Introducing the LCD-i3

[Lohb]

BTW, in what way does the new pair sound better?

In using them both without the isine filter stuff - one was a bit icy/clinical and this one a bit darker and fuller..maybe it was something else that caused the difference between 2 units of the same model.

 

[cccran]

I've got a new set of LCDi3 on the way...will be pairing them mostly with a Fiio M15 or my Surface Duo phone for walking and work (I prefer open-back and can't really stand shoving sealed IEMs in my ear). Most expensive pair of phones I've ever bought by double - my others being AKG K702 and older 240S studio headphones that I love dearly. I also have an inexpensive balanced cable on the way for the Audeze to A-B on the M15.

I'm curious to see how I like them via analog as that'll be my main usage. All this EQ talk has me a bit worried. I didn't realize that was such an integral part of these, as I'm used to studio monitors and prefer completely neutral but detailed sound, due to my background as a recording engineer.

I did try a couple of LCD-series phones at a hifi shop with my M15 a few months ago and was not impressed, despite my assumption I would be blown away...hopefully these will be more my speed. If they don't impress me over my $100 AKG 240S daily-drivers I'll just return them and keep on dealing with the size/weight of the AKGs.

 

[Dawnrazor]

I've got a new set of LCDi3 on the way...will be pairing them mostly with a Fiio M15 or my Surface Duo phone for walking and work (I prefer open-back and can't really stand shoving sealed IEMs in my ear). Most expensive pair of phones I've ever bought by double - my others being AKG K702 and older 240S studio headphones that I love dearly. I also have an inexpensive balanced cable on the way for the Audeze to A-B on the M15.

I'm curious to see how I like them via analog as that'll be my main usage. All this EQ talk has me a bit worried. I didn't realize that was such an integral part of these, as I'm used to studio monitors and prefer completely neutral but detailed sound, due to my background as a recording engineer.

I did try a couple of LCD-series phones at a hifi shop with my M15 a few months ago and was not impressed, despite my assumption I would be blown away...hopefully these will be more my speed. If they don't impress me over my $100 AKG 240S daily-drivers I'll just return them and keep on dealing with the size/weight of the AKGs.

If they have an ap called the Neutron Player then get that. The one for the iphone at least has a couple of eq curves for the i3

 

[cccran]

I use the Fiio music player on my M15 or Spotify (it runs Android). Both have EQ, but I have never done anything but flat. I will first try out a custom EQ on Spotify (which I will also use on my Surface phone, via Bluetooth). I'm not at the moment looking for a new music player but I would consider some kind of app that did a global EQ for all sound through the phone but seems like that's not really a thing?

Absolutely will never use these (or any headphone haha) on an Apple product and I've been a bit disappointed before even trying them that Audeze seems to be leaving the Android users and even analog connection folks in the cold...

 

[Pcppps]

If they have an ap called the Neutron Player then get that. The one for the iphone at least has a couple of eq curves for the i3

Where to find the eq curve please?

 

[Dawnrazor]

Where to find the eq curve please?

They have a TON. I think I was 5/6 for curves and only the Edition 11 was missing. They had The Tygr, Monoprice m1060, KSE1200, Sig Pro, and LCDi3 (2 of them).

settings/playback/dsp effect/ frequency response corrections. Click the + button and select AutoEq and select your cans. make sure the red dot is showing on both screens.

Its not under the equalizer setting.

 

[Pcppps]

They have a TON. I think I was 5/6 for curves and only the Edition 11 was missing. They had The Tygr, Monoprice m1060, KSE1200, Sig Pro, and LCDi3 (2 of them).

settings/playback/dsp effect/ frequency response corrections. Click the + button and select AutoEq and select your cans. make sure the red dot is showing on both screens.

Its not under the equalizer setting.

Thanks a lot!!! I have had the app for quite some time but have no idea of this function.

 

[Dawnrazor]

Thanks a lot!!! I have had the app for quite some time but have no idea of this function.

Me too. Wasnt using it. But man it has everything! I did learn that eq is not a magic wand. Its not fair exactly but the kse1200 sounds way better through my chain with the blackice soundstage expander/ BBE sonic maximizer/ hafler ha-75 crossfeed and bass boost than it does from my iphone with the neutron player with crossfeed and eq.

 

[Socalguy]

Anybody have a lightning cipher cable for their LCDi3 that they do not use? I'd love to take it off your hands? Please PM if you have one or a lead to get one.

Thanks.

 

[cccran]

Dang - I would've been your guy, but the vendor I thought I bought an LCDi3 from sent me an iSine10. After some wrangling I got most of my money back and kept the iSine to demo. Anyway, I might buy an LCDi3 yet, but I have no interest/need for the cipher. If you see a deal on a full package let me know and let me know how much you want for everything but the Cipher, or I'll buy it and you tell me what you would give for the cable.

 

[Socalguy]

Dang - I would've been your guy, but the vendor I thought I bought an LCDi3 from sent me an iSine10. After some wrangling I got most of my money back and kept the iSine to demo. Anyway, I might buy an LCDi3 yet, but I have no interest/need for the cipher. If you see a deal on a full package let me know and let me know how much you want for everything but the Cipher, or I'll buy it and you tell me what you would give for the cable.

 

[Socalguy]

Dang - I would've been your guy, but the vendor I thought I bought an LCDi3 from sent me an iSine10. After some wrangling I got most of my money back and kept the iSine to demo. Anyway, I might buy an LCDi3 yet, but I have no interest/need for the cipher. If you see a deal on a full package let me know and let me know how much you want for everything but the Cipher, or I'll buy it and you tell me what you would give for the cable.

Do you prefer new or used?

 

[davehutch]

Bit of an odd one but I wondered if I could ask someone to see if they if they replicate the following issue please?

You'll need a Mac (preferably M1), the LCDi3 with Lightning Cipher cable and an Anker USB-C/Lightning Audio Adaptor

Make sure the Audeze are unplugged and then open either the Music App or Safari (Open them from a closed state, not minimised)
Play some audio through your Mac's internal speaker
Now please connect your Anker/Audeze combo

Two questions:

1. Does your Mac recognise the Audio/Anker as a 'Lightning Audio Adaptor and select it as the new audio output?
2. Does the audio switch over and play through the LCDi3?

In my case, I can only 'yes' to question 1.

 

[Haxion]

Hi folks, I just received a set of LCD-i3's for Christmas, and they sound amazing-- the only set of headphones I've ever listened to that don't sound like wearing headphones, if that makes sense. Just sound filling space. For those who haven't tried it, the EQ profile BowWazoo posted above really improves things over a wired connection.

That said, I have a couple questions. First, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced (~$50 or less) 2.5mm balanced cable for these headphones? There are a few on Amazon but because the 2-pin connector needs to be notched for the LCD-i3 (and not necessarily for other headphones) it's not clear if all of them will fit. The stock cable feels cheap and gets tangled easily but I likewise think dropping a ton of cash on cables is pretty silly.

Second, I'm running these through an iFi xCan (which has a 2.5 balanced output) and occasionally the bluetooth cipher cable; the xCan was about $300 when I bought it two years ago. What would I have to spend on a DAC/Amp, preferably a portable one, to get very noticeably better sound than the iFi? I know a lot of people like the Chord Mojo but when I was shopping for the xCan and reading reviews it seemed like the Mojo is definitely an improvement but not necessarily worth it at double the cost.

 

[cccran]

Hi folks, I just received a set of LCD-i3's for Christmas, and they sound amazing-- the only set of headphones I've ever listened to that don't sound like wearing headphones, if that makes sense. Just sound filling space. For those who haven't tried it, the EQ profile BowWazoo posted above really improves things over a wired connection.

That said, I have a couple questions. First, can anyone recommend a reasonably priced (~$50 or less) 2.5mm balanced cable for these headphones? There are a few on Amazon but because the 2-pin connector needs to be notched for the LCD-i3 (and not necessarily for other headphones) it's not clear if all of them will fit. The stock cable feels cheap and gets tangled easily but I likewise think dropping a ton of cash on cables is pretty silly.

Second, I'm running these through an iFi xCan (which has a 2.5 balanced output) and occasionally the bluetooth cipher cable; the xCan was about $300 when I bought it two years ago. What would I have to spend on a DAC/Amp, preferably a portable one, to get very noticeably better sound than the iFi? I know a lot of people like the Chord Mojo but when I was shopping for the xCan and reading reviews it seemed like the Mojo is definitely an improvement but not necessarily worth it at double the cost.

Get this, it works great:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SS9VDWD

I finally got an LCD i3 just before Christmas and have been using it heavily for the past couple weeks. The above cable (with 4.4mm end) into my Fiio M15 sounds okay. From a 2.5mm balanced connection on a Fiio BTR5 connected to my phone it sounds nasally and not very good. But then I installed "Wavelet" with the EQ profile for the LCD i3 and it sounds great. Way, way better than stock. Honestly for the $550 I paid for the LCD i3 (used) I would be really disappointed save for this EQ.

Unfortunately the Wavelet app doesn't work on my M15. I'm not sure if there's a different solution. These work great for travel and lighter setup with just my phone and BTR5. Not sure I'll keep them for just that, we'll see.