Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Drewligarchy]

After listening to the LCD-5 for about a week, it just might be the most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard.

In addition to my current headphones below, I have owned Stax 009, Stax 007 mkii, and sennheiser baby Orpheus (HE 60). Also the Utopia and HD800.

I haven’t listened to electro stats in a while, but from memory, The LCD-5s are right there. With a thicker foundation in the bass and mids it’s more believable. The newest electrostatic I’ve listened to are the 009S and Voce. Haven’t tried CRBN or the new Stax.

I will say they are a little intense (which I like), but on some recordings can lead to fatigue. When I’ve found chains or headphones fatiguing before - they were fatiguing in everything. With the LCD-5 the tonal balance is more true to the recording meaning if it’s well recorded the balance will be perfect, but if the recording is bright - they won’t do you any favors. Reason they are so good for mixing and mastering.

They are right up there with the Abyss and, IMO, way better than the Susvara - but admittedly the Susvara isn’t my favorite headphone. It’s the best of Hifiman - but I’ve never really been able to get my head around the Hifiman sound.

 

[Ciggavelli]

After listening to the LCD-5 for about a week, it just might be the most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard.

In addition to my current headphones below, I have owned Stax 009, Stax 007 mkii, and sennheiser baby Orpheus (HE 60).

I haven’t listened to electro stats in a while, but from memory, The LCD-5s are fine there. With a thicker foundation in the bass and mids it’s Em ire believable.

I will say they are a little intense (which I like), but on some recordings can lead to fatigue. When I’ve found chains or headphones fatiguing before - they were fatiguing in everything. With the LCD-5 the tonal balance is more true to the recording meaning if it’s well recorded the balance will be perfect, but if the recording is bright - they won’t do you any favors. Reason they are so good for mixing and mastering.

They are right up there with the Abyss and, IMO, way better than the Susvara.

Woah, better than the Susvaras? That caught my attention. Interesting...

 

[chargedcapacitor]

I auditioned them for 2 hours at The Source AV. They have a Woo WA5 & 7 that I got to hear it with and it wasn't that great. Could be the tube amp. I would like to hear it with my personal A&S Rockwell. That may change my entire perception of the headphone. I loved the comfort and its technical prowess. I didn't like its tuning, but that's not uncommon with Audeze for me. But, I did expect much richer and elevated bass response.

No LCD-4 model has elevated bass, they all have "flat" bass. The previous LCD models have the perception of elevated bass, because their recessed mids push the lower frequencies up to a higher audibility. The LCD bass is more about texture and realism, it sounds like you have your own personal kick drum next to your ear when compared to other headphones, such as the susvara.

 

[Drewligarchy]

Woah, better than the Susvaras? That caught my attention. Interesting...

Hey Cig -

In fairness I have never completely understood the Susvaras. I don’t sell them because sometime I really enjoy them, and sometimes it doesn’t click. I’m sure others feel differently. The one thing Audeze retained in their new sound signature is the mids. While the tunings vary greatly, whether LCD-4, or LCD-5 - best mids in class. It’s just that the LCD-5 has all this other stuff now too.

It’s also the first headphone that I think bass quality matches the Abyss. Abyss and LCD 4 have more quantity, but the texture, tactility and resolution is there in both. And, like the Abyss it doesn’t bleed into the mids. It does a bit in the LCD 4.

My biggest issue is I can’t blast them with certain recordings, the upper mids would just be too hot and cause fatigue (for me). Maybe I will tweak the eq a little bit with this headphone after all to just tamp it down on certain recordings. I don’t have any issue with the bass and treble, and I love the mids - I just want to avoid any kind of fatigue.

 

[VeeAndBobby]

After listening to the LCD-5 for about a week, it just might be the most detailed headphone I’ve ever heard.

In addition to my current headphones below, I have owned Stax 009, Stax 007 mkii, and sennheiser baby Orpheus (HE 60). Also the Utopia and HD800.

I haven’t listened to electro stats in a while, but from memory, The LCD-5s are right there. With a thicker foundation in the bass and mids it’s more believable. The newest electrostatic I’ve listened to are the 009S and Voce. Haven’t tried CRBN or the new Stax.

I will say they are a little intense (which I like), but on some recordings can lead to fatigue. When I’ve found chains or headphones fatiguing before - they were fatiguing in everything. With the LCD-5 the tonal balance is more true to the recording meaning if it’s well recorded the balance will be perfect, but if the recording is bright - they won’t do you any favors. Reason they are so good for mixing and mastering.

They are right up there with the Abyss and, IMO, way better than the Susvara - but admittedly the Susvara isn’t my favorite headphone. It’s the best of Hifiman - but I’ve never really been able to get my head around the Hifiman sound.

I've had my Susvara for about 3 weeks, and don't like it as well as my Meze Elite. My dealer has a 30-day return/exchange policy, and I'm considering returning the Susvara or exchanging it for an LCD-5. Would you or any others recommend that I ask my dealer to let me exchange my Susvara for an LCD-5?

 

[Mediahound]

I've had my Susvara for about 3 weeks, and don't like it as well as my Meze Elite. My dealer has a 30-day return/exchange policy, and I'm considering returning the Susvara or exchanging it for an LCD-5. Would you or any others recommend that I ask my dealer to let me exchange my Susvara for an LCD-5?

The thing about the Susvara is that it doesn't start really blooming until you start driving it with TONS of power. I'm talking like 12 watts or higher. Unless you have that much power in a headphone amp, I wouldn't recommend it. But if you do, it's a WOW sound.

 

[Ciggavelli]

Hey Cig -

In fairness I have never completely understood the Susvaras. I don’t sell them because sometime I really enjoy them, and sometimes it doesn’t click. I’m sure others feel differently. The one thing Audeze retained in their new sound signature is the mids. While the tunings vary greatly, whether LCD-4, or LCD-5 - best mids in class. It’s just that the LCD-5 has all this other stuff now too.

It’s also the first headphone that I think bass quality matches the Abyss. Abyss and LCD 4 have more quantity, but the texture, tactility and resolution is there in both. And, like the Abyss it doesn’t bleed into the mids. It does a bit in the LCD 4.

My biggest issue is I can’t blast them with certain recordings, the upper mids would just be too hot and cause fatigue (for me). Maybe I will tweak the eq a little bit with this headphone after all to just tamp it down on certain recordings. I don’t have any issue with the bass and treble, and I love the mids - I just want to avoid any kind of fatigue.

I can appreciate that. It took me a loooooong time to really understand the Susvaras. They sound great with metal, and are pretty forgiving with poorly recorded albums (something that I can’t say for other TOTL headphones). That mixture of a smooth sounding pair of headphones with very abrasive music is something I really like. I think genre preferences definitely influence our opinions of audio equipment.

I was reading somewhere (maybe here ) that the LCD-5 and CRBNs are voiced similarly (if that’s the right word). If they are in fact similar, I can tell why one might prefer the Audeze’s over the Susvaras. I’m still getting to know the CRBNs, but they have amazing resolution and that sub-bass presence that I like.

I’ll probably get the LCD-5s at some point this year, but right now I’m pretty focused on electrostatics.

 

[BassicScience]

I've had my Susvara for about 3 weeks, and don't like it as well as my Meze Elite. My dealer has a 30-day return/exchange policy, and I'm considering returning the Susvara or exchanging it for an LCD-5. Would you or any others recommend that I ask my dealer to let me exchange my Susvara for an LCD-5?

If you don't love the Susvara, why would you keep it? The LCD-5 is definitely in the upper echelon of headphones, so well worth an audition. We probably need more information about your sonic preferences to give you any further advice. What about the Elite do you prefer to the Susvara, for example?

 

[VeeAndBobby]

If you don't love the Susvara, why would you keep it? The LCD-5 is definitely in the upper echelon of headphones, so well worth an audition. We probably need more information about your sonic preferences to give you any further advice. What about the Elite do you prefer to the Susvara, for example?

I do appreciate the Susvara's level of detail, however I don't care for it's tonality or bass response. With the Elite, I enjoy its sound quality, bass response, comfort and build quality. I listen mainly to classical music and jazz. In a comment above, Mediahound said the Susvara needs "TONS" of power. I'm using a Burson Soloist GT, which has plenty of power for the Susvara at medium gain. I'm very happy with the Elite, and haven't felt a need for the LCD-5, but I've never owned an Audeze. I can't audition one locally. I may choose to just return the Susvara for refund, but I have the option to exchange. You can see below my other headphone gear.

 

[BassicScience]

I do appreciate the Susvara's level of detail, however I don't care for it's tonality or bass response. With the Elite, I enjoy its sound quality, bass response, comfort and build quality. I listen mainly to classical music and jazz. In a comment above, Mediahound said the Susvara needs "TONS" of power. I'm using a Burson Soloist GT, which has plenty of power for the Susvara at medium gain. I'm very happy with the Elite, and haven't felt a need for the LCD-5, but I've never owned an Audeze. I can't audition one locally. I may choose to just return the Susvara for refund, but I have the option to exchange. You can see below my other headphone gear.

If you listen to primarily classical and jazz, I might recommend an electrostat instead of a second planar to complement your Elite. OTOH, I found the Elite to be a bit "romantic" in the midbass, which you probably won't get from many estats, or the LCD-5 for that matter. Regarding returns vs. exchanges, I would contact your dealer and discuss the situation. Some dealers are more amenable to repeated returns than others.

 

[Dloines]

I returned the LCD5. Too clinical for my taste. Impressive headphone nonetheless but I couldn't enjoy it post wow factor

How long did you have the LCD5s?

 

[jlbrach]

Woah, better than the Susvaras? That caught my attention. Interesting...

they are good, not better than the susvara just different

 

[Trance_Gott]

For me the LCD-5 without EQ play nowhere Susvara level. With EQ they are awesome but Susvara has this naturalness no other headphone have.

 

[adrianm]

way better than the Susvara - but admittedly the Susvara isn’t my favorite headphone.

I do appreciate the Susvara's level of detail, however I don't care for it's tonality or bass response.

+1 here, only had a short audition on the TT2 and i didn't really want to listen anymore. Needless to say, i found the Elite and LCD-5 much better for my tastes. Not sure how much better they would be on an OOR or AHB2, but If I would get a separate amp it would be for for e-stats.

 

[Drewligarchy]

I can appreciate that. It took me a loooooong time to really understand the Susvaras. They sound great with metal, and are pretty forgiving with poorly recorded albums (something that I can’t say for other TOTL headphones). That mixture of a smooth sounding pair of headphones with very abrasive music is something I really like. I think genre preferences definitely influence our opinions of audio equipment.

I was reading somewhere (maybe here ) that the LCD-5 and CRBNs are voiced similarly (if that’s the right word). If they are in fact similar, I can tell why one might prefer the Audeze’s over the Susvaras. I’m still getting to know the CRBNs, but they have amazing resolution and that sub-bass presence that I like.

I’ll probably get the LCD-5s at some point this year, but right now I’m pretty focused on electrostatics.

I'm very much looking forward to your journey into electrostats (but my wallet isn't). I the Stax 009 was my favorite headphone for many years - and I had a Carbon with it. I think had I had it on tubes I might have kept it. Very interested in your impressions when you receive the new Stax. If they are really good, and I hear the CRBN is, I could see a BHSE, KGST or 3ES in my future.