2022 Audeze LCD-X Review and Measurements

I only buy albums with covers that look like this

 

She's pretty cute; I can see the appeal.

 

EARS

My 2022 measurements reflect @purr1n 's more than @Vtory 's LCDX 2021.
Quiet updates. I bet Vtory's sounded nicer than my particular set.
Id be very interested in trying these with porous pads like Dekoni velour but I dont want to ruin refund-ability.

Spoiler: CSD (flat-plate coupler)

Working on comparison to LCD2C 2022. Update later.

 

EARS

^ Dekoni T50RP pads are a little undersized for Audeze. Dekoni has an Audeze version, Im guessing they are similar in effect to the legendary Vegan pads.

I think Ill be okay with Audeze return policy. Audeze states only missing or damaged items as voiding. When I took LCDX out of the packaging for the first time the left (adhesived) earpad fell off anyway... B-stock.

Now to determine if this padrolled LCDX is preferable to LCD2C.

edit: Dekoni velour for Audeze is much cheaper on Amazon. $40 instead of $60. Ordered. My first impression of LCDX with Dekoni velour for T50RP is positive...

 

HE500 vs LCDX vs LCD2C
- padrolled comparison later

 

I find LCDX bass a little sleepy. Perhaps its the new Piety (low-gain) exacerbating the problem in comparison to Vali2+ (6N23P-EV). This is not so much a critique of Piety but of LCDX. The LCDX has wonderfully articulate bass. Upper bass is satisfyingly hefty but below that it doesn't pull its weight and I mean that in multiple ways:
1. LCDX is literally heavy and so the headphone needs to sound good to make worthwhile
2. LCDX is impressive every where else
3. lower bass is not as hefty, overdamped possibly

LCDX is too sensitive to work comfortably with 1.0 gain (Piety or Vali2+) in my setup anyway. I now want to try the Magni+ with negative gain or get rid of LCDX (leaning towards latter).

The Dekoni velour pads I ordered are delayed in transit.

 

This is what's frustrating about the X. I don't know what Audeze was thinking, creating a reference series with low impedance...so that it can be run off a phone? Seriously?

It's like their discontinued (? until/if they re-issue it) LCD-4 that's now the 15 ohm 4z. I don't know what they're thinking.

Sorry for the rant. But yeah, the X would probably be much better if it plays nice with more decent amps than going for compatibility with laptop outs.

 

LCDX Dekoni velour
- velour bass is most boring since KOSS 95X, perhaps Piety amp not a good match
- EQ boost helped some, but Loki+ not precise enough to fix highs.
- I like T50RP's sound more... also cheaper and less hassle (doesnt need EQ or further mods)

Would like to return Audeze(s) now.

EARS measures attached:

 

Boring = bass sounds dull, lacks impact, dynamics (im avoiding the term “slam” but thats probably what Im describing). Bass hits like a pillow, not exciting, lost energy (presumably due to velour pads).

Even if Open Alpha and Audeze cost the same Id still prefer Open Alpha. Audeze (velour) sounds rather sterile in comparison. Not saying Open Alpha is more accurate… Open Alpha is closer to the tone I prefer, and I think closed headphones may have some reverb which adds some spice to the experience.

Audeze flaws are more bothersome (than T50RP - Open Alpha’s flaws) because they hit me where it hurts: 8kHz peak, dud bass.

 

Aftermarket earpads are not a good idea with Audeze's, they do not have the very porous felt ring around the edge of the earpad that the stock Audeze earpads have and which acts as a damped vent between the earpad and the baffle, not only opening up the sound and tuning the sound as it changes the air pressure on the front side of the driver, but Audeze has said that they implemented this because without it you can damage the driver by putting on the headphones as there is no way for the air pressure caused by compression of the eaerpads against your head to escape and it puts pressure on the diaphragm, which can destroy it.

So for acoustic reasons and the safety of your drivers I would not recommend any of the aftermarket earpads for Audeze's. IME none of them have any venting of air pressure between earpad and baffle. And a damped vent is critical for the sound. So just adding a crack won't be the same acoustically. But the choice is of course yours if it sounds good to you then it is good. But no venting is likely not safe for the drivers long term.

EDIT: I use non-stock earpads on my modded Audeze's but I have created my own venting system which has never been done before on any ortho. Just thought I should note that my mods will keep the drivers from being damaged.

 

I have bought and heard a lot of LCD-X's since the 2021 revision and have only ever heard one that sounded different. It was a bit slower and less snappy and resolving but it had the exact same basic tone and FR. Out of countless pairs. It is unlikely yours sounds different. But it is possible.

 

Thanks @rhythmdevils for the heads up! That’s very important info that Audeze states the drivers could get damaged by aftermarket pads! Do you have a link? I did notice the adhesive ring on the stock pads appeared to have a layer of felt which would corroborate Audeze necessitates front and rear venting and why velour pads didnt have that much effect.

Hopefully I have not damaged the drivers. The velour pads are breathable and the foam is on the firm side and dont compress much so hopefully I didnt force a seal.

Im assuming the front and rear side benefit from equal venting. More venting on front means more venting needed on rear. Im guessing as you increase venting to reduce driver damping in order to maintain impactful perception of bass you would want to keep leather pads and just use vents instead of fully permeable velour.

Shallower pads or pads that compress more wouldve helped with highs due to reduced driver distance. Pads with smaller ear cavitities wouldve helped with downward tilt frequency response curve as well especially if some of the pad is covering the perimeters of the driver. Credits @E_Schaaf . It took me awhile to realize that pads covering some of driver is similar to placing some front filter like 6XX foam, ZMF’s Titan Mesh, or Dan Clarks’s AMTS:

 

Countless is a lot.
Yeah, I linked to your post earlier where you mentioned finding an odd LCDX 2021 that resembled @Vtory ’s set. Still, I feel the urge to return mine. Ill save the modding for the professionals. Im too lazy, dumb, and poor. Purchasing countless LCDXs for modding purposes is out of budget. Now I know why small-scale companies cost so much… I assume @CEE TEE was able to produce Piety for $150 because he had help from Schitt and because he is Saiyan and worked his ass off. But then how did @schiit sell Magnis for $100 when they first started out of a garage? edit: Im guessing it took some major capital, risk, hard work, know-how, and balls.

 

Newb question please:
Interestingly, @zach915m mentions (im paraphrasing) front-side venting can induce phase issues. Different driver but any comment? Im a newb and dont know what phase is referring to. Is he saying the driver will not output uniformly across its surface? And is that necessarily an issue or are there pros/cons like high tension vs low tension diaphragms?
edit: searched diyaudio and think maybe @zach915m was referring to phase response.

 

It's very hard to get airflow exact on both sides when seal isn't perfect, so any maneuverability added is more noticeable in phase on planar drivers vs dynamic drivers because of the less nodal response of the driver. It's still apparent on either, just more-so on planars.

 

Wanted to chime in on the LCD-X (my version is a late 2020, but technically considered the "2021" revision) in this thread, in case it's helpful to anyone. Since my 2011 iMac died, I haven't had the budget available to replace it or purchase something like an RME ADI-2 DAC FS. My struggle has been to fully enjoy the LCD-X with my Lyr 3 in the absence of proper EQ applied. I have been trying to live with this setup via my Pioneer Elite DVD player as a transport (or via my iPhone 11 into the Lyr 3's ES9028 DAC card). However, it's been frustrating, as I know that I've been missing out on the LCD-X's full potential in its raw state.

So in my search for a reasonably priced longer term solution, I finally bought a Qudelix 5K so that I can use my iPhone 11 and apply the full EQ profile for the LCD-X 2021.

FINALLY!!! I'm enjoying these headphones again. Bonus is that I don't feel like I'm missing anything SQ-wise, as the ES9219 DAC in the Qudelix 5K sounds the same to me as the ES9028 in the Lyr 3. But what I gain from the EQ applied is just gravy all around. So much more in soundstage depth is back, with all the spatial cues I was completely missing out on. Likewise, the total FR presentation is so much more appealing, dynamic, punchy, and articulately detailed. I can actually take a sigh of relief knowing that this poor man's RME ADI-2 is giving me what I need to get by until I can properly upgrade my hardware.

Just wanted to share - happy again with these LCD-X (which IMO sounds just fantastic with the Lyr 3)!

 

That's great! These cans really do benefit by a healthy bit of EQing. What eq profile are you using? I can vouch for resolve's 2nd rev eq.

 

So far, I'm using the AutoEQ Preset within the Qudelix 5K DSP engine, which is Oratory1990's LCD-X 2021 profile. I did cut both the bass shelf and 3kHz peak by a dB or 2 for preference, but otherwise it makes a truly remarkable difference in how these headphones sound. Honestly, it's flat out transformative.

 

That's a pretty neat solution.

I felt my OG LCD-X lost its mojo when I sold my Liquid Carbon amp, and now only using Lyr 3. If I ever feel the need to dust off my LCD-X, I'll definitely try the Qudelix 5K.

 

In some weird twist of fate, I own a LCD X again but the only thing I'm driving it with is an Ifi Gryphon.

Surprisingly, it works pretty well. Well, as long as I'm not using with a PS5. That's a PS5 problem though...it seems to f**k with outgoing sound to usb dacs (unless they're licensed.)