Audeze LCD-5 Review, Measurements, Interview

[EMINENT]

Hi Everyone -

Knowing that the LCD-5 ear pads are glued on, I figured they may need to go to Audeze if you want replacement ear pads.

Then I remembered that the LCD-4 (similarly with glued in ear pads) initially required you to send the headphones to Audeze, but then offered the pads for purchase later in its lifecycle.

So, I did a search and found official (I think) LCD-5 earpads at Audio46 and B&H and bought the last pair at Audio46 (they haven’t come yet).

I then searched for the SKU and found it available at Audeze UK and other European stores, but not at Audeze US. My thought here is that Audeze figured maybe it’s best we replace them ourselves in the US, but overseas it’s cost prohibitive - so we’ll sell them separately outside the US.

Anyway, the above is entirely speculation, but makes me think - are they difficult to put on as they are glued? Don’t want to mess it up. I did replace the earpads on my LCD 4 a number of years ago and that worked out fine - so if it’s similar I’m probably ok.

Anyone have any experience replacing the pads in the US or elsewhere?

Incidentally the SKU I’m looking at is:

EAR1047-KT

hullo

they are adhesive ring and easy from audeze direct 125-150

 

[Audeze]

Hi Everyone -

Knowing that the LCD-5 ear pads are glued on, I figured they may need to go to Audeze if you want replacement ear pads.

Then I remembered that the LCD-4 (similarly with glued in ear pads) initially required you to send the headphones to Audeze, but then offered the pads for purchase later in its lifecycle.

So, I did a search and found official (I think) LCD-5 earpads at Audio46 and B&H and bought the last pair at Audio46 (they haven’t come yet).

I then searched for the SKU and found it available at Audeze UK and other European stores, but not at Audeze US. My thought here is that Audeze figured maybe it’s best we replace them ourselves in the US, but overseas it’s cost prohibitive - so we’ll sell them separately outside the US.

Anyway, the above is entirely speculation, but makes me think - are they difficult to put on as they are glued? Don’t want to mess it up. I did replace the earpads on my LCD 4 a number of years ago and that worked out fine - so if it’s similar I’m probably ok.

Anyone have any experience replacing the pads in the US or elsewhere?

Incidentally the SKU I’m looking at is:

EAR1047-KT

That's the correct part, and due to limited availability we do not widely sell them on our accessories page, but if you email us at support@audeze.com with your contact info, the serial of the LCD-5 unit and proof of purchase, we'll sell you pads directly. They are $125 + shipping if international (calculated once invoice is sent).

 

[Drewligarchy]

That's the correct part, and due to limited availability we do not widely sell them on our accessories page, but if you email us at support@audeze.com with your contact info, the serial of the LCD-5 unit and proof of purchase, we'll sell you pads directly. They are $125 + shipping if internaitonal (calculated once invoice is sent).

Thanks. Well looks like I have a pair coming for now, but thanks for letting me know.

 

[lostumpire]

For LCD-5, I prefer 6.35mm jack sound than XLR sound. XLR sound is too much….

 

[TheAbyss2022]

For LCD-5, I prefer 6.35mm jack sound than XLR sound. XLR sound is too much….

I found the same with the LCD 4. The stock XLR was too aggressive and the stock 6.35mm has the more balanced sound to me.

 

[dnd3241]

For LCD-5, I prefer 6.35mm jack sound than XLR sound. XLR sound is too much….

Oh , will give a try.

 

[powermod]

Hey everyone!

Currently digging through this thread and trying to find any comparisons of the LCD-5 to the two HiFiman models (Susvara and especially the HE-1000se). If anyone could share their thoughts or experiences with these, I'd really appreciate it!

I didn't hear Susvara, but compared LCD-5 to HE-1000se. The HE sounds very bright compared to the LCD-5. This makes the HE-1000se sound artificially 'tall'. When switching to the LCD-5 it feels like you enter another room. The room is smaller, but instantaneously everything becomes much much clearer. The details, the imaging... it's just no comparision. With the LCD-5 you can pinpoint every instrument very clearly and you have a very good sense of depth and the whole sound stage in general. This was not the case with the HE-1000se. The HE-1000se is often described as sounding big, and it does. But I don't think it's a good feature. Actually, I would describe it as smeared image. The whole room is filled with sound. Every instrument takes a broader part of the sound stage so that sounds smear together. With the LCD-5 there is kind of empty space between the instruments, they are much better separated. The HE-1000se not only has more treble but also more bass. But if you EQ the LCD-5 bass, it's again just no comparison. The LCD-5 show a lot more detail in the bass as well. It may be a matter of taste, but technically the LCD-5's are a very clear step above the HE-1000se.

 

[inseconds99]

That's the correct part, and due to limited availability we do not widely sell them on our accessories page, but if you email us at support@audeze.com with your contact info, the serial of the LCD-5 unit and proof of purchase, we'll sell you pads directly. They are $125 + shipping if international (calculated once invoice is sent).

Does that mean if you purchase a unit from the classified section on this forum we would not have proof of purchase and would be excluded from getting the pads?

 

[meomap]

Does that mean if you purchase a unit from the classified section on this forum we would not have proof of purchase and would be excluded from getting the pads?

Same situation here....

 

[audioenthusiastlistener]

Not sure if you're in the US but BH Photo has them for sale too: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1863397-REG/audeze_ear1047_kt_lcd_5_replacement_earpads.html

 

[meomap]

Not sure if you're in the US but BH Photo has them for sale too: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1863397-REG/audeze_ear1047_kt_lcd_5_replacement_earpads.html

Paid. Thanks....

 

[Audeze]

Does that mean if you purchase a unit from the classified section on this forum we would not have proof of purchase and would be excluded from getting the pads?

You can email us with the serial number. That will be enough. Proof of purchase is recommended if it's a warranty claim, not just outright purchase. Warranty will end quicker without a proof of purchase as we will go off manufacturing date in that case, and with a proof of purchase, warranty period would start when it was sold. In some instances, some units could be made many months before selling, so those people would have less time for warranty claims.

As is standard, manufacturer warranty is 1 year on parts (2 in EU), 3 years on drivers.

 

[etc6849]

I noticed the same. EQ'ing the LCD-5's makes me not want to take them off. They sound incredible. I do wish they could sound as good without EQ like the DCA Expanse does, but I can't complain because with EQ and the tons of headroom they offer with my setup, the sound is very very impressive for the used price I paid.

I used oratory1990's measurements and https://autoeq.app/ to generate the following for my RME UCX III-> Benchmark DAC3 -> Benchmark HPA4.

But if you EQ the LCD-5 bass, it's again just no comparison. The LCD-5 show a lot more detail in the bass as well. It may be a matter of taste, but technically the LCD-5's are a very clear step above the HE-1000se.

 

[phthora]

I didn't hear Susvara, but compared LCD-5 to HE-1000se. The HE sounds very bright compared to the LCD-5. This makes the HE-1000se sound artificially 'tall'. When switching to the LCD-5 it feels like you enter another room. The room is smaller, but instantaneously everything becomes much much clearer. The details, the imaging... it's just no comparision. With the LCD-5 you can pinpoint every instrument very clearly and you have a very good sense of depth and the whole sound stage in general. This was not the case with the HE-1000se. The HE-1000se is often described as sounding big, and it does. But I don't think it's a good feature. Actually, I would describe it as smeared image. The whole room is filled with sound. Every instrument takes a broader part of the sound stage so that sounds smear together. With the LCD-5 there is kind of empty space between the instruments, they are much better separated. The HE-1000se not only has more treble but also more bass. But if you EQ the LCD-5 bass, it's again just no comparison. The LCD-5 show a lot more detail in the bass as well. It may be a matter of taste, but technically the LCD-5's are a very clear step above the HE-1000se.

Spot on. I feel the HEKSE is a very resolving headphone that has a frequency response that artificially accentuates detail, while the LCD-5 is incredible resolving, but has a stock frequency response that obscures some of that resolution.

For me, the biggest difference is that the LCD-5 is far more tactile with sound. The attack across the spectrum, and particularly the bass slam, just cannot be reproduced by the HEKSE, no matter the EQ. The HEKSE, I suppose, could be called more chilled out and relaxed, but to my ears, it's just got something visceral missing. I find it frequently unsatisfying and dull, despite the perceived detail. It's a headphone that I have to pair with particular genres. The LCD-5 on the other hand can deliver more resolution and a more vibrant, rich sound. EQ the 5, and it's no contest.

 

[Undun]

Coming back to this thread (and forum) after quite a lengthy break. I've tried quite a few headphones during that time. None to me give me the same mixture of resolution and dynamicism that the LCD-5 with the Mitch Barnett Convolution filter do. Plus, I can get away with running it on the IFI Black Label to great effect.