Audeze LCD-X

screwdriver · Jul 31, 2014 at 12:22 PM

isquirrel said:
I have no doubt that the HD800 is a fine headphone and no doubt it needs time. However I bought the LCD-X with the same process, that is a store demo, so in my mind a product should be able to be evaluated on its merits under those conditions in order for me the consumer to make a decision whet ether or not to purchase. Based on what I heard I wasn't sufficiently enticed to prise my wallet open.

The store is going to put a couple hundred hours on the HD800's and hopefully they will allow an extended home demo, I can re-evaluate then and also run them with the Studio Six. I was hoping to be enticed believe me. Maybe I've gone over to the 'Dark Side' never to return, lol

got the hd800 last night and have been using it for about 6 hours now . the serial number is a late model starting at 302xx and im not sure but its not harsh like the one I auditioned before with a serial number 12xxx
I can see why a lot of people like the senns .
the best case scenario is to own both. both are incredible.

TokenGesture · Jul 31, 2014 at 12:50 PM

Just did a spot comparison between the X and T1. T1 is spacious and airy but sounds thin in comparison, X is richer, more "planted", and no slouch on the soundstage either.

headfirocks · Jul 31, 2014 at 1:54 PM

kkcc said:
I had listened to both on a RWA Belina Pro and they both pairs well. Hard to say which is better but given you seems to like warmish/smooth type of signature maybe the LCD3 might works better. FWIW I do prefer the the 3/X and HE560 out of the Hugo direct over the Belina Pro.

Cool, did you by any chance hear an AKG K812 in the RWA?

KmanChu · Jul 31, 2014 at 4:39 PM

headfirocks said:
Has anyone compared the LCD-X to the HiFiMAN HE-560? This would be with a Red Wine Audio DAC+amp.

I use the LCD-3F with the RWA Cassabria through the balanced output (not sure if yours has this or the SE.) The RWA is a bit on the warm side, but I do not think it is too warm with the LCD-3F. I love this combination and have no desire to change it. I would bet the LCD-X may be an even sweeter match.

headfirocks · Jul 31, 2014 at 5:31 PM

kmanchu said:
I use the LCD-3F with the RWA Cassabria through the balanced output (not sure if yours has this or the SE.) The RWA is a bit on the warm side, but I do not think it is too warm with the LCD-3F. I love this combination and have no desire to change it. I would bet the LCD-X may be an even sweeter match.

Cool, which DAC do you use?

KmanChu · Jul 31, 2014 at 5:45 PM

headfirocks said:
Cool, which DAC do you use?

BMC PureDAC and I just got an ifi micro iDSD. I was hoping the iFi would make me willing to give up the BMC but I am thinking this won't be the case.

Crashem · Jul 31, 2014 at 5:54 PM

isquirrel said:
Demoed some HD800's today, took my Hugo and music along.

I retuned home very happy with the LCD-X's

HD800's not my cup of tea

Hugo doesn't do the hd800 justice. I ended up with lcdx when I auditioned with hugo. I now realize that hd800 hadn't gotten a fair shake as hugo doesn't do as good job of driving hd800 as it does lcdx

Barry S · Jul 31, 2014 at 7:32 PM

kmanchu said:
BMC PureDAC and I just got an ifi micro iDSD. I was hoping the iFi would make me willing to give up the BMC but I am thinking this won't be the case.

I heard the BMC PureDAC for the first time this weekend and was really impressed. Just listening to the LCD-X with the PureDAC alone--it sounded very good, lots of detail, great imaging, and not a hint of harshness.

estreeter · Jul 31, 2014 at 7:34 PM

crashem said:
Hugo doesn't do the hd800 justice. I ended up with lcdx when I auditioned with hugo. I now realize that hd800 hadn't gotten a fair shake as hugo doesn't do as good job of driving hd800 as it does lcdx

I agree with that despite strenuous objections from several people in the old Hugo thread - I think we both remember the 'adding anything else to the chain will only color the sound' discussion. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to audition the HD800 from an amp with the power and control of the Taurus/V200 before they make a purchase decision, but I accept that for some the added cost of the amp would be a disincentive.

isquirrel · Jul 31, 2014 at 7:51 PM

crashem said:
Hugo doesn't do the hd800 justice. I ended up with lcdx when I auditioned with hugo. I now realize that hd800 hadn't gotten a fair shake as hugo doesn't do as good job of driving hd800 as it does lcdx

From reading these posts I realise I have given the HD800 a fair go, I will try and organise a home audition (maybe sale or return) so I can try it with the Studio Six, apparently the combination works well. I am now understanding that the HD800 needs a lot of running time to sound its best.

isquirrel · Jul 31, 2014 at 7:52 PM

estreeter said:
I agree with that despite strenuous objections from several people in the old Hugo thread - I think we both remember the 'adding anything else to the chain will only color the sound' discussion. In a perfect world, everyone would be able to audition the HD800 from an amp with the power and control of the Taurus/V200 before they make a purchase decision, but I accept that for some the added cost of the amp would be a disincentive.

Based on my experience thats seems to be the case. I am ready to give them another go on another amp.

KmanChu · Jul 31, 2014 at 8:05 PM

barry s said:
I heard the BMC PureDAC for the first time this weekend and was really impressed. Just listening to the LCD-X with the PureDAC alone--it sounded very good, lots of detail, great imaging, and not a hint of harshness.

Yeah, the BMC is really, really good on its own. The headphone section is really well done. I have always been a sucker for very clean tube sound though. The RWA offers really nice, totally quiet tube sound, but (much like the BMC) it hasn't gotten much love on head-fi. I don't really understand its lack of popularity. The RWA has a smoothness and delicate touch that the BMC doesn't quite manage on its own. I would be curious to compare it to the much more hyped Hugo as a direct headphone DAC/amp for top notch headphones. I haven't heard it with HD800, but reportedly the integrated headphone section works very well with them, so it's definitely a refined output.

Anyway, trying to get this post back to LCD-X: By every account I have heard the BMC works well directly with any Audezes.

Colgin · Jul 31, 2014 at 10:45 PM

Wasn't sure whether to post this question here or in the LCD-3 thread but figured this was the better place. Although they are heavy I have never had any comfort issues with the LCD-2 or LCD-3 in short demos (but always worried whether I would find the size and weight an issue long term). I have now had a chance to listen to the LCD-X several times and each time have found the clamping pressure to be uncomfortable from almost the outset. I have some TMJ pain and the LCD-X seem to hit me in the wrong place. I have compared the LCD-3 and LCD-X a few times recently at Stereo Exchange in NYC, including tonight at their headphone event. Again, I found all the models (including he LCD-XC which I finally got to try) relatively comfortable notwithstanding the weight, except for the X. This didn't seem to make sense since my understanding is that the X uses the same pads as the 3 and while the X is heavier it is only a few grams more than the 3 and in any event weight per se was not the issue.

I asked one salesman if their LCD-3 was broken in more and he said no that they acquired both demo models at basically the same time. He couldn't understand why I would find one comfortable and the other not. I then spoke to another salesman and he told me that the headbands on the two models were different and this could well account for what I was experiencing. That was the fist that I had heard about the LCD-3 and LCD-X having different headbands and therefore different fits. Is this true. Is that the explanation. Or is something else going on. I really like the LCD-X (I mean I like both but might have been leaning towards the LCD-X) but as is the comfort is going to be an issue for me. I was kind of hoping this was just a case of one set of cans being more broken in and that eventually a new LCD-X would be as comfy as I find the LCD-3 to be. But if they aren't going to get more comfortable then it is just not going to work for me. Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

MacedonianHero · Jul 31, 2014 at 10:46 PM

colgin said:
Wasn't sure whether to post this question here or in the LCD-3 thread but figured this was the better place. Although they are heavy I have never had any comfort issues with the LCD-2 or LCD-3 in short demos (but always worried whether I would find the size and weight an issue long term). I have now had a chance to listen to the LCD-X several times and each time have found the clamping pressure to be uncomfortable from almost the outset. I have some TMJ pain and the LCD-X seem to hit me in the wrong place. I have compared the LCD-3 and LCD-X a few times recently at Stereo Exchange in NYC, including tonight at their headphone event. Again, I found all the models (including he LCD-XC which I finally got to try) relatively comfortable notwithstanding the weight, except for the X. This didn't seem to make sense since my understanding is that the X uses the same pads as the 3 and while the X is heavier it is only a few grams more than the 3 and in any event weight per se was not the issue.

I asked one salesman if their LCD-3 was broken in more and he said no that they acquired both demo models at basically the same time. He couldn't understand why I would find one comfortable and the other not. I then spoke to another salesman and he told me that the headbands on the two models were different and this could well account for what I was experiencing. That was the fist that I had heard about the LCD-3 and LCD-X having different headbands and therefore different fits. Is this true. Is that the explanation. Or is something else going on. I really like the LCD-X (I mean I like both but might have been leaning towards the LCD-X) but as is the comfort is going to be an issue for me. I was kind of hoping this was just a case of one set of cans being more broken in and that eventually a new LCD-X would be as comfy as I find the LCD-3 to be. But if they aren't going to get more comfortable then it is just not going to work for me. Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

Personally once on my head, I can't tell the LCD-3/X/2 apart in terms of fit/comfort.

Barry S · Jul 31, 2014 at 10:52 PM

colgin said:
Wasn't sure whether to post this question here or in the LCD-3 thread but figured this was the better place. Although they are heavy I have never had any comfort issues with the LCD-2 or LCD-3 in short demos (but always worried whether I would find the size and weight an issue long term). I have now had a chance to listen to the LCD-X several times and each time have found the clamping pressure to be uncomfortable from almost the outset. I have some TMJ pain and the LCD-X seem to hit me in the wrong place. I have compared the LCD-3 and LCD-X a few times recently at Stereo Exchange in NYC, including tonight at their headphone event. Again, I found all the models (including he LCD-XC which I finally got to try) relatively comfortable notwithstanding the weight, except for the X. This didn't seem to make sense since my understanding is that the X uses the same pads as the 3 and while the X is heavier it is only a few grams more than the 3 and in any event weight per se was not the issue.

I asked one salesman if their LCD-3 was broken in more and he said no that they acquired both demo models at basically the same time. He couldn't understand why I would find one comfortable and the other not. I then spoke to another salesman and he told me that the headbands on the two models were different and this could well account for what I was experiencing. That was the fist that I had heard about the LCD-3 and LCD-X having different headbands and therefore different fits. Is this true. Is that the explanation. Or is something else going on. I really like the LCD-X (I mean I like both but might have been leaning towards the LCD-X) but as is the comfort is going to be an issue for me. I was kind of hoping this was just a case of one set of cans being more broken in and that eventually a new LCD-X would be as comfy as I find the LCD-3 to be. But if they aren't going to get more comfortable then it is just not going to work for me. Any thoughts on this are appreciated.

I'm pretty sure the headbands are the same for all Audeze models (with the exception of the cushion material). My LCD-X has very little clamping pressure, but the metal band can be bent to loosen the pressure if needed. It seems like there's some variability in manufacturing the headbands, but it can easily be adjusted.

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