Audeze LCD-4

[Fibre101]

I hope you're correct but I HIGHLY doubt it. The LCD-4 was Alex Rosson's tuning not Sankar's.

All of Sankar's tuning (so the last three years) strays very far away from what used to be the Audeze House sound to something almost the opposite.

The LCD5, CRBN, LCD-R, Maxwell, MM-500, MM-100 all share a similar tuning philosophy that's very far removed from the magic of the LCD-4, LCD2 PF, and even LCD-3. Gone are the days where we're seeing phenomenal bass response with overly warm tuning and sparkly highs.

All of Sankar's tuning is very mid forward with subdued treble and mild bass.

I see that you have the he1000v2. How do the LCD 4 compare. Are they in the same league in terms of resolution?

 

[Kevintj604]

I see that you have the he1000v2. How do the LCD 4 compare. Are they in the same league in terms of resolution?

The HE1000V2 has quite a bit more of an emphasis on treble. I'd say that both are warm but the LCD-4 has a darker presentation. The HE1000V2 might come across more resolving at times but I think that has more to do with it's tuning and less to do with the driver's limitations on technicalities. So yeah. They are in the same league but if the HEKV2 is 80% the LCD-4 would be 90%.

The LCD-4 is never fatiguing on any genre whereas the HE1000V2 sometimes comes across a bit thin in note weight comparatively. The LCD-4 presents with such emotion behind the instrument or vocal that it draws the listener in where the HEKV2 can push you away on the wrong track. This is especially so with female vocals in pop music for example.

Just wanted to add that the LCD-4 is known to have quite a lot of unit variance. My particular unit makes everything sound a bit softer on the trailing ends of tones. It doesn't have an overly sparkly treble but all the details are there. They are just a bit more subtle. The LCD-4 is really fast and it's bass is world class.

Overall they compliment each other quite well and are two of my favorite headphones of all time regardless of price.

 

[Kevintj604]

Unit is from 2015. I haven't seen one like this for a long time.

Ask for a time stamp.

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/audeze-lcd-4-silver-aluminum.53366/

 

[ThanatosVI]

Unit is from 2015. I haven't seen one like this for a long time.

Ask for a time stamp.

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/audeze-lcd-4-silver-aluminum.53366/

Interesting to see, that Audeze did custom builds back then.
I wonder what this did cost extra

 

[Zielarz]

It doesn't have an overly sparkly treble but all the details are there. They are just a bit more subtle

This is something that I'm hearing too. LCD-4 seems to have all or most of the details of LCD-5 or Abyss 1266 TC, but they are more in your face (or rather ears) with those two. But they are there.

 

[Kevintj604]

Interesting to see, that Audeze did custom builds back then.
I wonder what this did cost extra

Yeah. With a unit that old I’m sure there were options back then. I’ve seen units from 2017 that are customized as well. This one for example:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details...4-collectors-edition-burr-wood-guitar-finish/

I’ve contacted Audeze and they’ll still replace the wood and give you a new chassis. This includes updated XLR connectors by default but it’s expensive. You could pay more and get something unique done.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Yeah. With a unit that old I’m sure there were options back then. I’ve seen units from 2017 that are customized as well. This one for example:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details...4-collectors-edition-burr-wood-guitar-finish/

I’ve contacted Audeze and they’ll still replace the wood and give you a new chassis. This includes updated XLR connectors by default but it’s expensive. You could pay more and get something unique done.

I'd instantly buy a LCD-4 with the LCD-R chassis.
That would be one hell of a unique flagship.

 

[Kevintj604]

I'd buy and LCD-4 with the LCD-R chassis.
That would be one hell of a unique flagship

Audeze quoted me $530 to get the cups completely replaced. They told me that each LCD model is machined slightly different depending on driver type so the LCDR chassis doesn’t work with the LCD4 chassis.

They did tell me that custom wood options are available but it’s at a higher price than the quoted $530 so for that kind of money I’m not interested.

Nice to know they still offer options though.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Nice to know they still offer options though.

They still offer options?
I might inquire some setups in that case

 

[Lokust]

Good feeling to know that Audeze is still supporting/servicing their legacy HPs.

Guess I'm a skeptic, but I always thought the oddball LCD-4s were fakes and not custom-made orders.

 

[Kevintj604]

They still offer options?
I might inquire some setups in that case

They offer options to pre-existing LCD owners. They no longer have any LCD4’s in stock and don’t manufacture them so you would need to send in your unit to have it customized.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Good feeling to know that Audeze is still supporting/servicing their legacy HPs.

Guess I'm a skeptic, but I always thought the oddball LCD-4s were fakes and not custom-made orders.

Can't blame you with so many Audeze inspired designs around.

To some degree even the DCA Ether

They offer options to pre-existing LCD owners. They no longer have any LCD4’s in stock and don’t manufacture them so you would need to send in your unit to have it customized.

Yeah I'd ask more generalized, what options they still offer

 

[thefitz]

I see that you have the he1000v2. How do the LCD 4 compare. Are they in the same league in terms of resolution?

I also owned them both.

Hot take: If you're stubborn and refuse to EQ, get the HE1000V2. If you're willing to EQ, get the LCD-4.

I am on my second pair of LCD-4 which I reacquired after I figured out a way to reliably run parametric EQs in my setup. I might start a fight here, but I refuse to believe the stock LCD-4 tuning is desirable - heck, even pleasant. But once you fill in the holes, it is absolutely breathtaking.

Honestly - it's my endgame, as I have zero desire to spend that much money on an "upgrade", which to me is the Susvara or perhaps the Expanse. The LCD-4 with EQ leaves me wanting nothing.

That said, with open box units from HiFiMAN at $1400 and used ones in classifieds for $1200, the HE1000v2 has to be the best bargain in hi-end audio.

 

[Lokust]

No fight here, but I like the LCD-4 sans EQ. Though I do use the free Reveal plugin when listening via computer.

 

[Fibre101]

I also owned them both.

Hot take: If you're stubborn and refuse to EQ, get the HE1000V2. If you're willing to EQ, get the LCD-4.

I am on my second pair of LCD-4 which I reacquired after I figured out a way to reliably run parametric EQs in my setup. I might start a fight here, but I refuse to believe the stock LCD-4 tuning is desirable - heck, even pleasant. But once you fill in the holes, it is absolutely breathtaking.

Honestly - it's my endgame, as I have zero desire to spend that much money on an "upgrade", which to me is the Susvara or perhaps the Expanse. The LCD-4 with EQ leaves me wanting nothing.

That said, with open box units from HiFiMAN at $1400 and used ones in classifieds for $1200, the HE1000v2 has to be the best bargain in hi-end audio.

I thought the same as well. I had thought they were because of the pads. Dont get me wrong, the 2021 pads are really good but they do bring the drivers really close to the ear with how soft they are. I guess my ears are sensitive to drivers being too close? I actually decided to change pads to the Caldera pads and used the Audeze pads on another headphone. They did sound a bit more open, less intimate, the mids still intact which is I think due to the more bigger cavity of the pads and perforated surfaces. The audeze pads are more focused sounding though. Not sure anyone should pad roll Audeze headphones but since Caldera pads were made for planars, I decided to try it out. Even after all that, I still prefer to use EQ.