Audeze LCD-3 Impressions Thread

[CoolBurn]

Welcome (back) Kojaku ! 

 

[citraian]

More like welcome back xD. I am a former LCD-2 owner who went HD800 and came back to the darkness hehe.

Kojaku

Then it's welcome back traitor

 

[dan.gheorghe]

Then it's welcome back traitor

From what I remember you were flirting with the idea of buying my hd800 a few months ago... )))

 

[citraian]

But I didn't

 

[screwdriver]

  From what I remember you were flirting with the idea of buying my hd800 a few months ago... )))

iwas thinking of buying a hd800 too but screw that - im buying a lcd-x to keep the lcd3 company

 

[dan.gheorghe]

But I didn't

I didn't want to sell it )

  iwas thinking of buying a hd800 too but screw that - im buying a lcd-x to keep the lcd3 company

I had the same thought 2 months ago. 

 

[Kojaku]

I enjoyed my time with the HD800, but I had to tube roll to high heaven to get it to sound even close to what I wanted. It didn't feel like the inherent flavor of the HD800 was really my thing.
 
I'm probably part of the minute minority on this, but I'm of the opinion that the LCD-3 still edges out the LCD-X. Having been all around the map with house sounds, I think that the LCD-3 really encapsulates the best of the Audez'e house sound, while the LCD-X sounds like an attempt at hitting the neutrality-obsessed semi-pro segment (not that that's a bad idea, but it just isn't the Audez'e that I abandoned Sennheiser for). 
 
Kojaku 
 
edit: Updated my sig and my community profile, lol.

 

[Digitalchkn]

Just upgraded my stock cable to a Q French silk (1.5m length) on my LCD-3.  A bit surprised for such a notable change. I thought the stock cable gave me a pretty decent balance. No major complaints about imaging or soundstaging (I personally think HD800 is a bit over the top on the latter)  but probably my chief complaint was the supressed attack. It's as if the headphone was fighting back on fast transcients.  Well, all that pretty much disappeared with the cable upgrade. Huge improvement in imaging, some in soundstaging.  Had an interesting impact on overall balance though -- that huge meaty bass lightened up and everything pushed towards the treble.  Overall, very pleased, but will take an effort to readjust my ears again.  But does make me wonder, did they tune LCD-3 to sound darker with the stock cable, or is the intended signature the brighter flavor of aftermarket cabling?

 

[Jones Bob]

I'm probably part of the minute minority on this, but I'm of the opinion that the LCD-3 still edges out the LCD-X. Having been all around the map with house sounds, I think that the LCD-3 really encapsulates the best of the Audez'e house sound, while the LCD-X sounds like an attempt at hitting the neutrality-obsessed semi-pro segment

I have come to that opinion too.

 

[OPR8R]

  Just upgraded my stock cable to a Q French silk (1.5m length) on my LCD-3.  A bit surprised for such a notable change. I thought the stock cable gave me a pretty decent balance. No major complaints about imaging or soundstaging (I personally think HD800 is a bit over the top on the latter)  but probably my chief complaint was the supressed attack. It's as if the headphone was fighting back on fast transcients.  Well, all that pretty much disappeared with the cable upgrade. Huge improvement in imaging, some in soundstaging.  Had an interesting impact on overall balance though -- that huge meaty bass lightened up and everything pushed towards the treble.  Overall, very pleased, but will take an effort to readjust my ears again.  But does make me wonder, did they tune LCD-3 to sound darker with the stock cable, or is the intended signature the brighter flavor of aftermarket cabling?

 
What color did you get?  I've had my Q for a while now, but there are days that I still wonder if I should have got red.
 
But yeah, you hear the difference instantly.  It surprised me too.

 

[Digitalchkn]

   
What color did you get?  I've had my Q for a while now, but there are days that I still wonder if I should have got red.
 
But yeah, you hear the difference instantly.  It surprised me too.

I've got the blacks. Personally, I don't mind the dark color. I think it works pretty well, although brown probably would have looked more natural.
 
What's the length of your cable. I deliberately chose one with short length because I thought it would sound a bit better. Now that I think about it maybe a longer one would have given me a different bass-treble relationship.
 
Now I wonder how the Q stacks up against other aftermarket cabling. I've heard great things about it and it's nearly have the price of most alternatives.

 

[screwdriver]

Ok I got my LCD-3 based set up done for now .
Berendsen cd-1 --> morrow cable --> Decware CSP3 --> ALo Studio six --> Toxic silver Poison --> LCD3
 
the set up is amazing - had a good 3 hours session on it today , csp3 still burning in .
my bad luck is my cd player might be in its last leg .... what a timing .

 

[OPR8R]

  I've got the blacks. Personally, I don't mind the dark color. I think it works pretty well, although brown probably would have looked more natural.
 
What's the length of your cable. I deliberately chose one with short length because I thought it would sound a bit better. Now that I think about it maybe a longer one would have given me a different bass-treble relationship.
 
Now I wonder how the Q stacks up against other aftermarket cabling. I've heard great things about it and it's nearly have the price of most alternatives.

 
I have a 1.5m brown cable.  I don't know if length makes a sound difference or not.
 

  Ok I got my LCD-3 based set up done for now .
Berendsen cd-1 --> morrow cable --> Decware CSP3 --> ALo Studio six --> Toxic silver Poison --> LCD3
 
the set up is amazing - had a good 3 hours session on it today , csp3 still burning in .
my bad luck is my cd player might be in its last leg .... what a timing .

 
Grats, screwdriver.  Bet it sounds nice.

 

[Kojaku]

Ok I got my LCD-3 based set up done for now .
Berendsen cd-1 --> morrow cable --> Decware CSP3 --> ALo Studio six --> Toxic silver Poison --> LCD3

the set up is amazing - had a good 3 hours session on it today , csp3 still burning in .
my bad luck is my cd player might be in its last leg .... what a timing .

The studio six was my favorite amp that I ever heard the LCD-3 with. I have yet to hear the LCD-3 balanced drive. What exactly does it change, if anyone knows?

 

[MacedonianHero]

 

I can totally understand preferring the LCD-3s to the LCD-X. It depends what matters most to the listener. I still hold them in very high regard while I myself do prefer the LCD-X.