Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Ragnar-BY]

I'm very glad I went for the LCD-5. The Elite was noticeably less resolving than the 5

This was to be expected. Meze headphones have never been known for clarity or transparency. They make good headphones, but rather aimed at those who are looking for a comfortable sound signature.

 

[TheFrator]

That's pretty spicy. Elitists seem to describe a vast soundstage and balanced, bassier tuning superiority.

Meh - we're all entitled to our subjective opinions. I knew after a song or two that they were sonically a clear step down from the LCD-5. It's very possible my ears and HRTF respond well to what the LCD-5 has to offer.

Also , soundstage is very low on my subjective ranking of priorities when it comes to headphones. My ranking (based off Resolve's list) is as follows:

1. Tonal Balance - deficiencies in a headphones stock tonal balance can be righted by EQ for free so this factor is mostly a wash. I'm going to EQ every single headphone that comes my way.
2. Imaging and Separation - Being able to isolate individual instruments in the mix
3. Detail/Resolution - The headphone is incisive, well-controlled during busy passages, and retains good clarity for the finer nuances in the music.
4. Contrast/Punch - The headphone has good contrast for large volume swings, the opposite being a compressed kind of sound.
5. Soundstage - Kind of meaningless to me. It's a headphone not a stereo. If I want soundstage I'll listen to my stereo (which I do )
6. Timbre - The headphone sounds sufficiently ‘natural’, whatever that means. I played saxophone for 3 years, what a saxophone should sound like will be different to me than what it will be for you. So saying a headphone has more timbre is just a product of the tonal balance matching how instruments should sound based on your personal experience.

GREAT SONG to listen to!!!!! I’ve had my 5’s for about 2 weeks and have this song on constant replay. Try10,000 days part 2, the intro grabs you and “jimmy”off of anemia.

Thanks! I always use Tool to test headphones and speakers. Normally I go with Reflection and Stinkfist. Oh I've listened to the album 10000 Days dozens of times on the 5. I wasn't into Tool until I started listening to them on the 5. They really excel at highlighting the technical prowess of musicians and the recording quality of the album. Thankfully, all Tool albums after Undertow are really well mixed.

Jimmy and H are my favorite songs off Anemia haha. Jimmy goes so hard.

 

[TheFrator]

This was to be expected. Meze headphones have never been known for clarity or transparency. They make good headphones, but rather aimed at those who are looking for a comfortable sound signature.

And I certainly don't fault anyone for seeking that. They're very comfortable and inoffensive. It's just when you A/B them with another flagship planar it became very apparent that the cost you're paying for the Meze is in non-sonic attributes.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

And I certainly don't fault anyone for seeking that. They're very comfortable and inoffensive. It's just when you A/B them with another flagship planar it became very apparent that the cost you're paying for the Meze is in non-sonic attributes.

Interesting, I guess everyone is always being subjective anyway. Own Elite and LCD-5 before (when they released last year), sold the Audeze and keep the Meze till now. Sound wise Elite provide more lifelike experience to me (both tonal and soundstage presentation), while LCD-5 give more "studio monitor" alike that I believe some people prefer this kind of signature. I choose the lifelike one of course.

 

[TheFrator]

Interesting, I guess everyone is always being subjective anyway.

Yup and I make no claim that what sounds better to my ear will sound better for yours.

I choose the lifelike one of course.

"Lifelike" is under timbre for me. That's to say last on my subjective ranking of criteria of headphones from a few posts above this one.

What sounds lifelike to you is based off your life experience with instruments and sounds. And this will be vastly different than mine. All I'll say is that a saxophone through the 5 sounds almost exactly like how a saxophone sounds in real life. Almost because I'm used to hearing it from the perspective of the player and the acoustic environment is different from where I spent so much time playing it.

 

[EMINENT]

Meh - we're all entitled to our subjective opinions. I knew after a song or two that they were sonically a clear step down from the LCD-5. It's very possible my ears and HRTF respond well to what the LCD-5 has to offer.

Also , soundstage is very low on my subjective ranking of priorities when it comes to headphones. My ranking (based off Resolve's list) is as follows:

1. Tonal Balance - deficiencies in a headphones stock tonal balance can be righted by EQ for free so this factor is mostly a wash. I'm going to EQ every single headphone that comes my way.
2. Imaging and Separation - Being able to isolate individual instruments in the mix
3. Detail/Resolution - The headphone is incisive, well-controlled during busy passages, and retains good clarity for the finer nuances in the music.
4. Contrast/Punch - The headphone has good contrast for large volume swings, the opposite being a compressed kind of sound.
5. Soundstage - Kind of meaningless to me. It's a headphone not a stereo. If I want soundstage I'll listen to my stereo (which I do )
6. Timbre - The headphone sounds sufficiently ‘natural’, whatever that means. I played saxophone for 3 years, what a saxophone should sound like will be different to me than what it will be for you. So saying a headphone has more timbre is just a product of the tonal balance matching how instruments should sound based on your personal experience.

Exactly the order for me too. I was also a sax and bari player back in junior high, although decades ago...

 

[TheFrator]

Exactly the order for me too. I was also a sax and bari player back in junior high, although decades ago...

I exclusively played alto. It was a fun time in high school and a little in college. Now I keep a running playlist of every song that has a saxophone in it when I get the itch.

 

[ozz007]

I exclusively played alto. It was a fun time in high school and a little in college. Now I keep a running playlist of every song that has a saxophone in it when I get the itch.

My Son plays Alto in the High school band; I like to listen to him when he practices. I keep telling him he is my little Kenny G lol He gets mad. Hahaha.

 

[TheFrator]

My Son plays Alto in the High school band; I like to listen to him when he practices. I keep telling him he is my little Kenny G lol He gets mad. Hahaha.

I definitely heard a Kenny G song at one point growing up and it must've indoctrinated me into wanting to play the sax.

 

[shwnwllms]

I obtained a Pendant SE recently, so I've mainly been listening to my Verite Open and my LCD-5 has been neglected. Until I rolled a Tung Sol 12BH7A (BOPDG) 59' into the Pendant.

The added gain of this tube helped drive the power hungry planar from the Low Z output with ease. Even more importantly I can run the stock Mitchco FIR convolution without the need for a low shelf (which seemed to always have some unwanted tradeoffs). The Tung Sol's deep bass extension and wide soundstage is a perfect compliment to the detail and resolution of the LCD-5 with the stock Mitcho FIR convolution.

This sounds so incredible I'm wondering if I need to keep my V550 Pro (When I bought the Pendant I was not expecting it to drive the LCD-5 effectively, so I was going to keep both amps)

 

[MalinYamato]

The worst product that I have ever bought wrt quality. Newer Audeze again!
Previously I have used Audio Technica, Denon and Fostex for over 25 years.... their flagships.
Japanese maker know how to do quality products, but this US brand is worst ever quality wise.
I bought LCD-5s and have owned these phones for 10 months and thou they sound good, the built quality is the worst I have ever experienced It is breaking down, cables get detached because the material is way too weak. Audeze customers support here in Sweden is terrible. I am so angry my blood boils.

 

[shwnwllms]

Every manufacturer has things slip through QC, new product launches may have some additional issues to sort out at launch. Most of those seem to be sorted out by now with the LCD-5.

Fortunately Audeze has an excellent CS team that is very responsive and a great warranty and repair / replace policy. You can reach out to them at support@audeze.com (if you bought used warranty is transferable)

Good luck!

 

[shwnwllms]

I'm back on my bull$hit

Mitchco + Low Shelf

Preamp (3.5 dB)
Low Shelf 105 Hz + 3.5 dB Q 0.71

This is pretty close to full circle from when I first bought Mitch's convolution filter and added a low shelf. What's everyone else using these days for EQ? Who's still using Mitchco over Reveal plugins?

 

[meomap]

I'm back on my bull$hit

Mitchco + Low Shelf

Preamp (3.5 dB)
Low Shelf 105 Hz + 3.5 dB Q 0.71

This is pretty close to full circle from when I first bought Mitch's convolution filter and added a low shelf. What's everyone else using these days for EQ? Who's still using Mitchco over Reveal plugins?

HW EQ Schiit Lokius

 

[TheFrator]

I'm back on my bull$hit

Mitchco + Low Shelf

Preamp (3.5 dB)
Low Shelf 105 Hz + 3.5 dB Q 0.71

This is pretty close to full circle from when I first bought Mitch's convolution filter and added a low shelf. What's everyone else using these days for EQ? Who's still using Mitchco over Reveal plugins?

I still use the regular MitchCo over Reveal. I also worked with Mitch to generate convolution files for my stereo setup and now know how to generate good convolution filters on my own.