Audeze LCD-X 2021 Edition Headphone Review 

Review of LCD-X ends just before 20:00. Last few minutes are about Reveal EQ. Enjoy!

Thanks for making this video, ive done a lot of research on this headphone and your video was the one that made me pull the trigger. You crossed all the T's and dotted the i's

Great channel! I can't wait for the Arya Organic review!

From your description, Reveal seems to be about on par with Creative's X-Fi solution that they include with some of their amps, such as the X3. Pure awfulness. Great review, and here's hoping your channel takes off in the new year.

Hi Wavetheory, good to see you in person. And good to see that you're an LCD-X fan as well.

Excellent reviews, thanks!

BEST $1000 I have ever spent. Yep, just a grand. Brand NEW for $1000. My purchase was for the "Creator's Package" with the Economy Case. They are heavy but not to the point it is an issue for me. It sounds terrific out of the box but can benefit from some EQ as any headphone can.

On your face style review, liked it !👍

Great review. Agree with your thoughts - very much enjoy my LCD-X ‘21, but benefits even more from some EQ. Good results from tweaking oratory1990’s LCD-X EQ.

Nice review, thanks.

Thanks a lot for review. I have 2021 revision and I feel that sometimes the mid range is hide to much but not always. There are pieces that whole range is just right. Then sound is very good. But I'm still thinking about lcd-2 they were not so clear but maybe more relaxing.

I always use EQ, and these are my first Audeze, and I love them. I don't expect anything out of the box to be perfectly tuned to my personal preference.

I'm glad somebody else feels the same way about eqing headphones. It should be good out of the box. And using reveal program really does limit your use of the headphone. I know some headphone reviewers are always talking about eqing adjustments with every headphone ( resolve headphone reviews and others). Just makes me cringe especially the $$$ involved. That said, I can appreciate eqing some plannars and what it does having downloaded aq apo and peace. Thanks for the review!

Another excellent review. I just watched your LCD-5 review and found your comment on Audezes' timbre interesting. I've had a 2021 LCD-X since they came out and really enjoy them. I just bought a set of Focal Clear OGs and it's interesting to compare them because in many respects they sound similar. I thought the LCD-X had slightly better detail and separation, but decided that it's just perceived that way due to the frequency response. I do find that the Clear has better timbre though, and because of that I find them more engaging with acoustic music.

The 2021 version was my first 'proper' headphone purchase and I love it. I am glad you mentioned the upper mid shout though, others seemingly missed that and some even suggested a boost at 3.5k due to the slight recession on published measurements. I just give it a little bass shelf and a 1db dip around the lower mids and mid...mids. I am now considering the 5. How much of a step up is it? What are the areas it improves from the X?

Great review. Would like to hear your thoughts on the XC closed version v the X.

Great review, but one minor comment. I find the audio of this vid a bit sibilant, some adjustments to your mic settings would be great!

legend has it he reviewed these without ever plugging in the wires

Equalization puts my signature on my equipment the final note in a masterpiece

From memory is there anything the pre revision EQed lcd-x wins at or is the 2021 across the board same or improved?

I use bugged out equaliser apo on windows, to, use pulsar massive analog EQ vst in apo to add 9db of bass and some highs. Then I up the analog drive. For even more bass I use a Kiive Warmy v1 pultec style eq. Only vst2 format does work, not vst3. It does the job pretty well, LCD-X 2021 is my first high end headphone after audio technica ath-m50x and ath-r70x. Which are pretty good too though!

Thoughts on Reveal,... i think there was another way to use it. I personally use Equalizer APO and the Peace plug in and go by some suggested settings from other places and it works great. I thought Reveal had something else but its a shame if they did away with that.

Thank you for putting this video together, I also agree with your assessment of new audeze lcd x preset. I hope audeze does move away from presets as well and feels like, as a consumer, I have to second guess a $1200 purchase because it requires a fix? Great content, question, how does it compare to lcd 5 I’m thinking of it as a future purchase, thank you for all your work!

continue riding the wave in '21... current owner of OG LCDX, LCD3F, and LCD2PF. Thinking of selling the X and 2F to buy a used 4.

Hello, Thanks for the report.👍 Compared to the Lcd 2C is it an upgrade or tends not to be?

Have you heard denon ah d7200? If yes Whats your opinion on them?

I EQ all my headphones to my personal taste, and my RME ADI-2 FS DAC/AMP has a 7-band Parametric EQ option built in, which makes it very quick and easy to adjust the sound frequencies without having to use third party apps for the sole purpose.

woud these work on a audioquest dragonfly red conected to laptop or iphone 13 pro via adapter

Hey man I love your vids! I have a question- If I get these headphones do I still need to get an amp no matter what interface I have? I have an Antelope Orion Studio (one of the best AD-DA converters) but I looked on the manual and I couldn't find much info about the headphone specs. Anyways, if u know please let me know! cheers

Wave I have a question. So due this review I actually ended up buying the lcdx 2021 edition . I'm currently using a s magni hersey and modi 3E schiit stack listing to flac files over amazon HD. In this review I know you stated this headphone was easy to drive but I'm considering buying the jotunhiem 2 paired with a bifrost 2/64 multibit dac. My question to you is do the lcdx scale with better gear? Like will the new stack increase the lcdx sonic performance over my budget schiit stack?

please please please review audeze XC latest revision

Where you using the leather or leather free lcd x?

Still trying to talk myself into getting these. I have the LCD 2F (2016), But I don't know if the jump is going to be worth it/noticeable.....in a good way.

How do you like these in comparison to the Hifiman arya v3?

Hi mate - would you still recommend using an amp for this in conjunction with a DAP e.g. Astell & Kern SP2000?

This or the Focal Clear?

Thanks for the review! I have the LCD-X just recently (breaking it in still). I think it sounds good out of the box, and after 40 hours became much more revealing and rich. I tried the Oratory1990 EQ settings, used HFPlayer app for this, and to some extend it comes nearer to the sound of the Hifiman Arya, which gives it a more aery sound, although I don’t realy like it, because it makes the sound also thinner. So I conclude with you, that if you use eq, only give it in the lower bass part (30-50 Hz) +2-3 dB more and maybe in the mid bass +1-2 dB, and perhaps if you like -1 dB around 2-3 kHz. In my oppinion if you go further, it can give more aer, but you loose resolution and imaging.

Why sit there with that headphone sitting atop your head with no connected cable though? I mean, you could just hold it in your hand, right?

I have to disagree with you regarding comfort. I suppose it is different for each individual due to differences in head shape etc, but I find these pretty darn uncomfortable. I can make it a couple hours, but by that time I can't wait to get them off my head. I think for me it is a combo of clamping force and weight that causes my outer ear to become sore over time. Love the sound though.

Update ..I added a Schiit Lokius..because..yes, they NEED EQ!!

Clear mg vs LCD x for dubstep, rock, orchestral?

Damn, have the previous edition.

On the subject of Reveal - You should watch the Mark Cerny of Sony video talking about measuring audio. Here's a link: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ph8LyNIT9sg.html

If someone out there owns these and listens mostly to quality rock/heavy blues etc., I'd love to hear what you think. Anyone....

I’m first 😀

Thank you! Some serious hobbyists LOVE EQing. I'm with you, though. I wouldn't buy a car to bring it to a mechanic to get the engine working to my liking. You'd buy another car.

"Upper mid-fi.." Nothing's high end for youtube reviewers..

I listened to these the other day and they sounded sooooo bad. The set I heard HAD to be broken, but the salesman said they sounded fine. The salesman had to have been lying because there is no way a company would sell a headphone that sounded like artists were singing through a washcloth.

Mr snake oil himself

Audeze needed 13 years to learn to tune. :) I never understood the hype about that brand... I guess they were one of the pioneers in the planar revival, but that's about it. At least I didn't heard about issues with their QC.

Greetings from Toronto ☕️☕️ Currently running Sen’s 650’s…they’re nice ..but nothing spectacular….I’m looking for spectacular…hopefully the AUDEZE LCD-X😋 Currently using a lot of IEM’s..and I love the bass/sub bass and top end sparkle 🙂 Hope to hear from you ..and yes I’m time traveling 🧭 🧳 through RU-vid to get reviews 🤷🏻‍♂️☕️☕️

I just got mine ( LCDX 2021 Creators) …it doesn’t do EVERYTHING…but it is pretty damn close ( btw, no EQ) 🫡