2022 Audeze LCD-X Review and Measurements

I had originally intended to add to @Vtory's review of the 2021 LCD-X here, but decided it would be worthwhile to start another thread. I've titled the thread 2022 to indicate approximate time period of this headphone and not necessarily to denote any specific model tweaks or improvements. @rhythmdevils may be able to provide more information for clarity. My experience with with the LCD-X is consistent with that of @Vtory's. This is a massive improvement over the OG LCD-Xs and with two samples performing at a high level perhaps this a strong indication that the variances of the OG LCD-X are a thing of the past?



The first that that surprised me is how resolving the LCD-X has become. I never felt the Audeze's of days past were all that resolving of microdetail unless one opted for the LCD-3. The LCD-X completely changes this! In fact, I felt that this latest iteration of the LCD-X outperformed LCD-3s from years ago, particularly the unit @ChaChaRealSmooth lent to me. The second thing that surprised me was the price. $1200? Pricey, but that's a steal in 2022!

To get things out of the way, the LCD-X subscribes to Audeze's stock tuning of laid-back upper mids. However, being of the Reference Line, it's less recessed, more toward neutral, than that of the LCD-2. Those who subscribe to Dr. Sean Olive's Headphone Target (rtings, ASR, etc.) may come away disappointed. The bass while hefty and extended, isn't boosted. The tuning from 2kHz-6khz, the presence region, is in fact opposite to the Harmon Target. People who like IEMs voiced for Chinese market or the Focal Utopia even, will very likely dislike the LCD-X's tonal signature. I'm not going to be one to judge for you, but I will say that Audeze's voicing has a lot of fans and hence why they've been successful for all these years.

I'll continue on with my usual measurement suite, but please give me a few days. If there are any specific asks, make them known. Before I proceed with measurements, I'll quickly touch on a few other aspects. The headstage is better than I expected. It's wide, not particularly deep, however it manages a good center image with a continuous stage from left to right. There's no three blob effect. The bass is clean, hefty, hits the low notes, but doesn't have quite the articulation of the Focals. While the highs are snappier, there's actually good cohesion between the lows and highs. The LCD-X is Fazor equipped, but for some reason, my ears aren't touching them. I don't know if this is because the LCD-X pads are a bit stiffer. Finally, I did feel the LCD-X lacks a bit of air. It could be that I'm deaf and that my high-frequency hearing has been destroyed since I've starting playing the drums with my daughter. (I'm still a bass player first, but I learn so I can teach her and give her tips, since I have the advantage of being a musician for decades longer than her). Then again, if I can hear the air on real cymbals...

 

Audeze LCD-X (2022)
Frequency Response
(Perceptive neutral flat across)

 

Audeze LCD-X (2022)
CSDs

 

Stock vs stock, LCD-R is like an LCD-X, but with faster highs and slower lows with slightly less heft and extension. Hence why I felt the LCD-R while overall a bit better, was more disjointed between highs and lows. The modded LCD-R is a huge leap. Will discuss later in appropriate threads. I'm comparing everything at the same time.

 

Audeze LCD-X
Distortion vs Frequency at Various SPL


This is interesting. I'll re-check when I get a chance. Distortion is mostly second order. The amount is not only fairly low, but fairly consistent throughout the frequency range. What's interesting is super low third and fourth order at lower volumes. Usually these lines are visible and not buried below the 20db line. The LCD-X wins at lower volumes. The LCD-R and XC are better when stuff is cranked up.

For reference here are LCD-R and LCD-XC

Audeze LCD-R
Distortion vs Frequency at Various SPL


Audeze LCD-XC
Distortion vs Frequency at Various SPL

 

https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...dphones-cost-the-same-as-totl-speakers.12077/

LOL, that is kind of funny how our expectations of changed. I actually expected the LCD-X to cost $1800. When I found out they were $1200, I was like, wow this is a good deal.

 

The timbre is typical Audeze, or shades of Audeze. In other words not anything like the OG LCD-X from ; at least one sample, which sounded thin, even from a slightly warm tube amp (EC Balancing Act). The OG LCD2r2 didn't have this weird thin tonality either. I remember Craig saying get this the f**k outta here with respect to this particular OG LCD-X. However, note that Craig also owned the LCD2 rev 2 Unicorn Edition here: https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...-pre-fazor-unicorn-edition-measurements.1834/

I wish I took the more complex distortion measurements I do now back then to compare. Anyway, the LCD-X does is just slightly less full-bodied than recent LCD2s and LCD3s I've heard. I am pretty sure that the current lineup has similar than different distortion (measurements) and timbre (subjective). I guess this is why the LCD-X is put into Audeze's "Reference" line of products.

GREEN = LCD-X 2022
ORG = LCD2C
GRY = LCD2r2 Unicorn


Anyway, I was curious, so I went back in time.

GREEN = LCD-X 2022
ORG = LCD2C
PNK = OG LCD-X (circa 2013)


OG LCD-X (circa 2013)

 

Nope. Despite low Z, they are very efficient. I'll get back on this with impedance and senstivity.

 

Audeze LCD-X 2022
Impedance and Electrical Phase
YEL = free air
GRN = on head


Solid 20-ohms across.

 

20-ohms is lower than usual for headphones (actually becoming quite common with orthos these days), but given that the LCD-X is substantially more sensitive than the HD600 and almost as sensitive as Grados, most amps won't have an issue.

0.174 Vrms for ~90dbSPL 1kHz RS-2X F-pads
0.262 Vrms for ~90dbSPL 1kHz LCD-X 2022
1.206 Vrms for ~90dbSPL 1kHz JAR600 (based on HD600)

However, all bets are off if you crank it up to 100db and boost the bass another 15db on top of that. That could be tough on the amp. Example of a torture test here (don't do this at home): https://www.superbestaudiofriends.o...iemagni-measurements.10984/page-2#post-347931

 

Would be based on FR measurements maybe. Unicorn-ness would be distortion. Or having someone who knows how they sound to listen to them.