Audeze LCD-5 Review - Progress 

You want to marry him or what

Exactly why Im so excited to get these 5's! Resolve is so good at explaining, yet having a sense of enthusiasm to his voice. Usually, if he doesn't like a headphone, neither will I.

Which one is better?

@@qqme2967 I prefer LCD-5 after listening to both

Completely Agree!

and he has a passion for EQ'ing headphones

👍🏻 😃 👋

Magnetic flux density: the strength of the magnetic field in at a certain point. Audeze prides themselves for creating a magnetic structure that produces 1.5 teslas at the diaphragm trace on their previous LCD-4 models, and came up with the name as the marketing term for that accomplishment. Therefore, they call the tech "fluxor" because it's a lot easier than saying "our magnetic structure produces 1.5 tesla of magnetic flux at the diaphragm". Parallel unififorce voice coil: The voice coil is the electromagnetic device that turns EMF into mechanical motion. Instead of using a zig-zag pattern voice coil diaphragm like most planar headphones, they use strait lines, from one side of the diaphragm to the other. It has long been discovered that the best sonic reproduction comes from a plane where the entirety of the surface moves at a uniform velocity; this decreases noise and harmonics which in turn increase the audio fidelity. Therefore, they call the tech "parallel uniforce voice coil". It's not wacky; it's a technical description to the hardware.

@@ryansemplexyz It's not wacky?? That is why she has 25 tumbs up and you 0 (Zero) (None).... It is wacky.

It's all about euphonics.

@@kyron42 it's all about getting the best bang for your buck. And who doesn't enjoy a great bang for their buck.

@@danijel3227 Well, you have no likes. what does that say about you? Point a finger, when 3 are pointing back at you.

What do you mean by this

​@@fuzecap something dca had done with their stealth headphones, by making a meta absorber that acts as a frontal resonator/diffuser without the typical drawbacks you get from cloth/foam frontal damping systems such as the reduction of leading edge and slam, while still maintaining distortion in check, problem is research and manufacturing cost (although should be 3d-printable, as well as the added problem of designing another headphone chassis from scratch

The LCD-4 uses a refined version of the "ribbon" tech on the LCD-5. Edit: What I meant to say was the LCD-5 was a revised version of the LCD-R tech. I have both headphones sitting in front of me so this is extra embarrassing!

@@ryansemplexyz Ryan, you missed everything - LCD-R is a ribbon driver headphone released by Audeze this year.

@@ryansemplexyz umm no

@@diudiamoustache7765 Oh snap, I said LCD-4 instead of LCD-5, and LCD-5 instead of LCD-R. What I meant to say was the LCD-5 was a revised version of the LCD-R tech. I have both headphones sitting in front of me so this is extra embarrassing!

Yeah the Sundara is really excellent, and adding a bass shelf makes it that much better

Phase is less of an issue with headphones because they're generally minimum phase devices. So time domain information is proportional to frequency response information. The bigger issue is that it's difficult to EQ narrow peaks in the treble, because all the information above like... 7khz, is a bit of a positional nightmare to get perfect. So you can risk seriously messing things up by doing that. Low Q adjustments are safer in that regard. As far as other issues, you have to make sure pre-gain is negative proportional to whatever the max gain your adjustment has, otherwise you'll incur clipping issues. As far as digital artifacts, you shouldn't have to deal with that unless you're using something nonstandard in the output stack, like a virtual audio cable for example.

@@TheHEADPHONEShow so the trade-off is really worth it as the audible positive differences far outweigh the negatives?

@@masterxyr I'd say yeah but it depends on the can and whether or not they have a high harmonic distortion

So no need to attach large hydrogen balloons which I find incredibly inconvenient.

That's not impressive, they should have done that years ago.

But apparently a really uncomfortable headset for long listen sessions ... ?

@@dark-california yeah many have said they don't like the clamp force on the LCD 5

@@JTB-- And suddenly so many on the used market For being a TOTL headphone ... 🤔

Sounds like utopia is what I might be looking for.

Shiit Audio has some analog EQ units :)

Good question because I just purchased a used Lcd-4 and the pads needs to be replaced was wondering which pads are worth buying?

Honestly the stealth was just fine. It wasn't exciting to me at all; granted it wasn't *bad* at all either, just... vanilla.

Well, they did say they tried alternatives, but it changed the sound of the bass. So they went back to what worked best for them. I'm pretty sure they could've done what Meze did.

That's the one thing that is such a pain in the ass with their headphones. I'm currently swapping out the old pads on my lcd4, and it's gonna take about an hour or two removing adhesive and restoring the leather.

@@chunkylover5367 bruh it takes 10 minutes don’t be exaggerating Lmao.

@@olimphus26 Not exaggerating with my lcd4. The old adhesive was so stubborn, and stuck to the housing.

@@chunkylover5367 damn that sucks then

Hello, which one has better sub bass?

@@ChrisKeyman Between the LCD-2c and LCD-4? They have a very similar overall signature. What I would think of as the Audeze house sound. The 4 is simply a little bit better in every way, other than build quality, comfort and efficiency. Of all the LCD series, the 2c is probably the most durable and the lightest, because of the composite cups. Going from the LCD-2c to the LCD-3 to the LCD-4, you get more depth and clarity at each step. I'm not sure the 3 is really worth it over the 2, but the 4 feels more complete somehow. I've only heard LCD-X at shows and don't care for it. Others, I can't comment on.

Good question.

So two people on the echo chamber that is Reddit had an issue with their connectors and now suddenly this supposedly a big deal?! Get real. Hey my ZMF Verite also had a connector pull out of the cup too. I guess you better write off ZMF headphones also then.

@@michaelp.3485 mate, I am writing this because there are postings from Korean head-fi communities as well. As a high end product consumer, QC is expected at utmost perfect. I am surprised you are this much forgiving to the brand and hostile towards fellow audiophile consumer. Don’t you think how you are reacting is inappropriate? DCS Stealth shipment to Korea are showing little poor craftsmanship on earpads sewing quality. So as a consumers you just swallow any issue as you don’t think is a major deal? You provide feedbacks so you get the quality for spending top dollars which you earn diligently. Get real, mate!

good job Anna

Forget it. Deleted comment. Figure it out.

You can use Qobuz without exclusive mode. ROON has more trouble with that, so just put the filters into ROON's EQ if you use that.

@@TheHEADPHONEShow Do you have a video that talks about roon and how to EQ it properly?

ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-IPHoiY_L4x0.html - he'd buy a LCD-5 if it wasn't so clampy.

Of course there is... its called EQE and is the most amazing equalizer ever existed in iOS... Free your mind from Apple’s limitations... Jailbreak is the light ...

Lcd5

@@TheHEADPHONEShow but very expensive... What else would you suggest for good and pronounced sub bass? Price Less than 2000$ Thank you!

Nice, I bet they sound great

Yeah this seems like more of a side grade than an upgrade.

And ... comfortable vs the LCD-5 ... 😉👌

Because the sensitivity is still lower than a lot of other headphones out there, at 90db/1mw. For comparison, the Susvara (one of, if not THE hardest to drive headphones out there) is 83db/1mw. The LCD-X, a relatively easy headphone to drive, is 103db/1mw. So the LCD-5 is pretty much in the middle, closer to Susvara than LCD-X regarding efficiency. So while the low impedance (ohms) means that you can theoretically run them out of a laptop headphone jack for example, all the characteristics of the headphone will be significantly suppressed.

@@michaelp.3485 thanks

@@captainlestenkof2300 You're welcome.

At such a low impedance the current requirement goes up a lot. Many devices wouldn't provide enough current on tap to properly drive such a headphone that really demands it if you want to extract your values worth.

No comparison. CRBN smokes it.

@@kevinstarski1598 Do you have them or did you compare at CanJam?

Resolve here. I definitely prefer the LCD-5. CRBN is for 'timbre', LCD-5 is more detailed to my ear.

@@dennisd9875 At CanJam. Heard both headphones on both different systems.

What did you prefer? I'm a huge sucker for the Susvara and Diana TC. Both for different genres and use cases however.

@@toraow Susvara was definitely better, as well as the D8000 Pro.

That's what I hear more and more Really a uncomfortable pair of headphones ! Also suddenly many pop up used around $ 3K ... ? Cheapest one last week $ 2,800.00 Is comfort the reason perhaps ?

@@dark-california the low price is probably to do with the badly glued cable terminals.

@@stiggles98 Another issue I was really looking to get a pair But someone pulled out his connectors since they are glued as you say Next glued earpads And uncomfortable All this for a few thou ... 🤔

What are your most used headphones? Chance is you are just used to whatever you listen to the most. Also I can think that a open back headphone might not get the best representation in a loud convention room.

I've not heard a single headphone in my life that didn't sound significantly better after EQ. You're just being stubborn and missing out as a result.

@@Voidward Or perhaps you just prefer flawed headphones that you have to “fix”. I value tonality & timbre first. I find that those who prefer to equalize value technicalities first & then will try to fix tonality. If your running a digital system, cool but running an analogue system requires additional equipment which more will than likely does as much harm as good.

@@arthurhaywood2184 There is no such thing as unflawed or perfect headphones. It sounds like nonsense you say to convince yourself that the way you do things is correct. I value a lot of the technical aspect in a headphone, but it's specifically because unlikely tonality, you can't add or fix those things with EQ. The headphones either output them or they don't. Poor tonality would completely prevent me from enjoying any of those aspects however. It's a roadblock. But as I said, never in my life have a heard a headphones that I would use without EQ once I know how could it could sound when adjusted. You're leaving performance on the floor and using some flawed puritan reseaaoning for why you shouldn't bother.

​@@arthurhaywood2184then get some digital grandpa, LCD-5 with EQ is close to HE-1 for a friction of the price

80%?? U must be kidding.

@@mikedergalev Elaborate.

@@hankduncan8884 i would assume it's more like lcd-x is 40% of lcd-5. What you consider is impossible, even with all EQs of the world. Those price-tags are not just for looks, they are justified. I have Xs myself, happy and all, but i want ENDGAME stuff. Take your time save some cash and do yourself a pleasure🤗

@@mikedergalev End game maybe yes But definitely not 4.5 'better' vs the LCD-X Also it's not a comfortable pair if you want to use it for long sessions

@@dark-california i don't think long sessions are healthy. I myself listen to music for 2 hours, 3 max. Ok, what would u choose for endgame period?

better, supposedly.

He literaly tells you in this video

Try beginning with "How to EQ Headphones - Featuring Audeze LCD-X 2020 (not 2021)". This video is given by Andrew of the Headphone Show.

Yeah no doubt. I demoed the X and 2c and could feel it on my neck within 30 minutes. Not for long listening sessions.

In reality it's pretty close to solid black.

Yeah you're right, I did hear it with an end game amp haha

I also have the LCD-X 2021 and I ordered the WA7 Fireflies.. should be shipping to me next week. Can't wait to try it. I currently only have solid state amps in the Singxer SA-1 and Burson Soloist 3XP. The LCD-X with EQ is definitely a baller headphone.

I agree looks wise, but the LCD-5 is way more comfortable

Hello may I ask what was lacking in susvara for you

better bass/lower mid resolution, tactility, micro/macro dynamics. Resolution across the rest of the frequency response is similar, with the susvara taking a slight lead in the treble. Slightly less wide soundstage, than the susvara but close. Less neutral FR, but extremely straightforward to eq. Much easier to drive. Quite frankly, for me personally, the LCD-5 sounds like a much better buy. $2k cheaper, with a good number of advantages over the Susvara, and only a few aspects in which it barely loses to the Susvara.

@@nortonfamily6711 I think you are making your self believe what you want to be true, there's a commenter here named Ian brown that says, the sub-bass is not good at all (there's my inference. So take that bias as you will), the dynamics and tactility and all that are slightly (not vastly just like you reinstated to make yourself feel good are) better for mid bass to low mids Resolution is lacking and freequency response is neutral -ish sure but Andrew said that's not not good without eq and ofc the graph does not convey the missing aspects of what one can hear than what can be measured.

@@nortonfamily6711 Mid forward cans not straight forward which does not barely lose to susvara, it loses by a lot Also there's no need to state small lack of soundstage by reiterating it with saying "not a lot, just barely" That's what i used to do to make myself feel good/ validated for my purchase But i had to realize there's no replacement for displacement (you do get more for paying more) and that's the only way

@@haberdasherrykr8886 it takes only a couple of filters to EQ to neutral. That is objectively far easier to eq than something like an abyss headphone, and thus the fr isnt a problem for people who arent irrationally closed minded to the prospect of eq. If hes comparing dynamics and tactility to that of the HE-6, I think its entirely fair to say that the lcd5 has the susvara beat here. The FR, audezes reputation regarding bass, and resolves opinions all support the notion that subbass is top notch, which is far more convincing than one random dude in the comment section who may not have even gotten a proper seal with the pads. Resolve himself mentions that the soundstage isnt that much narrower than the susvara. If anything, given your last sentence, it sounds like you might be trying to validate the fact that you actually spent 6k on the susvara, and dont want to believe that something this much cheaper can directly compete with it on pretty much every metric of sound quality. I personally dont have a horse in this race; I dont own either headphone. I'm merely restating impressions ive heard comparing the two headphones.

@@nortonfamily6711 i too am horseless

Your point is debunked by the LCD4. Very sharp recession in the upper midrange that never recovers in the treble yet he still said its massively resolving pre EQ in his review. Things like impulse response are a real thing and the driver is simply more detailed regardless of what the FR is.

HEDD is hot doo doo 💩💩🔥

Without EQ, Susvara. With EQ... That's tough.

Well, i had the LCD 4 for a long time. I've bought the LCD 2closed. I prefer the lcd-2cb without EQ. It's all subjective opinion. I might be crazy preferring the low tier audeze gear. Lcd5 are interesting, not the usual audeze tuning.

@@BaldyBaeby I don't think I'll ever trade or sell the LCD2c because it's a subbass monster. That's a party trick that few headphones do, and it's a fun one.

CAPS_name xD

Waterfall plots are too inconsistent on headphones to be conclusive of anything unfortauntely.

CSD is somewhat meaningless, because headphones are generally minimum phase, meaning time domain information is proportional to frequency response. This subject has been discussed at great length, and the bottom line is that for headphones it's simply not important, nor is indicative of what it LOOKS like.

@@TheHEADPHONEShow thank you for clearing that up properly

@@TheHEADPHONEShow Yes headphone transducers are mostly minimum-phase but so what. Waterfall plots clearly show resonances. How else do you explain disparity between frequency response and sound quality. Do you have a link with a clear explanation.

@@kyron42 hehe look at his EQ.. he clearly like high mid resonance, this is why he doesn't care.. he call this "ear gain" hahaha

eq does not reduce sound quality

@@dnalekaw4699 it absolutely does. I am a mix engineer. I've used a wide gamut of plugin EQs, analog eqs, mastering EQs. Only a handful of passive eq designs don't cause phase shift and phase distortion. Pretty much all digital EQ except maybe a rack mount Weiss unit audible reduce audio quality when engaged. Consumer stuff like Audeze Reveal sounds like garbage. Unless I have a hardware EQ like Weiss, GML or Pultec, equal in price as the LCD-5 I'm not going to be fixing my headphone FR.

@@chipsnmydip @Ian Brown as long as you aren't plugging massive fr nulls with high q filters the myth that eq degrades sound quality is most of the time just bollocks

@@dnalekaw4699 I just said that my work involves using tons of EQ, usually on dozens of instruments individually, and then a little bit on the stereo buss. It is not a myth but a lived reality. EQ creates artifacts, as does most DSP in general. There is no perfect equalizer, especially if you need a parametric to fix multiple bands with big boosts and cuts. Like sure, if you use a passive analog EQ to boost really big shelves a decibel or two, but that's not what we are talking about.

You're right. As close as possible without eq is the best. Most eqs really degrade quality with all kind of artefacts. I do a very gentle eq with Fab Filter Pro Q in natural phase mode and it ain't bad at all. You can load it in Audirvana.

In a couple years you might pick up a bargain second hand.

Are you a child? Born yesterday?

@@danijel3227 Having a bad day ?

It is not in the manufacturers interest to drop prices for luxury items unlike mass produced consumer items. This is not your PC or TV industry where you can get a vastly superior or equal product for less in just a couple of years. Especially with audio where there is a celling to how good it can get and there has not been nearly as many breakthroughs as in other industry. They will try to always keep the high end audio as a luxury. Even apple airpods max for example (which do not sound very good imo) are 480$ and they get clobbered by much cheaper hifi headphones. For the price to go down that much you need to be selling a LOT of products and with the cost of the components+labor a headphone like this is really inefficient to mass produce.

@@exol511 i know what your are saying, but china will get a hold of things like this and just copy them like everything else... besides how far can we go, the human hearing can only hear to a certain level. I found stax some 30 years ago and still sound fantastic today.

Don't care about sound quality?

EQ is not necessary. And u won't be missing out almost at all. It's just the guy likes to EQ, that's all🤗

@@mikedergalev EQ can make an average headphone sound much better and much more enjoyable.

@@kyron42 lcd-5 is no average headphones🤗

@@mikedergalev Not necesary but strongly advised or your missing out. Why spend £4500 and miss out?