Audeze LCD-4

[jonchard]

I wonder how the distortion or lack thereof compares to electrostatic drivers.

Even the latest LCD-4 version I wouldn‘t exactly call “bombproof” in this regard.
Avoid hard-pushing the sealed cups (on your head or onto each other), to be sure to not to rip a diaphragm.
This might easily happen with rough handling during boxed transport too.

The original pelican case has a piece of open-cell foam between the cups for the good reason: to prevent air pressure buildup on one side of the diaphragms.
This can easily be replicated, use any little piece of open cell foam between the cups when storing them, for a long and happy life with your LCD-4.

Power-wise LCD-4 seems to be capable to take whatever you throw at it - within at least half-reasonable levels.
Impossible to make them distort either.

I didn't call them bombproof. I referred to them as being "largely bombproof" with V2. The foam in the case is there in every Audeze since day dot i believe. It was there with the 4Z, the LCD-XC and the LCD-X. The early drivers were so thin they needed reinforcing with a V2 version - i think this was the only first release where the driver was especially weak and pressing earpads became a major and common problem enough to demand a redesign - I guess it threatened the profit margins!

@jlbrach - I AB'd Abyss and LCD4 today.

Without EQ, Abyss is slightly deeper and ever so slightly more plentiful. With EQ, LCD4 can take the reigns and play louder than Abyss can without distortion. If you dont listen over 90db then it might not be something you never pick up on, but LCD4 is boundless on a good amp. What took me by surprise was just how sucked out the midrange is on the Abyss. Whilst AB'in i utterly loved both, but i found LCD4 to be more filled in where expected! I think could be content with the sound of either one, the fitment on the other hand is something else. I notice the weight of LCD4 over Abyss and it quickly gets tiresome. The Abyss having such sucked out midrange sounds more 3d and spacious, this is to be expected. But the distance from ear to cup does add a strangeness and vacancy of voices, makes almost an echo that is not experienced with LCD4 at all. For some music, the v-shaped sound of Abyss is just perfect, but when asked to play something with real instruments rather than electronica, it sounds wonky as heck! Timbre and tone becomes really clear when flipping 3 headphones of such calibre (Immanis being the third).

Im expecting to keep LCD4 because it offers something different to Immanis and Abyss. I find the Abyss and Immanis too similar in regards to massive stage, slightly sucked mids on Immanis, majorly depressed on Abyss. I think LCD4 offers a better alternative flavour than having such similar traits. I'm still AB'ing... its too much fun and its rather interesting to see how genre specific headphones can be!

Testing "Dog Baits Man - Reid Willis" (Thank you @Aetherhole !) its incredible how differently presented this song is between the three headphones. Immanis is decent, but polite. It shows the beauty of sounds and is placement perfect. LCD4 Wraps you around the head with a visceral physicality that is quite brutal. Abyss shows techinically how this song should be played from the bass to to the highs and impresses in the way it goes about it. Its not the ultimate in bass but its all there and its well presented. Wide staging works well here. I think it offers more detail than the LCD4, its more brightly illuminated but not overly bright.

If you have LCD4 or Abyss, try this song LOUD - What an experience!!

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I didn't call them bombproof. I referred to them as being "largely bombproof" with V2. The foam in the case is there in every Audeze since day dot i believe. It was there with the 4Z, the LCD-XC and the LCD-X. The early drivers were so thin they needed reinforcing with a V2 version - i think this was the only first release where the driver was especially weak and pressing earpads became a major and common problem enough to demand a redesign - I guess it threatened the profit margins!

@jlbrach - I AB'd Abyss and LCD4 today.

Without EQ, Abyss is slightly deeper and ever so slightly more plentiful. With EQ, LCD4 can take the reigns and play louder than Abyss can without distortion. If you dont listen over 90db then it might not be something you never pick up on, but LCD4 is boundless on a good amp. What took me by surprise was just how sucked out the midrange is on the Abyss. Whilst AB'in i utterly loved both, but i found LCD4 to be more filled in where expected! I think could be content with the sound of either one, the fitment on the other hand is something else. I notice the weight of LCD4 over Abyss and it quickly gets tiresome. The Abyss having such sucked out midrange sounds more 3d and spacious, this is to be expected. But the distance from ear to cup does add a strangeness and vacancy of voices, makes almost an echo that is not experienced with LCD4 at all. For some music, the v-shaped sound of Abyss is just perfect, but when asked to play something with real instruments rather than electronica, it sounds wonky as heck! Timbre and tone becomes really clear when flipping 3 headphones of such calibre (Immanis being the third).

Im expecting to keep LCD4 because it offers something different to Immanis and Abyss. I find the Abyss and Immanis too similar in regards to massive stage, slightly sucked mids on Immanis, majorly depressed on Abyss. I think LCD4 offers a better alternative flavour than having such similar traits. I'm still AB'ing... its too much fun and its rather interesting to see how genre specific headphones can be! I can see why people start collecting them, but i swore that wouldn't be me! One must go!

I do feel the weight after around an hour with the LCD 4 and the strap makes contact with the carbon fibre headband, something they fixed with the CRBN. I did beg Audeze have the LCD 4 drivers in the 4z magnesium housing but they refused. Whilst its an excellent all rounder headphone, its not an all day headphone due to the weight unless you have a lounge chair I guess.

 

[jonchard]

I do feel the weight after around an hour with the LCD 4 and the strap makes contact with the carbon fibre headband, something they fixed with the CRBN. I did beg Audeze have the LCD 4 drivers in the 4z magnesium housing but they refused. Whilst its an excellent all rounder headphone, its not an all day headphone due to the weight unless you have a lounge chair I guess.

Thats a very fair point. And i would agree i couldnt wear them all day.

I really enjoyed the comfort and light weight of the LCD-4Z. The design there was good, but i felt the sound was not! It offered nothing over the other headphones i had at the time (Susvara / AByss)

My headband doesnt touch, so i think yours must be stretched. Im finding mine quite comfortable, weight aside. Its a good design and it spreads evenly. Headphones like Solitaire P with their poor headband gave me an instant migraine. I prefer Audeze headband to Immanis (Im waiting on a flat leather strap, the quilted "diamonds" just big into my head where i dont want it to! They look gorgeous but id rather it be flat!). And i prefer anything at all such as a crown of thorns to wearing the AByss - to be fair to it, it balances the weight well, and if i sit it on the back of my head, its not too bad... it also allows me to rotate the headphone enough to dull the inherent sharpness it can have. So long as i dont move, its not too bad. A shame you have to be constricted in this way.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Thats a very fair point. And i would agree i couldnt wear them all day.

I really enjoyed the comfort and light weight of the LCD-4Z. The design there was good, but i felt the sound was not! It offered nothing over the other headphones i had at the time (Susvara / AByss)

My headband doesnt touch, so i think yours must be stretched. Im finding mine quite comfortable, weight aside. Its a good design and it spreads evenly. Headphones like Solitaire P with their poor headband gave me an instant migraine. I prefer Audeze headband to Immanis (Im waiting on a flat leather strap, the quilted "diamonds" just big into my head where i dont want it to! They look gorgeous but id rather it be flat!). And i prefer anything at all such as a crown of thorns to wearing the AByss - to be fair to it, it balances the weight well, and if i sit it on the back of my head, its not too bad... it also allows me to rotate the headphone enough to dull the inherent sharpness it can have. So long as i dont move, its not too bad. A shame you have to be constricted in this way.

With the Abyss, you have to fine tune the position of it on your head and makes it annoying to find the right position to get the optimal sound. The comfort of the LCD 4 is actually very good in terms of how the weight is distributed and the massive plush Audeze pads are pillows on the ears.

Do you have stock tubes currently in your Cayin amp? Or have you already upgraded your tubes?

 

[ansel1]

I do feel the weight after around an hour with the LCD 4 and the strap makes contact with the carbon fibre headband, something they fixed with the CRBN. I did beg Audeze have the LCD 4 drivers in the 4z magnesium housing but they refused. Whilst its an excellent all rounder headphone, its not an all day headphone due to the weight unless you have a lounge chair I guess.

I've had the LCD 4 for a few years now, and I did get used to the weight. It doesn't bother me anymore, and I can wear it for at least 3-4 hours without discomfort. Of course I'd prefer them to be lighter, but I don't think about it anymore.

But the issue with the strap making contact with the band was a big deal for me, so I fixed it myself by poking new holes in the strap to shorten it. Works perfectly.

 

[jonchard]

With the Abyss, you have to fine tune the position of it on your head and makes it annoying to find the right position to get the optimal sound. The comfort of the LCD 4 is actually very good in terms of how the weight is distributed and the massive plush Audeze pads are pillows on the ears.

Do you have stock tubes currently in your Cayin amp? Or have you already upgraded your tubes?

Ive owned 2 x Abyss 1266 Phi TC ... im familiar with the idiosynchasies! And yes, Audeze do cosset the ears

Im using a Soul 170HA. I have maybe 6/7 different recitifer types, of which i settled on U52's (or U18/20 on adapters) of which i have about 5 very nearly new pairs!

In regards to drivers i have tested
RCA VT231 grey glass
RCA 5692 Red Base
Mullard ECC32
Brimar CV1998
Marconi MWT CV6 Quads
Mullard White print CV6 Quads
Hytron E1148 Quads (like CV6 but older)

Still to test:
6C8P Quads
7193 Kenrads Quads
7193 RCA Quads
2C22 RCA Quads
6J5GT Pinnacle Quads

Most of these tubes were left over from my Cayin HA300mkII days. Sadly i rush sold a load when i sold the amp so i no longer have a set of Russian 6C5C or their adapters... I have a soft spot for these so will have to rebuy down the line.

The only downside with this amp is that noone else has made KT170 tubes, only TungSOL. Chance would be a fine thing. Im not complaiming these are the most dynamic power tubes i have ever heard, very powerful and dynamic, especially in their Ultra Linear mode.

If you ever fancy trying some tubes, give me a shout ive often got 2/3 pairs of the same things. I've also got some military 6922 specials just in case LOL

 

[KaiSc]

I've had the LCD 4 for a few years now, and I did get used to the weight. It doesn't bother me anymore, and I can wear it for at least 3-4 hours without discomfort. Of course I'd prefer them to be lighter, but I don't think about it anymore.

But the issue with the strap making contact with the band was a big deal for me, so I fixed it myself by poking new holes in the strap to shorten it. Works perfectly.

Did the same.
The headband stretches over the years, especially when sitting on a stand.
Happens with other ‘phones too, e.g. STAX SR-009.

I do hang LCD 4 on it‘s carbon headbow when not in use.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I just bought an LCD-24 (again).

I bought it last year and the supplier told me they didn't have it! I just bought it from the same supplier as they assured me they had it and I just got a dispatched email so it looks like I will actually get it this time, hopefully tomorrow.

I will provide some impressions between the LCD 4 & 24 soon....

 

[jonathan c]

I do hang LCD 4 on it‘s carbon headbow when not in use.

• When not in use, I put LCD-4 right back in its case. Still has new headphone smell!

 

[jonchard]

And the Abyss 1266 TC is now sold. I kept LCD4. I wanted the bass without fuss, and they take EQ well. I'm really enjoying them. The question is, will i buy Abyss for a third time?

Inbound: Focal Utopia OG. Wish me luck.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

And the Abyss 1266 TC is now sold. I kept LCD4. I wanted the bass without fuss, and they take EQ well. I'm really enjoying them. The question is, will i buy Abyss for a third time?

Inbound: Focal Utopia OG. Wish me luck.

Quite the quick transition for you! Abyss was all hype for me personally.

I had the Utopia OG last year. It was actually the headphone that made me sell my original LCD 4. You will notice that the technical performance is much improved with Utopia including detail. It's very punchy sounding but the soundstage is very narrow with good depth. People say the treble was spicy on wrong gear but luckily my stuff synergied well with it. I had a long honeymoon period with the Utopia and ended up regretting the sale of my LCD 4. It is a great headphone but it got put to the side by the Stax SR-009 and I ended up selling Utopia and seeking another LCD 4.

 

[jonchard]

Quite the quick transition for you! Abyss was all hype for me personally.

I had the Utopia OG last year. It was actually the headphone that made me sell my original LCD 4. You will notice that the technical performance is much improved with Utopia including detail. It's very punchy sounding but the soundstage is very narrow with good depth. People say the treble was spicy on wrong gear but luckily my stuff synergied well with it. I had a long honeymoon period with the Utopia and ended up regretting the sale of my LCD 4. It is a great headphone but it got put to the side by the Stax SR-009 and I ended up selling Utopia and seeking another LCD 4.

Well, i expect one will go, but the bass and volume fiend in me is absolutely loving the LCD4. If the Focal borders on bright then i will kick it into touch. I have a Danacable for it so hopefully have a chance of hearing it close to best. I listened to "Dog baits man - Reid WIllis" on the LCD4 ... im still recoerving. What a 5 minute visceral almost painful workout that was - what an experience! My head hurts. Let me know how the LCD24 go for you! Focals arrive tomorrow

 

[TheAbyss2022]

LCD-24 has landed! They are in very good condition and all the accessories including the cleaning kit is here. I can't believe how light these magnesium cups are compared to the LCD 4 lol. This headphone has eluded me for many years and it's great to finally be able to see how they stack up to the big boy LCD 4.

I do hope I like this headphone but if I don't, I will take the LCD 4 drivers and put them into this frame.

 

[Lokust]

LCD-24 has landed! They are in very good condition and all the accessories including the cleaning kit is here. I can't believe how light these magnesium cups are compared to the LCD 4 lol. This headphone has eluded me for many years and it's great to finally be able to see how they stack up to the big boy LCD 4.

I do hope I like this headphone but if I don't, I will take the LCD 4 drivers and put them into this frame.

Start listening, so you can give us the low-down.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Start listening, so you can give us the low-down.

I have to work for a couple more hours, but I have already informed my partner to turn on the amplifier to have the tubes fully warmed up and ready