New Audeze LCD series earpads - everyone should upgrade

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by rhythmdevils, Jul 2, 2021.

  1. deafenears

    deafenears Almost "Made"

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    Doesn't the LCD-R's ship with the pleather version? I don't know as I don't have access to the leather version to compare and confirm but I thought I read somewhere that the LCD-R's come with pleather pads.
     
  2. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    yes they do for some unknown reason. But I’ve only heard them on the stock LCD-R which doesn’t help me figure out what they sound like. I’d have to put them on otter LCD’s which I haven’t done.
     
  3. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    I tried to replicate the fuzzy ring in the LCD earpads between pad and baffle with some Dekoni pads and this circle of the least dense, thickest felt I have. It worked when adhered with a ring of double sided tape on both sides of the felt, I could blow through the crack between pad and baffle. But I don’t think it is as acoustically transparent as the stock ring. I bought some thicker low density felt and some fleece material I might try again.

    [​IMG]
     
  4. M3NTAL

    M3NTAL Friend

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    Have you had a chance to swap the leather pads on to the 'R' yet? I'm curious if it helps with the Fazors touching or not. My school of thought is that leather is a little less compliant than the pleather.
     
  5. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    i have different OEM pads on my LCD-R already (not Dekoni) and have removed the front fazors completely and modded them both! :) I won’t lie I love how they sound…
     
    Last edited: Oct 18, 2021
  6. Jokko

    Jokko Friend

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    Nice tip, I am keen to try this on my LCD-X's, even though I have the new pads I really dislike leather directly on the skin. Any magic 8-ball on what material to go for? Hybrids or Suede hmmm...
     
  7. HeyWaj10

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    Just seeing this thread for the first time, and I just ordered a set of the new LCD pads. If these can help improve the 3-5kHz suckout from my 2020 LCD-X and introduce some spatial qualities back into them, I would be absolutely thrilled. Ideally, I would really like to NOT have to EQ these headphones, and would far prefer if any hardware-based improvements can serve the improvements. We'll see soon enough!
     
  8. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    The new pads seem to cause artificial reverb with my LCD-3 pre-fazors on this chain: BF2 (OG) -> LAu or LAuX. This is most apparent in solo piano pieces were the recording mics are placed close to the soundboard. I have stock leather and vegan pads in my LCD-2.1 and 2.2 pre-fazors (I know different cans and all) and I don't hear this artificial reverb on the same chain. Nor in my Utopia and Hifiman's.

    I chalk it up to the new pads being designed for fazors and that they result in increased internal reflections with my LCD-3 pre-fazors. I have a spare set of mint vegans, but I'm in a dilemma whether to sacrifice them on my LCD-3 or use them on my LCD-2.2's whose vegans are not in the best shape. The new pads appear to be shallower than my vegans.
     
  9. caute

    caute Lana Del Gayer than you

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    They kinda look like your RDA pads, but still angular! I know at least one high up Audeze rep heard your RD-X & 4 at the Schiit Audio Show, maybe they're "taking a lil inspiration" lmao. How do they compare to your RDA pads?
     
  10. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    Oh, no definitely not anything to do with me. They made this change before I started working on Audeze's and the new versions are not even a move in the direction of the earpads I use. They're just a change to the Audeze earpad design. Mostly the kind of foam- regular foam not memory foam, which means it's less dense and probably sounds a bit more airy. Sound is less closed in, as I described above. Maybe less comfort though as they don't conform to the head as well.
     
  11. HeyWaj10

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    Ok, I'm stumped. I've already sent a message to Audeze Support about this, but wanted to see if anyone has opinions.

    I just purchased a set of the new LCD pads directly from Audeze. The package clearly states "Black Leather, W-Open Cell Foam, LCD" on it. Awesome...except...these look and feel IDENTICAL to the pads that are already on my LCD-X. How is that possible? The manufacture date on my FR Graph (provided by Audeze Support based on S/N) is NOV 2020.

    I purchased these LCD-X from eBay (World Wide Stereo Outlet) in Jan 2021 as an open box set. I can't seem to find the initial release date of the new LCD pads, so is it possible that my 2020 version came with (or were swapped via the original owner) the new open-cell foam LCD pads?

    I'm trying to figure this out so I can return these (potentially) unnecessary pads if in reality I already have them. At the same time, I'd be kind of bummed if I already have the new pads, as I would really like to get even more upper mid presence without the need for EQ. Thanks!

    edit: Also, based on ALL the pictures I've seen online, I'm convinced I have the leather-free pads as both, but I ordered the leather pads. So I'm doubly stumped. Sigh
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2023
  12. rhythmdevils

    rhythmdevils MOT: rhythmdevils audio

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    If they look and feel the same, then they are the same. the two versions of earpads do not feel the same at all. I would recommend contacting Audeze and telling them the serial number of your LCD-X to see if you have a new version or not. They're happy to do this. The serial number is located on the inside of the headband right where it meets the head strap.

    Maybe you have a 2021 pair, or maybe they switched to these earpads in 2020, not 2021.

    As for the leather free material, I have no idea. Are you sure it's not leather? Their leather-free pads are VERY obviously not leather, they are very pleather-y. Unmistakable, no need to look at pictures online.
     
  13. HeyWaj10

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    On my FR graph provided by Audeze, my manufacture date is Nov 10, 2020. The serial number is 7527538, and according to Audeze's post on HF which I just found today, they made the change to all new revisions starting with serial number 7527600 on Nov 23, 2020. So this set was clearly suuuuuuper close to that cutoff.

    I took pictures, but for some reason can't post them on this site yet (too low post count?). I'm going to provide the SKU to Audeze once I get an initial response to my query. Hopefully that will confirm it either way. But I feel like I don't know what leather looks like any more if these are leather. There are no creases or shininess like I see in so many photos online for the leather versions.
     
  14. mk801

    mk801 Almost "Made"

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    Here's a reply from Audeze support on the material used for their leather-free pads:

    Is the leather-free option for the LCD pads suede or alcantara (e.g. Vegan pads of the past), or synthetic leather? - We no longer offer microsuede earpads, but have moved to a more "leather-like" material made with egg protein for our leather-free option.
     
  15. HeyWaj10

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    Audeze support has confirmed that I do have the latest revision of the LCD-X (commonly referred to as the 2021 revision, even though my set was manufactured in Nov 2020). The pads have been confirmed as leather, and since I already have the newest open-cell foam leather pads on my set, I'll just be returning the new ones I bought mistakenly. Now on to figuring out a proper EQ option for my setup to resolve this ~6dB suckout in the 3-5kHz FR.
     
  16. TamHo

    TamHo New

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    [​IMG] Actually I find it’s hard to differentiate the leather vs pleather on Audeze pads. Cause I lost my original lamb skin pads I have no reference now. Can anyone please tell if mines is real leather or? Tks[​IMG][​IMG][/url][/IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2023

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