Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[ufospls2]

I have the SoundSource; so FabFilter would be an insert within SS?

Yes. Thats right. There are other options, I just happen to prefer Fab Filter and DMG

 

[KMann]

Wow, 12 band fully parametric onboard EQ. That's incredible!

DACs incorporating DSP (EQ) is going to be more common, the implementations can still vary and so the quality of the filter needs to at least match the quality of D/A conversion which is quite a challenge as the quality of DAC improves. I.e, the EQ implementation needs to be very transparent. But this is very hard to judge as one has to separate tonal change from change in technical performance i.e, clarity transparency, sound stage etc. So if you turn EQ on and off the only change you hear should be tonal. I know Rob Watts has mentioned the possibility of incorporating such transparent EQ in future DACs which I very much look forward to, I also found the implementation in Weiss DAC 502 to be quite good (it already has EQ profiles for most of our headphones).

 

[EMINENT]

So tell me how they sound out of the m15?
Can the M15 drive them?

So...

I chose not to listen to the i4 in weeks so I didn't have some weird change in comparison.
I had originally decided to use the WA7 first so I get a better sense of "desktop grade" to begin and can tell lack of quality moving to the M15 until you asked. So M15 it was. Been on the M15 and after a couple hours, I can say that they get PLENTY loud. Using over ear mode and high gain, I am 65-70 on the pot out of 120. I think I listen with the i4 a bit louder between 70-80. With my spl meter unscientifically measuring between both cups averaging 85db at 65. I usually like louder though as I have been raving/clubbing for a long time since the late 90's and I am a basshead.

First impressions... and do remember I have unexperienced ears and only have i4 to compare to whether that's useful or not. Technically virgin ears to the totl headphone experience if you don't count i4. I have been using i4 with Crinacle/Jaakopassan Auto EQ btw. LCD5 stock no eq.

At first it was weird until I figured out I had the cables reversed backwards! Oh, and cables are the Impact ones I posted earlier in the thread so take that for what you will and nothing crazy. After correcting, noticeably spacious granted bigger area. Weird at first and after a few more tracks... I immediately thought of what @Currawong said and they just sounded right. Like I don't feel I have to eq. Don't get me wrong, I still will because i'm a basshead. But, I would have no problems rocking these stock with the M15. Didn't think they would work. I could have saved my money on the WA7. Will have to wait for that test tomorrow.

 

[Mad Lust Envy]

Thanks for this! Which one would you recommend for coming out of a television, into a DAC? How are you watching movies with the software versions …on a computer? I need this for movie/TV watching.

A lot of these are PC-centric. In terms of those that are tied to external hardware that can take in an optical input from a TV (you must make sure the TV can output Dolby Digital 5.1 via bitstream, and you'll know because a lot will allow you to choose bitstream or pcm), a few choices are available to you.

1. Creative G6 (dac/amp) - This one will give you the ability to send SBX headphone virtual surrounnd to any other dac or amp through its optical out. Main thing you need to consider is you'll still need a PC to adjust the software at least before seting its parameters for TV use.

2. Creative X7 (dac/amp) - This one is a more premium piece of hardware with a more substantial dac/amp and speaker taps for bookshelf speakers. It does similar things to the G6, at a steeper cost, though if you're gonna feed into another DAC, may as well just get the G6.

3. Creative GC7 (dac/amp) - This one can output both Creative's SXFI as well as SBX, though last I checked the non-SXFI surround that is supposedly SBX wasn't working correctly. This one also doesn't allow you to pass SXFI to another dac/amp. This is why I prefer the G6 and X7.

You have more choices, like the Astro Mixamp, but they're a bit less audiophile level, and you're restricted to the DAC/Amp in the units. I did briefly own a Beyerdynamic Head Zone, which is entirely too expensive for what it was but it at least decoded DTS natively, which a lot of the others need a Dolby Digital source, so you're outta luck with DTS encoded movies.

The Smyth Realizer stuff is a bit too rich for my blood, but that's where those with some bank should go. If I had that kind of money, I would absolutely start and end here, with the Realizers.

As for software, nah, I don't use them for movies. For movies, I'll use one of the hardware choices above from the TV's optical output. The software solutions on PC I mainly use for gaming. Redscape being the one I use most of the time.

Like @KMann stated, virtual surround DSPs aren't quite there for music. There is definitely a significant tradeoff in audio fidelity, which I think is not something many will accept for music.

You'd just be emulating two speakers in front of you outputting music. Two noticeably compromised simulated speakers compared to just using your pristine headphone audio in stereo. Music doesn't need or benefit from the positional accuracy of simulated surround like a video game or movie would. Fun to try with live concerts or something, but not something I'd use for just playing music files.

 

[ozz007]

So...

I chose not to listen to the i4 in weeks so I didn't have some weird change in comparison.
I had originally decided to use the WA7 first so I get a better sense of "desktop grade" to begin and can tell lack of quality moving to the M15 until you asked. So M15 it was. Been on the M15 and after a couple hours, I can say that they get PLENTY loud. Using over ear mode and high gain, I am 65-70 on the pot out of 120. I think I listen with the i4 a bit louder between 70-80. With my spl meter unscientifically measuring between both cups averaging 85db at 65. I usually like louder though as I have been raving/clubbing for a long time since the late 90's and I am a basshead.

First impressions... and do remember I have unexperienced ears and only have i4 to compare to whether that's useful or not. Technically virgin ears to the totl headphone experience if you don't count i4. I have been using i4 with Crinacle/Jaakopassan Auto EQ btw. LCD5 stock no eq.

At first it was weird until I figured out I had the cables reversed backwards! Oh, and cables are the Impact ones I posted earlier in the thread so take that for what you will and nothing crazy. After correcting, noticeably spacious granted bigger area. Weird at first and after a few more tracks... I immediately thought of what @Currawong said and they just sounded right. Like I don't feel I have to eq. Don't get me wrong, I still will because i'm a basshead. But, I would have no problems rocking these stock with the M15. Didn't think they would work. I could have saved my money on the WA7. Will have to wait for that test tomorrow.

Thank you so much.

I also have the wa7 second and third gens. And also own the i4.
I was looking for the portable setup, so when I want, to recline on my hammock out side, and just listen to music, in a easy portable setup.

Yes I can do the i4 for this purposes but its nice to know I can also with the 5s.

You saved me some money since I was looking at the M17 just in case m15, will not cut it.
Thank you again Sir.

 

[arrakian]

Finally got them. Held for pickup at 7am. Delivered around 11. Went to pickup location. Found out it got delivered to home. Incompetence at the highest echelon.

If you’re like me, you crap a brick on the way home for fear of “porch pirates”.

 

[adrianm]

As someone who chases transparency, one of the advantages LCD-5 offers over competing headphones is the ability to to be driven directly out of high quality integrated Dac/Amps. I personally avoid adding an amp to my chain if I can, as it means additional interconnects additional amplification/elements, additional PSU all of them stack up and do reduce transparency just like additional elements in a high quality lens (as an analogy in photography). But to my ears LCD-5 driven direct out of Chord DAVE or TT2 is can be more transparent than a electrostatic setup that adds an amp to the chain. I am not saying everyone should abandon using amps, I am providing another point of view for those who may value transparency more and are willing to give up a little on other aspects that an amp can bring.

Since this is what i'm after as well, and the very reason why i'm interested in the LCD-5, i'm curious what your Dave chain looks like.
I've heard people saying that the LCD-4Z was tuned with Dave. I'm curious as to any intended synergy with the LCD-5 as well.

 

[Nitrium]

Headphones.com can't ship mine soon enough

 

[boxster233]

Headphones.com can't ship mine soon enough

Story of my life, until this week. My order arrived Wednesday. Been listening and formulating impressions.

 

[dfiled]

I ordered mine direct from Audeze and they are estimating a 1-2 week timeframe to ship out, though they are being very noncommital.

 

[KMann]

Since this is what i'm after as well, and the very reason why i'm interested in the LCD-5, i'm curious what your Dave chain looks like.
I've heard people saying that the LCD-4Z was tuned with Dave. I'm curious as to any intended synergy with the LCD-5 as well.

The idea of 'tuning' a headphone with a specific Amp/DAC is a bit exaggerated (at least here at Audeze, I can't talk for other manufactureres), more often than not it is the other way around where an amp is developed to showcase the best qualities of a headphone. Preferably an amp or a DAC does not change the tonality of a headphone too much, after all they are supposed to measure flat within a fraction of a dB across the spectrum (with some exceptions such as NOS DACs that can roll off in the top octave depending on sample rate). But depending on design, some chains reproduce bass better or some round the transients or some add a bit of harshness, some add body and bloom but these are time domain characteristics that you may not tell by looking at the frequency response (in the audible band). But other measurements such as noise, distortion, jitter etc may provide some clues. Depending on the character of DAC/Amp, there may be some synergies to be had. We test our headphones with a variety of amps and DACs to be able to provide recommendations. But we prefer a transparent chain for critical evaluation as they let you get to know the headphone better. A transparent chain also helps to spot differences and changes very easily when comparing.

While no explicit synergy was intended, I do like LCD-5 out of my DAVE, but like headphones DAC and Amp choices are also personal, so if you like your source already, LCD-5 being transparent, will be true to the source and LCD-5 was designed to be driven by most desktop setup so hopefully you are able to use your setup without having to invest in a beefy amp.

For my personal listening (I also use this for evaluating headphones), here is my chain. I believe in clean power (no not solar or wind!) being the foundation for good audio. I have banished all SMPS from my chain, everything is plugged into a Sound applications PGI 240 TT-7 power conditioner which is plugged into a dedicated circuit. My music server is Audio linux based, fan-less, low noise, low latency server with the mother board and CPU powered separately by LPS. Most of my music is not streamed but my server is on an isolated network. Most of my music is upsampled to 705/768k. I use fiber with USB endpoint and dual BNC through SRC-DX to connect to DAVE . This way I can isolate the server better from DAVE and the USB endpoint is powered separately by LPS. My DAVE is powered by DC4 ARC-6. To keep things relevant to LCD-5, I do not want to go off into the weeds discussing merits of conditioners, LPS etc I think there are threads and forums for that.

 

[Nitrium]

Story of my life, until this week. My order arrived Wednesday. Been listening and formulating impressions.

From Headphones.com?

 

[All Day Breakfast]

Deleted

 

[betula]

I simply do not have enough time to keep up with this thread. The daily amount of posts is simply insane.

In a way I guess it says a lot about the interest in the LCD5.

Currently I run RME-ADI2 and Soloist 3XP with super charger. My impression is this would be a minimum setup for the LCD5. Perhaps I should stay happy with my D8K. While I absolutely love Audeze sound, I am not sure if my current system would bring out the most of the LCD5.

 

[adrianm]

For my personal listening (I also use this for evaluating headphones), here is my chain. I believe in clean power (no not solar or wind!) being the foundation for good audio. I have banished all SMPS from my chain, everything is plugged into a Sound applications PGI 240 TT-7 power conditioner which is plugged into a dedicated circuit. My music server is Audio linux based, fan-less, low noise, low latency server with the mother board and CPU powered separately by LPS. Most of my music is not streamed but my server is on an isolated network. Most of my music is upsampled to 705/768k. I use fiber with USB endpoint and dual BNC through SRC-DX to connect to DAVE . This way I can isolate the server better from DAVE and the USB endpoint is powered separately by LPS. My DAVE is powered by DC4 ARC-6. To keep things relevant to LCD-5, I do not want to go off into the weeds discussing merits of conditioners, LPS etc I think there are threads and forums for that.

Thanks, that's very informative. No worries, I just got out of the weeds, i've had enough for quite a while . Just to keep this on-topic, sounds like you also agree that the chain does matter