Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[chargedcapacitor]

very preliminary impression: am i the only one feeling that the bass has very good texture? it gives similar rumble in the bass region i only heard from the SUS and HEKSE so far! very smooth and top tier resolution too.

No, that's what the LCD line is known for. Try giving them a bass boost with EQ, you'll be treated to some of the cleanest and most detailed bass you can get in a headphone.

 

[EMINENT]

just strike a a very good deal and got a pair of almost pristine LCD-5 from a local trading forum (the seller just bought at the end of May!). just got it home and happily enjoying/running in right now.

very preliminary impression: am i the only one feeling that the bass has very good texture? it gives similar rumble in the bass region i only heard from the SUS and HEKSE so far! very smooth and top tier resolution too. i only tried both lcd-5 and 4z in the local distributor showroom once when i took my AK TWS for repair there. the weight saving (also a tad smaller overall) is very obvious. it feels even lighter than the utopia and construction seems very solid. all in all, everything is positive so far

Congrats and nice collection!

 

[shwnwllms]

After a few days of listening to my VC's and UM MEXT, I was craving more bass and now I'm back on my bull. (searching for the perfect low shelf to add to Mitch's convolution). What's better than 1 low shelf? 2 low shelves of course...pulled from Resolve v3. It works out quite nice.

Stock Mitch filter in green for reference, w/ low shelves added in blue. FR is identical at about 300 Hz on up, with only a slight dip at 100 Hz. Detail and clarity is intact with great bass and sub bass extension. Doesn't seem to be a trade off in the mids or highs as I experienced with other settings, possibly due to the tighter Q value of 1.41 vs 0.71 I was using before.

Preamp -5.2dB
LS Fc 42 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.41
LS Fc 83 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 1.41

For HQPlayer users @EMINENT (add the preamp in the pipeline matrix on each channel, comma after Mitches filter then add the string below)

iir:type=lshelf;f=42;g=1.5;q=1.41,iir:type=lshelf;f=83;g=3.0;q=1.41

EDITED - Changed Preamp to -5.2dB

 

[mikecheck95]

Tried these for the first time today. This was the first summit-fi can I’ve ever demoed. Speed and resolution were very impressive. Sense of dynamics was great. Incredibly focused sound signature… might not be for everyone although I loved it. Maybe not perfect for someone looking for the widest soundstage. But clarity tops the HD800S and LCD-X and is noticeable after seconds of switching over. Officially a “believer” in “detail”.

 

[EMINENT]

After a few days of listening to my VC's and UM MEXT, I was craving more bass and now I'm back on my bull. (searching for the perfect low shelf to add to Mitch's convolution). What's better than 1 low shelf? 2 low shelves of course...pulled from Resolve v3. It works out quite nice.

Stock Mitch filter in green for reference, w/ low shelves added in blue. FR is identical at about 300k on up, with only a slight dip at 100k. Detail and clarity is intact with great bass and sub bass extension. Doesn't seem to be a trade off in the mids or highs as I experienced with other settings, possibly due to the tighter Q value of 1.41 vs 0.71 I was using before.

Preamp -3.0dB
LS Fc 42 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.41
LS Fc 83 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 1.41

For HQPlayer users @EMINENT (add the preamp in the pipeline matrix on each channel, comma after Mitches filter then add the string below)

I dabbled with that double low shelf approach from Oratory a bit early on but went back to the single shelf for simplicity sake. I'll give your setting a try tonight when I get off work.
I reached out to Mitch earlier this month about creating a bass version like the TC where he did two versions and he said after TC he is focusing on only neutral as it is a great starting point to dial in bass preference as volume levels affect the amount each of us perceives.

I agree with this and appreciate you forming a preference in comparison to your VC and Mest. That should dial it in good for you.

 

[shwnwllms]

I dabbled with that double low shelf approach from Oratory a bit early on but went back to the single shelf for simplicity sake. I'll give your setting a try tonight when I get off work.
I reached out to Mitch earlier this month about creating a bass version like the TC where he did two versions and he said after TC he is focusing on only neutral as it is a great starting point to dial in bass preference as volume levels affect the amount each of us perceives.

I agree with this and appreciate you forming a preference in comparison to your VC and Mest. That should dial it in good for you.

Let me know your thoughts. It’s definitely the best I’ve heard it when adding a low shelf. I had gone back to the purist approach awhile ago since that was how Mitch intended it.

FWIW I contemplated reaching out to Mitch as well about him adding a low shelf version or asking advice on best method to accomplish it with his convolution. Got close to writing him a couple of times actually but always decided not to. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one thinking of going straight to the source. Kinda figured he would shoot me down for some reason so I never reached out lol

 

[TheFrator]

Officially a “believer” in “detail”.

Yeah "detail" is one of those audio terms that's a bit nebulous and is easy for reviewers to say a product has without explaining too much.

Preamp -3.0dB
LS Fc 42 Hz Gain 1.5 dB Q 1.41
LS Fc 83 Hz Gain 3.0 dB Q 1.41

Going to give this a spin tonight

 

[mikecheck95]

Yeah "detail" is one of those audio terms that's a bit nebulous and is easy for reviewers to say a product has without explaining too much.

I think it’s easy for people early in their audio journey to dismiss the idea of technical performance because they have not experienced it. It’s definitely a more subtle thing than frequency response for instance but… can’t say I’m not saving for an LCD-5 now.

 

[EMINENT]

Let me know your thoughts. It’s definitely the best I’ve heard it when adding a low shelf. I had gone back to the purist approach awhile ago since that was how Mitch intended it.

FWIW I contemplated reaching out to Mitch as well about him adding a low shelf version or asking advice on best method to accomplish it with his convolution. Got close to writing him a couple of times actually but always decided not to. Glad to hear I wasn’t the only one thinking of going straight to the source. Kinda figured he would shoot me down for some reason so I never reached out lol

Oh oh, I think you forgot to add the negative preamp for the extra shelf.
Shouldn't it be -5.2?

 

[shwnwllms]

Oh oh, I think you forgot to add the negative preamp for the extra shelf.
Shouldn't it be -5.2?

I added -3.0 dB for the preamp, per channel in the HQP pipeline matrix (as that is the offset to the highest boost) but it doesn’t hurt to add a bit more. I didn’t hear any clipping at -3.0dB (this is on top of the -3.0 dB attenuation for HQP used regardless)

 

[nwavesailor]

I think it’s easy for people early in their audio journey to dismiss the idea of technical performance because they have not experienced it. It’s definitely a more subtle thing than frequency response for instance but… can’t say I’m not saving for an LCD-5 now.

You're right, frequency response is a tough one. I think if someone hears the LCD-5 and a less 'detailed' hp it will be obvious to most anyone what detail and clarity are!

 

[TheFrator]

You're right, frequency response is a tough one. I think if someone hears the LCD-5 and a less 'detailed' hp it will be obvious to most anyone what detail and clarity are!

Detail is an ignorance is bliss type situation. Can't know what you're missing if you've never experienced it before.

 

[EMINENT]

I added -3.0 dB for the preamp, per channel in the HQP pipeline matrix (as that is the offset to the highest boost) but it doesn’t hurt to add a bit more. I didn’t hear any clipping at -3.0dB (this is on top of the -3.0 dB attenuation for HQP used regardless)

The highest boost would be valid for one shelf but if you see the EAPO graphs with just -3, the double low shelf is over by 2.2db on the graph when adding another low shelf.

Just basing this off of Oratory's double shelf pre gain.

 

[shwnwllms]

The highest boost would be valid for one shelf but if you see the EAPO graphs with just -3, the double low shelf is over by 2.2db on the graph when adding another low shelf.

Just basing this off of Oratory's double shelf pre gain.

I’m deferring to your judgment on this, but -5.2dB sounds correct. I pulled them from Resolve v3 which used a -5.0dB preamp. If Equalizer APO is saying -5.2dB then I’d use that. I’m going to switch mine up in the morning and see if it makes a difference. I’m running mine through HQP which has -3.0dB preamp setting before any EQ is applied so that might explain why I’m not getting clipping if I’m only using a -3.0 dB preamp setting in the matrix (since I have -6.0dB headroom total)

 

[EMINENT]

I’m deferring to your judgment on this, but -5.2dB sounds correct. I pulled them from Resolve v3 which used a -5.0dB preamp. If Equalizer APO is saying -5.2dB then I’d use that. I’m going to switch mine up in the morning and see if it makes a difference. I’m running mine through HQP which has -3.0dB preamp setting before any EQ is applied so that might explain why I’m not getting clipping if I’m only using a -3.0 dB preamp setting in the matrix (since I have -6.0dB headroom total)

So, I spent a few hours evaluating this and several variations last night and this afternoon. I'd say it's tough to adjust to something once your mind is set on near perfection for the past few weeks.

In comparison to my preset reference: Low Shelf 3.3db 80Hz 0.75Q, High Shelf 10,000kHz .5db 1.41Q
(Edited low shelf Q just a tad few hours after posting)
After evaluating more as of 7.14.22: Low Shelf 3.2db 85 Hz .77Q, High Shelf 10500kHz .5db 2Q
After evaluating more as of 7.16.22: Low Shelf 3.3db 80 Hz .72Q, High Shelf 10000kHz .5db 1.4Q
After evaluating more as of 7.17.22: Low Shelf 3.4db 80 Hz .80Q, High Shelf 10000kHz .5db 1.4Q
(Interesting how this changes day to day, but very similar down to a db/q change.)

For most of the tracks the double shelf worked, sounded fine (or some variation of it) and I got to one and few others and remembered what I loved about the sound wasn't quite there and it became a quest to tweak.
The first difference is bass db level as I prefer a bit more and have grown accustomed to it. The second as I found previously messing with Oratory's double shelf approach is that it presents bass with less decay, which I perceived or would describe as less lower mids while still having good punch and slam. What I have been used to is a presentation that had a slight decay that felt more authoritative, thick, full bodied and blended better with the mids to me. In each variation with increasing db or Q value, I got close to what I had been used to, but not quite so ultimately kept going back to reference. Nothing wrong with this as this is all just preference. It could be the chain, where you have more bass inflected than I do with your gear or my preference is outside audiophile standards, whatever the case.

This leads me to appreciate more how great this filter is as a baseline to customize from. I've tried with and without the high shelf along with many variations and it is great as is but still not my bass level. What I was using just hits the spot, at least to my ears.

What's funny is I started this journey to hear some great all around bass for breakbeat, hip hop, some vocals. Now, I find myself just loving the lush vocals and midrange to the point of addiction with music I would never have listened to before. I also found that I love pop apparently, lol. Especially female vocals going from hearing to feeling. Absurd.

Example track was on Charli XCX - "What I Like" @ :20 and on.
The fullness and body of that riff led to a more engaging, flowing musicality with my tweaks while in comparison bass had slam but lacked the connection to the lower mids to give that extra body and authority that made it the musical, energetic listen I love feeling.

Some other test tracks I recently discovered and love:
Olivia Rodrigo - Deja Vu
Camila Cabello - Inside Out
Emili Sande - Super Human
Charli XCX - Every Rule
Carlie Hanson - Us
Lights - Jaws
Griff - Shade of Yello
Sigrid - Dancer
Maisie Peters - April Showers
Kehlani - Altar