Audeze LCD-X (Latest Revision) | Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

Didn’t think the weight would be a problem, but it is heavy. Willing to put up with it because of the great sound but 30mins max before I need a rest.

In my opinion, these are at a real crossroads between pride and performance. They’re not cheap, but they are solid contenders against the mega-buck heavy-hitters. They are also head and shoulders better than the 500-800 dollar “mid-fi” gear. If you’re looking in that price range, save-up a little more cash to get these. If you’re looking in the 2K+ category, give these a shot first; these might be exactly what you’re looking for.

I'd have to guess that during my four plus decades as an audio enthusiast I have owned about 25 pairs of headphones, some good, some not so much. I currently own eleven. My journey with headphones really began back in 1999 when I purchased a pair of Sennheiser HD-600. I needed a quality headphone because I was working a second shift job and came home to a sleeping wife and newborn baby boy and didn't wish to wake them up at 12:30 am. But just prior to my boy learning to walk he got his hands on them, crawled down the hallway where my wife was multi-tasking in the kitchen making dinner while also doing the laundry, and somehow they wound up in the bottom of the dishwasher. It didn't turn out so well.

I purchased a less expensive headphone that served me well enough for years. While I have replaced the HD-600 I have also acquired several other pairs over the years. About 18 months ago I purchased my first pair of planar magnetic headphones, the HiFiMan Sundara, followed by the Audeze EL-8 as a sealed NOS and then the LCD-2 and Dan Clark Audio AEON Open X. My favorite of all of those is the LCD-2, but yesterday I received the LCD-X and as soon as I placed them on my cranium I was mesmerized by what I heard coming out of them. And I have started asking myself what I am doing. I now have headphones I imagine won't be getting much use anymore.

The first thing that I heard yesterday was a video on youtube of a guy working in his wood shop. His video editing produced a very deep kind of "whoosh" sound that about made me fall over. It was quite impressive. And then the real FUN began. I listened to David Crosby's "For Free" record in FLAC and marvelled at how his voice still sounds so sweet. All of the instruments so clear and well defined as though I were listening in at the recording session. I really enjoyed the entire record. I then moved on to "Traveler's Blues" by Blues Traveller, Neil Diamond's "Hot August Night", "The Endless River" by Pink Floyd, Styx "Crash Of The Crown", "Liberte" by The Doobie Brothers, all in Hi-Res before just taking in a few single lossless tracks. I laid down on the bed and closed my eyes while listening and was mesmerized by this headphones technical ability. It is very revealing. I enjoyed hearing the various layers of the recordings. I've heard all of these recordings before, most of them many times. I've just never heard them sound as they did yesterday.

I began my listening yesterday without applying any sort of EQ whatsoever and found that out of the box the LCD-X is a smoother, better sounding headphone than the LCD-2 to my ears. It has a better top end than the LCD-2 which benefits greatly from EQ. I think that if you are the type of listener who doesn't want to EQ a headphone, you will be pleased with the LCD-X. I connected them to my Acer AMD Ryzen based laptop via Dragonfly Cobalt which provides more than enough power to drive them to insane volumes. Maybe that's the best way to sum up the LCD-X; it's an insane headphone. Insane in a very, very good way. I'd say that soundstage is better than average, if not the widest you'll ever hear, but I was especially impressed while listening to Neil Diamond's Live 1972 record at how well it re-created a vertical sense of space, the end result making it seem like I was sitting in the audience. In fact there are moments when I was able to hear commentary from members of the audience of which I'd never noticed before.

Audeze has changed their earpads here a little bit. They don't feel the same as the LCD-2 pads, of which I prefer. I'm not certain if my pads are leather (I thought they were supposed to be) or not. They are comfortable but different. They still work well together with the suspension headband to do a nice job of distributing their significant weight and girth and they are certainly well built. I have had no issues with the weight of any of my Audeze cans. Taken care of these headphones should last for decades.

Not to forget, this was my first purchase at Bloom Audio and the service which I received was exemplary. I'd much rather do business with a small business than some great big corporate interest when possible. I will be back, perhaps not for headphones but one never knows when a hole in pocket might open up for some kind of audio upgrade.