[Slim1970]

Check out the link I posted, the 500mW RMS is their "maximum power handling" spec. For minimum power, it states >50mW, not the 500mW.

You're right, it does state that the i4's have 500 mW RMS. Audeze use to denote the i4's at having 3W max power handling ability. Seems like they have tweaked to specs to make them seem somewhat easier to drive.

 

[Audeze]

It seems also the impedance rating went down from 35 to 32 ohms. I remember reading about how Audeze introduced a second revision of LCDi4 due to complaints that they were too hard to drive from portable sources. Maybe what we're seeing is confirmation of this? I just want to get the most of these without going into dangerous territories...

NO. LCDi4 has not had any changes in production. We have not changed the circuit or power handling for LCDi4.

 

[normie610]

My favorite combo with i4 right now is with Hiby R8, using cipher cable with Anker’s USB-C to lightning adapter. The sound is unbelievable, the best I’ve ever heard from i4. I encourage anyone who has R8 as their dap to try this combo. If you would like to adjust the EQ, just connect to an iOS device with Audeze HQ app and do the adjustment there. The settings on preset 1 will be stored in the cipher cable and will be applied when connected to R8.

 

[edwardsean]

I know, I've said this before, many times, but i4 is a scaling marvel. It brought the best out of my portable units from iBasso, Fiio, AK SP2000, Hugo2.

Now it sits happily at the end of an uber high end DAVE based home system. It never ceases to amaze me because, compared to standard full-size phones, there's just nothing there–just big glorious sound. Combined with convolution it's really like virtual reality goggles for the ears, well... when VR goggles eventually get shrunk down to contacts lenses.

 

[EagleWings]

NO. LCDi4 has not had any changes in production. We have not changed the circuit or power handling for LCDi4.

Not trying to stir anything here. But here is an archived snapshot of the LCDi4 page back from Oct 2017 and it states that the sensitivity is '105dB/1mW' and the impedance is '35 Ohms +/- 10%'. Would be great if you can shed some light on these changes.

http://web-old.archive.org/web/2017....com/products/lcdi-series/lcdi4-ear-headphone

 

[manukmanohar]

My favorite combo with i4 right now is with Hiby R8, using cipher cable with Anker’s USB-C to lightning adapter. The sound is unbelievable, the best I’ve ever heard from i4. I encourage anyone who has R8 as their dap to try this combo. If you would like to adjust the EQ, just connect to an iOS device with Audeze HQ app and do the adjustment there. The settings on preset 1 will be stored in the cipher cable and will be applied when connected to R8.

Didn't know that source DAP/Phone could matter that much, if using cipher cable, that too with an adaptor. What's the major difference you perceive using this with Hiby R8 vs other phone/DAPs? (Does it have to do with cleaner usb power from R8)?

 

[normie610]

Didn't know that source DAP/Phone could matter that much, if using cipher cable, that too with an adaptor. What's the major difference you perceive using this with Hiby R8 vs other phone/DAPs? (Does it have to do with cleaner usb power from R8)?

I was also surprised. It’s so much cleaner compared to iPad Pro 12.9 usb-c as well as iPhone 11 Pro lightning port, which can sound a bit grainy. Instrument separation is on another level, not to mention the expanded soundstage. I also did a comparison to Cayin N6ii usb-c, the sound on N6ii feels more congested and again, not as clean as R8. Oh and that delicious bass and rumble really rattles my skull, I can literally feel the physical vibration of the bass (well I did a +4 32Hz and +1 64Hz adjustments in the EQ of Audeze app for fun ).

 

[Audeze]

Not trying to stir anything here. But here is an archived snapshot of the LCDi4 page back from Oct 2017 and it states that the sensitivity is '105dB/1mW' and the impedance is '35 Ohms +/- 10%'. Would be great if you can shed some light on these changes.

http://web-old.archive.org/web/2017....com/products/lcdi-series/lcdi4-ear-headphone

It is quite simple, we moved to a new website and started using DRP (Drum reference point) measurements for efficiency to be more consistent. Impedance variation that was use on the website in the past is probably more accurate.

 

[emperorlitus]

It is quite simple, we moved to a new website and started using DRP (Drum reference point) measurements for efficiency to be more consistent. Impedance variation that was use on the website in the past is probably more accurate.

Does this mean the i4 can handle above 500mW RMS? I just want to know where the line is so I can be responsible, considering these do better with more and more power.

 

[x RELIC x]

Does this mean the i4 can handle above 500mW RMS? I just want to know where the line is so I can be responsible, considering these do better with more and more power.

Just because you hook up a headphone to a source that is capable of huge amounts of power doesn’t mean that power is being fed to the headphones at your listening level. In other words, for example, if your amp is capable of delivering 1W at full power in to 35 Ohms and you only listen at a fraction of the full volume then you will be using considerably less power fed to your headphones. For the i4 a peak level of harmful 115dB loudness would require just approximately 9.95mW. Specs stating that something can handle RMS dB are more for extremes and no one would ever listen to the i4 with actual 500mW feeding them without causing hearing damage quickly. The physics are that given the sensitivity and resistance of the transducer it will only ever use x amount of power for a given volume, not that it will use the max power spec of whatever is feeding the transducer.

Differences in more and more power ‘feeding’ a headphone better are a myth which is constantly being perpetuated. The actual differences come down to engineering and design and synergy whether the source gear is capable of a max output of 500mW or 5W. It just so happens that many well designed source components also have more power output, but it doesn’t discount that there are many high quality sources capable of driving the i4 very well while also sounding incredible with a more humble (reasonable) max power output.

All the marketing specs basically tell me that Audeze have engineered the i4 very well to handle huge amounts of power for a sensitive 105dB/mW SPL transducer without exploding.

 

[Audeze]

Does this mean the i4 can handle above 500mW RMS? I just want to know where the line is so I can be responsible, considering these do better with more and more power.

Yes, it can. But you do not want to use it at those loud levels. Like @x RELIC x mentioned above, 10 mW of power is enough to hit considerable loudness with i4.

 

[emperorlitus]

I have decided to exit the hobby for a while, so I am selling my LCD-i4 in the Classifieds if anyone would happen to be looking for a pair!

 

[stacey]

Random thought but will there be a B-stock sale for some i4s ? My last iems just died and could use some new ones.

 

[donato]

Random thought but will there be a B-stock sale for some i4s ? My last iems just died and could use some new ones.

Your best bet will probably be a black friday sale. Sign up at Audeze to receive notifications. That's how I picked up mine last year as I'm sure many others have.

 

[audi0nick128]

Hi there,
I am verry happy with my new i4 ...at the moment I listen mostly trough my trusty LG V30 with wavelet custum eq. Thats the one thing that bothers me a bit...that they really need the eq to sound best....at least for my taste...I really wish Poly had an Equalizer or at least some custom presets for specific phones...anyway.
Since I have a PS5 incoming I wonder if I could use the cipher v2 cable with an adapter as an USB DAC. Anyone tried this with a PS4? Other option would be the cipher Bluetooth anyone tried this with a PS4? I think the amazing soundstage together with Tempest 3D Audio should sound amazing...especially if one can use the custom EQ.

Cheers