Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[438555]

I've done a few tests this week with the LCD4 and LCD5, I agree the 5's can't do bass like the 4. Sorry, they can't. I'm sending my 5's back and keeping the 4. Now the 5 is tighter and faster, but just aren't my preference. I like the slightly slower decay of the 4. And the increased bass level fits the genres I use them for. When I want fast, tight bass I'll grab the CRBN. I prefer the CRBN over the 5 for its warmer signature. Never thought I would say that about an electrostatic, but here we are. Just my preference, nothing wrong with the 5, just not for me.

So I only have the 2 and the 5, and I don’t find the 5 lacking in bass. I find it definitely better than the 2, esp. without EQ. But I skipped over the 3 and 4, and bought the 5 based on love of the 2 once I EQ’d it.
Pretty much every headphone I do an <80 Hz bass shelf. The only one I’ve seen (not heard) is the Stealth, that *might* not need this.

 

[paradoxper]

We're talking about the same headphone. The amps (Violectric v281, Formula S) are not broken (unless they're both broken in the same way, I suppose). I've also tried them with the big Burson and the Headamp GSX mini. The headphones not broken. The 5's simply have a bass limit. They are more "refined", but there is demonstrably less bass quantity and that's not debatable. Whether you encounter that limit and experience said distortion is a function of the genres and tracks you listen to and at what volume level. I find most here are listening to variants or rock, which will not encounter this issue.

As I said, the 4's do not encounter this issue.


Yea this doesn't mean anything at all. Again, it's all about the genres and songs you listen to. If your music isn't pushing the bass limits...you won't encounter the bass limits. Rock won't get you there. EDM won't get you there. Jazz and classical won't get you there. Tyga's Faded (youtube.com/watch?v=05BpR2W2268) is an example of a track that will tax your 5's in a different way at medium-high volume.

Ha. You need the Abyss in your life.

 

[Slim1970]

Yea this doesn't mean anything at all. Again, it's all about the genres and songs you listen to. If your music isn't pushing the bass limits...you won't encounter the bass limits. Rock won't get you there. EDM won't get you there. Jazz and classical won't get you there. Tyga's Faded (youtube.com/watch?v=05BpR2W2268) is an example of a track that will tax your 5's in a different way at medium-high volume.

Can't really argue with you there. My LCD-4z's have a different type of bass than the LCD-5's. For deep hard hitting bass I prefer my LCD-4z's, Elites, Z1R's or TC's. They all have a stronger bass output, but the LCD-5's plays bass cleaner with more detail.

 

[Roasty]

Can't really argue with you there. My LCD-4z's have a different type of bass than the LCD-5's. For deep hard hitting bass I prefer my LCD-4z's, Elites, Z1R's or TC's. They all have a stronger bass output, but the LCD-5's plays bass cleaner with more detail.

U find the Elites have better bass than the LCD5?
one of the reasons i sold the Elites was because i felt it was lacking on the low end (in amount and punch) and songs where i know there is going to be some nice bass, well, just felt a bit anaemic with the Elite.

 

[betula]

U find the Elites have better bass than the LCD5?
one of the reasons i sold the Elites was because i felt it was lacking on the low end (in amount and punch) and songs where i know there is going to be some nice bass, well, just felt a bit anaemic with the Elite.

I think, with both the LCD5 and the Elite a lot depends on system synergy. Bass quantity can slightly differ depending on the amp. Generally I found that the Elite has more bass, and the LCD5 is leaner down there, unlike the previous LCDs. LCD5 is very clean and very fast with good impact, but out of a Dave, or a Burson 3XP the Elite has more bass. While I find the LCD5 a technically more advanced headphone than the LCD4 or Elite, sonically I would also prefer the LCD4 or Elite to the LCD5. The LCD5 is just a very different direction to ultimate neutrality and technical advancement. Different strokes for different folks.

 

[Roasty]

I think, with both the LCD5 and the Elite a lot depends on system synergy. Bass quantity can slightly differ depending on the amp. Generally I found that the Elite has more bass, and the LCD5 is leaner down there, unlike the previous LCDs. LCD5 is very clean and very fast with good impact, but out of a Dave, or a Burson 3XP the Elite has more bass. While I find the LCD5 a technically more advanced headphone than the LCD4 or Elite, sonically I would also prefer the LCD4 or Elite to the LCD5. The LCD5 is just a very different direction to ultimate neutrality and technical advancement. Different strokes for different folks.

Thanks for the insight! I was considering the lcd5 especially after they started offering an updated headband (I tried on the lcd5 and the usual headband made it clamp too hard for me, such that I didn't even demo music on it) but I think I might just give it a pass..

 

[ObjectiveSubjectivist]

Lots of confusion going here about "bass".
People don't realize how much things can influence our bass perception - or rather I should say how people feel about bass and describe it and what is important to them. And also there is a lot of meaning of words "bigger/better bass".
Everybody understand this in their own way. So as always listen with your own ears.
Whole FR affects how we perceive sound.

 

[Slim1970]

U find the Elites have better bass than the LCD5?
one of the reasons i sold the Elites was because i felt it was lacking on the low end (in amount and punch) and songs where i know there is going to be some nice bass, well, just felt a bit anaemic with the Elite.

I didn't say better, but it's definitely bigger, more extended, moves a tremendous amount of air, and more fun. The LCD-5's bass is more technical, dynamic and taunt.

 

[zen87192]

Pigtail adaptors arriving today. This will enable me to finally connect the LCD-5 to the TT2 from XLR to 6.3mm. Also from XLR to 4.4mm Balanced so I can go straight in to my DAP’s as well. Can’t wait!

 

[zen87192]

Received my XLR 4 PIN to 4.4mm Balanced cable. Connected my LCD-5 to the M17 via DC Direct and listening via Enhanced Over Ear mode.... Wow!!! Love it so far... no EQ needed as of yet for me.

 

[warrenpchi]

This is how I hear the LCD-5’s as well. The bass is well defined and very textured. I’ve got the MHA200 with Mullard 6201 tubes
and the pairing is simply outstanding

You have excellent taste sir! I am running almost that exact rig ATM (sans MScalar). It's both technical and sublime at the same time.

 

[EMINENT]

I've done a few tests this week with the LCD4 and LCD5, I agree the 5's can't do bass like the 4. Sorry, they can't. I'm sending my 5's back and keeping the 4. Now the 5 is tighter and faster, but just aren't my preference. I like the slightly slower decay of the 4. And the increased bass level fits the genres I use them for. When I want fast, tight bass I'll grab the CRBN. I prefer the CRBN over the 5 for its warmer signature. Never thought I would say that about an electrostatic, but here we are. Just my preference, nothing wrong with the 5, just not for me.

i just gave this song a listen. it is the first time i've heard it, so am not sure if what i'm hearing is what i should be hearing.
when you refer to the bass drop at 1.34, what do you hear? is it supposed to be a loud thumping punchy bass or a lowish volume soft note with mostly sub-bass rumble kinda sound?

Are either of you using eq? The sub bass in those tracks sound fine to me using .5db increase on Resolve's V2 eq. I can dial in more rumble, or even double up and add some XBass with the new iCan Signature to get even more of a head massage effect if I want.

Have any of you tried to match levels with eq or are you just going off stock vs stock? Because I agree, it won't win any bass awards stock.

 

[MatW]

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[chargedcapacitor]

Are either of you using eq? The sub bass in those tracks sound fine to me using .5db increase on Resolve's V2 eq. I can dial in more rumble, or even double up and add some XBass with the new iCan Signature to get even more of a head massage effect if I want.

Have any of you tried to match levels with eq or are you just going off stock vs stock? Because I agree, it won't win any bass awards stock.

Running stock, the LCD-5 will have much quieter bass than the LCD-4 and other headphones due to the actual mid presence in the 5. This is what most listeners are hearing when they compare the two headphones. Add the fact that the LCD-5 has harder pads which may form a less perfect seal than the softer LCD-4 pads, and you have a recipe for lower bass perception upon first listen, even though the drivers are almost identical in real performance. Anyone complaining about the LCD-5 bass has not used EQ, and likely wont.

 

[cantara256]

The LCD-5 isn't tuned to have the same bass emphasis the LCD-4 has, so the 5's stock tuning may seem underwhelming to bass heads.

However as others have stated... the quality of the LCD-5 bass is far superior to the 4. And with some EQ the 5 can have as much bass quantity as you want. Anyone feeling the 5 "lacks bass" should try either Resolve/Chrono's EQ, or a simple bass shelf, and listen again.

I loved my LCD-4, but there's no way it's "better" than the 5. The 5 has more detail, impact, clarity... it's just better in every way.

To my ears of course.