Audeze LCD-X Headphones. Perfect. Newer. Wonderful.

Beautiful
Audeze LCD X headphones in perfect condition with low hours. These are
like new and sound absolutely fantastic. Purchased Feb 2018. They sound bold and open in
comparison to the many anemic and/or bright offerings of competing
headphone designs. These really bring you closer to the absolute sound.
(Yes it has the Phaser feature, one owner serial # 7522910)

I am also an authorized dealer for PS Audio, Oracle, Resonessence,

COS Engineering
Verastarr, Magnus, and Canary Audio. Paypal or CC adds 2.9%,

The Absolute Sound:

We now have come full circle in my quest to understand, and
participate in, personal audio. I now truly understand what it is about
and why it is appreciated by so many people. It is my opinion that the
LCD-X can compete with all of the very best high-end loudspeakers. This
headphone, for example, has extraordinarily wide and even frequency
response which extends from below 20Hz to far beyond 20kHz, and even at
very loud levels, has very low distortion. It also has the great quality
called continuousness, a term which I believe was coined by The
Absolute Sound’s Jonathan Valin. [Actually, the term was coined by HP; I
just expanded on his idea.—JV.] It means that the sound seems to be cut
from a single cloth in that, from the lowest to the highest frequency,
there is no difference in sonic quality. It is one of the great
characteristics of a single transducer.

Many of the best speakers on the market do not exhibit all of these
qualities. I am not in any way trying to denigrate great speaker
systems. My point is that to purchase a truly state-of- the-art speaker
system and all of its attendant pieces would cost several hundreds of
thousands of dollars. For a state-of-the-art personal audio system the
price would be less than $30,000. And I can assure you I have enjoyed my
state-of-the-art personal audio system as much as any speaker that I
have had in my listening room over the years.

From Tone Audio:

After releasing the highly successful LCD-2 and LCD-3 open-back
headphones, Audeze refuses to rest on its laurels. Their latest
headphone incarnations, the LCD-X series, include both an open-back and a
closed-back design dubbed the LCD-X and the LCD-XC respectively. We
enjoyed the chance to hear the LCD-X, and with their other open-back
models on hand, it’s a delight to hear them head-to-head – literally.

Setting Sail

On arrival, the LCD-X comes in a black, foam-lined Pelican case,
ready for travel and abuse while protecting the precious cargo within.
For versatility, Audeze also includes two sets of 8′ (2.5m) headphone
cables. One set is a balanced 4-pin to 2×4-pin mini XLR. The other cable
is a single-ended version with 4 pins on the headphone end and a
standard ¼” termination on the other. Finally, a ¼” to mini-jack
adapter leaves the listener wired for sound with any headphone amplifier
on hand.

At 1.3 pounds (600 grams) the X is hefty indeed and there’s no
mistaking the weight on one’s head. After an hour or two of listening,
I’m generally ready to free my head from the velvet vise for a short
break, but that’s a small tradeoff for its great sound. The wide
headband and large, comfy earcups distribute that weight well and when
you have them on, physical heft certainly yields to the delicate sonics.

Scylla and Charybdis

Audeze’s headphone designs are dangerously attractive indeed. Like
the famous hazards Odysseus attempted to navigate, it’s difficult to
avoid their pull. Although there is a generally similar appearance to
the earlier headphone models, the LCD-X takes a departure from the
familiar wood-laden earcups. The Xs offer anodized aluminum enclosures,
with a choice of either black or grey rings around the ’cups. There’s
also a choice of padding: either a black lambskin leather, or a
non-leather microsuede. In either case, as with earlier headphone
designs, the foam underneath gives the earcups a slight slope, canting
them forward when worn and projecting the sonic image forward a bit.
Throughout listening sessions, the ear pads proved generally
comfortable. I find the leather cups do get a little warm and tacky
against the skin, so the microsuede may be the preference of some. I
realized also that trying to wear glasses at the same time as the LCD-Xs
is an uncomfortable pairing, so these aren’t the best ’phones for those
far-sighted folks like me who enjoy music while working on the
computer.

Not fixing what’s not broken, LCD-X retains familiar design elements
of planar magnetic transducers and Neodymium magnets as with the past
headphone versions. The LCD-X headphones differ from their siblings
through the use of a new transducer, though, made of a lighter and
thinner material plus what Audeze dubs “Fazor” technology. The company
claims these alternations manage the flow of sound through the headphone
facilitating better imaging, a smoother frequency response, and greater
frequency extension. Listening to the new cans, I see that Audeze
doesn’t exaggerate. They also claim the capability of frequency response
exceeding the 20Hz–20kHz range of normal human hearing, dropping down
to 5Hz and with information transfer up to 50kHz. Without an elephant
and a porpoise on hand, I’m not able to verify the extremes, but what
does reside within my audible range proves magnificent.

Song of the Sirens

As with the other LCDs, bass is a strong attribute. I have not heard
another open-back design that offers the depth, weight and punch that
Audezes do. Percussion is portrayed marvelously, and these headphones
can rock. I’m surprised by the level of heft these open backs produce.
Only with custom IEMs have I heard the level of tangibility of drums
interacting with my eardrums. Bass, snare, toms, tambourines and cymbals
all have an extremely convincing level of impact, resonance and decay.
In addition to jazz tracks, I tossed Electric Six’s “Fire” into the mix
for fun. The song’s heft though the LCD-Xs is an absolute joy and
completely immersive experience. Green Day’s “St. Jimmy,” another
favorite rock track, startled me to the point of a physical lurch when
the first notes burst forth from silence. Nice!

These headphones are capable of great delicacy as well. Vocals sound
incredible through the X. They strike the right balance between
capturing every nuance while avoiding stridency and sibilance that often
accompanies them. As with Shivaree’s “Who’s Got Trouble” the LCD-Xs
reveal the sound and palpability of Ambrosia Parsley’s breath in
anticipation of vocal passages. When the first note rings forth with
clarity and refinement there’s certainly no disappointment.

With the LCD-2s the soundstage is well rendered, but as with the
LCD-3, the LCD-X improves on this somewhat with better ability to
project outward those recorded instruments panned to the far left and
right. Sounds at the far edges of the soundstage wrap out and slightly
behind the center plane of my head. Instruments are layered well in the
X’s presentation and it’s easy to pick them out in the mix. Similarly,
naturally (and artificially) created reverberation is quite evident as
it reveals a sense of the original recording space. Dave Matthews and
Tim Reynolds Live at Luther College provides a good sense of the live
performance, especially the applause, shouts and song requests from the
audience as the stage mics capture them. Compared with my reference hifi
system, the LCD-X makes the concert sound more like an intimate club
setting rather than a larger concert space, but it’s no less convincing
or enjoyable.

Suitors for the Ears

So how does the LCD-X compare with its siblings? In most meaningful
ways, the LCD-X exceeds the very good LCD-2’s capability. The battle for
the open-back Audeze kingdom rests with the LCD-3 and the LCD-X. Things
get tricky comparing these two, because they are both wonderful and
there’s far more similarity than difference.

Ultimately, it’s a slight, nuanced “flavor” change rather than one
headphone being superior to the other. Rather than go into a lot of
detail about the LCD-3 which Jeff Dorgay reviewed here, [1] I’ll just
focus on the small differences I hear between the two sets of cans.

In most of my test recordings, the LCD-X gives a slightly increased
sense of palpability. Bass feels a touch more punchy too. Perhaps this
is the result of their new Fazor technology. On the upside, there’s a
great degree of connection to the music and a “live,” nimble sense to
it. On some recordings it can be a little intense. The LCD-3s also give
the listener an exciting, engaging musical experience with extended
bass, but the tangible intensity is taken down one notch, and it’s
easier to relax into the sound.

In parallel with the above characteristic, the X is slightly more
revealing of recordings in general. Especially listening to digital
recordings, that can imply both upsides and downsides depending on the
quality of the recording. Those who prefer to have every musical detail
revealed – or those like recording engineers who need to hear every
detail – will love the X’s prowess. By comparison, the 3s are a touch
more forgiving and lean just slightly to the side of warmth. I find this
most evident in female vocal passages or in some recordings of horns.

The last subtle difference is hard to describe and best offered as an
analogy. Imagine that the music heard though each set of LCDs is
filtered through a set of sunglasses. The X has a very neutral grey
lens, and the 3 has a slightly rose-colored lens. Each LCD has its own
way of portraying – and enhancing – all that comes through it. There’s
no right answer. Depending on a listener’s musical selections,
associated amplification, sources, and personal preferences, either
headphone could find itself welcome in an existing system.

If Marooned…

On the very slim chance I’m shipwrecked and stranded like Odysseus,
there are a few things I’d hate to be without. After chap stick, the top
of that list is music, and a means with which to hear it. While my
first love is the sonic experience from a full-sized stereo system, the
sound and presentation of music with the Audeze LCD-X headphones is
beguiling enough that it could serve as a worthy substitute. It’s a
marvelous addition to their headphone lineup.

Pricing for the LCD-Xs is $1,699 placing it between its other
open-back siblings, the LCD-2 and -3 costing $1,145 and $1,945
respectively. That’s certainly not cheap, but considering the X’s build
quality and sonic value in comparison with a big iron system, think
about it in the cost-context of a good set of speakers. You will need a
good amplifier to get the most out of these headphones, so that should
be factored into your budget at some point. With that and your favorite
source, you have a very musically satisfying personal sound system.

If you are considering headphones in this price range, the LCD-3 and
the LCD-X are enthusiastically recommended, and currently my favorite
open backs. After many hours comparing the two, the X won over my ears
with their punchy, highly resolving and neutral nature. The LCD-X
sonics, for me, left little to be desired. I purchased the review sample
as my open-back reference headphone and that’s the best compliment I
can give. -Rob Johnson

Additional Listening

It’s tough to pick a favorite between the LCD-3 and the LCD-X. Both
are incredibly compelling, and while I’d give the nod to the LCD-3 in
ultimate smoothness, without sacrificing resolution, the LCD-X might be a
better choice for those making their first foray into high dollar
headphones.

We can argue to infinity about which presentation is more desirable,
however these two fantastic phones are a lot like the Lyra Titan-i and
the Atlas phono cartridges, or if you’re an old school analog
photographer, Kodachrome and Ektachrome. The LCD-X has a little more
contrast, a little more edge sharpness if you will and the other one has
a touch more ultimate resolution.

The ultimate decision will be determined by your listening taste and
of course, your headphone amplifier. Personally, I prefer the LCD-3
with solid state amplification and the LCD-X with my ALO Audio Studio
Six. But the bigger story, is that the LCD-X is more easily driven by a
laptop, smartphone or iPad than either the LCD-2 or LCD-3, making it
the perfect place to start assembling a mega quality personal audio
system. Grab a pair of LCD-X’s for now and add a big daddy headphone
amp later as your enthusiasm and budget allows.

We are happy to make the LCD-X our choice for Product of the Year in
the Personal Audio category. It’s been exciting to watch Audeze grow
and continue to expand their repertoire.

–Jeff Dorgay