Audeze LCD2C Measurements and Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. MF_Kitten

    MF_Kitten Banned per own request

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    Why on earth are you EQing headphones with Waves F6? :p

    I would use Fabfilter ProQ 2 in natural phase mode, that thing is BUTTER!
     
  2. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    Greetings friends, how you doing? Reading all those new insights about Audeze lcd2c I was wondering if anyone compared them to the lcd3? Are the lcd3 a real upgrade? Also I have tried the lcd2f with valhala2 and ZDS, and kinda don’t liked the pairing... how it’s the lcd2c pairing with those tube amps? Peace
     
    Last edited: Mar 21, 2018
  3. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    The amps are the problem. OTLs and planar magnetics are typically a poor pairing. The only Audeze I'd consider auditioning would maybe be the LCD-X, but that's a "maybe" at best. Your amps are best suited for dynamics... #teamdynamic
     
  4. drgumbybrain

    drgumbybrain Science Nut

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    thanks @ButtUglyJeff . Better pair with lyr3 I can imagine. Nevertheless, do you think lcd3 has a noticeable better technical performance to justify their 1500-1900$ vs the 799$ from lcd2c?
     
  5. sheldaze

    sheldaze Friend

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    Perhaps adding a little noise, but the deltas between the LCD series are more than just sonic differences. I would not want to deal with the original headband discomfort and issues with the wood maintenance of the LCD-3. The difference in sonic quality would instead drive me toward the LCD-X. However I preferred the original (circa 2014), not the upgraded (circa 2016) version.

    Yes, I know the headband can be upgraded. Only I think it looks a little strange, the black band, with the brown wood cups on the LCD-3. It looks best on the LCD-X.

    One more note - I enjoyed my LCD-X immensely on my ZDS. Just the upgraded version (the driver of my used 2014 version died after 30 seconds of use, so most my listening was on the 2017 upgrade) was a little too sharp and sparkly for my taste. I was able to use a friend's 2014, and enjoyed its signature the most.

    My closest option, to my favorite 2014 LCD-X and buying new from Audeze today, is the LCD-2 classic. If you prefer warmer, and have power reserves, perhaps trying the LCD-3 or LCD-4 is best.
     
  6. ButtUglyJeff

    ButtUglyJeff Stunningly beautiful IRL

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    If you have an LCD-2C, the only "better" Audeze, in my limited opinion, is the pre-fazor LCD-3. Your amps wouldn't like that headphone. And I have little faith in their durability.

    I'm hoping the folks at Audeze react to the popularity of the LCD-2C and introduce an LCD-3C in the near future...
     
  7. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

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    Maybe I'm lucky with my LCD-X, which was bought new in 2015 with vegan/micro-suede pads (and now I've jinxed myself), but I would consider it a worthy step up from my LCD-2C. Especially for hard rock/metal, where the LCD-2C is just too laid back for my taste in that genre. It's fine for mostly everything else, and I'm happy to have it around as an option depending on mood and think it was a good buy at its intro pricing. Would still be hunting for more options if it was my sole headphone.

    Hope to find out if the Lyr3 can step up the LCD-2C's game in some manner, which I want primarily for the HD6x0.
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Measurements for 3rd LCD2C
    LCD2C #3 FR.png
    Looks somewhere in between #1 and #2, but closer to #2. I didn't like #2 (from @heyitsrobert) as much as the first pair #1 (now on loaner) and this one #3. #2 was too laid back sounding.

    LCD2C #2
    [​IMG]

    LCD2C #1
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Lyander

    Lyander Official SBAF Equitable Empathizer

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    Was bored and all, so:

    [​IMG]

    Matched at 1k out of habit, sample #2 (the worst one) has a bump where 1 and 3 have a slight dip. Biggest difference seems to be in the 5-7k region (generally a deeper cut than either of the other two), which does explain it sounding more laid back.

    Wasn't paying too close attention to Audeze way back, but based on historical data the lottery doesn't seem as bad as it used to? These are now available locally so I get to audition them (hell yeah!), but need a transportable rig first, crap.
     
  10. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    I truly hope the lottery has gone away. But the other half of it was reliability.
     
  11. Clemmaster

    Clemmaster Friend

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    Could be pad variance / positioning?
     
  12. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Unlikely because these were flat coupler measurements without the ear, which are much more immune to differences in placement.

    Also, I did not like the sound from #2 as much as the other two.
     
  13. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    So is the lottery still with us Marv?
     
  14. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Actually seems really good by Audeze standards, but I do feel the first is the best sounding - grade A. The third pair is B+. The second pair was too laid back for my tastes where I would have returned it. C-

    At least there are no D or F grades among them. No veiled crap (poor transient response or highish bass distortion). It's still like rebel starfighters where you don't know what quality X-wing and droid you are gonna get, but at least they fly, the lasers and the shields work.

    Still not up to Empire standards with their TIE fighters.
     
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  15. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    At least channel matching seems good with all three, which is probably the most important part over small differences in FR.
     
  16. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Good point. I'm sure many remember the days where L + R matching was all over the place past 4-5kHz.
     
  17. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

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    At least no D’s Or F’s. But it would seem the variations are still with us. Can you say Deja vu? Can you say......mo..
     
  18. Cspirou

    Cspirou They call me Sparky

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    I assume this is where we post impressions of the loaner unit?

    Here is the chain I used to listen:

    Mac Mini/Panasonic DVD Player -> optical/COAX -> Modi MB -> DIY Dynalo Mini Mk2 -> LCD-2C

    Specs for the LCD-2C claim that 1-5W is ideal. Loaner unit only came with the TRS jack which meant I was limited to 225mW with my setup. Gain is not super high so the volume knob was usually in the 2:00 position most of the time. Pads are thick and comfortable. The weight doesn't bother me at all, but audio chamber must be completely sealed because it felt like my ears were pressurized when I put them on.

    I've grown accustomed to my HD 6xx so initially the LCD-2C sounded a bit off. After about 30 min I decided to install the REVEAL plug-in and run it through Soundflower and AU Lab. The sound was far less confused and really clear. Bass sounded pretty accurate and I was enjoying a lot of new details from my music. After awhile, playing music without the plug-in didn't bother me as much.

    I didn't do much A/B but comparing to it the HD 6xx (without plug-in and only SE) I slightly prefer the HD 6xx for the midbass and treble, but LCD-2 wins below that for sure. With the plug-in the LCD sounded a bit more natural. I really do feel that sound quality improves from the balanced output and I think the LCDs would have benefitted. Maybe I'll have another chance. With acoustic music I tended to prefer the HD 6xx but with EDM and grunge rock I like the LCD better.

    I don't know what the plug-in does so I hope someone can measure the effect, but it's a definite improvement and I highly recommend anyone else to try it out. Overall a very enjoyable set of headphones and I was glad I was able to try it.
     
  19. raif

    raif Man made lobster/plankton

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    Just picked up a pair of these. Wasn't planning on keeping them, it was basically a fun toy to hold me over till the Elex come in the mail.

    I will say, upon first putting them on my head, my first thought was "yuck." I then let them play as I spent an hour trying to figure out some way to get the reveal plugin to work on a mac without having to pay anything.

    By the time I got the plugin set up, I realized that things didn't sound quite as "off" as they had when I first began. Once I engaged the plugin, things got even better. It seems that once the brain adjusts to the sound signature, a lot of nuance really comes up in the presentation. There was a sense of richness to the sound that was missing from my dynamic phones.

    A/B ing with a pair of Ebony TH-X00, I can definitely hear the dip in the FR. Because of that, and the weight, these likely won't stick around forever. That being said, I can definitely see the appeal of these headphones and will definitely enjoy having them around for the next few weeks at least.

    EDIT: (I might add little impressions here later)

    ok, listening to the hi rez release of Siamese Dream... holy sh*t teh guitarz tone!!!1! Nothing else in the stable sounds like this.
     
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2018
  20. udin

    udin Acquaintance

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    Just a quick comparison between the 2C and a 2.2 (the version right before they made the pad switch, which happened right before they added the fazor): The 2.2 is, to my ears, much smoother, and has that buttery sound to them. The 2C seems brighter in comparison, and less forgiving of poorly mastered tracks. This isn't to say the 2C isn't forgiving, but just not as much as the 2.2. The 2C seems clearer and more revealing in way. It's a bit hard to describe, but the differences between them are very noticeable. The 2C is also significantly easier to drive, with the DF Red providing more than enough volume (although it's not my first choice when amping). The Grace m900 seems to match well with the 2C because it helps smooth it out a little, just gives it back some mellowness that the 2.2 had inherently. Both great headphones, I'd probably choose the 2C for comfort and drivability, but lean towards preferring the 2.2 by a slight margin. It's close though for sure.
     
    Last edited: Apr 26, 2018

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