New Audeze LCD3 - Page 467

To be honest, I'd get it even if it comes in a cheap cardboard box. I just got mine this afternoon, think it's one of the latest ones with 261xxxx serial numbers, sounds totally great straight out of the box.

 

:D envious ! 
I am guessing they had stock in store then. Did they let you check the S/N ?

I havent followed this thread for a while. I didnt know about the different serial # change on the lcd3. Mine are 231#, but they were the first batch released in late march with the new style foam. Has anything changed on them since them?

Nope. Just that the 261 was likely issued to denote the post-RMA versions. Mine are still 231XXX, but that said, they were sent back for "updating" the drivers to the latest and greatest revision in May. Nothing's changed since then to the best of my knowledge.

I got it from the central branch, I was told they just came in last week and there were 2 in the shop. They let me check the serial number no problem, it was written on the outer cardboard box anyway, it's great that it came with 2 sets of cables, one balanced and 1 non balanced, very thoughtful of them.

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has anyone been charged an inspection fee of $75 by Audeze for

the RMA process?

 

i asked via their support link and the response i got from them was

that unless there is a factory defect they will charge a fee for the

return of the headphone after their technicians go over it. my

question is what constitutes a "defect" in their view. i asked, of course,

but did not receive a direct answer except that all their headphones

go thru a "very strict variance for testing".

why did you return them?

compared mine to a more recent unit and could clearly tell the newer

unit was slightly more airy with more emphasis at the top frequencies

compared to mine. i was rather hesitant to send it in because i rather

enjoyed  the softer top; made everything sound lush and intimate but

i was concerned about the variance; was my unit slowly failing?

would it get worse with age?...

Define how much older your pair is? Did you get it before March of 2012?

Nods only EARLY LCD-3s 'need' the RMA.  I believe outside of when you got them there are physical differences in the rear dampening.  Felt v Foam if memory serves.

my unit's frequency graph shows a date of late february 2012 but the original owner claimed

it was rma'd. it doesn't sound anything like the lcd2 rev1 i use to have where you could

easily tell that unit was much more shelved at the top and the soundstage was more closed-in.

i'm inclined to think that although the rma done by the original owner did resolve the

issues it may've had in regards to driver defects known to be occurring at that time, the

newer units may differ from even the rma'd units... or that my unit still has unresolved issues.

in any case, audeze staff should have received my unit today. i'm awaiting their findings.
 

that's very interesting. i wasn't aware of that.

Technically new LCD-3 have less treble around 8KHz than originals but more from 10KHz up.  The essential evening of the treble that is spoken of.

Yeah I bought my pair just before it was released so it's a "231". Of course I've thought about updating the driver, and I can definitely hear some areas where they can improve, but I haven't for these reasons:

 

(1) They've been my favorites ever since I got them

(2) I love the way they compliment the HD800s, and I worry that the newer versions won't compliment the HD800s as well due to the more prominent top end.

 

Basically, if it ain't broke, don't fix it