Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[Ragnar-BY]

Seems like there’s a lot of talk of EQ for these headphones.

It depends on listener, not on headphones. I’m fine without EQ and never felt that it was needed for LCD5. Some people are trying to make LCD5 sound like LCD4. Some EQ absolutely everything.

 

[shwnwllms]

I’m just blindly jumping in here after skimming some pages. Seems like there’s a lot of talk of EQ for these headphones. Jw if the general consensus is these need EQ or do a good chunk of people like these with no EQ?

It depends. They need less EQ than other Audeze planars, however they definitely benefit from EQ (and are designed in order to take EQ well). Sure you can use them with no EQ, but if you have Roon there are presets now. I would say the majority of those who end up keeping them long term EQ. Those who aren’t comfortable with EQ or opposed to the idea of a TOTL headphone needing EQ end up selling them. If you can tolerate the treble energy then they are fine without EQ, but they really shine if you EQ and it puts them up there with some of the best headphones on the market today. If you don’t plan on using EQ your money is probably better off being spent elsewhere.

 

[mikecheck95]

All I see since I got my set is people complaining about the tonality. If you liked old Audeze stuff. This is so different it will be jarring and probably unpleasant. I mean, if you’ve been buying Audezes since 2012 and liking them for their relaxed mids. This headphone has like 5-10 db more upper mids depending on what you’re coming from so you’ll be overwhelmed.

Personally, I always EQed to harman or close to it. I do not find LCD-5 to NEED EQ out of the box. Can it be improved with EQ? Yes. Does it need it to sound accurate. No.

 

[Raidersfan8118]

It depends. They need less EQ than other Audeze planars, however they definitely benefit from EQ (and are designed in order to take EQ well). Sure you can use them with no EQ, but if you have Roon there are presets now. I would say the majority of those who end up keeping them long term EQ. Those who aren’t comfortable with EQ or opposed to the idea of a TOTL headphone needing EQ end up selling them. If you can tolerate the treble energy then they are fine without EQ, but they really shine if you EQ and it puts them up there with some of the best headphones on the market today. If you don’t plan on using EQ your money is probably better off being spent elsewhere.

I have been told this same thing a couple times now. I’m not really into EQ so I was trying to gauge if majority go the EQ route.

 

[chargedcapacitor]

I’m just blindly jumping in here after skimming some pages. Seems like there’s a lot of talk of EQ for these headphones. Jw if the general consensus is these need EQ or do a good chunk of people like these with no EQ?

Audeze pretty much designs their headphones to be EQ'd, if that answers your question. Read a lot of the early post in this thread and you'll see KMans engineering approach to the subject.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

I’m not really into EQ so I was trying to gauge if majority go the EQ route.

It’s just that everyone was waiting for the LCD5 for a long time, but it turned out to sound completely different from the LCD4. A lot of people were disappointed with the tonal balance. Not because it is bad, but because it was different from their expectations. Plus a video from a reviewer who actively promotes the equalization of everything - and a new myth that “LCD5 needs EQ” was born.

 

[sp33ls]

I have been told this same thing a couple times now. I’m not really into EQ so I was trying to gauge if majority go the EQ route.

You may actually prefer the stock tuning of the LCD-5, @Raidersfan8118. I know you didn't click with the VC, right? I actually preferred the tuning of the VC over the LCD-5 because my ears seem to be more sensitive in the presence region than most here.

I can't recall if you said you prefer more "presence" than what the VC offered or not, tho.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

Audeze LCD5 are no different from other top models like HiFiMan Susvara, Abyss 1266, T+A Solitaire P and others. They all sound great and they all sound different. To say that Audeze has some kind of wrong bass or treble, which needs to be corrected - no, I don’t think so. Actually, I love LCD5 treble tuning and always use these cans when I want to listen to bad or old recordings. For example, sound of Solitaire P seems to me to be much less forgiving.

 

[sp33ls]

Oops, I meant more of the upper-mid range when I said presence, rather than the lower treble.

I agree, I was smitten with the treble on the LCD-5. And, the mids were spectacular -- just too forward for my listening preferences.

 

[Raidersfan8118]

You may actually prefer the stock tuning of the LCD-5, @Raidersfan8118. I know you didn't click with the VC, right? I actually preferred the tuning of the VC over the LCD-5 because my ears seem to be more sensitive in the presence region than most here.

I can't recall if you said you prefer more "presence" than what the VC offered or not, tho.

Idk how you remembered that but you are right. Vc didn’t seem to shine on electric guitars. Always sounded muddy. I read that lcd 5 is quite mid forward so that caught my eye.

 

[sp33ls]

Idk how you remembered that but you are right. Vc didn’t seem to shine on electric guitars. Always sounded muddy. I read that lcd 5 is quite mid forward so that caught my eye.

Oh, man... in that case, the LCD-5 should definitely be on your shortlist.

As someone who (casually) plays electric guitar, I can confirm that they sound great in the mix on the LCD-5.

 

[Ragnar-BY]

Oh yeah! LCD5 is outstanding when it comes to electric guitars I decided to buy these headphones right after I listened to ZZ Top’s Tres Hombres. Probably best headphone for this purpose.

P.S. Since then I got a pure silver cable for these cans and guitars became even more energetic.

 

[IanB52]

I sent mine back after a few weeks. That shouty/nasal peak at 3khz is outrageous and completely warps any mix in a way it definitely was not intended to be heard. Combined with the very light bass, I just don't see why anyone would want to listen to this headphone without significant 3khz scoop and bass boost.

I dont eq, so they went back. Huge disappointment. They were also painful on my head. It's like Audeze took a winning formula, and decided to do the exact opposite.

They may be an Audeze for those who love HD650s, lots of bite and shoutiness, but if you actually liked the way Audeze sounded before fall 2021, either you bust out the EQ, force yourself to try and adapt to the tuning over many months, or send them back.

 

[Raidersfan8118]

Thanks guys very helpful

 

[mikecheck95]

Anyone else want to share their “outrageous 3k peak”