Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Benno1988]

Also the convolution filter, for example, is very low effort. Load it in, leave it. Done.

 

[ElMulo]

It depends on who you ask. I thought it was ok. I am not a fan of stock though. If you're allergic to eq... might want to look elsewhere. Some really enjoy it stock. I believe it's all in how you hear.

Here are a couple reviews:

Looking back, even vsg28 measured darker in treble.

https://www.techpowerup.com/review/audeze-lcd-5-planar-magnetic-headphones/5.html

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-lcd-5-review-measurements-interview.959808/post-16981708

As jb77 ranked in his review, 6 stock and 9 with peq is how i'd rank them too. But, after convolution this is a 10 for me. I have no need or desire for any other headphone experience at the moment.

I like it a lot with the Cronos eq, it's simple and effective, I use it as a base and then I adjust the gain a bit respecting the frequencies, it sounds much better, without eq the voice sounds very strong, it changes my mixes a bit, where can I find the convolution for lcd 5?, i use roon, thanks in advance.

 

[uckexk]

I like it a lot with the Cronos eq, it's simple and effective, I use it as a base and then I adjust the gain a bit respecting the frequencies, it sounds much better, without eq the voice sounds very strong, it changes my mixes a bit, where can I find the convolution for lcd 5?, i use roon, thanks in advance.

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-dsp-presets-now-available-in-roon.858730/page-8#post-16996246

 

[TheFrator]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-dsp-presets-now-available-in-roon.858730/page-8#post-16996246

The linear preset and a 3db bass shelf has been an absolute delight to my ears.

 

[ElMulo]

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/audeze-dsp-presets-now-available-in-roon.858730/page-8#post-16996246

Thanks!!!

 

[shwnwllms]

For anyone using Mitch's convolution, here is my current EQ (with a Low Shelf, High Shelf and Peak) Quoted settings will work in HQPlayer just add a comma after the convolution file in the pipeline matrix then the code below (gain should be -3.5dB per channel for headroom as well)

iir:type=lshelf;f=95;g=3.5;q=0.71,iir:type=hshelf;f=6000;g=3.5;q=0.71,iir:type=peak;f=8000;g=1.0;q=2.0

Low Shelf at 95Hz +3.5dB Q 0.71
High Shelf at 6000Hz +3.5dB Q 0.71
Peak at 8000Hz +1.0dB Q 2.0

 

[marcus2704]

/ignore

 

[sahmen]

I keep reading about Mitch Barnett's filter for the LCD5, but cant seem to find anywhere that says how to get hold of this, can anyone give me some basic info on this and ideally how to use it (I have never EQd before)?

The quickest way to get those filter-sets is to contact Mitch via e-mail (Mitch Barnett <mitch@accuratesound.ca>).

Here's his article on the LCD5 and the LCD4 :

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/reviews/audeze-lcd-4-vs-lcd-5-yin-and-yang-r1105/

And here's the one on the 1266 TC :

https://audiophilestyle.com/ca/revi...b1266-φ-tc-headphones-to-another-level-r1091/

You may or may not want to read one of these articles before making contact with him depending on your needs or preferences, That's really up to you.

 

[EMINENT]

For anyone using Mitch's convolution, here is my current EQ (with a Low Shelf, High Shelf and Peak) Quoted settings will work in HQPlayer just add a comma after the convolution file in the pipeline matrix then the code below (gain should be -3.5dB per channel for headroom as well)



Low Shelf at 95Hz +3.5dB Q 0.71
High Shelf at 6000Hz +3.5dB Q 0.71
Peak at 8000Hz +1.0dB Q 2.0

Man, this is probably going to be one of my most ridiculous posts to date. I can't believe I spent so many hours playing with this last night and just now, back and forth between the Audeze, Mitch's, with and without shelves.

Your tweaks there are understandable to compensate for the low shelf balance or loss of air masked by the increased bass shelf. I think it's all give and take with what you have a threshold for, possibly what you have as reference plays a role or experience with what you perceive and same for me and others. This sounded good overall but felt bass needed to be lifted more and you can see how this could teeter either way and keep going. Maybe certain frequencies are triggering differently for each of us, is all I can imagine that is going on. A sense of balance. Could be your comparison to the Auteur that made you crave a bit more air. Looking at the graphs for Sus and Auteur, they both have these peaks after 10k and I keep reading how the stage gets wider and separation gets pulled apart with speaker amps. While appealing, I can see this affecting bass focus and impact. Coincidence? I don't know.

Of all the variations i've tried, I kept going back to the high shelf because of that tingly sensation I just can't deny. Just gotta go with my emotions man... lol.

Currently with Mitch's filters and -3.5 preamp with:
Low Shelf at 95Hz +3.5dB Q 0.71
High Shelf at 10000Hz +3.5dB Q 1.0

Or, for HQP -3.5 gain

iir:type=lshelf;f=95;g=3.5;q=0.71,iir:type=hshelf;f=10000;g=3.5;s=1.0 added to HQP

Modified as of 6/26/22:
Currently with Mitch's filters and -3.5 preamp with:
Low Shelf at 80 Hz +3.5 dB Q 0.71
High Shelf at 10000Hz +0.5 dB Q 1.4

Or, for HQP -3.5 gain

iir:type=lshelf;f=80;g=3.5;q=0.71,iir:type=hshelf;f=10000;g=0.5;s=1.4

For example: In Olivia Rodrigo's - Deja Vu @ 1:08 & 1:13 when she says "you" with the high shelf, just sends shivers in me like none of the other settings have. Maybe it's that note or her voice but not just her and this passage, other tracks and artists I tested also elicits these same feelings and it's quite alluring when it happens. Obviously, I sensed this before but not as much. Now it's something I have to take into account and since i'm experiencing it more with these settings, I have to factor it in.

I tried the same low and high shelf boost on the Audeze Linear and couldn't garner quite the same level of feels as often. A bit of special magic or something else is affecting the experience. It's like the others are amazing and sounds great tonally whichever you prefer and it's just hitting my ears, but this combo just reaches in and tickles my soul. I don't know what to call it and kinda embarrassed to say it... Eargasm? I didn't know this was a thing.

I would say if you get this all the time listening to Air Pods, you should just stop there and just enjoy the music.

 

[shwnwllms]

I'm back to the stock Mitch Barnett convolution FIR filter for the foreseeable future. There is more going on with these convolution files than simple EQ, and I'm going to leave the filter as Mitch intended as I'm certainly doing more harm that good by adding anything on top of it. I'll leave the heavy lifting to the pros and just sit back and enjoy the music. (It's not missing anything without a low shelf added YMMV)

 

[tutetibiimperes]

That’s good cause I’m WAY below 10Khz

Each doubling of frequency is one octave, so you have 9 octaves between 20hz and 10khz (10,024 technically), but only one octave between 10khz and 20khz.

 

[EMINENT]

Back again with more crazy...

I'm back to the stock Mitch Barnett convolution FIR filter for the foreseeable future. There is more going on with these convolution files than simple EQ, and I'm going to leave the filter as Mitch intended as I'm certainly doing more harm that good by adding anything on top of it. I'll leave the heavy lifting to the pros and just sit back and enjoy the music. (It's not missing anything without a low shelf added YMMV)

That's similar to my findings. It's really great. I just can't do it and leave well enough alone in my nature and background. I spent the last couple days testing and found I really like the high shelf. So, I have to thank you for bringing light on it.

I tried multiple variations and found the effects I was experiencing repeatable when a minimum 10k shelf as low as +.5db and Q of .71 and up was applied.

Currently enjoying this: -3db preamp

iir:type=lshelf;f=90;g=3.0;q=0.71,iir:type=hshelf;f=10000;g=0.5;s=1.4

Modified as of 6/26/22:
Currently with Mitch's filters and -3.5 preamp with:
Low Shelf at 80 Hz +3.5 dB Q 0.71
High Shelf at 10000Hz +0.5 dB Q 1.4

Or, for HQP -3.5 gain

iir:type=lshelf;f=80;g=3.5;q=0.71,iir:type=hshelf;f=10000;g=0.5;s=1.4

Also spent time last night comparing Resolve's V3 EQ against the above.
It sounds amazing... tonally. However, the magic of convolution was unmistakably noticeable. My best way to describe it is there's an ethereal quality or resonance to sounds that peq just cannot duplicate, at least no preset I have heard yet. This and the shelf combined has brought me to another level of audio I wasn't expecting. I went from audio heaven with filters to trying to feel this crazy synergy now in everything I listen to.

 

[Joe Bloggs]

If you guys want to try something that's a lot more than EQ, anyone up for a convolution based crossfeed that expands rather than collapses the soundstage based on the fact that it replicates the level and phase of crossfeed of sounds way to your left and right in free field?

Or how about a system that takes stereo input and puts the output all. around. you. based on a 7.1 channel upmixer fed into your choice of 7x2 convolution filters? (this is not just a gimmick, it should be able to place centre vocals more convincingly than any stereo or crossfeed system thanks to a true centre channel)



All this is available preconfigured in this package -> https://www.dropbox.com/s/ijcyjukfxiyot8y/foobar2000_lossless_crossfeed.zip?dl=0

Unzip and run foobar2000.exe and drag and drop music in for listen. It's pre-configured for convolution crossfeed but you can go to Preferences->Playback->DSP Manager and choose among the DSP chain presets there, including "trident-upmixer-headphones" (then hit the Load button) for the upmixing option. You can add Mitch's or whoever's convolution settings in as well by adding your own Convolution module at the end of the DSP chain and pointing it to your own file.

For windows only... at the moment

 

[rreynolds]

Just purchased a used pair of LCD-5's. I've personally never EQ'd a headphone and feel this'll be the one to change that. Thinking about purchasing the Master Silver from Lavricables and going AECO XLR to get the most juice from my Burson amp. Then again if this gets EQ'd, it might be pointless to do so. Thoughts?

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Just purchased a used pair of LCD-5's. I've personally never EQ'd a headphone and feel this'll be the one to change that. Thinking about purchasing the Master Silver from Lavricables and going AECO XLR to get the most juice from my Burson amp. Then again if this gets EQ'd, it might be pointless to do so. Thoughts?

Most amps that have XLR out spent most of the engineering budget designing the balanced circuit, so the se circuit is often lacking.