Audeze LCD-2 Impressions Thread

[MacedonianHero]

Thanks for jogging my memories, I remember seeing some measurements on innerfidelity for some single ended orthos and remembered that they are not as low as the LCD2, let alone the 3 or X and XC.

And some of those single sided orthos cost a whole lot more.

 

[Taowolf51]

Actually, the materials can definitely affect resonances in the headphones and thus the sound. The LCD-X are meant for studio monitoring as well as audiophile listening, so something more durable than wood was needed. But with regards to the drivers, you're going to need strong magnets and they're not light...darn physics. I'd also welcome lighter/more comfortable orthos, but not at the expense of the sound.

 
Do you believe that the LCD-3's should have metal rings?
 
The lighter orthos wasn't what I wanted to focus on in my post (I almost decided to remove it), the main issue is comfort, which Audeze seems to be completely ignoring. STAX can make the SR-009 (which weighs as much as an LCD-X) feel significantly lighter and more comfortable than an LCD-2 (which weighs a fair bit less than either headphone) by using a suspension strap. It isn't a difficult addition. Even easier would be to add a bit of padding to the headband. The current headband has less padding than a tube sock, which makes absolutely no sense when your headphone weighs over a pound.

 

[MacedonianHero]

Do you believe that the LCD-3's should have metal rings?

The lighter orthos wasn't what I wanted to focus on in my post (I almost decided to remove it), the main issue is comfort, which Audeze seems to be completely ignoring. STAX can make the SR-009 (which weighs as much as an LCD-X) feel significantly lighter and more comfortable than an LCD-2 (which weighs a fair bit less than either headphone) by using a suspension strap. It isn't a difficult addition. Even easier would be to add a bit of padding to the headband. The current headband has less padding than a tube sock, which makes absolutely no sense when your headphone weighs over a pound.

If the LCD-3s were meant to be thrown around a studio, then yes. Plus we've seen issues with wood crackIng (in general with regards to wooden headphones). On my head I find them virtually indistinguishable from the LCD-X and pretty good for long listening sessions.

With regards to weight, the Sr 009s are about 454g while the LCD-X are about 25% heavier. Yes the sr-009s are lighter and more comfortable, but the LCD-X aren't that bad at all.

 

[Taowolf51]

If the LCD-3s were meant to be thrown around a studio, then yes. Plus we've seen issues with wood crackIng (in general with regards to wooden headphones). On my head I find them virtually indistinguishable from the LCD-X and pretty good for long listening sessions.

With regards to weight, the Sr 009s are about 454g while the LCD-X are about 25% heavier. Yes the sr-009s are lighter and more comfortable, but the LCD-X aren't that bad at all.

So you're looking at this as a durability issue? If the LCD-XC was meant for the studio (has metal ring) it wouldn't have wooden cups. I don't know if the "studio durability" need stands up.
Have there been wood splitting issues since the new LCD-3 type connectors?
 
Was looking at the "with cable" weight. Point still stands, though, the SR-009 weighs as much as the LCD-2 (without fazor) and is overwhelmingly more comfortable.
 
I haven't had the chance to wear the LCD-X for hours at a time, but the LCD-2 stock (without any comfort mods) is wearable for maybe 45 minutes before I get a headache. The much heavier LCD-X would be an impossibility for me, despite the fact that they are my favorite headphone sound-wise. The fact that Audeze has fans (and this isn't a rare complaint) that can't wear their headphones without major discomfort (or even pain through headaches) for a reasonable amount of time should be a serious issue for them.
 
For comparison, I can (and have many times) wear my D7000's for 12-15 hour stretches. My issue isn't with headphones, it's with the combination of heavy weight and very poor headband comfort found in the Audeze headphones (especially the leather).

 

[jodgey4]

  So you're looking at this as a durability issue? If the LCD-XC was meant for the studio (has metal ring) it wouldn't have wooden cups. I don't know if the "studio durability" need stands up.
Have there been wood splitting issues since the new LCD-3 type connectors?
 
Was looking at the "with cable" weight. Point still stands, though, the SR-009 weighs as much as the LCD-2 (without fazor) and is overwhelmingly more comfortable.
 
I haven't had the chance to wear the LCD-X for hours at a time, but the LCD-2 stock (without any comfort mods) is wearable for maybe 45 minutes before I get a headache. The much heavier LCD-X would be an impossibility for me, despite the fact that they are my favorite headphone sound-wise. The fact that Audeze has fans (and this isn't a rare complaint) that can't wear their headphones without major discomfort (or even pain through headaches) for a reasonable amount of time should be a serious issue for them.
 
For comparison, I can (and have many times) wear my D7000's for 12-15 hour stretches. My issue isn't with headphones, it's with the combination of heavy weight and very poor headband comfort found in the Audeze headphones (especially the leather).

I find the leather options almost all entirely unwearable... vegan pads are a huge change. They need to just beef up the headbands as described, and come out with charcoal colored vegan pads... and make them standard. The weight is a bit tiresome, but the sound is worth it IMHO. Sound >>> a perfect comfort level any day. There will always be a market for the heavy, double sided planar designs... period.

 

[Taowolf51]

  I find the leather options almost all entirely unwearable... vegan pads are a huge change. They need to just beef up the headbands as described, and come out with charcoal colored vegan pads... and make them standard. The weight is a bit tiresome, but the sound is worth it IMHO. Sound >>> a perfect comfort level any day. There will always be a market for the heavy, double sided planar designs... period.

 
I think you're probably right, I've tried (but not owned) the vegan pads and they're definitely a step up in comfort, they have more padding.

 

[bassboysam]

When I first got my LCD2s I did notice some neck pain after about 2 hours of use. After about 10 hours of use I got used to them and/or my neck muscles got stronger. I have 0 discomfort and can wear them for hours with no issues. Having said that they are a rev1 with the foam headband. The leather pads don't bother me either.

 

[Taowolf51]

When I first got my LCD2s I did notice some neck pain after about 2 hours of use. After about 10 hours of use I got used to them and/or my neck muscles got stronger. I have 0 discomfort and can wear them for hours with no issues. Having said that they are a rev1 with the foam headband. The leather pads don't bother me either.

 
The Audeze earpads are awesome, the new LCD-2's have super soft memory foam pads.

 

[linglingjr]

I have no weight problems what so ever but I have the same problem I had with Q701s, that's annoying bumps they put on the bottom of the headband.  I've brought it up before, but has anyone else found issues with that as well? They start to hurt after 45 or so minutes just like the AKG headband did.  It has nothing to do with weight.  I've wrapped cloth around the headband and that improves it a bit but the issue is still there.  wish they made something like this for them: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Headband-Cushion-pad-For-SENNHEISER-HD545-HD565-HD580-HD600-HD650-Headphones-/191225680973?pt=US_Replacement_Parts_Tools&hash=item2c85f0544d
Even the 2.1 head band looks more comfortable.
 
The headband bumps and the back of my right ear pressing up against the inside of the headphone (fazor model) which some one else said they had too, are the only problems I've had.

 

[SP Wild]

I've never had a problem with the bumps on my K701 headband...but I can definitely tell if my hair is less thick, it could be a problem, I have the foam headband on my LCD2s.  Nevertheless I think all concerns with comfort should be expressed.  I may be an Audeze fanboy now...but I was also once a huge Sennheisser fandboy in the era of the HD650.
 
Senheisser can do so much to help fix the 'circle of confusion' purely by the goodwill in their brand, they own Neumann and Kleim and Hummel...instead it is Harman (JBL and Altec history is interesting!) and Audeze that I respect.  Actually I never realised that the history of Hi Fi is so darned interesting!

 

[NinjaHamster]

I'm almost bald, so there is no cuhioning hair - and as light a the AKG-K701's are compared to the LCD-2, those bumps also hurt my head.

 

[linglingjr]

  I'm almost bald, so there is no cuhioning hair - and as light a the AKG-K701's are compared to the LCD-2, those bumps also hurt my head.

But the LCD-2 bumps don't bother you?  My hair is pretty short now, but I remember it being just as much of a problem when I had 4 inches long and curly lol.  I don't know why designers still insist on putting bumps there .  I remember when the K702 anniversary came out with the thin flappy head band, people were wanted to buy the flat piece of leather by itself. 

 

[averageaudio]

  But the LCD-2 bumps don't bother you?  My hair is pretty short now, but I remember it being just as much of a problem when I had 4 inches long and curly lol.  I don't know why designers still insist on putting bumps there .  I remember when the K702 anniversary came out with the thin flappy head band, people were wanted to buy the flat piece of leather by itself. 

I actually sold my LCD-2 for this reason. The bumps made not logical sense to me as the whole weight of the headphone was put onto two small pads. I would get headaches after not much time at all. Also, the bumps felt under-padded to me.

 

[NinjaHamster]

  But the LCD-2 bumps don't bother you?  My hair is pretty short now, but I remember it being just as much of a problem when I had 4 inches long and curly lol.  I don't know why designers still insist on putting bumps there .  I remember when the K702 anniversary came out with the thin flappy head band, people were wanted to buy the flat piece of leather by itself. 

Funnily enough, no the bump on the LCD-2 don't worry me - or not much anyway (and I guess the bumps are designed to allow some cooling between band and head) - this seems to be because the leather is soft and so is the padding, despite the weight of the phones. The light AKG's seem to have their bumps made out of a hard plastic (maybe a little exaggeration, but not much) deigned to bury through your skull and imbed themselves in your dorsal brain ...

 

[linglingjr]

The discomfort isn't enough to make me want to get rid of them,  I enjoy the sound for all the genres I listen to I don't think HD800s would work nearly as well.  
 
Cooling makes sense, it's a shame. The sounds grown on me a ton as I've gotten used to it and they are absolutely gorgeous.  Time to do some fabrication *cracks knuckles*