Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone New 2021 Version Creator Package with Carry case

I generally prefer a neutral tuned headphone, hence my daily driven Audio Techicna R70Xs (maybe slightly warm). Keep in mind the LCD-X headphones are listed under Audeze’s “reference” class.

Note: heavy but not uncomfortable.

These headphones are beautifully crafted and sound amazing. The stage is kind of narrow but they offer exceptional clarity and are exciting and fun to listen to.

Definitely an improvement, with a bit of weight loss and some actually decent tuning, making the LCD-X competitive with higher tier and more expensive cans. Their still the heaviest in my collection but are sonically weightier then most along with its better dynamics, instrument separation and sound stage.

Fantastic detail and sound stage. Impressive dynamics and frequency range. Comfortable and not as heavy as its perceived by many people. Can easily have it for a couple hours fine. Im pairing it with a Topping E50 and L50 stack, they are perfect for these cans. Is it worth the price? Probably not for casual listeners, if you want some of the best professional level detail retrieval, these are definitely the right choice.

Sounds transparent a bit different though compared to traditional cone based headphones. I didn’t find it to be bass heavy as some reviews suggest. Important to take a listen before you go for it.

This is the “best tuned” Audeze IMHO, it’s the closest to a Focal Clear MG in terms of neutrality and accuracy on the frequency response. However it contains a better wider and bigger soundstage.

Extremely fun headphone. EQ is a must since they sound pretty dark out of the box. Theyre quite comfortable despite being pretty chonky. Soundstage and layering isnt amazing on these like something from Hifiman, but it is extremely detailed and articulate, plus they wont fall apart in a year. Youll be able to pick up the subtlest sounds with ease. Amazing sub bass (exceptional dynamic range, descent amount of slam), crisp mids and treble. Theyre slightly rolled off on treble which is nice for me since It makes longer listening sessions more enjoyable. I like to listen to a lot of busy tracks (mainly EDM/electronic). They sound pretty forward without being too much. Vocals and instruments sound natural (vocals to me sounded artifical on Sundaras and Anandas). These respond to EQ very well so you can tune them to your personal preference. One thing to note is that you will need an amp with some juice. I run these off of a Onkyo home theater receiver, which has plenty headroom. Tried them out with a JDS atom and Shiit magni heresy and they left a lot on the table compared to what I was able to get out with the Onkyo. Love these headphones very much. Id compare them to the 2-C, but Ive never listened to them. I also havent had any issues with the screws on the can to strap couple like some have had (blue Loctite if any issues) and the factory cable is very good as well. This headphone is not going to be everyones favorite, but it definitely checked the boxes for me. If instrument separation and soundstage are extremely important to you, Id probably look for something else. I only have limited experience with different headphones, so take my opinion with a grain of salt. However Ive personally never listened to anything that made me so impressed every time I put them on. Oh big plus I forgot to mention. Audeze is located and manufactures their headphones here in the states. They offer a 3 year warranty on the drivers as well. I truly gave Hifiman a chance but when you get a defective unit out of the box it kind of leaves a bitter taste on the tongue.

These headphones are absolutely incredible. If you are reading this im sure you’ve read other reviews. These have incredible tonality, imaging, and sound stage. These are “reference” headphones geared toward music production and will need some boost in the low frequencies for most people. But they respond perfectly to EQ and sound incredible.

Amazing headphones just got better.