Audeze LCD-4

[goobicii]

Detail retrieval is on another level with the sr009. It's definitely more energetic across the board with a bigger Soundstage as well. I do think the lcd 4 had an irresistible mid range signature that I like with jazz. Have to say I much prefer the stax in every other genre by a good margin.

what amp and dac did you use with LCD4 and 009?  pcm? dsd? what samplerate & bitrate? did you listen them both same day or you go by memory? did you listen at home or at meet? 
 
just checked your profile,you have both Carbon and GSX-mk2!!! thats exactly the amps I want to buy with these headphones!

 

[up late]

Definitely. Someone should send Tyll a link to this innerfidelity site.

like that's going to change his opinion and he has posted in this thread already btw

I happen to love my LCD-4 and think it is outstanding but why all the obsession over Tyll's review?....he likes a different sound,so be it....these are as good as any cans out there,price wise that is a different story however...if you have the cash go for it...if not there are several great choices for less money....

who's obsessing over tyll's review?

 

[sensui123]

Yes the LCD-4 is hooked up to the GS-X mk 2 and the SR-009 to the KGSSHV Carbon from Spritzer.  The amps are both connected via the loop connection and sourced from a Metrum Pavane/fed by the Bryston BDP-2....this is my home rig.  I listened to them back to back since it's a matter of turning on the amp to continue listening to music to switch headphones.  I think there's been a lot of criticism on the LCD-4 due to various issues but it doesn't take away from the fact that's definitely a TOTL contender for the ortho headphones...matter of taste really in what genre of music you listen to....anyone who like the previous signatures from Audeze will have a field day with these.....especially if they like the LCD-X since they aren't quite as dark/warm sounding as the LCD-3/2 variant.  But truth is.....SR-009 paired with the right equipment is truly something to behold.....them STAX mafia guys don't like em for nothing.

 

[goobicii]

sensui123  
 
what gain setting do you use with LCD4 on GSX? I did some calculation based on Tyll innerfidelity measurements,he says that at medium gain GSX makes "0.7777" milivolt RMS of noise.LCD4 by his measurements needs 2 volts to get 102db volume,that means at medium gain there would be constant 31.2db noise...... did I fail at my calculations?

 

[groovyd]

but how does the LCD-4 compare to the new Orpheus ?  that is the real question here

 

[sensui123]

I listen with medium gain at around 10 o clockwork the lcd4.... It gets real loud quick past 12. I've never detected background hum/noise on the go with various headphones.

 

[goobicii]

did you tried it at low gain,max volume knob setting?

 

[sensui123]

  did you tried it at low gain,max volume knob setting?

 
I started with medium gain on the LCD-4 with my experience with other Audeze headphones, usually drive them @ medium gain also.  But I think I have tried low gain early on and you'd have to crank it quite far to get decently loud.....but there is not noise floor difference between the 2 gains on these headphones that I can discern.  Only time I've used high gain is on my HE-6 and it sounds just fine in that gain mode as well.  I think low gain is meant for very efficient headphones/earphones or preamps.

 

[goobicii]

is there any chance that you will do some measurements like THD,CDS and freqency response? I would love to get some scientific answers LCD4 +gsx vs 009 + carbon.... from reading and research it seems to me that these combinations are ultimate endgame versions of planar vs electrostat
 
I know Tyll from innerfidelity measured GSX and LCD4 once and about four 009s but I think more measurements is always better,especialy in combination with these endgame KG designed amps

 

[sensui123]

is there any chance that you will do some measurements like THD,CDS and freqency response? I would love to get some scientific answers LCD4 +gsx vs 009 + carbon.... from reading and research it seems to me that these combinations are ultimate endgame versions of planar vs electrostat

I know Tyll from innerfidelity measured GSX and LCD4 once and about four 009s but I think more measurements is always better,especialy in combination with these endgame KG designed amps

Hah no sorry... My interest in this hobby is strictly via what comes through my ears. I don't have the technical know how's (though I assume I could if I refresh my electrical engineering a bit) nor want to go that far. I really only care about how I perceive the music and what I hear. So I'm afraid I can only give subjective opinions.

 

[Drewligarchy]

 



Interesting! Can you maybe elaborate on which aspects you liked better with LCD 4 than the LCD 3? Also which LCD 3 model do you have and how many hours do you have on the LCD 4?



 



A passion play is probably my favorite.

Another Tuller! I have the LCD 3f bought new from around July of last year. The biggest difference is both the quantity and quality of the treble, detail retrieval, resolution, imaging and soundstage. The imaging and soundstage seem to be a result of the enhanced treble as it provides better special cues. I switched back and forth between each,and witht the LCD 3 the soundstage collapsed in comparison. I also felt an absence of grain which I could hear on the LCD 3 in comparison.

Now, by no means I am saying these are an excessively bright phone; it still has the Audeze house sound, but brighter than the LCD 3. I feel like treble is really placed perfectly in the mix. I haven't spent much time with the LCD X, but I imagine the LCD 4 is similar but more refined in treble, based on my comparisons with the LCD XC that I do have a lot of time with. The treble is closer to that phone than the 3, but the 4 retains the liquid mids and bass presence of the 3 - which I don't feel like the XC has.

At that point only about 20 hours on the 4s. They really are great phones. When I switch back and forth between the 009s they are definitely darker, but it feels much closer in general to that sound then the LCD 3 did - where it was night and day.

 

[Articnoise]

Another Tuller! I have the LCD 3f bought new from around July of last year. The biggest difference is both the quantity and quality of the treble, detail retrieval, resolution, imaging and soundstage. The imaging and soundstage seem to be a result of the enhanced treble as it provides better special cues. I switched back and forth between each,and witht the LCD 3 the soundstage collapsed in comparison. I also felt an absence of grain which I could hear on the LCD 3 in comparison.

Now, by no means I am saying these are an excessively bright phone; it still has the Audeze house sound, but brighter than the LCD 3. I feel like treble is really placed perfectly in the mix. I haven't spent much time with the LCD X, but I imagine the LCD 4 is similar but more refined in treble, based on my comparisons with the LCD XC that I do have a lot of time with. The treble is closer to that phone than the 3, but the 4 retains the liquid mids and bass presence of the 3 - which I don't feel like the XC has.

At that point only about 20 hours on the 4s. They really are great phones. When I switch back and forth between the 009s they are definitely darker, but it feels much closer in general to that sound then the LCD 3 did - where it was night and day.

 

Great thanks for your observations! 

 

IME LCD 3 sounds better with like 200 hours of burn in, so maybe your LCD4 will sound even better and the difference to the LCD 3 will increase with more hours of use!?

 

Regarding your comments on the difference in treble. I got a replacement LCD 3 from 2016 and it seems to have a bit more treble, especially around 10 KHz, than the LCD 3F I had before. 

 

[Simon T]

Hi Everyone,
 
Finally received the LCD-4s during the weekend. Yet to spend enough time for me to share more in-depth impressions about the sound quality pairing with the source equipment I own. But enough time, to tell you which of them, has enough power to make the LCD-4 shine.
 
Before that, just wanted to take this opportunity in thanking Kim from Audeze Customer Service department; one of my most satisfactory experiences in dealing with customer service, ever. Kim, thanks again for being so understanding, patient and professional.
 
Frankly speaking, before making the decision to purchase the LCD-4, I was worried that, my current gears were not able to properly drive the 200 ohms LCD-4, which would subsequently making me feel unsatisfied... leading me to purchase a new amp and get scolding from wife…
 
Relieved that, it was not the case. Ratings range between 1 and 5, please refer below:
 
DAPs  
Acoustic Research M2 – 3.5: Purchased the AR M2 for its sound, ability to stream from Tidal, and most importantly power to drive full-size headphones, and it did not disappoint me at all.
Astell & Kern 100 (first model) – 2.5: Fine for non-analytical listening sessions.
Apple iPhone 6 – 2.4
Sony NW-ZX1 – 2.3  
 

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Portable/Transportable DAC/Amp
Chord Hugo – 4.0: Great!!! Nothing more I can ask from a transportable gear, maybe except for Chord to launch their DAP …
Sony PHA-2 – 3.5: If switched to high gain, it causes some distortion.
Oppo HA-2 – 3.0
 

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Desktop Amp  
Pathos Aurium – 4.5: Purchased the Aurium for its power in a compact size, most importantly because it was a great pairing with the ex non-fazor LCD-3s. Very glad to say that, I am very satisfied and that, there is no need for me to purchase a new Amp (at least in the near future).
Sony UDA-1 – 4.0: Surprisingly good. Unfortunately, it is in my office speaker set-up; will not have much chance/time to use it with the 4s.
TEAC UD-H01 – 3.6
 

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Conclusion
I am just glad knowing that, I can enjoy listening to the LCD-4s without much compromise, in different circumstances. Using the AR-M2 when moving around home, the Hugo when sitting on my work desk at home to do some work, and the Aurium when is going to be Only me and the Music.
 
Cheers
SimonT.
 
Disclaimer: It is almost a no-brainer that enthusiasts, who purchase the LCD-4 have good enough/great equipment to drive them. Nonetheless, this post is meant to be informative to those who owns any of the above mentioned source equipment, and might be thinking on purchasing the LCD-4.

 

[musicman59]

  I wish I could manage to sell my HEK so I could grab an Abyss to test against the LCD-4 for a few weeks.

If you want to sell them PM me. I have a friend that may take them from you.

 

[draytonklammer]

  If you want to sell them PM me. I have a friend that may take them from you.

I messaged you, thanks.
It's a shame that they don't get used anymore.