Consider THIS When Purchasing Headphones! AUDEZE LCD-XC (21s)

[@leefchapman]

This is incredibly detailed, Ed! Brilliantly concise.

[@EdThorne]

😊 Thanks, Lee. I hope it dispels some myths about headphones.

[@nicobluestream]

Thanks for this video ! I'm a professional musician and I own the Audeze MM-100 which I calibrate with Oratory presets with a few modifications (less bass and less high mids) and for working your instrument or tracking, it's absolutely amazing. Nothing to do with dynamic headphones. It's so fast and detailed that I can hear my attack so clearly that it affects the way I play. I can also hear every sounds in the mix while I play even if the tune is busy 😎

[@PaulThird]

Nice to know you are actually listening when I force you into geeky audio chats 🤣

[@EdThorne]

🤣🤘Every day is a school day!🔥

[@dr00beats]

I am super happy with my LCD-X's - BUT - I have had to listen to everything I've ever heard... again!

[@EdThorne]

Haha. I can imagine.

[@soundstorm9508]

Hey Ed, I just ordered a set of these for studio work. What calibration software would you recommend, and does it introduce any latency during tracking? Thanks for the content!

[@EdThorne]

I wouldn’t use any software, personally, I find they do strange things. Check out the EQ calibration curve to match the Harmann curve on Audio Science Review. I believe I left a link in the description…

[@crate718]

I own the hd560s dt 900 pro x dt1990 pro and the headset I use to play guitar and practice with music is my epos h6 pro a gaming headset lol it has the most flat frequency

[@Jazzguitar00]

Audeze headphones are a pleasure to work on. I don't know why people have this thing with pursuing perfectly flat head phones; your room probably isn't perfect, your speakers probably aren't perfect and your perception of sound is constantly shifting. Audeze headphones sound clean and detailed the second you put them on and that's pretty good for working in my opinion.

[@EdThorne]

They’re incredible headphones!

[@Aznaur_Vainakh-Nikhlo]

My Sennheiser HD600 and SONY 7506 both lives for two decades every day and night working and they're not going to die for another decades. But what about these LCD-XC's. How long they are going to live? How long live planar magnetic headphones if they aren't best 10 of 10 Chinaman ever\whatever then-thousand-china headphones for example?

[@EdThorne]

Ask me in ten years 😉

[@adampoler]

I got 2C's for about 6 years. Nothing to complain except pads... I had Eco leather ones but due to skin contact (water and salt) they totally broke aparat. Now I'am going to buy XC's but with real leather pads.

[@JackaTrial]

Nice video! BTW, I have the exact same headphones, I gave it a try with SoundID and the result is horrible, they just sound absolutely broken when I apply the XC profile - but I have a hunch that it's maybe due to them having a profile for the pre 2021 model? Makes no sense otherwise.

[@EdThorne]

I know what you mean. I think the SoundID profile is up to date for the 21 model but most of their HP profiles just don’t work for me. I manually EQ using the Audio Science Review suggested EQ curves. Works beautifully.

[@JackaTrial]

@@EdThorne I see, alright, I'll give it a try myself. thanks!

[@thepedanticcreature680]

I know that this is an old comment but you can also contact Audeze support to get your headphones' individual frequency response from them because they record it as part of their QC process. You just need the serial number for your pair. It is possible that yours has some larger than average deviations from the target, or whichever pairs were used to formulate the EQ profiles. But with that knowledge, you can make an EQ profile for your specific pair.

[@jaymusik1235]

Hey bro its been "emotional" man your signature talk is priceless.😂

[@EdThorne]

😉

[@pepebvelez]

Great video mate thanks

[@mexps8093]

FLAT earthers would like these

[@EdThorne]

Lol

[@dougkidder9069]

Informative 👍 - thanks Ed

[@EdThorne]

You're welcome, Doug! Thanks for watching.

[@jayantasarkar9671]

The THD will also depend on the impedance. And with that frequency curve.

[@EdThorne]

Yep, true. I didn’t want to get into the minefield of impedance in this video. It’s even more polarising than the concept of flat headphones 🤣

[@Europhile]

It would have been useful to mention the 2021 changes making the newer model flatter in response. Also the weight reduction.

[@EdThorne]

Luckily you’ve saved the day.

[@oinkooink]

@@EdThorne Ooooooooooooooooh saucer of milk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@2k9flash]

Can you hear the difference in improved sound quality using balanced cable vs unbalanced in LCD-XC?

[@EdThorne]

Yes. It’s a tiny amount of improved transient clarity in the high end.

[@RonnieVaiArovo]

Nice one 👍

[@RealBeterok]

What is better ? Fostex th900mk2 or this one?

[@DariuszBlasi]

So do you recommend using eq headphones correction? I just bought HD 650 and dont know if i should buy sonarworks too..

[@EdThorne]

EQ Calibration works really well on these Planar headphones. Personally, I find Sonarworks (although great for speakers) can sound strange on headphones (my HD300s for example) however, because the 600/650s are so close to “flat”/Harman, they actually sound quite good corrected. Sound iD Reference has some great features now too, so I would recommend it, yeh. 🙂

[@DariuszBlasi]

@@EdThorne Thank you!

[@PurpleMusicProductions]

Wow I did not know about the Harmon Curve! I have those sennheisers and they are the relative flattest I have heard but I can't do $1300 so I will have keep plugging away lololol

[@enapsempire4151]

So the money paid is strictly for less distortion? Who mixes so loud anyway 🤷🏾‍♂️

[@EdThorne]

It's about the ultra-low distortion, impeccable transient response and detail at all volumes.

[@enapsempire4151]

@@EdThorneSondara is good enough for mixing ?

[@EdThorne]

@enapsempire4151 My podcast co-host, Paul Third, raves about the Sundara’s. I haven’t tried them.

[@AIexOut-A-Magic-x6w]

OK; so I can also say the Alps are flat... but in reference to a previously established ideal mountain range!!! Question: could the globe also be flat in reference to a previously established ideal sphere? Project: with this rule, could we finally establish peace between globe and flat earthers?🤣

[@Strepite]

Tried the Sonarworks calibration and to my ears the excessive mids and highs it added sounds awful and fatigue inducing. All the well produced songs I listened sounded way too harsh… I think by default they sound just the way they should, warm, not ear-piercing harsh with nice but not overpowering bass.

[@EdThorne]

Yeh, Sonarworks does strange things in headphones. Best bet is copy the Audio Science Review EQ curve (I think I linked it in the description).

[@samnarjinary]

Pretty darn costly...! Hope it justifies the price. Would like to know how it feels to mix in that.

[@davidallanmusic]

I have the open backs and I love them. Totally worth the cost.