Viewer Request: Audeze LCD-5 & LCD-X (2021) Comparison

[@chickenheads3746]

I like your reviews Wave Theory, and here’s why. You mainly talk about the sound , and don’t insist on showing graphs and ramming EQ down my gullet. I appreciate that…..I put a headphone on and if it takes me where I need to be then I don’t sweat the 7K peak. Keep up the great work!!

[@bluemonstrosity259]

Graphs are useful. They explain the sound we hear

[@chickenheads3746]

@@bluemonstrosity259 True, I didn’t mean that to come across as “No graphs”, just not “All graphs”. I agree, both your ears and graphs have their place.

[@jacksonville4932]

Thank you for this. I'm upgrading from the x to 5 so I'm glad it's actually a clear upgrade

[@PhotoTerco]

I have both and I enjoy both, for comfort actually prefer the Xs over the 5, never had any problem with the weight but I do have a problem with the pads on the 5, not so comfortable in my opinion compared to the old models. Resolution to the 5 but sometimes I prefer more the inoffensive sound of the X. If I have to choose one... I think I will be happy with just the X.

[@sjqideez6626]

I’ve heard the LCD-X 2021 & LCD-5 on a good system, I much prefer the X. Too much 3kHz on the 5

[@michaelp.3485]

Dumb reason tbh. Lcd-5 blows the x out of the water in every way.

[@sjqideez6626]

@@michaelp.3485 your comment is more dumb, lool

[@massivemikeh]

This goes to show how important tonality is vs technicalities.

[@RC-qc2nz]

​@@michaelp.3485thats Not true

[@powermod6772]

Other interesting questions would be: (1) How much do I have to spend on DAC/AMP so that the LCD-5 are substantially better than the LCD-X? Is this already the case for MidFi amps? (2) How much do I have to spend on DAC/AMP so that the LCD-5 can be driven to their maximum potential? 20k? ^^

[@soraflame66]

LCD-X 2021 are just simply incredible.. of course not a LCD-5 or 4 but CLOSE enough thata it's just amazing.

[@JordansTake35]

I actually have an LCD 4 and the newest LCD x. I prefer the LCD 4 for hip hop or bass heavy music and it generally has a more forgiving and smooth tone. But for some things, like acoustic music, singer songwriter stuff the LCD X is better. It's clearer, more intimate, and it gives you every detail right up front, and for that kind of music it's amazing. LCDX makes your ear the microphone they recorded on. It's amazing that it can be so intimate yet sound so big.

[@caspermaster-com]

Tested both for a few days. Id say they are different, one is not obviously better. Its like a F1 racer or indy car racer. As an audio engineer I will buy the X, it focuses well on lows and lowmid, they sound kinda normal warm to me. LCD5 is so increddible clean and analytical, its hard to find the vibe in the music im working on, everything shows up like they have a gun pointed to their heads 😄 Extremely transperant sound, but I dont really need this level of ultra-clean and analytical, LcdX sounds pretty similar to my focal 3 ways + sub in a well treated studio room. Which is pretty neutral in itself. LCD5 sounds like the 6,3 cable straight into the brain 😄

[@jayyaudio]

At $5000 I'm expecting TOTL tuning so it having problems with mids makes no sense.

[@davidallanmusic]

The raised mids help mix engineers with making songs that translate to consumer speakers.

[@theodorezurla496]

The LCDX is much more pleasing imo

[@powerlifting402]

An excellent video, very useful. Thanks.

[@xsouldriverx]

HD600 vs lcd-5 vs utopia, but the HD600 is driven by coach ditka in a tube powered bears team bus

[@paulstella8443]

This is my new endgame

[@vvidover]

Nice comparison. Thanks.

[@chrisdinsmore1665]

I would never have thought to ask this question, but found your discussion/ideas very interesting. Thanks.

[@kevintj604]

Great reviews and I’m very much enjoying your content. I’m an owner of both the Rosson RAD-0 as well as an LCDX 2021. Wondering if the LCD5 was impressive enough for me to sell both the Rosson’s and LCDX and purchase a 5. Unfortunately my local store will not have the LCD5 to demo for some time.

[@STatic4009]

The question is how you want your bass presentation. But if you want resolution and a more neutral headphone... LCD-5

[@Piercingthesky1]

any idea how Liric II compare to LCD 5 or X?

[@GingerDrums]

Try highpassing the voiceover to deal with plosive issues

[@herry1276]

great comparo, mate

[@killeraudiofile8094]

The 5s stage wider, taller, and deeper to my ears than the X 2021.

[@tweedpenguin712]

X sounds better and is cheaper by a huge margin lol

[@killeraudiofile8094]

​@@tweedpenguin712 Having owned both, I strongly disagree. But at the end of the day there's no right answer and no "better", all opinion.

[@MrJabinho]

mic pop filter doesn't work properly

[@Musictron]

Thanks!

[@tomaszbrodzic8381]

This is the major question - is really worth to pay 4 times more for upgrade lcd-x to lcd-5? It's huge value difference.

[@wavetheorysound]

The question of worth gets really sticky in audio. Many cite the law of diminishing returns reducing the value. I don't necessarily agree. I'll agree that raw technical performance sees decreasing gains with increasing cost. However, the gains toward perceived realism increase exponentially as the price of gear goes up, most of the time (there are exceptions), IME. I try to limit my comments on value to cases where I think value is a key part of the story. The LCD-X 2021 is a good value because it performs on a technical level right with the $1400-1800 models from Focal, Fostex, HiFiMan, ZMF, etc, and does so at $1200. I haven't commented on the overall value of the LCD-5 because in overall technicalities it performs like other $4K+ models from other companies, and for about the same price. Comparing the values of the X and 5 to each other is not something I feel qualified to do, because that will be very different for each person.

[@bluemonstrosity259]

@@wavetheorysound i agree

[@Leonid_Power]

Can you do carbons vs lcd 5?

[@marcusbryant2007]

I guess the other question is the difference in sound quality between the 2 worth the USD 3K difference in cost?

[@soraflame66]

I would say no if you are juet looking at a value/price to performance standpoint. If you want a TOTL like a LCD-5, Susvara, Abyss and so on and you are wealthy then Yes.

[@junseicpcp6903]

Utopia vs lcd5 and lcd5 vs sus when

[@mobcrusher4193]

Thanks man really appreciate it 🙏

[@akeluify]

Where does the LCD-3 fit here?

[@kbeau937]

THATS WHAT I WANNA KNOW... i do have the 2021 X, and the newest LCD-3... the X gets close enough but the 3, is more enveloping

[@tanvirislamriyad8370]

please review lcd XC

[@michaelreading5684]

Great review

[@davidelmquist8670]

Compare them to 1500-2000$ instead of the cheapest, are they twice as good?

[@dontron810]

No, nothing ever will be with this. There's a huge caviat of diminishing returns.

[@aceofspades6667]

EQ’d lcdx vs eq’d lcd4 I bet would get close enough rb

[@hartyewh1]

How about with EQ when even Audeze says you should EQ these?

[@michaelp.3485]

Where is your source for that? I call BS.

[@hartyewh1]

@@michaelp.3485 Audeze website, the app they made for the EQ's, the fact that they have some of the worst tonalities for the money around and that's why they offer the EQ's?

[@theunsbotha5188]

@@michaelp.3485 Yep they do.

[@chipsnmydip]

The 2021 X must have been a big tonal change. The older editions actually sound nothing like the 5 and have much pronounced midrange scoop and more apparent bass and upper treble quantity.

[@BrJD-ii4iv]

You’re saying the older X has more bass or better overall sound than the 2021 X?

[@chipsnmydip]

@@BrJD-ii4iv The older X has more apparent bass quantity than the 5, but that is probably due to an upper mid scoop and extra thickness in the low mids. I haven't used the new X.

[@BrJD-ii4iv]

@@chipsnmydip - yea, I have the 5 and the older X. A friend of mine says the newer X is much better than the older X but idk 😕

[@chipsnmydip]

@@BrJD-ii4iv I've heard that it is better in a lot of ways, but I think you also have to like the new frequency curve.

[@michaelp.3485]

@@BrJD-ii4iv I have the older X and am waiting to receive the 5 hopefully in December. Overall how would you compare the two headphones?

[@Rocky-sn6fl]

LCD-X 2021 is not the official model.

[@codgerfiasco]

Thanks!