Audeze LCD-X Review - Wonky good fun

[@arnarn4112]

I have to disagree on the comfort issue. I find the Hifimans a lot more uncomfortable, especially because the press on my jaw. The Audeze on the other hand feels actually pleasant to wear. And the weight is a non-issue for me. I have heard several others say that Hifimans shaped like these press on the jaw.

[@aeonmazer9662]

Ah yes the take the headphones off and hit the space bar on your keyboard intro. I feel right at home. You've earned a sub. Looking forward to your content :)

[@kingstoler]

"This cable is bad" lol it's one of the nicer stock cables.

[@metal571]

It's so much better than the previous Audeze cables lol can't wait until he reviews a Focal...

[@sb_dvb960]

Which lcd-2 headphone cable do you recommend? lcd-2 + nordost heinmdall 2 a good bunch will turn out and the second question is which is better than schiit asgard3 or dacmagic 200M

[@martijnbos9873]

Yeah I love the cable xD

[@nortonfamily6711]

@@metal571 hahaha oh my lord. The focal cables not only feel awful and unwieldy, they aren't even reliable. I actually used my Elegia's stock cable instead of just spending 20 bucks for a single ended replacement right off the bat, and a month in the left connector just randomly failed. This seems to be a manufacturing flaw, as I'm not the only one who ran into this exact issue.

[@wadimek116]

Yeah Im using focal clears and their cables are terrible like ikea quality. Thats my biggest problem with focal.

[@tomdavis6371]

I bought my LCD-X just a couple of weeks ago and I love them. Sure, they are heavy and I do have to remove them from my melon every once in a while for a little bit, but it's not a deal breaker. I likely wouldn't have an issue at all had it not been for a major car accident many years ago. My LCD-2 don't bother me in the least, amazing how a difference of 20 grams or so can make a difference. I find the "X" to be less EQ dependent, the cable to be one of the better stock cables and if I have one complaint it's the new pads. I don't care for the non-leather pads or the new foam. I purchased mine as an Open-Box with full warranty but received a factory sealed brand new pair when the dealership oversold their Open-Box inventory. I paid $1000 for the "Creator's Package" which includes a decent Economy case, the cable and all of the included cards for registration, etc. I didn't realize that I had ordered the non-leather pads. BTW the pads are attached using 3M double sided tape rings and ARE removeable. I haven't heard the Arya but own the Sundara. If not mistaken the Arya are selling for $1700. That's a BIG difference in price.

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

The ayra us now $1200 and open box is around $1000. The difference between a sundara and a ayra is night and day.

[@tomdavis6371]

I have no doubt that the Arya are a significant upgrade, but I own the Sundara already. I've made a couple of major purchases since my post, the Mark Levinson No. 5909 and the Meze 109 Pro. Audeze could learn something about mounting the earpads on their headphones from Mark Levinson's system. Enjoy your Arya and who knows, maybe one day.

[@edwardhalterman9371]

I’m curious what you would think of the new 2021 revision, the tuning seems largely improved, also I can personally back this up, I tried the 2020 and the 2021 even without EQ sound substantially more realistic.

[@tkinson]

I'd be keen for that comparison too.

[@Brandon-qs3jq]

@@tkinson Same!

[@JL3001]

New to this channel. Initially thought it was going to be a rip of Z but you actually break down the headphone well and succinctly, without hype. Subbed.

[@NotCharAznable]

You learn nothing after coming out of Z reviews.

[@Hmkls]

@@NotCharAznable There's probably 10 sec worth of useful information out of a 30 min review from Z

[@riseuplight]

Z can be succinct but not often

[@ikersalvador3527]

You all prolly dont care at all but does someone know of a way to log back into an instagram account?? I was stupid lost my login password. I would love any assistance you can offer me.

[@lincolnzaid6695]

@Iker Salvador instablaster ;)

[@baconofwar6619]

Any chance on a LCD-2C review? I'm really enjoying your reviews on products I've seen countless reviews for, you always seem to bring something new to the table!

[@ChaiBearProductions]

Cool transition from the intro to the video playing the music!

[@f0rl]

I have LCD-Xs, and I completely agree with what you said. The best fun I had with them was on Schiit gear. They pair excellently, don't know why, but they really do.

[@armandorancano6415]

I've had the LCD-X for 4 months now and my take is the complete opposite of yours. Mine are connected to the 6mm jack of a PS Audio BHK Preamp fed by a PS Audio Directstream DAC. I am a regular at amplified and acoustic musical events and find them to present the most accurate musical reproduction I've heard to date. They check all the SQ boxes reviewers typically comment on. I urge anyone considering them to read the many reviews available that confirm these are among the best headphones at any price. A word of warning. Force yourself to take them off at 10pm or you'll find yourself listening to your music all night. Yes, that is how comfortable I find them.

[@PhilBoggild]

Everyone's ears are different I suppose, but there's also a notorious degree of variance between different samples of the LCD-X. I'm on my second pair and find them to be almost completely neutral , and yet my first pair sounded *totally different* - dark, thick, and vocalists all sounded like they were under a duvet. I bought them again to try eq'ing them, and to my surprise I don't really need to.

[@hardstuff57]

I’ve had mine for 2 years now and although I’ve advanced to a Stax SR 009BK coupled to a SRM T8000 Amplifier, I still can’t bring myself to sell my LCD X.

[@skiiizo]

Being a musician I really like these for mixing, they are fantastic, I use Realphone plug-in with it. I disagree for classic music listening, I paired them on a tube amp Feliks Elisa II and the result is fantastic, I mainly listen to classic music, and I prefer them to my Stax L700MKII

[@officialMainspring]

I picked up the LCD-X directly from Audeze last month(fresh batch). I see some retailers labeling them as 2024 revision. Mine came with XLR cable pack. I'm not sure if they did anything to the headphone itself far as tunning or driver revision but anyway, mine sounds awesome with every genre of music. I tried eq and while you gain some ground on some frequencies, I find the stock tunning to be most natural sounding. Not the widest soundstage, my only gripe, but it does well enough. I'm not a bass head but love the low end. punchy, full, textured, and sounds very accurate. Mids sound awesome, very life like. I dig 'em.

[@espressoshot21]

I’ve found my new fav headphones channel. I love how honest you are

[@alyxgonzales]

The pads aren’t technically glued on, they’re attached with double sided tape, if you do remove them you can technically put them back on but it’s dodgy. I used to have the microfiber pads and would remove them to wash them and put the back on. Eventually they didn’t stick too well but by then I needed new pads anyways though. Completely agree about the weight, they hurt the top of my head but I do have the old headband which has flattened out over time. Also according by to Audeze the latest 2021 drivers are more consistent. I also lucked out and a pair that sounds great.

[@stevendavis1135]

This review is the complete opposite experience I have with my lcdx 2021 . This headphone is exceptional for vocals and acoustic music.

[@stefdrzen8702]

I am using LCD x 2019 model and the RME ADI2 DAC FS. More than happy with sound I have, and I have very eclectic taste. I also produce, mix, master and a music artist. I have always been speaker load and power person as it makes a huge difference. Have to agree about stock cable looking at two companys for possible upgrade. I like this channel presentation and style a lot of nice information and honest opinion. I like graphs too but usually find that what your ears have told you first are best before you look. Having a good personal demo on the gear you have or going to buy is always a wise move imho. Funny thing is how polarized KZbin channel opinions are about this set of cans lolol. Enjoy your music people and don't forget to have fun and enjoyment. A set of measurements can always be looked at again, but there is never enough time with all music out there to listen too and real life on top. :)

[@mikedergalev]

Completely agreed👏

[@superash82]

I've just took the plunge on the LCD-X. I took a chance on them, given the cost and the negative reviews on KZbin. I listen to a lot of electronic / house / alternative music and I was wanting a headphone that sounds good with these genres. I don't personally believe in EQ'ing headphones and believe each one brings something different to the party. I already have headphones for other moods (HD650 / Focal Elegia) and after this review, I feel I have made the right choice. I'll be running them off an Ifi CAN / DAC stack, so hopefully I will really enjoy them. Subscribed

[@NotCharAznable]

Negative reviews in KZbin? This is like the only one. Lmao

[@superash82]

@@NotCharAznable there’s plenty of reviews that say these are unlistenable without EQ. Given I’m not prepared to pay for a program to use EQ, these reviews are concerning

[@johnpaulgeorge8862]

I bought a pair a couple weeks ago, they need eq. The treble is compressed and sounds pretty awful if the song, particularly vocals, is doing a lot of work in that range. The bass also could use a boost. It really sucks that they need this, but i dont see myself traveling with these.

[@Hmkls]

@@superash82 "I don't personally believe in EQ'ing headphones" What does that even mean? It's like saying "I don't believe in going to the gym", doesn't make much sense

[@MrWizardjr9]

@@superash82 there are free eq programs theres no need to pay for one. if you dont like playing with eq yourself just put in one from oratory1990 or the dozen other reviewers

[@Sam-zz7gs]

You should totally try the 2021 LCD-X, they're a definite Improvement and are about 50 grams lighter, my 15yr sister wore them for hours without issue. I feel like you only notice the weight when you switch to headphones as light as the Arya's

[@soraflame66]

The unit variation is all true but the 2021 march revision FIXES all those Frequency response and tonality issues!!! Please keep that in mind and that when the messed up frequency response is fixed it becomes amazing for vocals and acoustic.

[@fclp67]

Is this the new 2021 version LCD-X or the 2020 version LCD-X because they had a revision with the pads and removing fazors that changed the FR substantially in addition to reducing the weight by about 50g.

[@Shoulon]

Curious as well!

[@markrussellsmith]

They have mesh grilles and the older pads, so they're the 2020 version. I own 2020 and 2021 Audezes and the pads are pretty easy to tell apart as the new ones are so much thinner.

[@markrussellsmith]

@@Shoulon they're 2020s

[@elhijueputa8423]

This review looks like the old version. Those pads are way huge. New ones are smaller and overall weight is 635g. I have the clear mg pro and have always been curious about trying the LCD-X

[@boboso388]

Got the lcd x last week and it sounds like he’s reviewing a completely different headphone

[@ozcozfozc]

Almost cried, not in a good way when I listened to them for the first time. When I bought them and put them on my head I was like: "where bass". There was none, zero, nada, TV quantity of low-end at best... Unless I played some modern, electronic and well mixed/mastered music only then I could hear a little bit of low-end. So I got EQ APO and had to add, prepare for it... 10db to the 166hz (low shelf filter) to get the sound to my liking. The low-end is amazing now tho, just enough to make the music nice, thick and punchy but not so much to make the low-end annoying. But that depends from album to album across the genres, same goes for highs. I would not consider myself that big of a "bass-head".. before LCD-X's I used to have mere porta pros and as far as I know those are not considered "bass-heavy" headphones and bass-wise they satisfied me and my LCD-X's without EQ felt tiny compared to them. Could I possibly get "lime" pair? I asked Audeze for a graph of my pair and it looked as it should. Idk it's weird but the main thing is I'm enjoying them right now. edit: Forgot to mention I'm using Conductor 3xp dac/amp

[@marcinurban3197]

That's very strange considering most reviewers are in love with LCD-X (2017) bass and me too - You must have listened to SONY's before maybe ? I had Conductor V2+ (i don't know if it sounds similar to 3xp) and they sounded dry on it comparing to Audio GD NFB28 and NFB 11. I think You shoud compare them to other reference headphones - that would give You an idea if your pair is faulty maybe.

[@axeraider21]

Sounds like a faulty pair my guy. I’d contact the seller.

[@TheIpadfanatic]

Long time listener and Telegram patron with a comment. Thank you Golden an excellent analysis. I am a proud owner of the Audeze LCD-X. I absolutely agree with you regarding EDM. They absolutely need to have an EQ applied. They absolutely need a warm amp. But I went into purchasing them knowing that this was a genre headphone. And that is fine because if I have learned anything in this hobby, it is that most top tier headphones, and audio gear in general, all have strengths and weaknesses. And audiophiles are happy to buy specific gear for a specific purpose. I only disagree with you about comfort. I may have rolled the dice and gotten a good 2021 variant because I can wear mine for hours and I forget I have them on. But that is my experience, your mileage may vary. They are absolutely heavy. And the pads are glued on. And the head strap does basically nothing. But Sadbot by PIXL and all the other wonderfully synthesized music is pure heaven on the LCD-X.

[@RalphLemarechal]

TIP: unscrew the leather strap and screw it back one step lower .... now the leather band wont be against the metal and will be the only thing touching the top of your head. Did a HUGE change on mine. Love them too for vocals, jazz and more BTW

[@mikedergalev]

The only song so far which i was displeased with - Lose Yourself by Eminem. On X you can barely hear the most important part of the chorus, which was dissapointing. But one song doesn't make a difference, so yeah🤗

[@alan2698]

Koji gang 🙂. Another great review, Golden. Kudos!

[@grewk2518]

Thank you for starting this off with a TLDR

[@johnpaulgeorge8862]

Wow, great take! I just got the lcdx and arya a couple weeks ago and agree with everything you have said - for anyone reading, this review is SPOT ON imo. Youre the first person who I have heard talking about the way the headphone fits influencing listening experience, and not just comfort vs discomfort. I completely agree - kinda difficult to describe but I would say each headphone has its own personal embrace and definitely affects "interpretation". The first thing I disagree on is the comfort (although this is highly subjective) - they are both clampy, the arya is slightly lighter, and audeze pads are much softer and run warmer against the ears (I have the real leather pads). I think I actually prefer the lcdx fit by a hair. Also, smell is another kind of sensual thing to consider, and I love the smell of leather so the lcdx wins there as well. The second is the cable - I feel it stomps on most stock cables at or below this price bracket - it's not perfect but I would replace many other cables before this one! I would love to try on diff amps at some point, but right now only have a 789 and vali 2, and will say I prefer both on the 789. Firmly in the camp of headphones making the biggest impact on chain, by a large margin.

[@bananacheese6864]

11:35 **proceeds to bully you**

[@tlm2096]

Great review man

[@dhybiak]

The unit variation is so true, and is the toughest part about recommending Audeze. Nice review.

[@Lebron069]

Apparently Audeze tweaks the sound of their Headphones with every revision. So there is a 2019, a 2020 and a 2021 version and each has some small differences in sound.

[@DJJEZ]

great review man. i nearly bought these when choosing a new headphone but glad i went with the arya lol

[@anastav6915]

Just got mine today, its really funny how personal test is the biggest thing. For me the first reaction to this set was "omfg, the vocals are so natural and perfect" while you perceive that as shitty and terrible. I dont know if my set was totally dfferent than yours, but yeah. Overall, i find these flat and perfect for mix and master from EDM to orchestral to metal and jazz.

[@soraflame66]

Also the 2021 revision improves comfort and wait

[@REDSIX]

Weight?

[@normanrockwell2072]

still waiting

[@OldDirtyRobot]

Every review I watch of this headphone people either hate or love the cables. I personally like the fact that they are light, and they don't transfer noise went I move around. Having said that, I still bought some balanced cables from Periapt

[@shreyanshyadav3285]

Please do a Full Arya review 🙏

[@StormNehalem]

I heard the very first word of this review and I was confused why you said "These" instead of "THEEEEEEEESE..." All in all, great work! 👍

[@VintageStereoCollectorChannel]

Would you consider a Mytek Brooklyn DAC+ a warm sounding DAC? I have LCD-X (2021). I use Roon so thanks for the heads-up on the EQ. I came across your channel yesterday and watched Parts 1 & 2 of your MQA presentations.👍👍

[@SovincPeter]

I had LCD-X, I sold them and got myself Stax L300 Limited, which I like more with a large margin... but I do miss my LCD-X sometimes... there is some kind of very enjoyable soft warmness in them.

[@classicmartini]

G'day from Sydney. Nice, moderate, reasonable review. I love mine for movies, with a... *gasp* THX Onyx :-) Cheers.

[@olimphus26]

I’d love to see a review of the 2021 closed backs.

[@chrisnyc3641]

Great review, great channel. 👍

[@MadelnMachines]

Please could you compare them to the MM500 (I haven't head them)? I really liked the LCDX in store with just a Topping Pro E1x2. I couldn't decide between these and the Arya Organic. I wasn't too impressed with the Arya Stealth. I produce / mix and listen to primarily electronic music. I would like them to be good at everything given the price though. I also listened to the Ananda Nano and thought they were great for the price - very fast transients - good for a more mono sound. I've heard they are amazing for mixing low end. I need a high level of detail, clarity, separation and accuracy but also the fun that the headphones mentioned bring.

[@KojiCO-ConvinceM]

Nice work mate, definitely vocalising what was in my head. I would drop a caveat here, I will say the LCDX if you can bear the weight can be used for everything in the sense that they will not offend they will be just fine just okay, but, when metal well mastered, rock, well mastered, and EDM comes on they make you sit bolt upright A lot of the trouble issues can be mitigated with the clamp of the headphones, by adjusting this you can mitigate some peaks and residences 🐅🐅

[@tomaszbrodzic8381]

I've bought my lcd-x one month ago. I can't agree that vocals and especialy guitars saund not good. I have comletely different feeling. They are very good for rock or classic. I've heard many headphones and I no dout - on this device many instruments sound great but classic guitar sounds fantastic. Not only very precizely but also smooth and pleasantly. In fact I can't find the kind of music which is not appropriate.

[@calebname9955]

I would love for you to do an Arya review

[@subbot8077]

Awesome review, if possible could you try the LCD 24's at some point?

[@aceofspades6667]

Watching this review while listening through a set of LCD-3F... I can say the LCD-X pair very well with a Burson Conductor (AIO) - 3XP. The slightly brighter presentation from the Burson conductor helps to liven up the vocals (upper mids) and lower treble where there is a bit of a dip.

[@znick77]

I'd also love to see you give a proper review of the Arya dude. Where did you get the aftermarket cable for your Arya?

[@xylophoneiwnl4191]

The cable is ordered custom from Viking weave cables

[@jleewitda3gmail]

How does the LCD-X compare to the LCD-2C when listening to electronic music?

[@xyanide1986]

20 to 1000 Hz +-~3 almost 5 dB depending on the pair YEESH! I didn't realize they did that. I'm personally a fan of the Audeze sound. Just wish there was even more bass below 80 on my LCD2, so I have an ifi ican SE with the boost ticked up 1 notch.

[@johnsimpson8187]

Thank goodness for Schiit Loki EQ products.

[@TheJohnniegolden]

Hugely appreciating your erudite analysis, as introduced by John Darko. Eagerly awaiting your review of the HOLO Audio May.

[@soraflame66]

These are INCREDIBLE for vocals and instruments you have to A. Either EQ them fix the messed up dip in mids in the Frequency Response or B. Buy a 2021 revision which fixes the Audeze plague of messed up Frequency Reponse.

[@tomvu9353]

Unit variation is a huge bummer for audeze. recently got an lcd x and it sounds horrible. Techinically impressive but the frequency response it so bad. Insane treble spike 6k and around 10-12k. Mid range was super recessed making the vocals sit 10 ft back super weird.

[@metal571]

That's how they all sound now. Some recent revision really screwed these up

[@tomvu9353]

@@metal571 Hi Metal, I saw that you recently updated your Audeze lcd 2 and it fixed alot of the frequency responce issue. Did you send your unit into audeze headquarters to have them replace the ear pads and update the drivers too or just ordering the new pads off their site and changing it at home will fix the issue? I emailed them if I could send my unit in but they told me just to order the pads and change it at home. Thanks!.

[@metal571]

@@tomvu9353 only the LCD-X and XC have had driver revisions. For all other models the drivers are the same, but they use the new 2021 pads now without memory foam (instant rebound). I sent mine in to HQ for other reasons beyond pads, so it is unnecessary. You can just order the new pads and glue them on yourself using the pad kit

[@tomvu9353]

@@metal571 I tried using Resolve’s EQ profile to fix my lcd-x but that didn’t work out, it improved a tiny bit most likely because my unit measures different from his. I am not too good at Eq’ing headphones so I always listen without EQ. Is it possible to EQ the lcd-x via your ears. or do you need a mini dsp ears measurement rig to measure the FR then EQ. Even then would the mini dsp rig be acurate?

[@beneadan]

Hi! Were can I find the red cable that you are using with the Arya?

[@danielhipwell3607]

can you provide info on earpad leather vs leather free thanks. edit: one note about glued on ear pads, Audeze says they seal better than anything the r&d department has otherwise come up with. they are not difficult to replace. peel off the ear pad, take the excess glue off with a blade and adhere new ones.

[@mikylenaidoo1779]

Are there audiophiles that actually only listen to edm?

[@LC-yv9ey]

Everytime I get hyped to buy a pair of headphones someone points out all the flaws and points out better headphones that cost more, when will it end, why is every reviewer so damn picky? I guess its never good enough till you spend $60,000 on a setup

[@mikedergalev]

Just stop and make a decision YOURSELF. Otherwise you'll be in this loop forever.

[@MrWizardjr9]

i mean the arya isnt that far off in price and thats what proper reviewers do if you want to just hear good things then i guess there are plenty of paid reviewers that just say good things about a headphone

[@mikedergalev]

@@MrWizardjr9 the only thing i got from ALL those reviews is that there is no such thing as PERFECT HEADPHONES. Even if it costs millions of dollars some guy will find a flaw - and will EQ it😆😉 That's why i think everyone should listen to themselves.

[@johnnybegood2002]

You said these arenotgreat for acoustic music, ireally wanted them formixingmy acoustic guitar tracks, is there a pair of headphones that you would recommend for thistype ofmusic? I am looking at Hifiman

[@Ali_Shafai]

Thank you for a great video! Where can I find the XLR to single-ended adapter cable [red colored] that you use in the video?

[@gabrielceder4008]

"Heart Audio Cables"

[@xylophoneiwnl4191]

@@gabrielceder4008 he’s talking about the 1/4 in to xlr, which he got from Viking weave cables (also it’s hart audio not heart audio)

[@gabrielceder4008]

@@xylophoneiwnl4191 Uhm... no. There is no "1/4 to xlr" cable in the video that is red coloured. Yes, I didn't quite recall what they were named so my bad.

[@xylophoneiwnl4191]

@@gabrielceder4008 14:14

[@gabrielceder4008]

@@xylophoneiwnl4191 Sike!

[@CAwannabe123]

Wow this review is polar opposite of alot of the things I've heard and read about these. Alot of mix and mastering engineers rely on them specifically for their realism yet you say they're not very real sounding. I got them for mixing and occasional enjoyment. I have a pair coming tomorrow and I hope they work out. I don't listen to much electronic music and prefer fusion and acoustic music so now I'm a bit worried! Thanks for your opinion.

[@GoldenSound]

There is a lot of subjectivity in audio. And whilst personal preference as to signature is up to the listener, things that are intended to be objectively neutral is more of a black and white question. In this case, a quick glance at the frequency response shows that they're anything but neutral. They're great fun in certain situations. But for mastering or production I would most certainly pick a different headphone.

[@CAwannabe123]

@@GoldenSound After spending a few days with them, I agree with your review. The way the lcd-x puts the vocals in the back doesn't seem very useful for music production and it's kind of boring honestly. There's just too much side image. I found them practically useless without Sonarworks correction. On some material they almost sound broken. Nice transient punch and cool for certain stuff but I think I'll have to trade these in for the new Focal Clear MG.

[@metal571]

There have been a LOT of revisions to this headphone. The most recent version has a terrible FR out of the box. Many suspect a silent pad revision but they definitely don't measure like they used to, just look at what Resolve has graphed on his GRAS (or crin's). They're nothing like what Tyll measured back in the day in the current version. Oh, and Reveal doesn't do even close to enough to fix the massive upper mid chasm lol

[@GoldenSound]

@@metal571 ah OK that's interesting to note. I'd quite like to get a pair of the new one if that is the case. Though I have to say it is frustrating when manufacturers do silent revisions. It makes a decision as a consumer difficult because you never know if reviews you find or feedback from others is from the model you're going to purchase or one that is different. Be it in a small or large capacity.

[@metal571]

@@GoldenSound it hurts both consumers and reviewers when they do that. I wish Audeze was more transparent about some of their changes. Even the 2016 revision was very quiet and buried in a head-fi thread. Just shoot Audeze a DM on Twitter if you want to try more units. Nice channel - I like what I see so far. Cheers

[@vincenttam8642]

Have both Arya and LCD-X, I like both. Like you suggest Arya overall has better tone balance and LCD-X sound more fun. I personally if have to keep only one pair of them, would choose Arya over LCD-X not because of sound but Audeze headphones are heavy, however, Arya has another comfort issue if you wear glasses. the tiniest head movement would creak like hell if you put on Arya. Hifiman needs to release a better version pad for Arya.

[@goodboid]

I have had a diametrically different experience with the Aryas. I was fortunate enough to try a few headphones over the weekend. I had on my table the Heddphone, Aryas, He1000se, Ether2, and the Focal Clears. Of the lot the Aryas were the best phones for my kind of music, hard and fast techno. My go to track to demo the phones, was a dense techno track, Floorlicker by Stoneface and Terminal. The Aryas have a ridiculously detailed low end, and was fast and immediate, goosebump city. The He1000se had the most amount of detail, but was also the most boring of the bunch. Turned everything I put through them into high quality elevator music. I hated letting go of the Aryas. Bought a pair of Anandas instead. Nah, not the same, even though some reviewers said they are comparable.

[@hokechew]

So the Arya won't be punchy if driven by an Asgard3? What amp you recommend?

[@marcinurban3197]

I had Arya's, Ananda's and i'm using 2017 LCD-X (and LCD-2f) - for me Aryas and Anandas sound like crap for vocals when i AB them, and in almost every situation - i would prefer LCD-X (i'm not using EQ on them) without blinking an eye.

[@wabbasMEpern]

Interesting! A lot of people have the exact opposite opinion.

[@drewrushlow1820]

So these are not 2021 right, because 2021 version vocals and acoustic sounds great. Especially saxophones.

[@moltenbullet]

What do you reckon having these as an alternative (to round out a collection) with a HD 800S? Are they different enough to justify adding these into that collection?

[@allan5692]

Is the LCD X you reviewed a 2021 version tho?

[@stevendavis1135]

No it's not

[@eugimon]

is this review of the latest revision?

[@jackfrosterton432]

This looks like an old headband. Perhaps that's the reason he finds them uncomfortable

[@armandorancano6415]

There is no excuse for making changes to a headphone and not letting customers and prospective customers know what is different. Software has version numbers, why not headphones? I have not seen the LCD-X stamp versions or publicize versions in any way. That is not good customer service. It does make it hard for reviewers and may account for review differences. I have learned one thing about enjoying my music to the fullest. I had to learn how to EQ. It's not just because of headphone issues like the one we are discussing. Our hearing is different. Recordings vary in what frequencies they emphasize, as does mastering. Nothing perfectly meets our expectations, at least for those of us who look for the most realistic reproduction of our music. If our expectations are not that picky then EQ is not necessary. If we want a recording to match our expectations EQ is a must. It's not difficult. In the old days, preamps had bass, midrange and treble controls. They were used as a matter of fact. Now EQ is more sophisticated. I found learning how to EQ properly freeing and enabling. It enhanced my enjoyment of the music.

[@mikedergalev]

And with EQ you are basically stuck with PC on, right? Find it disengaging quite a bit)

[@leninreddy]

Hey, what's your opinion on LCD XC?

[@saadiewaadie]

Hey man! I was able to try out the Arya Stealth Magnet version and LCD-X 2021 a few days ago. Felt to me like the Arya's sound was more 3-dimensional, immersive and more detailed than the LCD-X. Also in the lower/sub-bass region I could hear the bass rumbles (kind of like the Dolby Atmos trailer rumbles) better on the Arya, and felt it was almost missing on the LCD-X, very muted/dead. Sounds like water droplets seemed more detailed on the Arya than LCD-X. Bass had more of a thump and felt fuller on the LCD-X. I'm coming from a Sennheiser HD600 and even on that I could hear the low end bass rumble. Was wondering if you noticed something similar? And will the EQ fix this? I mostly listen to soundtracks and vocal stuff, some trap/lofi and rock. And play games. Kinda leaning towards to Arya from the '3d atmosphere' I noticed and better sound separation and detail. Was looking to run it off my Asus Xonar Essence Stx sound card with built-in headphone amp or maybe JDS Element II. Would that be ok for either the LCD-X/Arya Stealth? Trying to decide between the two for my upgrade from the HD600 which I've had for years now. Thx so much!

[@En_Joshi-Godrez]

Im late here, but the stealth ayra needs drastically less power than the one he had (the v2). But I still would not run it off anything that does not output at least 6V. The element 2 would do that. Do you already have the element 2, because there is a third version that is significantly better now.

[@creative5085]

ngl i want to see that beats pro review

[@jakegibbons9628]

You mention in many videos that you run your headphones, and especially your HiFiMan Arias off a speaker amp. What adapter are you using to do this?

[@arefinkhandaker4370]

hahaha pardon my question but what are u gonna say about lcd x for competitive gaming? Does it cut the footstep details sound ? Nice review on both of these headphones!

[@dougleydorite]

“The main reason you buy these is for low end” are you for real!? I just got mine in and the bass is weak. Like i need to eq the bass up a bunch to feel it. Granted, these are obviously not the 2021. I’m sending them back I think

[@sanhnguyen97]

This or arya organic for rap, electronic music?

[@JTB--]

I had the 2021 LCD-XC. They were really good although heavy. Once I got the Verite Closed they went bye bye quickly

[@iranheadphonereviews]

Hi I use hifiman edition xs r8 now + SA1 amp and need more fun headphone like lcd x… Is lcd x and Sa1 amp good together? I mean Sa1 is warm enough like asgard amp?

[@PatrickQT]

Could I drive this thing on a JDS Labs Element II?

[@TechNICKal07]

I wish Audeze would come out with a new headband design. I ended up selling my LCD-2Fs because no matter what I did the metal band would come in contact with my head and hurt shortly after putting them on. I loved their sound but just couldn't stand wearing them so all Audeze products are off the table for me. I'm still looking for a different headphone to replace them..

[@subbot8077]

have you seen the carbon fiber one?

[@TechNICKal07]

@@subbot8077 I have, but I'm not sure it would make much difference since the strap is the same.

[@TheGrammarOfDesign]

You could try Dekoni 'Nuggets', like Zeos from Z Reviews uses on his Gold Planars

[@Yuu_Touko]

Hmm. I was thinking about these. But now i'm not sure, after all you've said. I guess Arya would be a much better choise for me. Altough i enjoy base and electronic from time to time, instrumental and vocals are much more important to me.

[@soraflame66]

Hes wrong, vocals and Instrumentals are amazing on these you either need to EQ it or buy a 2021 revision. Audeze is known to be plagued with frequency response issues but let me tell you they take EQ better than almost anything out there and completely transforms it

[@soraflame66]

Or just try to find a used 2021 revision which literally fixed the FR issues most notably the dip In the midrange (mids=vocals+most instruments) and my God its insane how good they are. I also have hifiman ananda and sennheiser 660s which have extremely beautiful vocals and instruments

[@RealHIFIHelp]

I tried both, yes they are good.

[@dustinmihalcheon5013]

I have a Modi and Magni Heresy stack off my PC. Should I be running these on low gain for better control?

[@davidelmquist8670]

Are these the upgraded 2021 version?

[@kristoffer8740]

They seem to be the 2020 version judging be the thickness of the pads.

[@gregwx]

Can we have a Hifiman Arya Review? - Love your content, always unbias, interesting and solid.

[@eskamobob8662]

Bruh. If this stock cable is horrid never try a focal.....

[@GoldenSound]

Unfortunately bad stock cables seem to be a common theme. Hifiman, audeze, focal etc. No idea why none of them have sorted it when you can get good third party cables for not much money

[@eskamobob8662]

@@GoldenSound thats realy my whole thing. Ibasso SR2 comes with baducaly the ideal cable. No shape memory, super soft and supple, no ability to kink, and just generally great, and the MAP is only $550

[@MrWizardjr9]

the focal cable is just stiff. its fine if you are just going to keep them at your desk. most focal headphones arent on the go headphones anyways

[@Captain1Planet]

Seems like you got the old model. The 2021 model fixes some of the minus points you are talking about

[@martinfox2244]

2021 version or the previous version?

[@bruhwhatswrongwitchu2458]

"they make my cheeks hurt" hm

[@SharkWithADrill]

Check out the Avantone Planar if you like fast, clear planar sound

[@ElCharvo]

Bass ?

[@brandonburr4900]

This almost seems like a z reviews copy minus the swearing and rambling tangents. I'm not sure what to think of this review. This is sorta opposite of many I have seen. Perhaps he got a wonky pair from the factory? I have heard some that really love the vocals on this headphone. One thing that seems to carry over from lcdx reviews is the bass. This is also one of the few that has not liked the newer cable design. Also that new headband is a worthwhile improvement over the original. This head like many will come down to what electronics you pair with it. And those sterile amps would not be the amp of choice for these as far as long term enjoyment. Treat this as another one of many countless reviews of this headphone over the years in your purchasing decision.

[@mikedergalev]

I like vocals a lot. I mean it. Bishop Briggs sounds clean and sexy as hell. What else do you need from a vocal perspective? I don't know🤗

[@MrWizardjr9]

some parts seem modeled off of z reviews but the content is completely different. and definitely a lot of people dont like them without EQ

[@mikedergalev]

@@MrWizardjr9 the opposite is true as well😉

[@chrisasmith75]

Is this the 2021 revision?

[@jasoncheung8430]

Where is my Beats pro review?

[@bigjt37]

What about jot2? Did you have it for this? Good pairing?

[@GoldenSound]

Not tried the Jot 2. Unfortunately Schiit products are vey difficult to get ahold of outside the US

[@bigjt37]

@@GoldenSound totally understand, couldn't remember if you had it or not..

[@tommygun6866]

LCD-X vs Ariya for gaming?

[@MasterMark5]

HD800S review when?

[@wolandphotography]

so , not for metal & vocals?

[@kortam6065]

same problem with lcd3 thats why i sold mine missing some uppermids

[@mikedergalev]

The only song i didn't like the sound of on X was Lose Yourself by Eminem, because of one section. That's why i don't know. I would still go for Audeze despite your review and many others as such. Iconic design, fantastic sound and FUN. Im more on a fun side of listening rather than NERDy if you know what i mean😉

[@jonathana.4187]

Thanks for the review! Do you think it could pair well with iFi Zen DAC/ Can Stack?

[@rafael6769]

Zen dac is fine