$580 is not a particular good deal as you would still be stuck with the old style headband. You probably would rather sell your existing LCD-X for $350 to $400, and then wait to buy a factory refurbished latest version of LCD-X for around $950 (which is often available from different shops...

I have the Sine DX and the headband is genuine leather and I use leather conditioner on them with good result. Not sure about the cup cover on the closed version Sine.

PotPlayer https://potplayer.daum.net/ can do WASAPI

I would rather say there are NOT many headphones that sound better than the RAD-0, especially if you took price into consideration. I personally think the RAD-0 headband design is acceptable for comfort if one paid attention sitting the head pad squarely when putting on. I once considered adding...

I took my RAD-0 out listening to music this evening. I must say there is indeed away comfortably wearing the RAD-0 in its stock form: i. Don't overly stretch the headband, keep it with enough cramping pressure. ii. Make sure the headband pad resting squarely on the top of your head, and not...

I recommend these lambskin pads: https://www.ebay.com/itm/255094792048?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338093425&toolid=10001&customid=l9ktd1x1mb01zlp100004

May I suggest you to try the RAD-0? I apply the least amount of EQ out of all the headphones I am using. I don't do music production but I do live mixing in my church. You may also try the LCD-XC, strangely it got a flatter FR curve than its open version.

Do you put the pi4 + pi2AES inside the Master 7 case?

I would not worry. The "crinkle" sound is caused by the air pressure between your ear drum and the driver membrane. Try this: Swap left and right when putting on your Sine DX, and see if the "crinkle" noise is still on the same side. If yes, then the problem is with your eardrum. Also try...

Try applying these tweaks to your Windows registry: https://petri.com/optimize-windows-8-audio-setup-jriver-media-center/ Having the System CMOS/real time clock (IRQ 8) set to the highest priority does wonder to sound quality and minimize dropouts.

I find a shop on Aliexpress selling similar lamb skin earpads...

For years Kingwa has been using the J74/K170 JFET transistors for the output buffers of his master series DAC and Preamp. As the J74/K170 pairs had been out of production a few years ago and Kingwa's stock beginning to run low, it became more difficult for him to do good enough transistor...

So the preference is now towards the pre-2021 version. As I said one year ago, reducing magnets to save weight would hurt dynamics. After all, Audeze themselves has been emphasizing the importance of strong magnetic flux for years. Like reducing car engine cylinders/displacement, the 2021 models...

My weight scale is too small to hold the LCD-XC so I didn't weigh the whole headphone. I did check the Audeze shorter strap. The problem buying from them is again expensive international shipping. Audeze used to have a Amazon store selling assesories with cheap international shipping cost. Now...

Good advice. But I never hang my LCD-XC on stand and the stock strap stretches anyway.

I actually ordered the Nan-6 head band assembly bit later decided cancelling the order. Main reason was to keep the 100% Audeze appearance of the headphones. The Nan-6 strap was also quite thick (may not be supple enough for comfort).

The strap of my LCD-XC was stretched and the steel headband was touching the top of my head with all the weight. I was about buying the aftermarket strap from Understated Montreal but with the cost + shipping well over USD100, I thought I might as well paying a bit more getting the Audeze carbon...

I recall it was either in this thread, or in the LCD-24 thread which the Audeze representative said fewer magnets would contribute to less obstructive sound wave flow and better imaging. I can't find the exact post though.

See posts #148 to #150 of this thread.

Not really a surprise that you found the 2019 model more dynamic, as the 2021 model has fewer magnets. I don't think Audeze gave the newer model thinner/lighter diaphrams, or stronger magnets to compensate. With fewer magnets, the 2021 model should give better imaging as sound wave is less...

2020 LCD-XC review and measurement: https://www.headphones.com/community/reviews-learning-and-news/audeze-lcd-xc-review 2018 LCD-XC review and measurement: https://www.audiofanatyk.pl/recenzja-sluchawek-audeze-lcd-xc-creator-edition-wer-2018/ I think the FR of the 2018-20 LCD-XC is actually...

I find my Sine DX has similar dynamics as my LCD-XC. My RAD-0 have better dynamic then both. I think dynamic has to do with magnet flux strength and driver size ratio. The AB1266 has single side magnets but properly have the best dynamics of all planar headphones. One could use single side...

Had a custom cable builder crafted a cable using OCC Litz wires for my Sine DX. The new cable brings improved sound layering and treble/bass extensions to the Sine DX. My Sine DX is very close to my LCD-XC in technicalities now, almost like a mini LCD-X. I was using the Meze99 copper cables before.

You may not like what I say and I might be wrong. But if you feel you are not listening that loud, you may already suffer certain degree of hearing loss.

Wow! I wonder how loud you listen to music to cause the tips of the headband vibrating. Fair enough, listening volume contributes much to one's preferred tuning. I actually like how cup resonance of the Sonorous III very much when listening to cello performance, very tasteful. I could imagine...