Audeze LCD-4z

Welcome to my review! I write reviews to document the interesting headphones I've tried;
As time may pass, headphones may break, but knowledge can be passed down forever!
——Brandfuchs

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Background​

With the advent of the era of smartphones without 3.5 jack, various types of TWS earbuds are flooding the market, relieving users from the annoyance of the stethoscope effect and offering noise-cancelling features, it seems that this has also gradually become the mainstream way of listening to music while on the go. With such change, it seems that headphone manufacturers are increasingly joining this trend with brands like Noble, Final, and even Sennheiser have launched their own TWS products, hoping to capture a share of the market.

(Picture: Sky News)
It certainly raises a question: In this era, do portable over-ear headphones still have a place? Can they adapt to the times and find their value?

For me, I discovered the value of the LCD-4z in this context: There are moments when a nostalgic melody pops into my mind, urging me to immediately listen to that song again. However, the thought of having to turn on the USB DDC, power filter, DAC, and then the headphone amplifier, etc. etc., simply thinking the lengthy setup process is enough to make me abandon the idea; besides, by the time I set everything up, the melody may have already faded from my memory.

Sometimes, I just want to enjoy music in a simple way, reminiscent of the days when I could just plug my headphones into my phone and immerse myself in beautiful melodies, instantly. However, I struggle to find flagship over-ear headphones that can be easily driven.

This is where the Audeze LCD-4z truly shines.

Design​

While maintaining the massive 106mm driver, Nano-Scale Uniforce diaphragm technology, Double Fluxor magnet design, and Fazor waveguide technology, the impedance of the LCD-4z is reduced to merely 15 ohms. It's worth noting that the early version of the LCD-4 had an impedance of 100 ohms, which later changed to 200 ohms due to criticisms of driver failures.

In terms of weight, the LCD-4z changes the shell material to aluminum-magnesium alloy, reducing the weight from the LCD-4's 735 grams to 560 grams, these changes undoubtedly make the 4z more portable (Of course, if compared to other portable over-ear headphones, like the Focal Radiance at 435g, there is still place for improvement… but I mean, as long as it’s lighter, it’s better, isn’t it).

The headband features the usual antenna yoke rod design for adjusting the fit. The side logo is a highlight in my opinion, with the gold lettering shining brilliantly under the light.

The carbon fibre headband embodies the lightweight design philosophy to the fullest, and it looks fantastic as well.

Yes, it perfectly fulfils my desire: a flagship headphone that can be easily driven.

Unboxing​

Yeah, a real box


The familiar Pelican-style case comes into view, with the headphones nestled in grey foam padding. The lid's foam has a wave-patterned texture and is very thick, designed to securely hold the headphones in place and prevent them from shifting during transport.

Accessories​

The accessory includes the stock cable, a 6.35mm to 3.5mm adapter, a USB drive, and a warranty card.

Setup​

Can it really be portable? When I plugged the LCD-4z into my portable setup, Cayin N8 black brass + c9, it delivered sufficient sound pressure. In fact, even without the C9, the N8 alone is capable of providing sufficient sound pressure for the LCD-4z, which is very remarkable for a planar magnetic headphone.

However, it doesn't mean LCD4Z doesn't require any power at all. In my experience, planar headphones tend to sound better when fed with "a bit more ". While the N8 can provide sufficient sound pressure, it tends to sound a bit too soft and lacks some dynamics. Adding the c9 resolves this issue perfectly (I'll talk about this later).

Besides, despite its low power requirements, a good DAC is still necessary to fully unleash its potential imo. Therefore, I used two setups for my listening tests: my desktop system with the Linn Selekt as DAC, and a portable setup with the Cayin N8 Brass Black and C9.

Sound​

In Short
The two most notable characteristics of the LCD-4z, in my opinion, are its linearity and neutrality. To be more specific, it is linear, transparent, natural, and detailed. The vocals have just the right thickness and density. The tuning leans slightly towards a warm side, but very very slight, it’s still neutral overall.


Soundstage & Imaging
When it comes to its soundstage, the LCD-4Z continues Audeze's tradition of excellent imaging and soundstage, although it may not rank among the widest soundstages in the realm of open-back headphones, it is decent enough in my opinion.

I was testing the soundstage and imaging with Yosi Horikawa's album "Wandering", I often use this album for testing because of its superb recording quality. In the track "Letter," there's a part where someone is writing with a pencil on a desk, and the effect is incredibly realistic. The first time I heard this album, I actually thought someone was writing right behind me and even turned around to check.


Now, speaking of how does it sounds like on the LCD-4Z. The track "Wandering," with a beginning features the sound of footsteps, as if someone is walking along a muddy road. The image of footsteps is located in the left ear, and then bird chirps and percussion gradually approach from the distant. Just this small segment impressively showcases the LCD-4Z's amazing soundstage and imaging, not only is the image of the footsteps clear and precise, but also the footsteps hitting the muddy ground is vividly reproduced. The percussion at the distant and the bird chirps on the far right are particularly clear, and each sound is precisely positioned.

The overall sense of space feels especially open and natural, giving a feeling of being immersed in the scene. While the LCD-4Z is certainly not the only one capable of achieving such a good imaging, the fact that it can deliver this sound with just a portable setup like the N8+C9 is incredibly valuable.

Resolution
When it comes to resolution, it's essential to use the violin for evaluation. Because, as Paul McGowan mentioned, "Massed strings are some of the most complex musical waveforms I can think of, far more than massed voices. I imagine the spectral content of these hundreds of simultaneously vibrating strings is among the most complex of all and one of the areas where digital audio seems to really struggle with." He explains this in detail in his article on PS Audio’s website, which, I think is very well explained.


Performed by Dinu Lipatti
"Air on the G String" is the track I tested LCD4Z with, and I think this really shows the difference between feeding the LCD-4z with a portable DAC and a full-size DAC. On the N8, the LCD-4z exhibited a gentle quality, with strings sounding very soft. Actually, this Bach piece itself symbolizes calmness and gentleness, embodying a Baroque-era ease. However, when it came to Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, it was time for the desktop setup to shine with abundant information and dynamic. With the Selekt DAC, the LCD-4z presented the string sections with rich detail and sharp dynamics, delivering the grandeur and magnificence of the fourth movement brilliantly. The violin's sound was intricately detailed, with vivid and pronounced dynamics.


Conducted by Claudio Abbado
Moving on to symphony, which is typically a weak point for most portable setup because it require large dynamics. Listening to Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, Allegro the fourth movement, begins with an energetic string section, with high energy and a fast-paced rhythm throughout. The LCD-4z demonstrates decent dynamic while presenting very detailed texture of massed strings.

Treble

Now, let's talk about its highs, which I think are the best part of the 4z. Its treble is linear and smooth, non-intrusive, capable of revealing a lot of vocal high notes and details. When listening to Kuroneko's "Shooting Star," the opening soprano is very smooth and natural. Even with the portable N8+C9 setup, the LCD-4z can clearly separate the background instruments from the vocals. If you close your eyes, you can almost sense the outline of the studio, with instruments arranged in a semi-circle behind the singer. Kuroneko's voice is expressed with great emotion, the thickness is just right, yet it has enough texture and a rich, rolling tail end. The C9 provides excellent control, allowing the soprano to maintain a non-intrusive and non-irritating performance as the pitch rises, which I think is excellent.

Ending​

I didn't structure this article using the traditional divisions of Bass, Mids, and Treble because, to be honest, I prefer using descriptions to recreate the listening experience.

Why

Take an example, when we say "Bassy," it can apply to many headphones like the 64audio Noir, TH900, He1000se etc., but how do we determine which one is "Bassier" than the others? I personally think the answer lies in comparison and description, I believe that it is of great importance to evaluate headphones by describing how they sound with specific songs, and how does it appeal to you.

Moreover, this approach has an advantage. If someone with a similar taste in music comes across this article, it might provide valuable insights. I truly hope this article helps you in deciding whether the LCD-4z is the right choice for you!

Afterword​

I eventually sold my LCD-4z. Despite its easy-to-drive feature, its open-back design made me a walking speaker in the office. So, I had no choice but switched to closed back one: Focal Radiance. If anyone is interested in it, I can write a review of it later