So I've had my Ether C for about a week now, and just wanted to share a few impressions...
The backstory is that I've had a Liquid Carbon + LCD-X as my work setup, which has been fantastic save for the fact that open cans in my workspace hasn't been a great fit (Coworkers disrupting my music and vise-versa, so I have to listen at pretty low level. This makes the ambient noise issue even worse and the LCD-X just BEGS to be cranked up. Listening to the X at low levels is like driving a GTO in a 25mph zone...)
I've already tried the LCD-XC and wasn't keen on the extra weight and 3-5k peekyness. All of this led me to order the Ether C, which I had correctly been told is a
completely different animal than the LCD-X... Here is my comparison between the two:
LCD-X Bass: Thunderous. Needs no introduction. The X low end gives such a tremendous weight to music, at the expense of being a bit overbearing at times.
Ether C Bass: All about that sub bass. The Ether C comes across rather lean in the mid bass region compared to the X; though what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in control, and can take EQ like a champ to rival the X's bass presence, all while keeping things a bit tighter.
LCD-X Mids: Lush, euphonic lower mids and recessed upper mids give the X easily the most pleasant and inoffensive midrange I have ever heard. It does wonders to instrumentation of any kind, at the expense of vocals (particularly male) coming across a bit recessed.
Ether C Mids: Unapologetically more mid-forward. Vocals are pushed right up to the font, electric guitars cut through and drums crack. This combined with (imo) better imaging chops than the X makes for a very involving and exciting performance (without the harsh peakyness of the XC).
LCD-X Treble: The X has a nice "sparkly" treble that adds a shimmer to recordings, without coming across sibilant. There is a bit of an emphasis on the 10k region which helps bring out the little details (string plucks, light cymbal taps) very nicely.
Ether-C Treble: The Ether C's treble strikes me as being more elevated and linear than the X, and seems to give a more complete picture without emphasizing or reducing any particular band. Again this adds to the Ether C's more involving (and I would say) analytical sound.
I've always avoided brighter headphones like the plague since any peaks at this level make me wince and ruins the experience. The Ether C is the without a doubt the brightest headphone that I've ever enjoyed, since it is able to execute this area smoothly.
LCD-X Soundstage: The LCD-X has a very spacious, concert hall-esqe soundstage (Specifically the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam if anyone else has messed around with IR reverb) tons of depth and width. It's a very laid-back and relaxing experience.
Ether C Soundstage: Clearly we are comparing open and closed cans here, so the Ether C cannot match the X in terms of soundstage width, but in depth and imaging the Ether C wins. Whereas the X paints a complete picture of how all the instruments are working together, the Ether C pulls you up onto the stage and lets you observe and listen to each one. Really cool.
Long story short, these are both excellent headphones which are quite different from one another. My dilemma is that I can only afford to keep one
Every time I put the Ether C on my head I am struck by its crystal clear, exciting presentation and razor sharp imaging; and while I do miss some of the mid-bass of the X a bit of EQ can remedy that. Then I put the LCD-X on my head and it's like I've entered a concert hall and all the instruments have grown by ten feet, and I can feel the lush lower midrange beckoning me back into Audeze's dark lair...
Subjectively, it's impossible to choose: they're both too good. Objectively, I need a closed can; and while the X delivers euphony by the boatload I also depend on my headphones for audio correction/mixing, and the Ether C I think is more trustworthy in this regard, lacking the (admittedly tasty) areas of emphasis and reduction in the LCD-X.
I've been avoiding this decision in my mind, but it's probably time I begin saying goodbye to my LCD-X. It's been a dear friend, but all good things must come to an end. When I feel like crying, I will put on the Ether C, and be taken back into the music