Audeze LCD-XC - Premium headphones for voiceover | Booth Junkie

[@JohnDrewVoice]

Excellent review, Mike. Thanks. Perhaps uncharacteristically, the only time I wear headphones in the booth is when I'm in a SourceConnect session, with one earpiece on and the other earpiece off, or if I have to listen to a track for timing, which is extremely rare. While wearing headphones does make sense when attempting to achieve a specific delivery style, particularly when closely working the mic, I nevertheless know my own voice so well that I'm attuned to any pops, voice clicks, stomach growls, rustles, etc., that I rarely come out of the booth with any undetected interference. When I do use headphones, I've been completely content with my Beyer Dynamic DT 770 Pro 80 ohm phones, which perfectly match my PrismSound Lyra II's headphones output. I particularly like the velour-covered earpieces because they do not squeak against the frame legs of my glasses like leatherette ear cushions can. After your review of the Audeze LCD-XCs, I may begin using my headphones more often.

[@monke8759]

The goat drops another vid

[@byteborg]

Thanks for your in-depth review of the XCs and all your insights on using headphones as a daily driver. The mini-XLR connectors on the earcups do not magically make the signal symmetric (as in microphone cabling), they're just a proven plug format from my point of view - also the 6.3mm plug on the other end simply doesn't have enough contacts for that. Dealing with headphone/speaker-level signals does not require symmetric cabling to get rid of interference in almost all cases due to the high signal level and thus higher SNR, as oppopsed to microphone-level signals that are much weaker and more susceptible to induced noise.

[@voices]

Nice video Mike! The build looks reminiscent of vintage pilot headsets. Very cool!

[@VidMashUp]

Thanks Mike!! Another purchase. Searching for a deal now!

[@johnheiser2604]

They look so cool.

[@BlackNomad1]

Okay. Good advert for the headphones. But throughout you have shots of them sitting next to the beyerdynamic 990’s to compare the size of them. But you didn’t mention how they compare to them? As the Beyerdynamic 770+ range are famously well known to a voice actor, how do these super expensive headphones sound compared to these more established German models? In comfort, in sound quality. Do you plan to switch from the Beyerdynamic headphones to this new pair? Thanks

[@rhalfik]

They are planar headphones so compared to dynamic headphones they have smoother highs and deep extending albeit quieter bass. DT770 have about neutral bass but cold midrange and peaky highs. Audezes also have spiced up highs but not as peaky and more even and the midrange is more forward and neutral. DT990 have shallower bass, more mud and warmth, while the midrange is a little shouty and highs are dominant. 990's a V-shaped headphone. Audezes are bright/lean, not V-shaped. DT990 get more neutral as they age, because the driver gets closer to your ear canal as the earpads flatten. With fresh earpads, they're a little hotter in the treble than Audezes. The reason is diaphragm breakup, which is a common problem with dynamic drivers. Planar diaphragm is electromechanically stiff at all frequencies, so no problem with that. Planars generally are smooth sounding, but the studio Audeze are also very detailed and a little bright. Bass is something that you may want to EQ by some 5ish db. The level of bass is dictated by bone conducting or rather lack of thereof, so it's a matter of your body type and age. With calibration EQ, all of them can sound neutral so it's not a big problem, although Audezes are better monitoring headphones right out the box. They're overall better headphones so if you can live with their weight, Beyers don't really compare. If you're looking for open back monitors to replace DT990, then Hifiman Sundara is the obvious choice, then maybe DT1990, which is basically DT990, but refined. Sundara is like the XC but with touch more bass. As a side note I can add that Audeze XC were tuned after a target called Harman in-room flat, which is an old target which was made without asking people about their opinion on sound quality. It's not much different from what we consider neutral these days, but I think it's interesting they chose to do it this way.

[@rixhawz]

Nice review/perspective, but these are really pricey. I'm new to your channel and will go digging through other recent postings for hopefully a recent, more affordable set.

[@nadavberg]

I don't see how it could be a balanced connection unless each channel has a separate balanced connector at each end.

[@briae2012]

Man I want these so bad, I just don't want to break my bank lol

[@kickinitwithpoc]

Do you need a mix amp with these or a software on the pc would do?

[@sirnigelcogs]

I guess Booth Junkie must be really busy with work these days because his videos just aren't like they used to be before he moved. Those were fun, where we got to see and learn about all sorts of different microphones.

[@Collective-Mayhem]

I subbed to him when he had less than 1k subscribers. His videos were definitely something he did in between auditions lol

[@trampshady]

Judas Priest, $1300!