Audeze: Announcing the LCD-GX

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by InsanityOne, May 10, 2019.

  1. DEATHxMACHINE

    DEATHxMACHINE Friend

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    Well this is going to be a straight to the point simple review.

    I did not like the LCD-GX. I found the sound very anemic with no bass or dynamics and rolled of highs. This headset is simply bland and boring. A bag of oatmeal has more character than these. My setup for this impression is Dangerous Music Convert-2 to Schiit Ragnarok 1. Played mostly the new dlc for Destiny 2 and then some Call of Duty WWII. Explosions and gunfire had no oomph. Listened to some music but sounded lifeless.

    I believe these are definitely geared towards the competitive gamer rather than recreational gamer. So unless you are a MLG player, I would avoid the LCD-GX.

    Which is a shame because the build quality and comfort are freaking amazing. This is the first time I have had the opportunity to use the new head strap. I liked it so much that I am considering picking up a LCD-2C to play with. It was light for a planar and I could easily wear it for hours without fatigue.

    But thank you for SBAF and the loaner program for giving me the opportunity to test drive these.
     
  2. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Unfortunately high level gamers will never use these. The frequency response is there but positional information is completely missing.

    I can't think of a worse gaming headphone option for competitive gaming above about $100.

    Even something like the HyperX Clouds that I think are trash for spatial positioning are better for it.

    Planar blob headstage is about the worst you can ask for if you want to hear where an enemy is.
     
  3. Impulse

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    Is the mic decent? Does Audeze sell that 3-pin XLR cable w/boom mic separate? I imagine some existing Audeze & ZMF users might find it handy...
     
  4. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Yeah, the mic is pretty good.
     
  5. DEATHxMACHINE

    DEATHxMACHINE Friend

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    The cable terminates to 4 pole 3.5 mm then comes with a splitter. But you have to worry about ground looping issues if you try splitting the headphone into two different devices. So your only really amp option with a mic is the Mayflower Arc.
     
  6. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    So if these cans are a total fail for competitive gaming because the localization sucks, what are the alternatives?

    My "modest" setup is a pair of MDR7520 and separate USB microphone. Any studio monitors I think would do the trick. I find a separate microphone has better quality than most headsets I've tried.

    Audeze is crazy to sell these for $899. You could spend that money on some awesome closed-back dynamic cans+mic for competitive gaming, mod them for additional comfort, and have a lot of money left over to buy more games and shit.

    Am I wrong in thinking you can get superior audio quality with dedicated headphones and separate mic?
     
  7. Luckbad

    Luckbad Traded in a unicorn for a Corolla

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    Depends on your goals. If you want to play FPSes competitively, you need headphones with good localization and an emphasis on footstep frequencies (and weak bass).

    My favorites for this are Sennheiser HD598. Almost as good for it are the Sennheiser Game Ones and they have a decent mic. The stock pads on those suck but you can get 598 pads for them (I got some black 598 pads for mine).

    TLDR: Great headphones for FPS gaming and listening to music are mutually exclusive endeavors.
     
  8. RobS

    RobS RobS? More like RobDiarrhea.

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    Completely agree.

    I had the HD595 which I adored for gaming (Battlefield sounded so immersive and realistic). Ripped the cable and sent it back to Sennheiser under warranty, only to have them send me an HD598 in exchange. Super disappointed, did not like those at all. Oh well.
     
  9. ChaChaRealSmooth

    ChaChaRealSmooth SBAF's Mr. Bean

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    Not true. It's perfectly possible to get a headphone that works well for games and music.

    If you're strictly going to game just get some gaming headset with as much RGB on it as possible. Moar RGB = moar skillz.

    Less facetiously, the Senn HD598/599 if you aren't going to run a DSP. Otherwise, use some gung-ho gaming headset.

    But yeah, the LCD-GX is pretty bad for games. If they just said it was another LCD it would be fine.
     
  10. Mystic

    Mystic Mystique's Spiritual Advisor

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    The HD595 was my first audiophile headphone, still use it from time to time. Was such an excellent headphone for the money. The subsequent HD500 series headphones don't even come close.

    Think I played the entire Mass Effect trilogy with the 595. The comfort and agreeable FR made it great for long gaming sessions.
     
  11. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

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    I just got done with the LCD-GX loaner, and they left a good impression. I was interested in them because they're relatively light compared to most of the LCD line, though at about 490g, they're still heavier than I'd like. My head and ears are quite large, and these fit me pretty well. I did have the headband extended almost all the way. They were snug and secure, but comfortable.

    I only used the GX for music, not gaming. I'm struggling to come up with a way to describe their sound, because nothing really stood out, I guess I'd say they're slightly warm, and well behaved, balanced. They're agile but not super detailed or nuanced. I can be a bit treble sensitive, but I found these smooth and non fatiguing. I enjoyed the GX in general, but I think they fare somewhat better with electronic based music than with real instruments.
     
    Last edited: Nov 8, 2019
  12. PacoTaco

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    I disagree with the planar bit. Cheap-ass planars have fantastic imaging for their price. Hell, the T50RP MK3 is just stupidily awesome for gaming because of it's "normally terrible" soundstage with that awesome imaging. So does the HE-400 and it's dumb variants. It's just that, for some godawful reason, orthos closer to $1000 get worse and worse in imaging as far as gaming is concerned.

    I do agree the HyperX Clouds are trash for competitive gaming. That suggestion ends up on the level of "buy the AD700 or the AKG K70x!" The only thing those two headphones have going for them in gaming is the bass-anemic-ness allowing for the focusing of finer details. The artificial soundstage hurts the imaging and positional accuracy. Yet, they're treated like they're godly for gaming. It's almost like nobody actually knows what the f**k to focus on. Sennheiser, for instance, makes their higher-end gaming headsets be incredibly subbass focused. Why? I don't f'ing know.

    Anyway, stepping away from that tangent, nobody should be spending this much on a competitive gaming headset. If I were to stretch it, I'd say, "spend $400 on a Mobius or a used Gen 1 T1 if that still exists."

    Or I would, if MY MOBIUS CUP DIDNT SNAP OFF WHILE I WAS WEARING THE DAMN THING AND I DIDNT HAVE TO USE DUCT TAPE, HOPE AND STYROFOAM TO KEEP IT TOGETHER! Not that I'm salty about it or anything.

    I can't even see this headphones doing well in the competitive market. Audeze is completely missing what made the Mobius sorta-popular. Ironically, the Ether C with that boom mic is a better buy. And marketing to immersive gamers would be dumb because...well, any good high-end headphone does that fantastically.
     
  13. dubharmonic

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    I’m not a gamer, but I do tend to spend 6-8 hours a day talking into a mic while I have headphones on at work. Usually I’m using a Blue Yeticaster. The headphones were driven by the McIntosh MHA150 on the lowest impedance setting.
    • Comfort and weight are similar to the rest of the LCD-2+ line, which is fine.
    • There’s that pad eardrum suction!
    • Sound signature reminds me of the LCD-2 I had in 2016. Very recessed highs. Bass isn’t all that strong either, making mids overwhelming. Feels like being at a concert with a pillow duct taped to my head.
    • Aren’t treble and staging important for gaming? Neither seem like they were made priorities with this design.
    • Listening to music is dull and lifeless.
    • Usually I can find something to like in most gear, I’m struggling to in this case. Not a good fit for my tastes.
     
  14. PacoTaco

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    I've seen some bizarrely mixed things lately about this headphone, but it's rare to see someone actually own one. I found a half-decent price on one that may lead me to try it or the DT1990/M1570 out.

    My main issue is that, as far as sound goes, the LCD-2 price bracket of Audeze products are in an awkward position. They cost like a lower-flagship but, unlike the other higher and lower tier Audeze products, there isn't enough money put into making their sound consistent.

    The LCD 2 2016, for instance, has a sound variance only matched by the T1. The best LCD2 I heard was one of the best orthos I've ever owned, but it took me YEARS to find one like that. Even saving a shitton of money on a GX has me hesitate on whether or not it's a huge waste of money. It's telling when I'm considering getting monoprice headphone over it.
     
  15. will_f

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    Hardest to drive headphones I own are 13 ohms. Low current amps make them sound like shit (that includes my iPhone). I don’t have a logical explanation. For some reason, massive overkill seems necessary to get good sound, even at volumes that shouldn’t need more than 30mA.
     
  16. Garuspik

    Garuspik Tovarisch Ukrainian Terminator MOT - Verum

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    What I don't understand is why even low current amps exists. It's such an easy task to deliver 200-300ma of current to 13 ohm load.
    Underpowered planars can sound loud enough on midrange but all dynamic peaks will be reduced causing dull and anemic sound.
     
  17. loki993

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    Because low impedance headphones usually need high current to sound good, at least thats what Ive always heard.

    As for the gaming headphone thing I saw these when they were announced and I thought finally a great gaming headset...then I saw the price.

    Also as someone that does game and has for many years Im at the point were Im going to go to a desktop mic, something like blue yeti. They are relatively inexpensive, sound better than any boom mic and I dont have to worry about the wires getting tangled up all the time. That way I can use whatever headphones I want and not have to worry about the stick on thing for the modmic or the aforementioned wires.
     

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