Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[chargedcapacitor]

Even with EQ, the bass on the LCD-5's doesn't reach the output levels of the Elites. They are just tuned so differently. EQ does make the LCD-5's bass that much more enjoyable.

You're not explaining your test setup

 

[Slim1970]

You're not explaining your test setup

Chord M-Scaler to Chord Dave. XLR out of the Dave to a Shiit Lokius. XLR out of the Lokius to HeadAmp GS-X MK2.

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Chord M-Scaler to Chord Dave. XLR out of the Dave to a Shiit Lokius. XLR out of the Lokius to HeadAmp GS-X MK2.

How did you A/B test the headphones? Did you just an SPL meter to ensure both cans were playing at the same noise level at the bass frequencies? Or did you test at the loudest level while playing music?

 

[yolosauce]

I found that the 5 gets the best bass response when you wear them tight on your head. They're uncomfortable at first but you get used to it. Headphones like the Susvara you can have a relaxed/loose fit and still have great sub bass.

 

[nwavesailor]

My 5 are arriving tomorrow! I posted that a lot of people like to EQ the 5. Some agreed and others said not really necessary.

I am using an iPod Touch (latest gen) iPhone 11 or iPad for source fed into a TT2 / MS + BB tube amp with my own music or Tidal.
Is Roon the way to go to get a good EQ for this application if I go that route after trying the 5? I use a sus and T+A P now w/o the need for EQ.

 

[EMINENT]

Whoa mama!

 

[senseitedj]

Ok, so for bass bloom elite has more and LCD 5 has clearer definition

For percussive instruments, drums specifically, which of the two communicates a sense of impact the most?

I remember the utopia doing especially well conveying the impact of drums to HPs . it resolved the snap and crackle of the drums quite well

 

[cantara256]

My 5 are arriving tomorrow! I posted that a lot of people like to EQ the 5. Some agreed and others said not really necessary.

I am using an iPod Touch (latest gen) iPhone 11 or iPad for source fed into a TT2 / MS + BB tube amp with my own music or Tidal.
Is Roon the way to go to get a good EQ for this application if I go that route after trying the 5? I use a sus and T+A P now w/o the need for EQ.

It's not available yet for the 5, but the Roon presets for the LCD-4 and LCDi4 are great, same with the Reveal plugin, which gives you near infinite customization. These headphones sound fantastic without EQ but the presets make them even better.

In the meantime Roon's parametric EQ is what I plan to use. It's pretty easy to copy other's EQ or fiddle with your own.

 

[Slim1970]

How did you A/B test the headphones? Did you just an SPL meter to ensure both cans were playing at the same noise level at the bass frequencies? Or did you test at the loudest level while playing music?

You really don't need a SPL meter because it's pretty obvious that the bass is bigger on the Elite's just by playing music. Volume matching won't help the bass output disparity these two headphones.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Are you referring to bass slam as bass bloom? The LCD-4 series has slightly more "bloom" in the bass which, if the volume is not equalized in the proper bass region, can give the LCD-4 series cans a more enveloping bass sound, even though the bass is not as tight or detailed as the LCD-5's.

What is your method of SPL equalizing between each headphone to determine this result? One non-standardizing method I found to quickly test bass detail and bass impact was to listen to a fast pace rock song, like something from Pantera. In cans with lower quality bass, the kick drum will get lost in the rest of the chorus, while the LCD-5 can keep the low end percussion separated from the rest of the mix.

Ah sorry, I should describe more detail.

For me bass bloom would be refer to bass body and decay, so yeah, both LCD 4 and Elite definitely has more of them, although still controlled well. LCD-5 being more "discipline" and tighter.

Slam, or I refer as impact, when bass tone hit harder, LCD-5 is pretty good here. Bass is deep, very quick, rich of texture, and feels really dense. My usual "bass" songs to test are Safri Duo (Samb Adagio) from Dali CD2, The Chainsmokers (The One), O-Zone Percussion Group (Jazz Variants). For bass songs with high speed tempo, I'd give a nod to LCD-5 rather than Elite.

Anyway, today I tried with lesser set up, and dare I say LCD-5 is "more forgiving" compare to Diana Phi in term of finding synergy. Even a small Topping A30PRO sound nice here.

 

[Benno1988]

I've been told my set will arrive Friday, and the big head headband will come with it, for me to install myself. We shall see!

 

[Barone Birra]

Unbelievably good with my Benchmark stack (DAC3 + HPA4)...

 

[chargedcapacitor]

You really don't need a SPL meter because it's pretty obvious that the bass is bigger on the Elite's just by playing music. Volume matching won't help the bass output disparity these two headphones.

I disagree completely. Without any sort of empirical testing, you can't accurately make a determination. Without compensating for the dip in mids on the elite, you run into the same exact situation with the comparison of bass on the LCD-4, which I have already explained in this post:

The exposed size of the drive is the same on the LCD-5 as the LCD-4, as per direct quote from Audeze. The reason you hear more bass on the LCD-4 is because the volume relative to the frequency response is more even, which allows you to hear more bass comparatively. If you volume match both headphones at 300 Hz, you might actually find that the LCD-5 has slightly harder hitting bass impact, with less bass bloom. Unfortunately, the mids will be extremely loud in comparison on the LCD-5.

If you are opposed to using EQ, then the LCD-5 might not be the headphone for you, since you seem to be accustomed to the recessed mids of the LCD-4.

Also, what does "bass is bigger" even mean? Bigger in sound stage? Bigger in SPL?

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Also, what does "bass is bigger" even mean? Bigger in sound stage? Bigger in SPL?

Make it simple, Elite has bigger bass body than LCD-5. Like a truck is bigger than a SUV. That's it.

LCD-5 has more "sharp punch" in bass section though.

 

[TheMiddleSky]

Audeze LCD-5 vs Abyss Diana Phi:

Similarities:
- Both headphone focus on neutral character, with balance to mid centric presentation.
- Excel at speed, tight and neat decay through all spectrum. Give them a complex and fast classical song, from deep rumble low bass notes, busy midrange area, and plenty detail on treble, they will play it effortlessly.

- Front row / On stage presentation, we sit very close to the performance. The extreme left and right actually still wide, but the singer is always close to us.
- Soundstage is more about being wide rather depth, but overall still "balance" in soundstage shape.

- None of them give super airy feeling like Hifiman
- All notes feel very dense, packed, and solid. Good impact and bite.

- They are intense. Better to use these headphones for pure music listening rather while doing something else.
- Lightweight on my head, definitely nice achievement from Audeze

- Love both of them for vocal jazz, rock, pop, acoustic (basically my day to day playlist)

Differences:
- Diana Phi seems more solid in build quality due to metal housing. Magnet pad on Diana is simply better than glued pad on Audeze.
- Audeze LCD-5 clamp harder on my head. A bit annoyed me for the first 5 minutes, but after that everything seems fine, until I took the headphone from my head, suddenly the pressure release feels nice. So Diana Phi wins in term of comfort for me.

- Diana Phi is closer to neutral for me even though the differences actually not that much. Audeze has one extra thin layer of warmness through all spectrum.
- Audeze produce bigger bass body (even compared to Diana V2), although I won't either of them suit basshead. Definitely less bass quantity compare something like LCD-4Z.

- Lower midrange has more presence with LCD-5, nice touch here. Audeze remove "the veil" on LCD-4Z, but overall tonality still full, nowhere lack of body.
- LCD-5 actually a little more relax here, perhaps the extra thin of warmness create this effect.

- Diana Phi seems cleaner in black background quality. If Diana Phi is pure black, then LCD-5 has a tint of dark grey.
- What surprise me the most, LCD-5 produce even better micro detail than Diana Phi!

- Diana Phi is more airy between the two, combine with cleaner black background, make overall sound more transparent and "fresh" (imagine fresh water).
- I don't think LCD-5 has deeper bass, but I do agree low sub bass notes has bigger presence.

- LCD5 is more forgiving towards bad recording, or lesser set up.
- I'd slight prefer Diana Phi with good audiophile recording, vocal jazz, acoustic and instrument. Will prefer LCD5 for pop, rock, metal, blues, and surfing random songs on tidal/spotify.

- LCD5 create a little wider imaging, but Diana Phi has a little better depth presentation. It always feels snare drum located closer to the back of singer with LCD5.
- LCD-5 has even more forward midrange presentation.

Tested using Chord TT2 direct from front output.

That is all! Now let me get back to listen LCD5 more