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The best headphones in the world?
Audeze LCD-3 headphones are made in the U.S.A., and like the best cars, clothes, and everything else high-end, they're expensive.
by
Steve Guttenberg May 19, 2012 7:36 AM PDT
Audeze LCD-3 headphones
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg)
I've written about the
Audeze LCD-2 headphones in this blog before, but now I'm going to cover the LCD-3 model, Audeze's best headphones. At first glance the two don't look all that different, but the LCD-3s sport real zebrawood earcups and have thicker and softer real lambskin leather cushions to coddle your ears. This is a fairly heavy (550-gram) set of headphones, but they're comfortable to wear for hours at a time. Details of why the LCD-2s and LCD-3s sound different aren't forthcoming from Audeze, other than the drivers, which use similar technology, are different. I can't say the two sound hugely different, but the LCD-3s are definitely more transparent and clear. Are they worth double the price? No, the LCD-2 model remains in the line and gets you 80 percent of the LCD-3's sound, but if you want the very best, get the LCD-3s.
Rather than use standard headphone drivers that operate like miniature woofers or tweeters, the LCD-3s, like the LCD-2s, use a large, 6.17-square-inch thin-film
planar magnetic driver to make sound. The Audeze circular flat diaphragm is sandwiched between rows of neodymium bar magnets. When audio signals pass through the diaphragm it moves in and out to produce sound, but thanks to its large size and superlow mass the planar magnetic drivers generate significantly lower distortion than conventional headphone designs. The LCD-3's headphone cable is detachable, via locking connectors, and is therefore user-replaceable.
During the course of the review I brought the LCD-3s to a recording session to use as monitors, and they blew my mind. As impressive as they were at home -- and they are exceptional -- it was great to have the opportunity to hear the sound of a blues band playing live in the studio, and then hear their music over the LCD-3s. I have never heard a set of headphones that got even remotely close to the sound of live music the way this one does. To put the LCD-3's sound in perspective, I borrowed the engineer's
Sennheiser HD 650 headphones ($650), and it was really shocking how much better the LCD-3s were. The HD 650 is a great set of headphones, but it sounded small, thin, dynamically compressed, and its stereo imaging was relatively flat next to that of the LCD-3. Both headphones were played with the same Grace Design m901 headphone amplifier.
The engineers and musicians at the session all took turns checking out the LCD-3s, and they were all knocked out by the sound. They weren't audiophiles, but they all heard the difference great headphones can make.
Ray Samuels' Dark Star headphone amplifier
(Credit: Steve Guttenberg/CNET)
Back at home I used
Schiit Lyr and Hifiman EF6 (review in the works) headphone amps for the bulk of my listening tests. The LCD-3's dynamic punch is simply the best I've heard, bass definition and power are phenomenal, stereo imaging is remarkably open and spacious. No dynamic headphone at any price comes close to the LCD-3's sound. Some audiophiles think the
Stax SR-009 ($5,250) is the best sounding headphone on the market; I don't agree. Yes, it's even more transparent and clear, but the SR-009 lacks the LCD-3's power, dynamics, natural midrange, and potent bass.
What's the ultimate headphone amplifier for the LCD-3? That honor goes to Ray
Samuels' Dark Star balanced amp. I briefly had it at home, and its brute-force dynamic impact, out-of-head imaging, and transparency all improved the sound of the LCD-3s. I also love the design; the Dark Star is a drop-dead gorgeous, handmade amplifier.
The LCD 3 headphones are available directly from Audeze for $1,945, or from its
worldwide dealers.
Topics: Reviews,
High-End Audio,
Sound Tags: headphone amplifiers,
headphone amps,
Audeze,
high-end headphones,
Ray Samuels,
Audeze LCD-2,
headphones,
Audeze LCD-3
Steve Guttenberg Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has also worked as a high-end audio salesman, and as a record producer. Steve currently reviews audio products for CNET and works as a freelance writer for Home Theater, Inner Fidelity, Tone Audio, and Stereophile. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
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11 comments
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That's almost two thirds of a monthly net wage for an audiophile in his twenties/thirties. No matter how good they are, I can't pay that much.
The Audiophiliac: making earporn since forever
Posted by
Silmarunya (
694 comments ) May 19, 2012 8:03 AM (PDT) Like (1)Reply
LinkFlag But males start losing hearing high frequencies in our forties and it's downhill from there, so ability to benefit from and appreciate high-end gear declines as men get to the stage in life where they can start to afford it. Posted by
steve4lee (
138 comments ) May 19, 2012 8:40 AM (PDT) Like (1)
LinkFlag
I never got into "headphones",... I always preferred good old fashioned speakers. However, I would say that for the "cash-strapped" audiophile this is a "cheap" way to go. Yes, even with $2,000 headphones and a $1,000 headphone amp. To get the top of the line setup with speakers you are taking MANY $10,000's dollars. Steve is saying that you could get the "best sounding headphones in the world" and it only costs you 1/10th of the price the average Joe spent on his car. I would say this is highly affordable. If you never made a $2,000 purchase in your life, then I feel very sorry for you, but then end of the day this is possibility for just about everybody who is interested in high quality music. Posted by
InvenioCNET (
69 comments ) May 19, 2012 8:43 AM (PDT) Like
LinkFlag
here r my top
akg 242hd
akg 311
akg k304
Audio-Technica ATH-PRO5 Posted by
mykosss88 (
29 comments ) May 19, 2012 8:25 AM (PDT) LikeReply
LinkFlag I totally agree! Posted by
garmtz (
1 comment ) May 19, 2012 8:33 AM (PDT) LikeReply
LinkFlag Steve - I really like your work and am hoping you read the comments and respond to questions.
Looking for a highend set of headphones for use at home with my PC.
I use Foobar2000 to play 24-bit/192khz FLACs. I output via a fiber optic cable to a Centrance DACmini (DAC and headphone amp) to a pair of Airmotiva 6s (thanks to your review). But when the wife is around she makes me use my Bose QC15s - which are fine for listening to MP3s on the go - but not quite "AudioPhile".
Looking at Cnet's reviews I WAS thinking that the Ultrasone Edition 8s were best for me as their closed back design would provide a more powerful sound then the Sennheiser HD 800s or Grado PS1000s. I REALLY wish they had a 1/4" connector for the Centrance DACmini though.
But with these new reviews for the Audeze 2 & 3 and Ultrasone Signature Pro - I am back to undecided. How do these compare to the above headphones in terms of loudness, power, detail, movies, music, mp3s???
Have you ever thought of doing a $1,000-$2,000 headphone faceoff? The reviews of the Ultrasone 8s, Sennheisers and Grados do a good job of comparing and contrasting those specific sets across a number of scenarios (movies, vs music, vs ipods, power vs detail). Posted by
douglord (
30 comments ) May 19, 2012 8:43 AM (PDT) Like (1)Reply
LinkFlag Steve I your review should have mentioned all the issues with this headphone such as failing drivers. A veil issue and big differences in headphone to headphone. I think people should know all the facts on this headphone. it twice the price of the LCD2 which has had the same issues of failed drivers and cracked wood and bunches of other stuff cracked blocks etc. These products are always in a beta testing mode and are revised too often and readers should be told all the facts. Plus he wood being used on both this and LCD2 are considered endangered species. Posted by
frankiebrooklyn (
4 comments ) May 19, 2012 9:48 AM (PDT) Like (3)Reply
LinkFlag When Does the law of diminishing returns apply. Even being a premium product how much better can it really be against a Headphone costing $500. 3 or X times better. Not really. Posted by
ismaelmartinez (
2 comments ) May 19, 2012 11:25 AM (PDT) LikeReply
LinkFlag I guess you missed that part where I said, "I borrowed the engineer's Sennheiser HD 650 headphones ($650), and it was really shocking how much better the LCD-3s were. The HD 650 is a great set of headphones, but it sounded small, thin, dynamically compressed, and its stereo imaging was relatively flat next to that of the LCD-3." I write about a wide range of products on this blog, and gave a very favorable review to MonoPrice's $22 headphones not so long ago. The LCD-3 is an exceptional product, and deserves at least equal coverage. Posted by
TheAudiophiliac (
158 comments ) May 19, 2012 11:59 AM (PDT) Like
LinkFlag
i want more headphone send me some Posted by
mykosss88 (
29 comments ) May 19, 2012 11:33 AM (PDT) LikeReply
LinkFlag I personally don't think the LCD-3 is worth owning. I had a pair and sold it. To me the LCD-2 was 95% of the LCD-3 for half the price. I have the SR-007 Mk1 now, which is better than both. Posted by
TruBrew (
12 comments ) May 19, 2012 12:14 PM (PDT) LikeReply
LinkFlag
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About The Audiophiliac
Ex-movie theater projectionist Steve Guttenberg has more or less successfully hitched his future to home theater, but he still pines for the clickity-clack of 35mm projectors and all the stale popcorn he could eat. Between projectionist gigs, he worked as a high-end audio salesman and produced records for an audiophile label. Oh, and nothing annoys Steve more than being confused with the other Steve Guttenberg, the Police Academy actor. The wordsmith Guttenberg writes for a number of magazines and Web sites, including Home Entertainment, Tone Audio, and Stereophile. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CNET.
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