Audeze LCD-X Headphones Review: Unmatched Soundstage and Premium Audio Performance for Audiophiles

Audeze is a Southern California-based manufacturer of headphones whose name was inspired by 2001: A Space Odyssey. Since 2008, the brand has gained a reputation as a premier developer of planar magnetic headphones. In this review, we look at their best-selling headphones, the Audeze LCD-X.

Audeze produces three lines of headphones: Audiophile, Professional, and Gaming. The Audeze LCD-X are planar magnetic, over-ear, open-back headphones that are part of their Professional line.

Audeze headphones are not cheap. Their least expensive pair runs $299, but most are well over $1000, with their new top-of-the-line LCD-5 offered at $4500. So, the Audeze LCD-X headphones, at $1199, are definitely in “flagship” territory.

Originally introduced in 2013, LCD-Xs were updated in 2021. We review the latest version here. These headphones feature 106mm planar drivers and an open-back design and are intended to be suitable for being driven by any device.

What’s in the Box

• Audeze LCD-X headphones
• Travel case
• Braided 4-pin XLR combo cable with 1/4″ single-ended adapter
• 1/4″ to 3.5mm adapter
• Certificate of authenticity and warranty cards

Testing

Listening to music can be an inherently personal experience, and evaluating speakers or headphones involves individual preferences and can also be affected by physical conditions. Therefore, to test the LCD-Xs, I relied on my impressions and reached out to several friends who are in the music business or deeply rooted in their connection with music.

Some of these friends are professional and semi-professional musicians; others are DJs and mixing and mastering engineers. The goal of the tests and gathering their opinions was to establish a broad spectrum of thoughts about the sonic quality of the headphones to which everyone could relate.

I’ll mention a few expressions having to do with sound reproduction quality and will provide definitions along the way, but I will avoid charts and diagrams and overly technical jargon in this review.

For the test itself, I used a tower computer running iTunes with a NuForce uDAC3 Mobile DAC (Digital to Analog Converter) and a Headphone Amplifier connected through RCA cables to a Mackie DLZ Creator. I then connected several pairs of headphones to the DLZ mixer. With this configuration, I was able to ensure that the various headphones were producing similar sound levels from the same source.

I played several different genres of music for each person, including rock, jazz, world, and classical. We played small, intimate ensembles, rocking bands, and symphony orchestras. The other headphones used included the AKG M220 ($100), Sony MDR7506 Professional ($100), and AKG K553Pro ($239).

As you might imagine, the Audeze LCD-X headphones were a huge hit. Everyone who tried them thought they were superior in sound quality to all the other headphones in the test. In fact, everyone agreed they were one of, if not the best, headphones they had ever heard.

According to the manufacturer, “LCD-X leverages patented Audeze technologies, including Ultra-Thin Uniforce diaphragms, Fazor waveguides, and powerful neodymium magnets to deliver extremely accurate and detailed sound.”

Those new to the world of high-end audiophile products might well be shocked by the $1199 price tag and wonder how it can be justified. Are these really 6 to 12 times better than the other headphones tested? I’d say yes. Are they for everyone? No.

While most people may look upon an exotic car such as a Ferrari or Lamborghini and appreciate the design and hand-crafted workmanship, they would not be willing, even if they were able, to justify the expense. Most sporty cars manufactured today outperform supercars from the 1960s and 1970s, which is fast enough for most people. Yet those same people would admit that the qualities of exotics are unattainable in mass-market products.

Similarly, the technology of audio reproduction has advanced, and headphones that cost $100 or $200 are incredibly capable and will satisfy most listeners. However, for those who want to reach the next level, companies like Audeze provide several models designed for specific uses.

Some of the most glowing comments about the LCD-Xs came from my sound engineer colleague, who swears by them for their balanced sound and clarity. He owns several pairs of Audeze headphones and enthusiastically recommends them.

Sound Quality

While all the headphones used for the test deliver satisfying results across the frequency spectrum, the Audeze LCD-X headphones have a distinctly cleaner and more tonally accurate sound. However, this is not the most significant quality that makes them stand out from the others tested.

The image separation is the first thing you notice; much like going from 4K video resolution back to HD (High definition) and even more so to SD (Standard Definition), swapping back to the less expensive headphones instantly reveals the difference in spatial quality. With the LCD-X headphones, you can discern individual instruments in a way that is not possible with the lessor headphones. You can locate the musicians on the soundstage with incredible accuracy.

It is these two elements, soundstage and sound imaging, that the LCD-Xs earn their reputation in the music industry and justify the expense. Simply put, soundstage refers to the three-dimensional space of a recording, while sound imaging refers to the accuracy with which individual sounds can be positioned within that space.

I’m sure that many of you have had the experience of listening to a piece of music you know very well for the first time on headphones and hearing things you have never noticed in the recording. The LCD-Xs deliver this experience for every recording.

As soon as you put them on and start listening, you will be impressed with the detail in the high frequencies as well as the richness of the low end. However, in my opinion, it is the overall clarity that makes these stand out. Again, swapping back to lesser headphones makes the difference even more apparent.

Sound signature refers to how the manufacturer has intentionally tuned the headphones’ sound to achieve a desired tone. This can be done by the choice of drivers, adjusting the drivers to amplify or subdue certain frequencies, and by the selection of materials used in the construction of the headphones.

Different types of sound signatures include flat, balanced, bassy, V-shaped, bright, dark, analytical, smooth, and warm. Most of the signatures are self-explanatory except for maybe V-shaped, in which the high and low ends are boosted and the midrange reduced for a more dramatic punch.

For this reason, the V-shaped signature is very popular with many listeners. However, as the Audeze LCD-X headphones are positioned at the intersection of professional sound production equipment and the mass market, their sound signature is one of neutral tuning, allowing listeners to hear recordings with the most accuracy.

But please don’t mistake their neutral tuning as in any way bland. The LCD-Xs have a strong bass definition that is well defined, a detailed midrange, and high frequencies that are beautifully delivered without ever being piercing.

Layered and complex passages are handled without distortion or muddiness. Quick, staccato segments are delivered with punch and accuracy. Overall, the sound is spacious yet tight, smooth, and robust.

Build Quality

The Audeze LCD-X headphones are built to last. Everything about their construction speaks to their durability. The speaker enclosures, brackets, yoke rods, and outer headband are made of metal. The ear pads and inner headband are made of leather. A non-leather version is also available.

The LCD-Xs feel solid in your hands in a way that other headphones do not. This solidity does come at a cost, and that is weight. Although I did not find it a significant issue in terms of comfort in hours of testing, at 612g (1.3 pounds), these headphones are noticeably heavier than others I have tried.

The removeable cables are a 6.2′ braided OCC copper 4-pin mini XLR with a female XLR end. For maximum compatibility, the LCD-Xs ships with a single-ended XLR to 1/4″ adapter as well as a ¼” to 3.5mm adapter.

The Audeze LCD-X headphones ship in a rugged black case with a padded foam interior. The case has separate slots for the cables, cards for the certificate of authenticity, and URLs for the user guide and driver downloads.

Serviceability

The majority of the components that comprise the Audeze LCD-X headphones are held together by accessible screws, making them all easily serviceable and giving the headphones a slightly industrial aesthetic. The cables are removable. Audeze sells replacement parts for virtually every element of the LCD-X headphones, including ear pads, headbands, yoke rods, cables, and cases.

Comfort

The combination of over-ear and open-back design created a very satisfactory listening environment appropriate for most situations. The earpads feature large cushions that my volunteer testers and I found very comfortable, and the suspension headband allows all users to find a balanced position quickly.

As mentioned, these Audeze LCD-X headphones are the 2021 updated versions; the weight has been reduced, and some tweaks have been made to make them more comfortable. 612g is still not lightweight, but it is better than the original version’s 635g.

Usability

Many flagship headphones require digital-to-analog converters (or a DAC) and headphone amplifiers to work properly, which can be very expensive.

The planar magnetic drivers used in the LCD-Xs achieve high efficiency with low impedance, delivering great sound from nearly any device with a headphone output.

The DAC I used for the comparison test was inexpensive, and the difference in sound quality was immediately noticeable. I tested the headphones directly from a tower computer and my laptop and found them perfectly adequate. I also tested the headphones using various stereo audio components with more robust power, and again, the sound was fantastic.

The Audeze LCD-X headphones’ open-back design has advantages, but if you live in an environment with considerable background noise, Audeze also offers the LCD-XC ($1299.00), a closed-back version that, since its introduction in 2013, has gained similar success with artists and engineers alike.

Specifications

Do I recommend the Audeze LCD-X headphones? Absolutely. Yes, they are expensive, and for those who simply can’t afford them, there are many great alternatives that deliver excellent sound. But, as the market itself shows, these are best sellers and have been at the top of many comparison lists since their introduction. These newer, lighter, and improved LCD-X Headphones are the next step in their evolution, and they excel in every way.

The Audeze LCD-X Headphones’ sound is superior to any headphones I have tried. They have full, rich sound across the frequency spectrum, clarity, and neutral balance, but for me, it is their soundstage and sound imaging that makes them so impressive. They make the experience of listening to music more immersive and compelling.

Audeze LCD-X headphones retail for $1199.00; they are available directly from the manufacturer and other retailers, including Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample

What I Like: Expansive soundstage and excellent sound imaging; Full, rich sound across the frequency spectrum; Clarity and neutral balance; Build Quality

What Needs Improvement: They are expensive (but worth every penny); They are a bit heavy (but nothing that I wouldn’t put up with)