Audeze LCD-5 Headphone Review

Thanks to Head-Fi user sa11297 for the loan of LCD-5!
Audeze LCD-5 Website: www.audeze.com...
My LCD-5 first impressions video: • Audeze LCD-5 Headphone...
My other Audeze LCD reviews:
- LCD-X OG: forum.hifiguid...
- LCD-X 2021: • Audeze LCD-X 2021 Edit...
- LCD-24: www.head-fi.or...
- LCD-R: • Audeze LCD-R + Schiit ...
My TOTL Headphone Shootout: • High-End/Summit-Fi Hea...
My DCA Stealth First Impressions: • Dan Clark Audio Stealt...
Channel Intro: • Channel Introduction
My Hearing Quirks: • WaveTheory's Hearing Q...

[@04yellowjacket]

Nice review. Super transportable I say. No hurdle at all. I take my LCD-XC in their big case (smaller than the LCD-5 case though) not only on long trips, but also to Starbucks or CBTL. Yes, I am 'that guy'.

[@04yellowjacket]

Replying to my own post here: I now own these and I must admit, the reviewer is correct here about the case. The Audeze case is too big ideally. So I purchased a smaller Pelican Brand Vault V100 Case with foam. Now I take these with me on trips. The Pelican case will even fit in my backpack. One note on the sound: If you don't appreciate a truly neutral tuned (slightly mid forward) headphone, you may not like these. UNLESS you use EQ (I EQ everything), then these are the BEST headphone I have heard at ANY price (right up to and including the HE1). I do not like these at all without EQ, but with EQ (on my RME ADI-2 PRO FS R) these are world beaters.

[@x32i77]

Can't wait for you stealth review and comparison to the LCD 5 and the other ones 🙂👍

[@phototristan]

Good review. The problem with Susvara is that it’s so hard to drive that it only sounds good with like 20 W or something. Plus, I think it’s over priced for the lock and build quality of it.

[@delta9k]

Thanks for the interesting review. That 2nd shoot out video is something I will look forward to.

[@MrAyrit]

First review I’ve watched. Nice description.

[@wavetheorysound]

Hey, thanks!

[@fahryst]

It is I guess the second time that I heard you brought up cables affecting sound, and not just quality-wise but frequency-wise If I'm not mistaken. With your scientific background could you explain how it happens with a video? You promised us scientific explanation videos, remember? =) Adressing some of these controversial topics in the audio world might just be the thing we all need. (or not)

[@wavetheorysound]

Yes! I hope to do a science of sound series and address some of those things! It will be a big and long-developing endeavor because the measurement and cabling debate is being argued by many who...let's just say know less than they think...so lot's of ground to cover. And I still have a real job...

[@DEALUX]

There are only pseudo-scientific explanations for cables.

[@DEALUX]

But these headphones are 14 ohms which is potentially bad because amps sometimes don't handle low impedance headphones so well. Perhaps if a cable had intentionally high resistance it could influence the sound but that is still questionable in the absence of concrete evidence.

[@mobcrusher4193]

Can you do a lcd x vs lcd 5 video pls

[@goldwerger]

Nice review, thank you. I'm (im)patiently holding my breath to the new Diana TC to come to market (I understand they are starting to build them next week at Abyss). Same price, and my guess may compete head to head.. we'll see..

[@wavetheorysound]

I have high hopes that Abyss will get their mids under control as Audeze has done in 2021 with their new X, R, and 5. If they can even out their FR a bit and keep that amazingly dynamic and detailed bass...sign me up!

[@goldwerger]

@@wavetheorysound yes my hope as well. I listen more to jazz and acoustics so a more balanced FR on the mids is needed. Looks like everyone is improving their tuning this (better tech?) so let's hope :)

[@davehugo8799]

Great job,keep it up

[@aceofspades6667]

Trying to think of the flagships you have not reviewed yet. Final D8k/pro, Verite closed, HD800s, HE1, Shan-gr-la, 009, 007.. maybe a Denon and the Rad0.. warwick sonoma, crbn, Torino Valkyria

[@chipsnmydip]

Overall good review and really good description of the soundstage. The basics are well covered, you mention a "hint of shout", but I'm a bit confused that virtually nobody I've seen acknowledges the massive +15db upper midrange boost that to my ears is anything but neutral and brings some grating and obnoxious characteristics and drastically change the overall tonal balance. It's an "A" curve headphone (A for Audeze), and neither scooped or flat. If you want excellent technical performance AND miss the midrange honk of tiny computer speakers, these are for you. I just keep thinking "doesn't anybody hear this?" or wondering if everyone just goes straight for the parametric EQ.

[@wavetheorysound]

I take your point as I too am sensitive to mid-shout and honk. And yes, that has been one of Audeze's biggest Achilles heels to this point. But, the 5 gets that under control better than any Audeze I've heard so far. I definitely don't hear anything like a +15dB peak anywhere.

[@chipsnmydip]

@@wavetheorysound Honest question: Did it take you time to acclimate the the midrange presence, or was it more or less ok OTB?

[@wavetheorysound]

@@chipsnmydip It needed a few hours break in, but that was more of smoothing out than a change in FR. I did not have to acclimate much to this one. It's tuned pretty well OTB, IMO.

[@sjqideez6626]

Based on Jude’s measurements using the B&K 5128, the HD 650 has even more 3kHz energy than the LCD-5 but it’s evened out more in the top end vs the 5.

[@Musictron]

Love the video! Can we get a 2021 LCD X vs LCD 5? I own the 2021 LCD X and want to know if I should upgrade.

[@sjqideez6626]

Technically the LCD-5 is better but I think the LCD-X version 2021 has a better & more pleasing tonality. But when you EQ the 5, it can definitely be an X upgrade.

[@piotrosinski-petestradamus6204]

This is supposed to be a level on par or surpassing the 1266tc in detail and resolution. Just smaller stage.

[@iikatinggangsengii2471]

you can just blind buy any audeze and it will sound great, regardless of what dac

[@PhotoTerco]

I use them with the iBasso DX300 & amp 12 no problem.

[@kbergz]

Good review. But have you compared them to the LCD-4z (or 4)? That is the only Audeze headphone that's interesting to compare with, not the LCD-X, 3 or 24 etc.

[@tdfmike3915]

Its hsrd to comapre the 4 and the 5. The sound signature is very different. The 5 is bright neutral. Reference sound. Maybe a bit boring. The 4 is dark neutral. Depends on the pads how dark. The 2019 pads give it a bit of sparkle up top. Technically the 5 is just olain better. The pads are angled and have way less suction. So the damage potential to the drivers is reduced and the dont suck stuck on your head. Soundstage is bigger on the 5. Detail is more apparent on the 5. Maybe because they are brighter. The 4 do have crazy detail though. Both are mid focused and have a flat base all the way down. The 5 manage to sound "bigger" compared to the 4(z). Just a more impressive presentation. The 4 are more engaging. I owne the 4z. I think the 5 is by far the superior product but the 4 sound more musical. I compared the 5, meze elite and d8000pro on the highend. Imo the d8000pro is the best out of the bunch. Its technical up there and has a fun, dark-bright tuning. Its more a successor to the lcd4z that the lcd5. Meze elite and lcd5 sound similiar but the 5 is just way more cabable. But also more clinical...

[@moonphaser3304]

Thanks for your video but…….You can’t test with aftermarket cables, because it’s not what buyers will be listening in my humble opinion. We need to understand the stock product

[@wavetheorysound]

Hi, thanks for watching. I have to disagree. I don't know why reviewing with different cables that anyone with the money can buy would be disqualifying moreso than using different sources, amps, or DACs that anyone with the money can buy. Also, I think most TOTL headphone makers know that aftermarket cables are going to be used with their products.

[@MrLuftmann]

Un-kay, Okay

[@lioness9432]

How much you think the sound will improved wth desktop amp like the V281 or even higher compared to the Hugo2? And for this headphone - DAC or AMP is more important?

[@wavetheorysound]

Yes, you'll get a boost in sound quality with an upgrade. IMO there is no universal answer to whether amp or dac makes a bigger difference. I've heard examples of either case. If you have Hugo 2 already you have an excellent dac. I'd say amp is a smart move. You mentioned Vio amps and in general I think the warmer and smoother nature of the Vio V2xx series is a great counterbalance to the incisive sound of Chord dacs. Happy hunting.

[@lioness9432]

@@wavetheorysound And also if talking about high-end amp like tube amps or something like that... maybe somewhat from Feliks or Auris..

[@mistywalters]

i watched a few reviews of lcd-5 and they all say its mid is shouty.

[@MRFUTURETECHNOLOGYGAMING]

That's an IEM wire how can you not like that

[@LakerTriangle]

I'm an electronics technician and have taken many classes... I still don't understand how a cable can change frequencies response like you're saying. Anyone know of a *technical* video discussing this?

[@fahryst]

I'm sure there are some but this is the most relevant video as far as I know. But there have been times Amir were wrong. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4qplamjn9uYb8k Like WaveTheory, Golden Sound is also believes cables make difference somehow. And I respect their knowledge on the subject. Cable and Break-in arguments definitely need more detailed research.

[@wavetheorysound]

You are asking a very fair question, and one that I also wrestle with too. I'm trying to figure out how to present it in an accessible, helpful way. There are multiple facets to the conversation. We often argue about rather simplistic measurements like THD and FR that occur in response to easy-to-transmit, simple sine waves, often making no mention that the electronic representation of a music waveform is comprised of dozens, sometimes hundreds, of sine waves superimposed on each other. Another facet is that we often ignore - more like dismiss - the fact that music is the creative assembly of patterns of sound, and that human brains are currently the best pattern recognizers on the planet, period. Finally, in direct response to your question, sometimes the current state of scientific knowledge is "we don't know." Saying "we don't know" isn't avoiding the issue or denying science at all. Rather, "we don't know" is where the scientific process starts. Our brains are capable of observing numerous things that we cannot yet explain. That doesn't mean the observed phenomena isn't happening, it just means we don't know how or why yet. So, yeah, lots to navigate and I hope to get around to it. It will be a big, slow job.

[@LakerTriangle]

@@wavetheorysound yeah I'm sure it would be a very polarizing video. The only thing I can think of is at work I use RF copper cables for various jobs. Cables are measured in loss and speed. Example, one cable might be 89% of the speed of light at one freq and 91% on another (better) cable. Im thinking maybe lower freqs are more respondent to this effect and the wire changes the audio wave pattern with small timing shifts. Maybe reach out to Moon Audio or another high-end cable maker for an interview or some technical papers. Also think about making a Discord that can grow with your channel. This is the kind of stuff I would talk about in it.

[@jacksonville4932]

No offense but a lot of audio engineers/ electronic technicians still have no idea what they are talking about. Just because you have a masters degree in something doesn't mean what you don't know can't be a possibility. Plenty of engineers have been wrong about what effects sound, and you may be one of them. Stay open to the possibility and you have no idea what you're talking about!!

[@wavetheorysound]

@@jacksonville4932 FWIW, I don't think @RdyPlyOne was claiming there is no difference. I think he was simply expressing that he doesn't understand why there are differences and wants to know why. Outside of that, yes, engineering knowledge tends to be very results-focused and isn't built to answer such questions.

[@DB-Lackaufbereitung]

Dude, why are you yelling into the mic?!

[@edwardolugbile3207]

Ok review but need to work on delivery as this is sooo boring (Yawn yawn). Perhaps need to be less robot sounding and more animated.

[@jacksonville4932]

Go to sleep then if he's talking soft. You always gotta be negative bro

[@Maaruks]

oh nooo, when someone says headphone cable changes the sound.... what an absurd !

[@krisrudecki9477]

It may sound great but ... glued on pads and that kind of cable for 4.5k ... the competition in this price bracket does much better, even Susvara with its used condom cable and recycled felt headband 😂🤨

[@jacksonville4932]

Actually factual tho😭🤣