Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[thecrow]

I‘ve gone the budget path - in a way where i won’t knock them off too.

byo: ikea billy bookcase

 

[kion]

IMO the most functional headphone stand https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/ears-headphone-jig

 

[Benny030]

Anyone tried the LCD 5 with portable Source's like the Dx300 Max or similar Device's?

 

[Tanalasta]

Anyone tried the LCD 5 with portable Source's like the Dx300 Max or similar Device's?

They’re really easy to drive. Like 50 on the Naim gets them to a reasonable volume. I would say about as easy to drive as Utopia.

The dealer said one of their customers ran it unbalanced out of a SP2K and it was fine.

 

[Tanalasta]

Just some teasers of the headphone audition this evening.

I'm not sure whether people yet to audition the Audeze want initial impressions or to form their own.

The LCD-5 are very impressive. They are as easy to drive as Utopia. They scale with the source. And the stock cable needs to be rolled. I noticed a significant improvement using the Meze Empyrean silver plated balanced XLR cable. They are also the best thing I've heard in a very long time and a shift from the usual Audeze offering in more ways than one. Source dependent (as always at this level) so best to audition with your own preferred equipment. My recommended (and preferred) setup was the Naim Unit HE with the Meze silver plated cable over the Chord TT2 from an overall tonality perspective.

 

[ThanatosVI]

Just some teasers of the headphone audition this evening.

I'm not sure whether people yet to audition the Audeze want initial impressions or to form their own.

The LCD-5 are very impressive. They are as easy to drive as Utopia. They scale with the source. And the stock cable needs to be rolled. I noticed a significant improvement using the Meze Empyrean silver plated balanced XLR cable. They are also the best thing I've heard in a very long time and a shift from the usual Audeze offering in more ways than one.

Please share CRBN impressions

 

[Tanalasta]

Please share CRBN impressions

For electrostatic lovers. Beautiful detail and separation. Extremely precise. Timing just spot on. Wide soundstage though not as wide as HD800S. Lacked vertical/holographic extension. Treble ES sound etc. I found a tad bright and fatiguing. The mids and treble I felt tuned 1-2Db more than my preference as there's a slight emphasis from neutral. I cringed when I put Jubel on. Acoustic vocals and classical are where it’s strength lies. Detail retrieval flagship level and can't be faulted. I consider it a specialised can.

 

[Alcophone]

Yes, and for me that is the Room's audio line stand.. But not widely available outside Europe I believe.

Came across those as well, especially some of the wooden ones look very slick, but the adjustable metal ones are a bit taller, yet based on the specs still lower than the HPS-T. Granted, when placing the headphones like in the picture, it's less of a concern, but I prefer to just put them on without having to rotate them first. Also, this design wastes quite a bit of space in the back. And yeah, especially with shipping the cost is even more absurd, while only housing one headphone.





Via Thomann Music.

 

[MatW]

Came across those as well, especially some of the wooden ones look very slick, but the adjustable metal ones are a bit taller, yet based on the specs still lower than the HPS-T. Granted, when placing the headphones like in the picture, it's less of a concern, but I prefer to just put them on without having to rotate them first. Also, this design wastes quite a bit of space in the back. And yeah, especially with shipping the cost is even more absurd, while only housing one headphone.

Can't argue with the shipping cost..

For what it's worth, I have only the metal ones. I had a wood one at some point but they don't feel quite as sturdy. The curved bit that the headphone rests on is always made of wood by the way, also with the metal version. And I do put the headphones on 180 degrees rotated as well, that is not an issue. EDIT: in fact, I use the space in the back there to put the rolled up cable.

 

[Arnold Schwartz]

@Tanalasta hoping you can share your thoughts compared to the Utopia on the TT2. Is the Utopia a keeper? Are they different enough to have both? I’m looking to consolidate around one headphone that’s good at everything.

 

[Tanalasta]

@Tanalasta hoping you can share your thoughts compared to the Utopia on the TT2. Is the Utopia a keeper? Are they different enough to have both? I’m looking to consolidate around one headphone that’s good at everything.

I have the Utopia cabled with the Danacable Reference Lazuli Plus which adds quite a bit of weight to the sound signature. They're different enough I plan to have both - and would make for a very happy Dynamic Driver + Planar two headphone set-up.

LCD-5 and Utopia were a tad bright with the stock cable out of the TT2 - you really need to enjoy the Chord sound. The treble and mids are prominent. Cable rolling did help.

The Utopia's are always a keeper and has great dynamic driver presence. Nod for all rounder I would give to the LCD-5.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

I have the Utopia cabled with the Danacable Reference Lazuli Plus which adds quite a bit of weight to the sound signature. They're different enough I plan to have both - and would make for a very happy Dynamic Driver + Planar two headphone set-up.

LCD-5 and Utopia were a tad bright with the stock cable out of the TT2 - you really need to enjoy the Chord sound. The treble and mids are prominent. Cable rolling did help.

The Utopia's are always a keeper and has great dynamic driver presence. Nod for all rounder I would give to the LCD-5.

Interesting, TT2 headphone out for me is slight at darker side compared to many desktop amplifier out there.

Anyway, it's great if LCD-5 is different far enough from Utopia, I could't really handle the brightness of utopia for long listening time.

 

[Tanalasta]

Interesting, TT2 headphone out for me is slight at darker side compared to many desktop amplifier out there.

Anyway, it's great if LCD-5 is different far enough from Utopia, I could't really handle the brightness of utopia for long listening time.

The Danacable tames the brightness... or a tube amp (they had the WA22 at audition to compare). Gut tells me you may find the LCD-5 still a tad bright out of the TT2 if that's your impression fo the Utopia. Perhaps prominent mids/treble is a better description than 'bright'. Will happily wait and see how other impressions will be here and whether they align with my own for calibration purposes.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

The Danacable tames the brightness... or a tube amp (they had the WA22 at audition to compare). Gut tells me you may find the LCD-5 still a tad bright out of the TT2 if that's your impression fo the Utopia. Perhaps prominent mids/treble is a better description than 'bright'. Will happily wait and see how other impressions will be here and whether they align with my own for calibration purposes.

i don't mind at all with prominent mid/treble, currently I own Diana Phi and prefer it compare to any Audeze line up (of course excluded LCD-5).

I do like Utopia, but in the end sold it because it felt like gave too much pressure to my ears (because treble) everytime I use it for more than 2-3 hours listening time. Still, I adore that headphone though.

 

[Narayan23]

I always liked this stand

https://doctorhead.ru/product/dr_head_big_head_temnoe_derevo/