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Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone new 2021 version Creator Package with carry case

£9.9£99Clearance
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It doesn’t allow the low frequencies to blend into an indistinct rumble, but rather, it presents each bass note with precision and clarity. All three of these headphones are big, heavy, open designs suited for studio, home, or private office listening almost exclusively. These are not headphones for portable use. The treble is probably where the biggest difference starts to show. While the LCD-X 2021 sounds soft and very pleasing in the upper frequencies, the HEDDphone is shinier, more forward, and crispier sounding. It’s not harsh or unpleasant sounding though, as the resolution of the entire HEDDphone is better than the LCD-X 2021, thanks to that wonderful AMT driver. Having in mind the price difference, I must admit that both the LCD-X and the HEDDphone are very, very impressive, and you can’t go wrong with either. The Sennheiser HD 800 is an excellent headphone having perhaps the best overall imaging of any headphone on the market. Its two flaws are, however, somewhat larger than those of the LCD-Xs. The HD 800s have a rather nasty peak from about 5kHz to 6kHz, which makes amplifier selection very critical. My other criticism is of much smaller significance. The HD 800 has what I would characterize as overdamped bass, which deprives this otherwise excellent headphone of some of the qualities of music that give it life. This is the only dynamic headphone of the four flagships, and is a brilliant design using this technology.

The swivels have stops to limit their angles of motion so the cords don't tangle. Likewise, you can't rotate the cups that much if you want to listen with only one ear, or share with someone else at the same time. The LCD-X have completely natural, bottomless bass with solid response to well below the audible or music ranges.People say it and it rarely happens with top level equipment, but I really do keep hearing new things in my music I haven't heard before with the LCD-X, and I have a lot of state-of-the-art headphones and loudspeakers. Weird, but true. Audeze is a high-end audio headphone manufacturer based in Costa Mesa, CA. Established in 2009, they have grown from a garage based startup to one of the most innovative audio companies in the past few years. LCD-X was first introduced in 2013. Today, the updated LCD-X, more commonly referred to as LCD-X 2021, leverages patented Audeze technologies, including Ultra-Thin Uniforce™ diaphragms, Fazor waveguides, and powerful neodymium magnets to deliver extremely accurate and detailed sound. The sophisticated planar magnetic drivers achieve high efficiency with low impedance, such that LCD-X can deliver great sound from nearly any device with a headphone output. Audeze also lowered the weight for increased comfort. It features a suspension headband for even weight distribution, and highly-cushioned premium ear pads for support. While heavy on the head, the headband and ear cup design help distribute the weight evenly across the head so there are no hotspots. Our patent-pending Fazor elements are unique to the LCD-X and LCD-XC and help guide and manage the flow of sound in the headphone. The result is improved phase response, greater frequency extension, smoother frequency response, and remarkable 3D holographic imaging. The big earpieces that house the huge drivers leave lots of room for our ears. They feel great, even if heavy.

Personally, just like I like the 650 better than the 600, I still prefer the 3 far more than the X. But that doesn’t matter because so far, from the impressions I’ve gathered, people’s impressions have been sort of 50-50. I remember Jude saying him liking the X better than the 3. And not only Jude, but a lot of the enthusiasts who stopped by my store as well. They liked the fact that the bass is clearer due to the body being less. Yet I’m not talking about a thin monitoring sound here. Just like how I can’t listen to a bass-light, weightless sound, the X still maintains a good weight on the sound while not being as bassy as the 3. It’s a terrific execution, that I haven’t really heard in any headphones. How can reducing the bass body on a non-basshead headphone (LCD-3) end up with a headphone that’s far more neutral yet still feels planted? I suppose the HD600 is a good analogy here, except that the X’s drivers are far ahead of the 600’s class. In listening I heard the LCD-3 as the smoothest; the LCD-2 as slightly grainy; and the LCD-X as...well, more neutral sounding...having less "character" than the other two.

AUDEZE INSIDER NEWS

Go right ahead and use a dedicated headphone amplifier if you insist (I love my Benchmark DAC1 HDR), but honestly, they sound fantastic plugged right into an iPad, iPhone, iPod or Apple's Lightning to 3.5mm adapter with the Grado 3.5mm to ¼" Adapter. What sets the LCD-X apart is its refusal to roll off the bass frequencies, making it a genuine delight for both avid bass enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. It's easy to damage your hearing. If your ears start ringing or buzzing, even long after you've been listening, cool it for a while. Editor’s note: Arnie Nudell is the co-founder of Infinity Systems and one of the true legends of high-end loudspeaker design. His Infinity Reference Standard (IRS) pushed the boundaries of what was possible, and remains to this day one of high-end audio’s most iconic products. The reference-level LCD-X is an exciting addition to our LCD planar magnetic headphone collection. The LCD-X features a newly-developed and processed transducer made of a thinner and lighter alternative material with new Fazor technology.

For many years now I’ve recommended around 3: HIFIMAN’s Ananda, Audeze LCD-2, and Dan Clark’s Aeon Flow (For a closed option). The Audeze LCD-X is priced between the 2 and the 3 and it marks a new direction that Audez’e is going… it seems. Based on a new driver that’s thinner and lighter than the predecessors, the X is the most sensitive headphone yet in the modern planar market. At 96dB/mW sensitivity (the LCD-3 is 91dB/mW), not only does an iPod drive the X to good loudness level sufficiently, but also the über high-end yet low powered Altmann Tera player does. Before, listening to headphones on the Altmann Tera was limited to the likes of the Koss Portapro and Sennheiser PX100s. With the LCD-X however, I can listen to a big planar headphone directly from the Tera’s LOW GAIN output and not even at maximum volume level. Of course the bass doesn’t hit as hard as if I was using ALO’s Studio Six, but the point here is that the X is extremely easy to drive. While most headphones only need an iPad level control set to 1/2 for movie sound, I usually have it around 3/4 on my iPad with the LCD-X. I never need more gain than I have, so all is good. I spent some time talking on the phone with Alex Rossen, CEO of Audeze, about the differences in drivers in the three models. Most of it, as you might guess, is proprietary information, but there are a couple of tid-bits I can share:

In this critical frequency range, the LCD-X showcases remarkable resolution, allowing guitars, other musical instruments, and vocals to shine with clarity and authenticity. Instruments

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