New Audeze LCD3 - Page 478

This photo drives the point home ;)

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ 

I recently had a chance to compare a very close serial number pair of LCD3 to my pair.  (They were purchased about a week a part.)

 

Surprisingly there were quite a few differences I noticed between the two:

 

1)  His pair was louder at the same position on the volume pot than mine, making his more sensitive

2)  His pair was more linear across the frequency spectrum

3)  His pair had slightly more detail but leaned on the bright side, with a slightly wider soundstage

4)  My pair literally has 2.5-3x as much bass presence and impact as his pair (which I throughly enjoy).

5)  My pair are smoother in the highs, but slightly less detailed.

6)  From an aesthetic point of view my pair have the nicest wood cups I've yet seen, almost perfectly symmetrical and a cinnamon brown color.

7)  In a way, they almost sounded like different but similar headphones.

 

I am not much a believer in headphone burn-in, but in case any of you are his pair had about 120 hours on them whereas my pair has about 10.

His earpads were also more broken in and squishier.

 

Any thoughts on why?

When you say the serial numbers are close together, are they numbers starting 231 or 261? Ones starting 261 seem to be more consistent as they had worked out early issues by then....

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonstatt 

 

 

When you say the serial numbers are close together, are they numbers starting 231 or 261? Ones starting 261 seem to be more consistent as they had worked out early issues by then....

Didn't Audeze say once that serial numbers are randomly assigned.

Quote:

Originally Posted by IPodPJ 

Thanks for your opinions.  I don't have much time at all to listen because I'm either at my day job, building cables, or taking care of a sick family member.  Therefore the odds of them getting any significant time on them anytime soon is pretty slim to none.  I'm only even typing these posts while taking a smoke break.

Tell me about it!  Sometimes, there's not even enough time in the day to make a phone call. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew_WOT 

Didn't Audeze say once that serial numbers are randomly assigned.

Perhaps the last digits are randomized but the first 3 are definitely not. All early LCD-3s started 231...since about June last year they started 261.

Nods first three on all Audeze headphones is the model and rev.

IPodPJ, my friend's LCD3 sounds obviously different to mine also. My RMA'd pair stages widely and is more laid back, while his is more narrow, upfront and focused.

The general sound sig is there for both, of course.

Unlike the difference you heard, there is no massive bass differential between these pairs, but the other differences are easily noticeable.

God I love dealing with Audeze. They honestly have the best customer service of any company I've ever dealt with. I ordered the vegan pads to try out!

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonstatt 

 

 

When you say the serial numbers are close together, are they numbers starting 231 or 261? Ones starting 261 seem to be more consistent as they had worked out early issues by then....

They are both 261.  They were probably made and shipped at the same time.  Another thing I detected which he couldn't even detect was that the left channel was ever so slightly louder on his pair.  I have very sensitive hearing in some regards, and a system that can reveal it.  I wouldn't doubt if it was only a 0.3dB difference (or less) between the drivers though, but it was there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by warrenpchi 

 

Tell me about it!  Sometimes, there's not even enough time in the day to make a phone call. 

I know, and I'm sorry.   We have to work on it very soon.  I'm just so busy and stressed with multiple things.  I'm glad you're feeling better though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckman 

IPodPJ, my friend's LCD3 sounds obviously different to mine also. My RMA'd pair stages widely and is more laid back, while his is more narrow, upfront and focused.

 

The general sound sig is there for both, of course.

 

Unlike the difference you heard, there is no massive bass differential between these pairs, but the other differences are easily noticeable.

That's what was odd.  The sound signature was similar but different enough that they could have been different models, almost like the difference between an LCD-2 and LCD-3 but not quite, and I checked and they both had the LCD3 drivers of course.  The only visible difference was the grain, polish and color of the ear cups.  Mine are quite beautiful.

It's funny because I was never a big fan of any of the LCD2 revision phones, even though they are still great.  But once I heard the LCD3 a few times I had to have one, and I've yet to hear a pair that has as much bass (and accurate, textured, tight bass, and plenty of it) as on my pair. It's awesome, and I wish I had more time to spend with them.

My pair:

well this sucks... i had to send back my loaner pair of lcd-3s the other day, and now my current setup is un-listenable. its funny how we really don't appreciate something until it's gone. when i had them here all i kept thinking was these are great, but are they 2000 dollars great? i just sat here for 2 hours trying to enjoy my setup and all i kept noticing was everything that was missing from the sound i got from the 3s. the imaging, the layering, and my gosh the bass. this is horrible. i'm at a stage where if i don't get the audeze's i can't even listen to my headphones anymore. just too bright, dry, shrill, and one-dimensional. the sickening part is that before trying the lcd-3s i thought my system sounded unbelievable.. this audition is now going to cost me some serious cash, and i only have a bifrost/lyr...

My best suggestion to anyone is to never listen to an 009 rig. Seriously. It ruins everything.

It is great that they work so hard on customer service. That matters to me and will cover, or at least assuage, a number of sins. But really, they are now 2-3 years into product distribution and still having numerous RMAs, driver failures, consistency problems? What is going on there? Why can't they get it right? I just purchased an LCD-2/Rev2 from a fellow headfier (made May 2012) that is supposed to arrive this Thursday. Of course I am excited, but am I without trepidation? Not hardly. I will have my fingers crossed all the way up to and through the first listen--maybe every listen. At some point, doesn't our patience have to run out? This is a business.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorbidToaster 

My best suggestion to anyone is to never listen to an 009 rig. Seriously. It ruins everything.

I've never heard the 009, but have heard from others that its not for everyone depending on your music preferences*.  My music is mostly modern (rock, electronic) so I'm really trying to convince myself that the LCD3 is the end of the road for me...

*please don't let me know otherwise 

Quote:

Originally Posted by MorbidToaster 

My best suggestion to anyone is to never listen to an 009 rig. Seriously. It ruins everything.

But. But. But. Theres going to be a BHSE --> SR-009 rig at the meet I'm going to!!