Battle of the Modern Planars: LCD-X vs PM-1 vs HE-560

[Currawong]

 
I felt the LCDX hypetrain was very short in duration and that Hifiman perhaps doesnt get the recognition it deserves as a top tier can manufacturer..

 
I think Hifiman does, with the HE-6. About the LCD-X, it is more sensitive than the LCD-2s and LCD-3s, so factors such as those I've bolded below...
 

 
 

Sound: LCD-X
 
Previous Audeze models have been both loved (and hated) for their euphonically warm and thick sound, sacrificing treble and air for hard-hitting bass and mids you could seemingly drown in.  The LCD-X , along with the LCD-XC, is said to be Audeze’s take on a neutral sound signature.  The LCD-X has been highly praised on head-fi for being very neutral sounding, while having a bass that was less thick than previous models and treble presence that opens it up significantly.  The LCD-X’s first and formost redeeming quality to my ears is its soundstage.  The width of the LCD-X’s soundscape is about on par with other planars I’ve heard, but the depth has the potential to become awe-strikingly deep.  There are at times where instruments two to three layers deep within recordings seemingly float out way in front of your head, although this is highly recording dependant on highly dependant on your mood as well.  The LCD-X still retains the Audeze house sound and still imbues its own coloration on the sonics being produced.  Texturally, everything is rounded off a tiny bit, decreasing the LCD-X’s perceived tactility and trading it for smoothness.  However, what I can’t emphasize enough is that the LCD-X is definitely not a neutral sounding headphone.  It might be Audeze’s take on a neutral headphone but in the grand scheme of things it is not neutral at all.  The LCD-X takes the linear midrange of the LCD2 and to some degree the LCD-XC, and trades it for a noticeable and apparent recession in the upper midrange, while the bass sounds boosted and the treble, although not super prevalant, has a completely noticeable, small spike in the area around 9khz, which can sound a bit shrill at times.  Overall I would describe the LCD-X as a u-shaped sound wih coloration not too dissimilar from the Hifiman HE-400, although its treble is way more in-ine than the HE-400, and its upper midrange a bit more prominent.  This coloration, combined with the Audeze house sound which trades tangibility and textural richness for smoothness, lessens the LCD-X's realism for me, although it can still be a great listen for the right type of recordings.  The bass extends deep, but with a little excess bloat instead of taught impactfulness, it gravitates more towards being atmospheric than visceral.  The rough transition from upper midrange to treble grounds the LCD-X and weakens its sense of perceived airiness, which is a major trait that’s needed to sound realistic in my opinion.  Instrument separation of the LCD-X is about what you’d expect out of any good planar magnetic-- in one word great, while the new Fazors help out in imaging a good amount, but the LCD-X can’t overcome its own coloration to truly get away from its marketing lingo as ‘reference class.'  The issue of neutrality aside, the LCD-X is still a pretty good sounding headphone though, but isn't on the level of what it has ben hyped up to be.

 
.... are the reasons people have been getting excited about them. The soundstage of the HD-800s blew people away too, until they listened to the Cowboy Junkies.

 Personally, I find sometimes I really like the LCD-X, and sometimes I don't, for very reasons TMRaven mentioned.
 
Also, he said: 
 

 The LCD-X doesn't sound that bad when turned way up, but I'm not about losing my hearing.

 
How loud people listen is always a big factor, as much as what music they listen to. It'd be interesting to compare positive vs. negative impressions of the LCD-X against the SPL they were listening at, as well as the music. For other headphones too.
 
By the way, you'll all be interested to know that "appreciation" threads have been depreciated. 

 

 

[TMRaven]

Thanks for moving the topic, Currawong.  Much appreciated.

 

[SP Wild]

I think Hifiman does, with the HE-6. About the LCD-X, it is more sensitive than the LCD-2s and LCD-3s, so factors such as those I've bolded below...


.... are the reasons people have been getting excited about them. The soundstage of the HD-800s blew people away too, until they listened to the Cowboy Junkies.  Personally, I find sometimes I really like the LCD-X, and sometimes I don't, for very reasons TMRaven mentioned.

Also, he said: 


How loud people listen is always a big factor, as much as what music they listen to. It'd be interesting to compare positive vs. negative impressions of the LCD-X against the SPL they were listening at, as well as the music. For other headphones too.

By the way, you'll all be interested to know that "appreciation" threads have been depreciated. :wink_face:  

Having not sampled any new headphones for a few years, I can't really comment on anything I have not heard. But I do agree with you about the volume thing.

The iPhone app for sound volume measuring my preferred listening levels on speakers correlates to approximation of listening with headphones. I reference driver capability at 85 to 90 db it turns out. I can handle 3 songs chart toppers consecutively with a proper treble reduction at that volume, about 15 minutes. I can go as high as 95 db...this is extremely loud and I can't go more than one song at that hi level. This is pure lcd2 territory.

Eventually I'd settle at 80db. With fresh ears, the lcd2 is fine. Tired ears needs more bite and the hd650 might sound more tonally correct to me.

Below 80 db through to 70 would be a choice between the k701 and hf2 grado, with the hf2 on a league of its own nearer to 70db.

So it would seem to me that a v curve rules for low volume. A straight curve at moderate volumes and a downward slope at higher volumes. But I can't help but reference things a little louder like a performance because any lower and and I don't have a point of reference. However watching movies with speakers at real life conversation levels, I revert to speakers that I would call too lean for music realism.

So yeah, I think you're right and that this along with different music genres, which are compensated for differently when recorded, is probably the reason no one can agree on anything.

 

[Insatiable One]

This is a pretty great review
 
one question though,
 
why are you trying to review planars while using an amp like the Asgard 2?
 
Wouldn't a more powerful amp like the Lyr 2 from Schiit improve the accuracy of your review?

 

[TMRaven]

Power =/= quality.  I got opinions from people whose ears I trust who had also heard lots of super high-end stuff who told me to get the Asgard 2 over the then only available Lyr1.  
 
The Asgard 2 was plenty powerful enough for all 3 of these headphones, and if any one could have theoretically benefited from more powerful, it would have been the 560.
 

 
why are you trying...

 
I'm not trying, I just did. 

 

[takato14]

Though the Asgard may be geared towards mid to high z dynamics, it handles low z 'phones just fine.
 
That being said, I never tried an insensitive load off it. The louder you crank an amp, the more likely it is to distort, especially on low gain mode. Conversely, low gain allows more current to be pushed into whatever you're driving. This is why planars tend to respond so well to speaker amps: you can put an assload of power into them without A: getting too much volume or B: overloading the amp's PSU and causing distortion.
 
Again, not sure how the Asgard responds when put under high strain, but it's something to think about.

 

[manbear]

Speaker amps typically have much higher gain than headphone amps...

 

[robm321]

Sub'd

 

[catspaw]

  Though the Asgard may be geared towards mid to high z dynamics, it handles low z 'phones just fine.
 
That being said, I never tried an insensitive load off it. The louder you crank an amp, the more likely it is to distort, especially on low gain mode. Conversely, low gain allows more current to be pushed into whatever you're driving. This is why planars tend to respond so well to speaker amps: you can put an assload of power into them without A: getting too much volume or B: overloading the amp's PSU and causing distortion.
 
Again, not sure how the Asgard responds when put under high strain, but it's something to think about.

Personally I have only used the HE-400 with my asgard 1.
Since Im running it from my Z-5500 logitech control unit, the DAC section is likely to be subapar.
Now these are not power hogs as the HE-6, in fact they are rather efficient as they can run off my Cowon i9 with satisfactory volume and dynamics (thou not bass impact and control).
The asgard does distor a smidge, when on very high volumes, but only in my case when turning the volume up or down past 90% volume. *Please note that when I say a smidge, i really mean its something you have to LOOK FOR to hear it, at least in my case, and at levels Id never listen to anything even while drunk*.
The distortion is, very small, but after around 2 years of owning those HP I did notice a few distortions here and there.
 
Also note that HE-400 are known to have some distortion themselves, to IM not so sure that its the asgard...
 
Whenever its because of the asgardr lacking power, the HP, the source or magic elves, I cannot say. I am bearly gettin started in this hobby and its already getting too expensive for me.

 

[B-60]

Hi there,
Very good review here, I have the HE-560 at this moment and just to say that this is the best headphone that I have ever heard ,and with the right set-up is very musical.
I always strive for how real the music sound to me and that is why i did like this review.
From all the forums that I have read , I am sure that i did miss some of it.Lets take some power cables and some interconnects in consideration.I know that there is no such thing as "STANDARD"
that would be nice but how can anybody refer to a review and the outcome of it if we do not include some info about what cables, power conditioners and interconnects ware used in the review.
Rolling the tubes is one thing and how about running the same set-up on dedicated line right from the panel at home and so on.
Please let me know your comments on this.
Cheers
J

 

[B-60]

  Power =/= quality.  I got opinions from people whose ears I trust who had also heard lots of super high-end stuff who told me to get the Asgard 2 over the then only available Lyr1.  
 
The Asgard 2 was plenty powerful enough for all 3 of these headphones, and if any one could have theoretically benefited from more powerful, it would have been the 560.
 
 
I'm not trying, I just did. 

I will agree with that %100!
At this moment I have asgard2 running with HE-560 and I feel that the 560 would like and need more power to come out and bloom.
Waiting for my LYR2 ,I will compare them soon and write a small review here.
Cheers

 

[Wildcatsare1]

The Lyr 2/560 combo is magic, just add some Norne Deaug 2 cables, Focus A Pads, and the grill mod, and you will have a killer rig!

 

[B-60]

The Lyr 2/560 combo is magic, just add some Norne Deaug 2 cables, Focus A Pads, and the grill mod, and you will have a killer rig!

Thank you for that info!
I have ALO green line cable with them, would you know how would compare to Norne Draug 2 cable ,they are about the same price range.
Cheers

 

[Wildcatsare1]

Thank you for that info!
I have ALO green line cable with them, would you know how would compare to Norne Draug 2 cable ,they are about the same price range.
Cheers

Can't compare directly, as I haven't heard the Alo, the Norne I know is excellenct.

 

[iclickjohn]

Hi, Welcome to 2017 lol
Hope you're all still enjoying the 560s. I have just purchased, and returned the first pair due to a terrible distortion. The second pair also had the distortion and so  I decided to purchase an amp as I felt that may have been the problem. While waiting for the amp to show up, the left earcup just went dead. I did the test of switching cable L and R, and different amplifiers. Nope, dead. So it went off to the warranty dept. 
Just wondering what the reference to "f" and "th" was regarding sibilance?  Because I was wondering if that was a reference to the distortion that I heard. I am guessing not as I don't think anyone would honor the sound quality based the sound I heard which was intolerable in my opinion. 
So here's to waiting for the third pair....and fingers crossed.  
 
PS. Running it so far through a Sony HAP-S1 and waiting for delivery of the iFi Micro iDSD for added amplification. I'll be connecting out from the Sony to the iFi to headphones.