Audeze LCD-4z - Impressions Thread

[Kozwoz]

Hi Kozwoz,

Like what we talked before, my guess is the problem may coming from recording character of songs you put to the test. Why not just share some of them here? So any 4Z users also able to try the songs too (using their various set-up).

Many of us tend to forget that recording character in a song may affect the sound even more than cable, dac, or amplifier.

I think what I am saying is that the 4z presents dance music in much the same way across most modern recordings. You have to understand that I am not talking about a few select songs. To imply that most house, drum and bass, dub, EDM is overly bright would be unfair but thats how I am hearing it through the 4z. There are certainly sharper leading edges in the treble region in these genres of music but in stock form without any EQ the 4z highlights this very much and is unforgiving yet I cannot say that the 4z provides some sort of reference quality completely true to the recording because it is neither neutral or flat with obvious large peaks and dips that we can all agree are inherent in the 4z. I can appreciate that this is all subjective and comes down to taste but I work with these genres of music for a living and I have done so for a long time and if someone payed me to mix and master their music I would not present the music in the way that the 4z does. I would just like to add that I have had the opportunity to try different sources now some more powerful than others with a variety of different cables and my impressions are much the same. This will be my last post regarding the 4z as I think I am coming off over critical and a bit nasty and that is not my intention at all but for the money invested and the commitment I think I'm obliged to express my opinion. I hope people continue to enjoy listening to their 4z's.

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

I think what I am saying is that the 4z presents dance music in much the same way across most modern recordings. You have to understand that I am not talking about a few select songs. To imply that most house, drum and bass, dub, EDM is overly bright would be unfair but thats how I am hearing it through the 4z. There are certainly sharper leading edges in the treble region in these genres of music but in stock form without any EQ the 4z highlights this very much and is unforgiving yet I cannot say that the 4z provides some sort of reference quality completely true to the recording because it is neither neutral or flat with obvious large peaks and dips that we can all agree are inherent in the 4z. I can appreciate that this is all subjective and comes down to taste but I work with these genres of music for a living and I have done so for a long time and if someone payed me to mix and master their music I would not present the music in the way that the 4z does. I would just like to add that I have had the opportunity to try different sources now some more powerful than others with a variety of different cables and my impressions are much the same. This will be my last post regarding the 4z as I think I am coming off over critical and a bit nasty and that is not my intention at all but for the money invested and the commitment I think I'm obliged to express my opinion. I hope people continue to enjoy listening to their 4z's.

It does have peaky treble and a huge upper mid drop off, as most Audeze’s do, as well. If you search this thread further, you will hear that a lot of people have made that same claim and that a lot of people were bothered by it. So no worries and no need to stop posting.

 

[Slim1970]

I think what I am saying is that the 4z presents dance music in much the same way across most modern recordings. You have to understand that I am not talking about a few select songs. To imply that most house, drum and bass, dub, EDM is overly bright would be unfair but thats how I am hearing it through the 4z. There are certainly sharper leading edges in the treble region in these genres of music but in stock form without any EQ the 4z highlights this very much and is unforgiving yet I cannot say that the 4z provides some sort of reference quality completely true to the recording because it is neither neutral or flat with obvious large peaks and dips that we can all agree are inherent in the 4z. I can appreciate that this is all subjective and comes down to taste but I work with these genres of music for a living and I have done so for a long time and if someone payed me to mix and master their music I would not present the music in the way that the 4z does. I would just like to add that I have had the opportunity to try different sources now some more powerful than others with a variety of different cables and my impressions are much the same. This will be my last post regarding the 4z as I think I am coming off over critical and a bit nasty and that is not my intention at all but for the money invested and the commitment I think I'm obliged to express my opinion. I hope people continue to enjoy listening to their 4z's.

Don’t stop posting, you just hear the 4z’s differently than others and that’s okay. With recording and mastering being your job, you have a trained ear than most of us don’t have.

I’m enjoying my demo with the 4z’s. So much so that I plan on getting my own pair. I’m not getting it because everyone else says it’s good. I’m going to get it because it sounds good to me.

 

[tjwb84]

I think what I am saying is that the 4z presents dance music in much the same way across most modern recordings. You have to understand that I am not talking about a few select songs. To imply that most house, drum and bass, dub, EDM is overly bright would be unfair but thats how I am hearing it through the 4z. There are certainly sharper leading edges in the treble region in these genres of music but in stock form without any EQ the 4z highlights this very much and is unforgiving yet I cannot say that the 4z provides some sort of reference quality completely true to the recording because it is neither neutral or flat with obvious large peaks and dips that we can all agree are inherent in the 4z. I can appreciate that this is all subjective and comes down to taste but I work with these genres of music for a living and I have done so for a long time and if someone payed me to mix and master their music I would not present the music in the way that the 4z does. I would just like to add that I have had the opportunity to try different sources now some more powerful than others with a variety of different cables and my impressions are much the same. This will be my last post regarding the 4z as I think I am coming off over critical and a bit nasty and that is not my intention at all but for the money invested and the commitment I think I'm obliged to express my opinion. I hope people continue to enjoy listening to their 4z's.

A great way to find out more about what's going on would be to check out how these recordings sound to you in a professional recording studio. That should put to rest any doubts about what the 4z is doing. I realize that may not be practical, though. I have done so, and as I said earlier, I'm still undecided about what I think of the treble in modern mixes. To me, the important thing is that the 4z allows me to set it to whatever level I think is right, and I can compare it well with others. For many tracks, it is indeed incredibly loud. My pet theory is that many DJ's lose the upper frequencies of their hearing from touring too much Then again, the mastering engineer has no excuse.
BTW, I echo the others - you don't sound nasty at all! You're damn right that we should examine every detail critically at these prices.

Edit: just realized that since you work in the business, you probably have done so already, apologies.
Here's something I do that may help, when mixing dance tracks (and checking out the work of producers I admire, such as Ben Bohmer, Yotto, Deadmau5): I tweak the mix so that in an analyzer, it is more or less a straight line with a well-defined slope. Bright tracks have a shallow slope, dark tracks have a deep slope.
Now, some tracks will show a huge bump in the treble, which deviates from the linear slope (which is a power law in frequency). To me, such deviations tend to sound a little harsh. When my mix corresponds to a power-law with an index (slope) similar to a track I like, then generally I find the mix translates well. This gives me something of an 'objective' measure. When I do a long mixing session listening for treble details, my ears get so tired that soon, I am just guessing.

 

[SteveM324]

I’m enjoying my demo with the 4z’s. So much so that I plan on getting my own pair. I’m not getting it because everyone else says it’s good. I’m going to get it because it sounds good to me.
[/QUOTE]
That's the best reason to buy it! Lately my 4z has been getting the most listening time of any headphone in my collection.

 

[SupperTime]

How does the LCD 4z compare in overall sound quality to the Ether 2?
Im looking for max resolution, details and transparency.
I enjoy a mid forward signature, I want slight bass and even lighter treble (no peaks or sharp treble)at the same time I don't want to sacrifice resolution and clarity.
I'll pay for it. Currently I have the Ether Flow C 1.1 and like them but I Want to progress to either Ether 2 or a LCD4z. Please help, please guide
I have rme adi-2 dac fs (4493)

 

[Hifiearspeakers]

How does the LCD 4z compare in overall sound quality to the Ether 2?
Im looking for max resolution, details and transparency.
I enjoy a mid forward signature, I want slight bass and even lighter treble (no peaks or sharp treble)at the same time I don't want to sacrifice resolution and clarity.
I'll pay for it. Currently I have the Ether Flow C 1.1 and like them but I Want to progress to either Ether 2 or a LCD4z. Please help, please guide
I have rme adi-2 dac fs (4493)

The sound signature you describe wanting is more in line with the Sennheiser hd650 or ZMF Auteur, than either of the choices listed above.

 

[commtrd]

4z with Norne Silvergarde balanced out of a GSX Mini sound sublime. Now I am REALLY THINKING about a JH Audio Layla CIEM. I ordered a 1 More IEM (cheap for at work in case they walk off), and started looking into the custom IEM world. Now I am intrigued. I use my LCDi4 at home while seated doing my artwork, so really not super necessary to buy the Layla. Just seems like a really good alternative to say an Abyss Phi TC cost-wise.

WHY do we do this to ourselves?!? Then of course when I buy Layla, will have to get yet another Norne Silvergarde balanced for the CIEM. Sigh.
And don't mention the lusting after an M-Scaler to add onto the Hugo 2.

 

[520RanchBro]

How does the LCD 4z compare in overall sound quality to the Ether 2?
Im looking for max resolution, details and transparency.
I enjoy a mid forward signature, I want slight bass and even lighter treble (no peaks or sharp treble)at the same time I don't want to sacrifice resolution and clarity.
I'll pay for it. Currently I have the Ether Flow C 1.1 and like them but I Want to progress to either Ether 2 or a LCD4z. Please help, please guide
I have rme adi-2 dac fs (4493)

I think resolution and details are top-notch on the 4z but you'll want to to EQ it a little bit for your preferred signature. I've found it's very receptive to EQ and we use the same amp/dac. Take down the treble around 10khz and add 2-5 khz to get a little bit more of the upper midrange. I think you'll be able to use the EQ on the ADI-2 to shape the sound signature to your liking while enjoying the great technical abilities of this headphone. If you're not interested in EQing, there's probably a better option for you out there if you have this kind of budget.

 

[koven]

How does the LCD 4z compare in overall sound quality to the Ether 2?
Im looking for max resolution, details and transparency.
I enjoy a mid forward signature, I want slight bass and even lighter treble (no peaks or sharp treble)at the same time I don't want to sacrifice resolution and clarity.
I'll pay for it. Currently I have the Ether Flow C 1.1 and like them but I Want to progress to either Ether 2 or a LCD4z. Please help, please guide
I have rme adi-2 dac fs (4493)

4Z is way better than Ether 2, not even close IMO..

 

[eimis]

uh is this a normal price https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/offer-listing/B07DGLTJ8K?condition=all

they also have the mx4 for the same price https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/offer-listing/B077XLLDKW?condition=all

 

[Kozwoz]

uh is this a normal price https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/offer-listing/B07DGLTJ8K?condition=all

they also have the mx4 for the same price https://www.amazon.de/-/en/gp/offer-listing/B077XLLDKW?condition=all

Like new could mean B-Stock or refurbished or it may have some cosmetic damage. Contact seller and get clarity on the condition of the units. It's suspiciously low for both the 4z and mx4

 

[Kozwoz]

I would not trust these sellers personally. They are selling every Audeze model for the same price EUR 715 including LCDi4, LCD-X, LCD-3...

 

[tjwb84]

How does the LCD 4z compare in overall sound quality to the Ether 2?
Im looking for max resolution, details and transparency.
I enjoy a mid forward signature, I want slight bass and even lighter treble (no peaks or sharp treble)at the same time I don't want to sacrifice resolution and clarity.
I'll pay for it. Currently I have the Ether Flow C 1.1 and like them but I Want to progress to either Ether 2 or a LCD4z. Please help, please guide
I have rme adi-2 dac fs (4493)

I auditioned the Ether 2 (and many others) before purchasing the 4z. Regarding the exact features you name - resolution, details, and transparency - the 4z absolutely, overwhelmingly outperforms the Ether 2. They are in completely different leagues.

 

[SupperTime]

4z with Norne Silvergarde balanced out of a GSX Mini sound sublime. Now I am REALLY THINKING about a JH Audio Layla CIEM. I ordered a 1 More IEM (cheap for at work in case they walk off), and started looking into the custom IEM world. Now I am intrigued. I use my LCDi4 at home while seated doing my artwork, so really not super necessary to buy the Layla. Just seems like a really good alternative to say an Abyss Phi TC cost-wise.

WHY do we do this to ourselves?!? Then of course when I buy Layla, will have to get yet another Norne Silvergarde balanced for the CIEM. Sigh.
And don't mention the lusting after an M-Scaler to add onto the Hugo 2.
[/QUOTE

I would not trust these sellers personally. They are selling every Audeze model for the same price EUR 715 including LCDi4, LCD-X, LCD-3...

But isn't the Amazon a to z guarantee to protect you?