Audeze LCD-4

[Lokust]

Interesting... unfortunately never had the opportunity to try either the Susvara or Caldera. ZMF definitely makes good looking headphones

 

[UntilThen]

I don't have the power or source chain for Susvara so it's a no buy for me. I blind bought the Caldera so if it's not a good fit I can always sell it and go back to LCD4. The market for LCD4 is pretty soft right now and there are always unit's popping up so it's a fairly easy thing to get back.

Good point on the Susvara. If you don't have the amp to drive it, you might as well get a Beats headphone.

 

[dleblanc343]

I don't have the power or source chain for Susvara so it's a no buy for me. I blind bought the Caldera so if it's not a good fit I can always sell it and go back to LCD4. The market for LCD4 is pretty soft right now and there are always unit's popping up so it's a fairly easy thing to get back.

Caldera & LCD4 are both some of the best planars out there.

Hard to pick a "winner", comes down to what you're indexing for

 

[Louisiana]

ZMF definitely makes good looking headphones

good looking, and even better sounding.

But LCD4 is also a beauty.

 

[jlbrach]

Good point on the Susvara. If you don't have the amp to drive it, you might as well get a Beats headphone.

not quite

 

[Kevintj604]

not quite

I know that he's being hyperbolic for dramatic effect but I've heard Susvara quite a few times with lower end source chains and they don't sound at all like they're supposed to on higher end gear. For me the juice isn't worth the squeeze as I have no interest in uprooting my whole source chain for one headphones synergy.

 

[UntilThen]

Yup I was exaggerating big time there but there's some truths in it. I should know. I've been through enough amps with Susvara. However let's drop this. This is LCD4 thread and not Susvara.

 

[Lokust]

Caldera & LCD4 are both some of the best planars out there.

Hard to pick a "winner", comes down to what you're indexing for

good looking, and even better sounding.

But LCD4 is also a beauty.

good looking, and even better sounding.

But LCD4 is also a beauty.

Didn't like some of the ZMF hps that I've tried in the past, guess that has caused me to become a bit biased towards ZMF. Too shouty / forward.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

Ladies and gentleman I have just witnessed a few LCD 4 traitors on this thread.

No other headphone gives you the amount of detail while retaining that wonderful warm and thick sound signature. The Susvara needs a nuclear reactor to power and still has that thinner and leaner sound signature and whilst the Caldera is nice, still not on the same level as the LCD 4.

 

[Kevintj604]

Ladies and gentleman I have just witnessed a few LCD 4 traitors on this thread.

No other headphone gives you the amount of detail while retaining that wonderful warm and thick sound signature. The Susvara needs a nuclear reactor to power and still has that thinner and leaner sound signature and whilst the Caldera is nice, still not on the same level as the LCD 4.

I like the LCD4 and I'll add it back to my collection at some point but its SUPER dark. Especially compared to all of HiFiMan's top tier offerings. Unfortunately I'm not in a financial position that I can keep everything at once and the LCD4 was my only pathway to Caldera. I'm certainly not a traitor.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I like the LCD4 and I'll add it back to my collection at some point but its SUPER dark. Especially compared to all of HiFiMan's top tier offerings. Unfortunately I'm not in a financial position that I can keep everything at once and the LCD4 was my only pathway to Caldera. I'm certainly not a traitor.

Did you EQ the LCD 4? The problem with selling them is trying to find another pair in good condition to buy down the line as Audeze do not make them anymore.

I have a HEKSE and it has a better treble extension, better guitar timbre and more technically proficient than the LCD 4. The problem is that they are too thin and dry even on a tube amplifier for my tastes. I'm only keeping them because they are the best gaming headphone in the world and I do enjoy the detail, acoustical guitars and treble in certain genres.

I did A/B the LCD 4 & Caldera at Canjam and I found that the LCD 4 had more detail whilst being a "cleaner" presentation. The Caldera had a more "grungier" sound that suited well for punk rock but for any genre I did prefer the LCD 4.

 

[Kevintj604]

Did you EQ the LCD 4? The problem with selling them is trying to find another pair in good condition to buy down the line as Audeze do not make them anymore.

I have a HEKSE and it has a better treble extension, better guitar timbre and more technically proficient than the LCD 4. The problem is that they are too thin and dry even on a tube amplifier for my tastes. I'm only keeping them because they are the best gaming headphone in the world and I do enjoy the detail, acoustical guitars and treble in certain genres.

I did A/B the LCD 4 & Caldera at Canjam and I found that the LCD 4 had more detail whilst being a "cleaner" presentation. The Caldera had a more "grungier" sound that suited well for punk rock but for any genre I did prefer the LCD 4.

I don't apply EQ at all.

All the second hand units that are available now will need a full refurb from Audeze anyway so I'm not too concerned about finding another mint unit. They pop up a few times per month so they're not hard to come by at super low prices and if Audeze is getting them anyway they'll do a measurement and balance the drivers if there's any issues.

I haven't heard the Caldera as it was a blind buy for me so it is what it is. If I still miss the LCD4 in a few months I'll just buy one again.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I don't apply EQ at all.

All the second hand units that are available now will need a full refurb from Audeze anyway so I'm not too concerned about finding another mint unit. They pop up a few times per month so they're not hard to come by at super low prices and if Audeze is getting them anyway they'll do a measurement and balance the drivers if there's any issues.

I haven't heard the Caldera as it was a blind buy for me so it is what it is. If I still miss the LCD4 in a few months I'll just buy one again.

I see why you sold the LCD 4 since no EQ was applied and it really needs it to sound its best.

 

[Kevintj604]

I see why you sold the LCD 4 since no EQ was applied and it really needs it to sound its best.

I'm on a Mac ecosystem at home and I can't EQ on a Mac. At least not that I've seen. I did enjoy them from the HA-3A but they were very dark. Darker than the Rosson RAD-0.

 

[TheAbyss2022]

I'm on a Mac ecosystem at home and I can't EQ on a Mac. At least not that I've seen. I did enjoy them from the HA-3A but they were very dark. Darker than the Rosson RAD-0.

I use Roon on Windows but they also have a Mac application which has the same parametric EQ and sample rate conversions.

I would look into Roon as its really a superior experience and you can link your Tidal or Qobuz account and use those services on Roon.