Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Whazzzup]

Yay!
LCD-5 delivered!
just wanted to write this before i start unboxing and start comparing with my trusty LCD-4 !

I have big hopes, Audeze please don’t disappoint me!

I will keep you guys with my A/B comparison

Please let us know bout the bass

 

[chargedcapacitor]

I don't understand the bass thing. Why would i want more bass if its a quality flagship. maybe its exactly the amount of bass it produces is what one should hear. For example i own HD800S and if a song produces deep bass i get every drop of it, NO EQ necessary. regardless of its reputation. So id expect lcd5 to do the same at the very least. A flagship shouldn't be bass cannon HP anyway? right?

Man, I wish I had your ears. I reference how I think bass should sound with how a real-life kick drum sounds / feels, therefore I EQ up allllll the bass.

 

[Whazzzup]

Man, I wish I had your ears. I reference how I think bass should sound with how a real-life kick drum sounds / feels, therefore I EQ up allllll the bass.

I own a pearl electronic drum kit with DR Dre beats HP, when i want a kick drum like that, that's where i go. But i do understand

 

[FastAndClean]

flat bass is the best bass, pure and uncolored, if you want more bump it up, planars take it like it is nothing

 

[Ciggavelli]

I don't understand the bass thing. Why would i want more bass if its a quality flagship. maybe its exactly the amount of bass it produces is what one should hear. For example i own HD800S and if a song produces deep bass i get every drop of it, NO EQ necessary. regardless of its reputation. So id expect lcd5 to do the same at the very least. A flagship shouldn't be bass cannon HP anyway? right?

Well, tell that to Abyss

Audeze was always considered one of the best at bass, ever since the LCD-2 (which I had). The LCD-4 had great bass and an amazing midrange that can’t be beat with electric guitars. It does that better than any other pair of headphones I’ve listened to.

What is the LCD-5 bringing to the table? If I want extreme detail, I’ll go with my SR1as or probably even the Audeze CRBN. I’m struggling to see what the LCD-5 brings to the table in terms of innovation. Sure it’s lighter, but I can wear my LCD-4s for hours with no problems, so I don’t really care about a lighter weight LCD-5.

What is the bottom line here? What is the selling point except being lighter? I still am interested in reading head-fi member impressions and more “professional” reviews. I know measurements aren’t the be all to end all, but it was Jude that called it “borderline bright” with less of a low end

 

[paradoxper]

I don't understand the bass thing. Why would i want more bass if its a quality flagship. maybe its exactly the amount of bass it produces is what one should hear. For example i own HD800S and if a song produces deep bass i get every drop of it, NO EQ necessary. regardless of its reputation. So id expect lcd5 to do the same at the very least. A flagship shouldn't be bass cannon HP anyway? right?

You might clarify what planar magnetic you've heard alongside the HD800S to better understand the context of your experience.

You may be partly correct and partly incorrect. Paralleling, say, HD800 > SR-009 you'll hear the similar bass response > SR1a bridges less output more detail > TC mind-numbing output, with extraordinary detail > Susvara hard middle-ground so it's a varied response you often didn't understand you were missing in the first place.

Important to also understand these bass responses aren't masking, they offer rivaled tipped, whatever buzzword resolution available.

 

[trellus]

Well, tell that to Abyss

Audeze was always considered one of the best at bass, ever since the LCD-2 (which I had). The LCD-4 had great bass and an amazing midrange that can’t be beat with electric guitars. It does that better than any other pair of headphones I’ve listened to.

What is the LCD-5 bringing to the table? If I want extreme detail, I’ll go with my SR1as or probably even the Audeze CRBN. I’m struggling to see what the LCD-5 brings to the table in terms of innovation. Sure it’s lighter, but I can wear my LCD-4s for hours with no problems, so I don’t really care about a lighter weight LCD-5.

What is the bottom line here. What is the selling point except being lighter?

I don't have the LCD-4 but I have yet to own an Audeze that was too heavy for me (LCD-2F, LCD-2 Closed Back, LCD-X) so I suspect the LCD-4 would also not bother me, but it is very well known that it really does bother a sizable number of folks, so "just" being lighter is no small matter by any means -- but I suspect that there are other advantages LCD-5 has that some LCD-4 owners will report when comparing them.

I also suspect that some LCD-4 owners who spring for the LCD-5 will decide they like the LCD-4 better. In the end, greater choice is good for the headphone community.

 

[Happy Camper]

What a beauty.

 

[betula]

Well, tell that to Abyss

Audeze was always considered one of the best at bass, ever since the LCD-2 (which I had). The LCD-4 had great bass and an amazing midrange that can’t be beat with electric guitars. It does that better than any other pair of headphones I’ve listened to.

What is the LCD-5 bringing to the table? If I want extreme detail, I’ll go with my SR1as or probably even the Audeze CRBN. I’m struggling to see what the LCD-5 brings to the table in terms of innovation. Sure it’s lighter, but I can wear my LCD-4s for hours with no problems, so I don’t really care about a lighter weight LCD-5.

What is the bottom line here. What is the selling point except being lighter?

The selling point is a light Audeze TOTL planar. Hopefully with the same exceptional bass qualities.
The LCD5 is the lightest LCDs to date with the best ever technical performance.
I am definitely interested as a sucker for Audeze bass but someone who knows better mids and treble than LCD4.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

Where are the reviews?

 

[Ciggavelli]

The selling point is a light Audeze TOTL planar. Hopefully with the same exceptional bass qualities.
The LCD5 is the lightest LCDs to date with the best ever technical performance.
I am definitely interested as a sucker for Audeze bass but someone who knows better mids and treble than LCD4.

I guess I’m not the target demographic then. I just feel they should be doing something exceptional to standout. If that is more detail and an “airy” feel, is it doing that better than other detailed headphones (e.g., SR1a, Utopia, Stax, and likely their CRBN)? If it’s not better or equal, I’m not sure of the point.

To be fair I tried the Solitare P and Meze Elite and sold/traded them away. Perhaps I’m just not looking for what these headphones are attempting to do.

 

[PeteSTRADAMUS]

I guess I’m not the target demographic then. I just feel they should be doing something exceptional to standout. If that is more detail and an “airy” feel, is it doing that better than other detailed headphones (e.g., SR1a, Utopia, Stax, and likely their CRBN)? If it’s not better or equal, I’m not sure of the point.

To be fair I tried the Solitare P and Meze Elite and sold/traded them away. Perhaps I’m just not looking for what these headphones are attempting to do

I actually would like to know the clarity differences and sound quality compared to the Elite and the ones you mentioned as well. Since I heard all of them besides the Sol-P.

 

[betula]

I guess I’m not the target demographic then. I just feel they should be doing something exceptional to standout. If that is more detail and an “airy” feel, is it doing that better than other detailed headphones (e.g., SR1a, Utopia, Stax, and likely their CRBN)? If it’s not better or equal, I’m not sure of the point.

To be fair I tried the Solitare P and Meze Elite and sold/traded them away. Perhaps I’m just not looking for what these headphones are attempting to do.

Have you actually auditioned the LCD5 or this comment is just another additional boring glue drip to the ever growing bitter drops of bored wealthy home based couch audiophiles?

 

[Ciggavelli]

Have you actually auditioned the LCD5 or this comment is just another additional boring glue drip to the ever growing bitter drops of bored wealthy home based couch audiophiles?

Nope, I’m going by the review posted in the first post and the FR graph. Until we have more reviews I’m not sure what you are expecting

 

[Kozwoz]

I am frankly stumped with this talk of bass, it is easy to design a driver that is under damped or with a relatively high resonant frequency providing a perception of increased bass presence, so you would see a 'hump' in bass, loose uncontrolled bass is 'more' bass but not 'good' bass. It is very hard to find a flatter measuring headphone (ruler flat, no wrinkles, just like how I like my shirts ironed!) in the bass than Audezes. They will deliver the bass the recording calls for, if one needs more bass than that, then EQ is an option, alternately turn on the sub for more tactile feedback,

I have a lot of respect for you but I don’t understand what there is not to get. People clearly like quantity and quality of the LCD4 bass. Producing the next flagship model which doesn’t build upon this or at least retain is clearly going against the grain. It’s rather simple really.