures in the music that may go unnoticed with lesser headphones.
This level of clarity and detail is often described as “revealing” because it unveils elements of the music that might otherwise remain hidden.
A lot of cheaper headphones tend to have poor separation, to the point where it sounds like everything is layered. Headphones like the LCD-X portray the music as it was recorded, meaning if the producer/engineer mixed the track correctly, you’ll be able to hear everything in ultra fine detail; because the sounds occupy their own space rather than competing for it.
Spacious Soundstage
In addition, 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.
In other words, you will experience those out-of-your-head moments when it feels like stuff is happening around you rather than through the headphones.
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 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.
Transparency
The X’s transparency is another aspect of its resolution, and equally as impressive.
This transparency ensures that the headphones faithfully reproduce the original recording, allowing you to perceive the music exactly as the artist and sound engineer intended.
Wide Genre Versatility
The X’s impressive resolution makes it a versatile choice for various musical genres and audio content.
Whether you’re listening to Classical, Jazz, Rock, Acoustic, Folk, Rap, Hip-Hop, Indie, R&B, or any other genre, the headphones deliver an engaging and authentic listening experience.
Audiophile and Professional Grade
Audeze has gained a strong reputation in both the audiophile and professional audio communities.
The X’s resolution makes it a favored choice for music enthusiasts, producers, and audio engineers who demand precision and accuracy in their work.
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 was 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.
- Recommended: JDS Labs ATOM Amp Review
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 130 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 as 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 bonafide actual Hi-Fi territory, it’s the Utopia hands down.
NEXT: FOCAL UTOPIA REVIEW
Audeze LCD-X
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Audeze! | Check Apos Audio! | Check B&H!
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