Audeze LCD i4 TOTL In-Ear Monitor Discussion

[lithiumnk]

Hello everyone
I am very happy with lcd i4. Proud owner since August 2017.

I would like to share my experience with ifi audio total usb solution (ifi mercury 3.0, ifi nano galvanic 3.0, ifi micro iusb 3.0 & ifi audio groundhog) with Hugo 2 & lcd i4 and the massive improvement in sound quality. I am not promoting ifi audio. I want the lcd i4 owners to know about its hidden potential.

Sorry for a long post.

Initially, I was very impressed Hugo 2 & lcd i4 connected to my iMac with silver dragon usb, AQ jitterbug & ifi groundhog. I was partially aware about the role of USB port in degrading the audio quality. I used to thing that the jitterbug was more than enough to correct the fault with usb.

After few months, I discovered the real fault with USB port which jitterbug was not able to correct. So, I started reading about usb regen stuff on the net & stumbled upon a great comparison post about the usb regenerators/ decrapifier with proper lab results. ( https://www.computeraudiophile.com/...i-iusb30-ipurifier-ipurifier2-update-on-p15…/ )

I went ahead and purchased the ifi micro iusb 3.0. My impressions are posted here on lcd i4 thread: Post #1922

After the addition of micro iusb 3.0 my desktop setup was as follows : iMac-->AQ jitterbug-->ifi audio stock usb 3.0 ( a to b)---> Micro iusb 3.0-->Silver dragon usb cable---> Hugo 2 ( ifi groundhog connected to RCA port) + lcd i4. I was very happy with my purchase & the improvement in SQ was easily noticeable. I thought this was the end, but I was wrong.

The micro iusb 3.0 had everything except the galvanic isolation & few other stuff which i was not aware about. Then came ifi nano galvanic 3.0 into picture. Many users on head-fi & other forum reported positive result using galvanic isolation + micro iusb3.0. The same users also mentioned the performance of ifi audio mercury / gemini 3.0 ( A to B) usb cables and their superiority to other high end cables which costs more than >1k usd. I opted for ifi mercury 3.0 (same performance as gemini as mentioned on ifi website).

It took a month for delivery of 1 unit of nano galvanic & 2 units of ifi mercury 3.0 by my dealer ( I had to pre-order). I was a little worried about my purchase.(blind purchase)

Now, my desktop setup was as follows: iMac-->Roon--> Audeze Preset-->ifi Mercury usb 3.0 ( a to b)--->Nano galvanic 3.0-->ifi mercury 3.0--> Micro iusb 3.0-->Silver dragon usb cable---> Hugo 2 ( ifi groundhog connected to RCA port) + lcd i4(stock unbalanced cables).


This picture has been taken randomly. Forgive the cable management.

I am planning to build a rack or buy ifi audio irack for tidy management.

After connecting everything, I started listening my favourite tracks. It hardly took a minute for me to realise that this chain is very special. There was no need of A-B-ing or any randomised double blind trials.I was blown away by the improvement in sound quality.

My impressions are as follows : (please correct me in case of wrong use of audiophile terminologies)

1. Soundstage & Imaging :
There was a substantial increase the width, depth & height of the soundstage. I was able to create a perfect mental image of the placement of the instruments/vocals with respect to height, proximity & width. The sound was transparent & airy with natural timbre.I was able to appreciate the reverberation in the sound as well. I could not believe the lcd i4 presenting such a humongous soundstage considering its size, weight etc.

2. Lows:
I like a little warmth in low end. I was happy with the bass quantity & quality after connecting micro usb 3.0. But, after upgrading, I started feeling the sub bass quite clearly. The distinction between sub bass & mid bass got evident. The airiness in the bass increased. There was no bleed into the mids. I again started to praise the lcd i4 bass reproduction.

3. Mids:
Lcd i4 users have a contrasting views on the mids. Some find no flaws & some say there are recessed & a bit laid back. I respect their opinion. But, after applying audeze preset in roon, I can hear the change.lcd i4 has lush mid range which is neutral & transparent with good bodied vocals.

4. Highs:
I have always found the highs to be the best feature of lcd i4 despite being a planar magnetic. The trebles are very detailed, well extended, no sibilance at all with airiness in its presentation. It performs like an electrostatic.

5. Background:
The noise floor was already quite low with micro iusb 3.0. After adding galvanic isolation, the background noise floor is non-existent. I could clearly hear and pin point the production & decay of sound notes fading into a pitch black background. I was listening to my test tracks and for a moment I thought it was a new song. Mind Blowing!

I have not tried lcd i4 pairing with desktop grade dac/amps. I have heard from other users that they scale very well with good equipment (desktop dac/amps).

@Audeze LCD i4 is a real wonder. Please try to pair lcd i4 with correct sources (dac/amp) to tap its true potential.

Thanks

 

[davehutch]

Hi all, I've had another go at making some more comfortable earclips for my iSine 20s and thought I'd share here as well.

I started by buying some 3mm galvanised wire, but found it SO stiff I could barely move it with pliers. So I bought 2mm...still to stiff.
Eventually ended up using up 1.5mm copper earth cable for about £3 a 5m roll

There are a mixture of images here, some with the original 2mm wire and others with the final copper.

I glued the wire to the straight part of my existing transparent earclips and found that Gorilla Glue (Superglue) was a bit pants, as it broke too easily so re-glued with Araldite 2-part adhesive which I've always found to be excellent.

I bent the wire to approximately the right shape first but actually the glue is so strong and the copper is quite bendy that you could do it afterwards if necessary.

Not to put too much strain on the plastic, I cut the excess off the clip with a hot knife.




Finally covered them in the tubing I had from Amazon, linked in previous posts - http://amzn.eu/huV1wC0


With the extra bends in the clips I feel these are more secure and comfortable.
Will update after I've had them in for a few hours.

 

[acia]

Hi all, I've had another go at making some more comfortable earclips for my iSine 20s and thought I'd share here as well.

I started by buying some 3mm galvanised wire, but found it SO stiff I could barely move it with pliers. So I bought 2mm...still to stiff.
Eventually ended up using up 1.5mm copper earth cable for about £3 a 5m roll

There are a mixture of images here, some with the original 2mm wire and others with the final copper.

I glued the wire to the straight part of my existing transparent earclips and found that Gorilla Glue (Superglue) was a bit pants, as it broke too easily so re-glued with Araldite 2-part adhesive which I've always found to be excellent.

I bent the wire to approximately the right shape first but actually the glue is so strong and the copper is quite bendy that you could do it afterwards if necessary.

Not to put too much strain on the plastic, I cut the excess off the clip with a hot knife.




Finally covered them in the tubing I had from Amazon, linked in previous posts - http://amzn.eu/huV1wC0


With the extra bends in the clips I feel these are more secure and comfortable.
Will update after I've had them in for a few hours.

I was thinking of titanium wire.

 

[davehutch]

I was thinking of titanium wire.

Yep, give it a go

 

[acia]

Yep, give it a go

If Audeze give us off the shelf metal earhooks that would be marvelous.

Your diy is almost my dream earhooks.

Laser cut titanium sheet earhooks with silicone tubing

 

[Gabriel Sontag]

If my plan were to use the i4’s and the isine 20’s exclusively while walking (around the house outside etc.) and I will only use their cipher cables to listen (due to portability) do the lcd i4 still outclass the isine 20’s significantly?

 

[Gabriel Sontag]

If my plan were to use the i4’s and the isine 20’s exclusively while walking (around the house outside etc.) and I will only use their cipher cables to listen (due to portability) do the lcd i4 still outclass the isine 20’s significantly?

I really enjoy the isine 20’s for this purpose, all the awestruck reviews of the lcd i4 are starting to get to me now, but they are expensive for my particular usage, on the other hand if they are that much better than my 20’s...

 

[Slim1970]

If my plan were to use the i4’s and the isine 20’s exclusively while walking (around the house outside etc.) and I will only use their cipher cables to listen (due to portability) do the lcd i4 still outclass the isine 20’s significantly?

Yes, the i4's are better sounding with the Cipher cable than the Sine i20's with cipher cable. With the cipher cable the i4's get even better sounding to my ears. I'm really enjoying the sound of the i4's out of my iPhone. The i4's respond very well to EQ. It's just not needed as much as the iSine i20's to sound good.

 

[JLoud]

I have to say the i4’s are that much better. But if your just casually listening as you work around the house you may not appreciate the improvement. Especially for the price difference.

 

[MacedonianHero]

I have to say the i4’s are that much better. But if your just casually listening as you work around the house you may not appreciate the improvement. Especially for the price difference.

The LCDi4 are simply the best in-ears I've had...well in my ears. If you don't require noise isolation, these are the top of the heap for me. When coupled with the Hugo2, they compete with some of the very best full sized desktop systems out there.

 

[rtjoa]

Hi All,

I am trying to decide between LCDi4 and EE Phantom. Please share your thoughts and comments.

I have tried EE Phantom at Singapore Can Jam but I have not tried LCDi4.

I have Sony 1Z and upcoming DX200 with amp4s and amp8. I have several HK iems (multi BA and hybrid). I have several cables but I have read that LCDi4 does not affect much by changing cables.

Thank you in advance.

 

[cj3209]

Both are very different 'tools.' The i4s are a hybrid in ear/over the ear with ambient noise while the EE are noise isolating and literally inside your ears.

Its like asking how headphone cans like a Sennheisser HD800s compare with IEMs.

 

[popof94]

If you have already some HK iems, i think better to try Lcdi4. They are one of the best iems I have tried, really different from classics Iems, great sound, incredible soundstage, not very hard to drive.

 

[sorrick]

Hi All,

I am trying to decide between LCDi4 and EE Phantom. Please share your thoughts and comments.

I have tried EE Phantom at Singapore Can Jam but I have not tried LCDi4.

I have Sony 1Z and upcoming DX200 with amp4s and amp8. I have several HK iems (multi BA and hybrid). I have several cables but I have read that LCDi4 does not affect much by changing cables.

Thank you in advance.

I have both the phantom and the i4, so may be of help. They are both fantastic, true totl products. I think it really depends on your usage case. If this is mostly for an at home/at office/in hotel while traveling (I.e. use in relatively quiet places) I would say go for the i4s. In my opinion, they do everything that the phantoms do, respond more readily to eqing without any noticeable effect on sound quality, clearly win in the soundstage department, and I think scale more as you connect it with higher end sources/amps. The i4s sound signature is less obviously warm than the phantoms but they still sound tremendously natural and organic (they also really disappear while wearing them).

For me, my favorite place to use the i4s is at the office because I have my own office, which is pretty quiet, but with the i4s, I can hear when a colleague is trying to talk to me. You also get the free cypher cable upon request with the i4s, which is a great portable option and if you want to travel light. You can use the i4s on the go and they sound great, but because they don’t isolate, you lose some of what you are paying for. They are definitely a no-go for planes or loud public transport like subways.

If you need isolation, or want to use the iems on a plane or while commuting, the phantoms are what you want. You lose some of the bass quality and slam vs the i4s (the phantoms are no slouch in the bass department, but the balanced armatures can’t compete with the i4s much larger planar drivers); they have a more intimate, less open stage (although the stage is very good for isolating iems); and are probably a notch below the i4s in terms of instrument separation, but they have rounder, thicker notes, particularly in the midrange and lower treble. The phantoms also have that beautifully natural warm tone, which gives some of the natural, holographic sound you get with the i4s. The phantoms are quite a bit more sensitive than the i4s.

That’s my short take. Really it comes down to your usage cases. Both are fantastic iems.

Note: made minor edits for typos

 

[Piotr Michalak]

Why does LCD-i4 come with no earlocks, even though they are included in the cheaper iSine?

Why does LCD-i4 come with no Cipher cable, even though it is included in the cheaper EL-8 Ti, and there are 'Apple compatible' logos on the i4 packaging? Also the Cipher cable is unavailable in Europe and nowhere to be found. My dealer had me waiting for 2 months, thus I lost patience and ordered one from the US site. Will probably have to pay additional taxes; I've also paid $67 for shipping.

Also the provided cable could be better. 5N is not an achievement, as 6N or 7N cables are easily available, it is only 4-wires (could be 8), the weaving is done by a machine, and wires are glued together, which looks cheap. Still better than OFC often offered in other high-end HPs.

PS
Apart from these questions, I'd like to thank Audeze for their supreme customer support, offering me to change my faulty 1st generation i4's to new ones of 2nd revision. Now I happily have to say there are not many headphones in my collection with such superb detail retrieval and overall perfection. Only KSE1500 in the IEMs department has higher highs as good as these, and they also need separate purchases to really shine (a interconnect and custom shells), so thank you Audeze nevertheless.