Stock image: Audeze | Design: HomeStudioBasics
Greetings mate and Welcome aboard! Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…
Is the Audeze LCD-XC worth a look? Does it have any glaring issues? Today we’ll discuss build, comfort, sound, amplification needs, 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!
Comfort
Wow. What a mammoth headphone this is.
Like the LCD-X, this is a bowling ball for your melon.
That said, I thought this model fit a little bit more securely than its brother.
Still, you’ll likely be taking breaks as the weight will affect you in one way or another; unless of course your neck is made of titanium alloy.
Unless you’re this guy, you’ll probably feel the XC on your head lol. Image: Fandom
For the rest of us normal people, we’ll be feelin’ it alright.
There’s simply no getting around it, and at 1.5 lbs. (!!!) or 677g, you better have some really strong neck muscles.
If you don’t, I’d get into the gym ASAP because you’re going to need all the strength and then some to keep from falling face-first into the floor.
Be advised, that the LCD-XC is not for the faint of heart.
Why they decided to make them almost 2 lbs. is beyond me.
Go ahead, buy these for your 5’4″ 120 lb. girlfriend. I’m sure she’ll really appreciate the sentiment.
“Aw, gee. You shouldn’t have.” xD
Literally. You shouldn’t have.
Unless her goal is to look like she’s wearing a Television set, I’d advise something a liiiiitle lighter.
So, who are these actually for?
These headphones are for that 800 lb. meathead juicer bro in the gym who eats a rhinoceros for his pre-workout snack.
Alright, I’m done lol. I had a lot of fun writing all that. xD
Build
Build-wise, the XCs are pretty much built like a boulder, with the combination of wood, metal, and leather complementing the set exceptionally well.
The cable is a detachable mini-XLR, and the adjustments kind of resemble the ones you’ll find on Grado headphones.
There’s a circular rod that goes through a piece of something or other (probably not plastic, but maybe plastic) and that’s the adjustment mechanism.
So it’s strange, but it mostly works and isn’t unlike any of the other models in the LCD line (save for the LCD-1 of course).
Clamping force is actually quite good, and even as heavy as the headphones are, you won’t feel the headband digging all that much.
It’s just that the weight of them makes you feel like someone’s got their finger on your forehead and they’re gently pushing you backward.
Sound
I used these with the Chord Mojo primarily as well as an HA-2.
Mid-Range
The overall sound is almost identical to the LCD-X with a couple of exceptions.
The first is the mid-range.
It’s something I’ve been struggling with for quite a while. Is it too forward? Too shouty?
I think so.
Because 3 separate graphs + my ears have confirmed this, I can’t ignore it.
Way back when I first demoed these in 2017 and long before I looked at any graphs, I felt something was off and it’s pretty obvious that the culprit is instruments and vocals specifically.
There’s a rather large, FAT rise between 1-2k, and it can make for a painful experience at times.
I’ve tried these out on a few different occasions, and even plugged into the phenomenal NAIM DAC V-1, I found the same issue appears with some very good source files.
That said, the overall sound aside from that is stunningly clear, crisp, and accurate.
Bass
The bass continues in the vein of the LCD-X.
It’s incredibly crisp, tight, controlled, buttery smooth, and has plenty of impact while remaining phenomenally articulate and textured.
The bass rumble is probably my single favorite aspect of this headphone, and as Ken Rockwell likes to say, it is indeed bottomless (one of the best words to describe how Audeze bass sounds).
Bottomless, in this case, doesn’t mean someone who has no ass.
It simply means that the sub-bass extension and into the all important 60-90Hz region is excellent while not coming across as boomy, distorted, or exaggerated in the mud/bloat regions of 200-300; something apparent in say, Beats headphones, the Black Hole, an A10, 9600, NightHawk, Meze 99 Neo, etc.
You’re going to feel (and hear) the weight and impact of the low end, but it’s going to sound correct and accurate; something many companies should take note of.
The difference between high-class bass such as this vs. other poopy-sounding bass is that not only is the rumble on point, but you can hear individual notes much better which only adds to the immersion and enjoyment that an Audeze experience provides in spades.
- Recommended: 8 Audeze Headphones Ranked Worst To First
In other words, resolution, on the whole, is exemplary and one of the main aspects of Audeze headphones that set themselves apart from other products.
Treble
The one thing that stands out here over your typical LCD line model is that the XC is going to sound brighter and will be more revealing – especially with sub-par or bad recordings.
For those tired of the somewhat darker-sounding Audeze treble (which can admittedly sound a bit veiled at times), the XC will likely be a breath of fresh air for you.
There is a sense of air, crispness, and space here that makes these headphones stand out from the others, and I think it’s mostly a good thing though your mileage may vary.
The good news is that, as with the others in the line, Audeze opts for a cut around the sibilance regions of 9-10kHz in favor of air after 10k. This helps with clarity and sparkle while avoiding the hiss that most companies fall victim to.
In other words, you won’t feel the fatigue that accompanies a lot of other, brighter headphones and you’ll be able to listen for longer periods.
With that said, the LCD-XC is certainly brighter than most in the lineup, so still keep that in mind.
Soundstage and Imaging
Another aspect of the LCD-XC is something that few headphones can accomplish; it sounds very open despite being closed-back.
Aside from headphones like the MDR-Z1R, Status CB-1, Dan Clark Aeon, and AKG 553, this is a quality I’ve experienced very few times, but add the LCD-XC to that shortlist as well.
It’s open, spacious, and provides pretty great width and depth.
I wouldn’t expect frequent out-of-your-head moments, but it can and will happen depending on the track in question.
The placement of instruments and sound is also good, but what about tonality?
Tonality/Timbre
Yes, it is good but I will caution you that the mid-range, as discussed previously, can add a bit too much glare/honk/resonance over instruments and voices, to the point where it’s a bit hard to enjoy it.
In other words,
it feels too in your face at times and can exude a bit of unnecessary artificiality.
I think they could have toned down that 1-2kHz area by a couple of dB and had an almost perfect headphone, but I digress.
Amplification
You don’t necessarily need an amp, but one is highly recommended if your phone’s DAC or PC’s laptop Soundcard isn’t very good.
- Related: How to choose a headphone amp
At 20 Ohms Impedance and 100dB Sensitivity, the LCD-XC is very efficient and doesn’t need much power from an amp to reach acceptable listening levels. In other words, these seem to be made for portable homies on the go and since they’re also closed back, it makes sense. You could probably get away with a dongle like the Go Link, DragonFly Red, S9 Pro, BTR5, etc.
For your desktop, I wouldn’t go any farther than a K5 Pro, K7, and maybe K9 if you’re feeling extra spicy. Still, to me, anything over around $100-$200 is overkill.
Who do these headphones benefit?
Everyone. They do well with all types of music. The genres I tested:
- Jazz
- Classical
- Indie
- Pop
- Hip-Hop
- Rock
Thoughts from Stu’s notepad
Here are my notes that were jotted down while demoing:
- Headphones are comfortable but very heavy. They feel like they’re going to slide forward off of my head.
- Built like a tank.
- Articulate sound. The bass is very natural, but slams when called upon.
- A bit shouty (Mid-range).
- Incredible instrument separation and clarity with a lot of subtle detail.
- Lively sound.
- Background atmosphere present. The stuff you rarely hear going on behind the scenes. Adds a lot of depth and layering. Extremely enjoyable to be able to discern.
Closing Thoughts
The LCD-XC is a headphone that will always stand out in my mind, for some good reasons and some not so good ones.
Every time I think back on these, I mull over what could have been. Here we have a super easy to drive, closed back somwehat portable headphone with some of the most remarkable resolution you’ll ever hear and a bass response to die for.
But they kind of messed up the mid-range. It’s something I’ve gone back and forth on for a long time because I feel as though the XC could have achieved greatness. Sure, you can EQ the mids down, but it feels counterintituive to spend $1,200 on headphones if you’re just going to fix something that’s broken.
I think the LCD-XC is a pretty good entry into the line but I would never purchase it due to the comfort issues as well as that mid-range honk.
In addition to that,
it’s a bit expensive at over $1,200 big ones, and taking into account everything we’ve discussed today, I don’t think the hefty price tag is justified here.
So yeah, it’s pretty good.
But not quite good enough to drop over $1,200 on.
Oh well. What do I recommend instead?
Closed Back Recommendation
After thinking it over some, I believe the best replacement for these is Sony’s MDR-Z1R; in my opinion just about the best all-around top-shelf closed-back headphone that I’ve personally had experience with.
I’ve recommended them for quite many years and still feel the same way about them today as I did back in 2017.
Learn More:
IS THIS THE BEST TOP SHELF CLOSED BACK?!
Audeze LCD-XC
Price: Check Amazon! | Check Audeze! | Check B&H! | Check eBay!
Specifications
- Type: Closed back, Planar Magnetic.
- Fit: Circumaural (Around the Ear).
- Impedance: 20 Ohms.
- Sensitivity: 100dB/mW.
- Transducer size: 106mm.
- Sound Pressure Level: >130 dB with 15W.
- Max power handling: 15W (for 200 Ohms).
- Optimal Power Requirement: 1 – 4 W.
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 20kHz extended out to 50kHz.
- Material: Wood, leather.
- Cable: Mini XLR.
- Cable Detachable: Yes.
- Color: Brown, Black.
Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Audeze LCD-XC Review and came away with some valuable insight.
What do you think about them?? 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
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Audeze LCD-XC
Pros
- Great For Quiet Listening/Isolation
- Smooth, Detailed Sound
- Pretty Good Sounstage for a Closed Back
- Good Build
Cons
- Mid-range is a bit too forward
- Too Heavy and Uncomfortable
