Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[karlheinz147]

The LCD-5 equalizes better than any headphone I have ever tried. After trying many of the recommended equalizing options recommended here- I find that all of them to one degree or another make the sound closer to that of the TC. In fact- my favorite options are the one that get it closest to the TC sound.

My question to myself- is what do I gain by getting a 90% duplicate sound to my TC after EQ on the 5? I still prefer the TC, although the 5 with EQ is a close contender and does have the advantage of unlimited volume with zero distortion. I'm not sue this is enough of a reason to keep it.

I am still on the fence for a second headphone to go with my TC. Susvara is to soft; I tried it twice and it will not work for my tastes. LCD-5 is much better in this regard- but still not better than the TC overall. I am certinly not getting a new amp. for the SR1a or CRBN. I am getting closer and closer to accepting that the TC is the holy grail for me. I guess- this is not so bad.

What Amp/DAC do you use to drive your TC?

 

[rsbrsvp]

What Amp/DAC do you use to drive your TC?

audio-gd HE-9. I however have a Kevin Gilmore CFA-3 hybrid on order to replace it.

 

[Currawong]

audio-gd HE-9. I however have a Kevin Gilmore CFA-3 hybrid on order to replace it.

OT, but I'd be curious to know what you think of them in comparison.

 

[rsbrsvp]

what does "OT" stand for?

 

[rsbrsvp]

Off topic?

 

[LogicSound]

Resolve compares headphones with their respective EQ profiles applied; he's made a video explaining how he compared headphones. I would agree otherwise, the LCD-X without EQ is pretty wonky, and imo many headphones easily outclass it without EQ.

Examples for Headphones that outclass the LCD-X for your opinion?

 

[Olmanwood123]

Considering it. I am still in a honeymoon phase with my 009S and to a degree, the 007, so let's see.

But exploring stats and their compatibility / synergy with different sources, as I honestly think they are far more chain picky than dynamics and planars.

I have a couple of DACs at home now to try with stats: the May and the Dave. Will be doing an impressions vid soon.

I am also going to get a Terminator II as a loaner and the dCS Bartok and see how stats fare with them. I most likely won't keep the Bartok due to price-to-performance having heard it before, but want to settle down with a stable stable soon, so to speak, hence looking to try as much as possible.

You should look at a Weiss Dac501 or 502. They are pretty special.

 

[Slim1970]

The LCD-5 equalizes better than any headphone I have ever tried. After trying many of the recommended equalizing options recommended here- I find that all of them to one degree or another make the sound closer to that of the TC. In fact- my favorite options are the one that get it closest to the TC sound.

My question to myself- is what do I gain by getting a 90% duplicate sound to my TC after EQ on the 5? I still prefer the TC, although the 5 with EQ is a close contender and does have the advantage of unlimited volume with zero distortion. I'm not sue this is enough of a reason to keep it.

I am still on the fence for a second headphone to go with my TC. Susvara is to soft; I tried it twice and it will not work for my tastes. LCD-5 is much better in this regard- but still not better than the TC overall. I am certinly not getting a new amp. for the SR1a or CRBN. I am getting closer and closer to accepting that the TC is the holy grail for me. I guess- this is not so bad.

It's going to be tough to beat the sound of the TC. I don't think there is a headphone out at the moment that sounds or performs like it.

 

[rsbrsvp]

It's going to be tough to beat the sound of the TC. I don't think there is a headphone out at the moment that sounds or performs like it.

I have quit trying to better the TC. It is to my taste- the best- period. I am just considering a second headphone that is very different- even though it will not be technically equal. Maybe a closed headphone? Maybe a dynamic headphone? Maybe- nothing. Can you imagine that?

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Examples for Headphones that outclass the LCD-X for your opinion?

Tonally, the Arya, Focal Clear, And Verite without EQ. The LCD-X becomes more competitive when EQ is used.

 

[dleblanc343]

How do owners of Utopia and the LCD5 feel about how they compare?



I got the Utopia in for a review and will do comparisons hopefully.

Hey Sajit I've actually compared my LCD5 with 3 different pairs of Utopia (I own an early rev, a 2020 version, and a friend brought his late pre-2020 version).

What is shocking is that there is just as much if not more variance in my earliest rev Utopia and 2020, as there is between it and LCD5.

Ultimately I rank in terms of natural reproduction as follows Old Utopia > LCD5 Non-EQ'd> 2020 Utopia = Friend's Utopia > LCD5 Resolve's older EQ

If re-ranking in terms of dynamics it changes quite a bit: 2020 Utopia = Friend's Utopia > Old Utopia > LCD5 Resolve's older EQ > LCD5

LCD5 and Utopia are very very similar headphones, which is surprising given the different driver techs - we're talking the 2 respective closest to baseline neutral available to market, yet both have a very slight coloration.

LCD5 is ruler flat with a slightly rolled off/ darker treble. The LCD5 without EQ is very fast, e-stat like really, and can come across as both warm yet dry and ever slightly lean.

Utopia is a just a smidge more generous in its midbass, then a bit of a lower treble rise. This gives it a neutral tuning with a bit more sharpness and the midbass hump is more a trait of the dynamic driver's response. The Utopia is both richer and sharper in its presentation, and has better timbre overall.

If one prefers the LCD5; they would find the Utopia to sound narrow in its left to right stage, reaching less deep in its sub bass and a bit metallic in the treble, maybe even bright.

Utopia has better resolution; LCD5 is more detailed.

LCD5 prefers SS amps; Utopia meshes nicely on tube, and very warm SS.

If one prefers the Utopia; they would find the LCD5 to lack depth image/stage, crossfeed focus, a bass response which is a bit too fast in decay, upper mids a bit more shouty and a large lack of airiness.

Both headphones are a must with copper ideally, but LCD5 with EQ benefits from silver cables to help with the softer treble. Stock LCD5 with Silver becomes to brittle sounding.

 

[Sajid Amit]

Hey Sajit I've actually compared my LCD5 with 3 different pairs of Utopia (I own an early rev, a 2020 version, and a friend brought his late pre-2020 version).

What is shocking is that there is just as much if not more variance in my earliest rev Utopia and 2020, as there is between it and LCD5.

Ultimately I rank in terms of natural reproduction as follows Old Utopia > LCD5 Non-EQ'd> 2020 Utopia = Friend's Utopia > LCD5 Resolve's older EQ

If re-ranking in terms of dynamics it changes quite a bit: 2020 Utopia = Friend's Utopia > Old Utopia > LCD5 Resolve's older EQ > LCD5

LCD5 and Utopia are very very similar headphones, which is surprising given the different driver techs - we're talking the 2 respective closest to baseline neutral available to market, yet both have a very slight coloration.

LCD5 is ruler flat with a slightly rolled off/ darker treble. The LCD5 without EQ is very fast, e-stat like really, and can come across as both warm yet dry and ever slightly lean.

Utopia is a just a smidge more generous in its midbass, then a bit of a lower treble rise. This gives it a neutral tuning with a bit more sharpness and the midbass hump is more a trait of the dynamic driver's response. The Utopia is both richer and sharper in its presentation, and has better timbre overall.

If one prefers the LCD5; they would find the Utopia to sound narrow in its left to right stage, reaching less deep in its sub bass and a bit metallic in the treble, maybe even bright.

Utopia has better resolution; LCD5 is more detailed.

LCD5 prefers SS amps; Utopia meshes nicely on tube, and very warm SS.

If one prefers the Utopia; they would find the LCD5 to lack depth image/stage, crossfeed focus, a bass response which is a bit too fast in decay, upper mids a bit more shouty and a large lack of airiness.

Both headphones are a must with copper ideally, but LCD5 with EQ benefits from silver cables to help with the softer treble. Stock LCD5 with Silver becomes to brittle sounding.

Agree. My findings are very similar.

What tube amps do you like with the Utopia? I hear the Euforia is quite nice.

 

[LogicSound]

Tonally, the Arya, Focal Clear, And Verite without EQ. The LCD-X becomes more competitive when EQ is used.

Even for bass response? I think maybe that is depends on the genres.

 

[chargedcapacitor]

Even for bass response? I think maybe that is depends on the genres.

That is why I started off by saying "tonally".

 

[jlbrach]

The LCD-5 equalizes better than any headphone I have ever tried. After trying many of the recommended equalizing options recommended here- I find that all of them to one degree or another make the sound closer to that of the TC. In fact- my favorite options are the one that get it closest to the TC sound.

My question to myself- is what do I gain by getting a 90% duplicate sound to my TC after EQ on the 5? I still prefer the TC, although the 5 with EQ is a close contender and does have the advantage of unlimited volume with zero distortion. I'm not sue this is enough of a reason to keep it.

I am still on the fence for a second headphone to go with my TC. Susvara is to soft; I tried it twice and it will not work for my tastes. LCD-5 is much better in this regard- but still not better than the TC overall. I am certinly not getting a new amp. for the SR1a or CRBN. I am getting closer and closer to accepting that the TC is the holy grail for me. I guess- this is not so bad.

I am at a loss as to why somebody who loves and already owns a TC would want to spend a lot of money for a different HP and then try to adjust its tuning to be that of the TC....I however dont get this whole obsession with trying to make HP's into different tunings with EQ...I am not criticizing anyone who does it...I just dont get it