Anyone own the Audeze LCD-2 Headphone?
 

The Audeze LCD-2 headphone has caught my attention. It is a planar magnetic design with a specified frequency response of 5 Hz - 20 KHz and a sensitivity of 91dB with 1mW input. It's maximum output level is stated as 133dB with less than 1% distortion at full rated output.

Those are some big claims. Does anyone have experience with the Audeze LCD-2 headphone? It has a three pin connector in each ear cup, but comes with a standard 1/4" headphone plug. I find this confusing since I don't know what the third pin is for. Anyone care to comment?



http://www.musicdirect.com/images/pr...ADZLCD2_2_.jpg http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/8...2a24910632.jpg



http://www.musicdirect.com/images/pr...ADZLCD2_5_.jpg

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I really like the LCD-3's. I have heard a few different phones and the Audeze are thus far the best I have heard. From what I understand Stax SR-009 are the best in the world though if you are aiming for that.


http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...-392099881.jpg

I believe the main point is so that you run them balanced if you want.
http://www.audioaficionado.org/attac...-370619222.jpg





Attachment 27368

Jeff.......What is the difference between the LCD-2 and the LCD-3? Also, is the balanced cable you posted an Audeze option or an aftermarket cable from another company? One more question, is the cable I see on your LCD-3 headphone a stock cable?

The difference between the LCD2 and LCD3? About double the price :)

I did listen to the LCD2 and 3 at a show. I wasn't expecting so much of a difference but there it was. The soundstage was wider and there was more of a separation between instruments. This was with ALO's Reference 8 cables for both.

FWIW, I prefer the LCD2's use of wood for the cable connector. The metal clips on my LCD3 that join the wood cups to the cable connector has failed once and I had to send it back for repairs.

I like the LCDs for their ease of driving so I can even use it (on a pinch) with my iPhone headphone output tho it does deserve better.

I still prefer the HE6 if you have the amps to drive it. It is less dark than the LCD3/2

One big difference is that the LCD-3 uses a new diaphragm material they call Lotus. It's suppose to be significantly thiner. I have heard the LCD-2's and while doubling the price doesn't produce double the clarity but it is a very nice upgrade.

I owned AKG 702's for years before I got the Audeze. I had always been very happy with the 702's compared to the normal comp of Senn 650's etc. Once I got the LCD's I knew there was no going back, completely different level.

From Audeze website

Each LCD3 comes with:

ADZ6SE Cable (single-ended): ¼” TRS to 2x4-pin mini XLR
ADZ6B4 Cable (balanced): 4-pin XLR to 2x4-pin mini XLR
Wood care kit
Wood case or ruggedized travel case
Personalized frequency response graph
Warranty documents

doggiehowser.......Thanks for the feedback and the tip on the connector.

Jeff.......So, as I understand it from yours and doggiehowser's comments, the LCD-3 is under the LCD-2 which is double the price for a percentage of performance gain with a newer planar material, is that right?

The LCD-3 is the better and more costly one. Another difference is the ear pads. The 2's are kinda hard and were not all that comfortable to me while the 3's are very supple.

Jeff.......Thank you. Seems to me if a person were going to make the move to the Audeze headphone, the LCD-3 would be the way to go.

If you can swing the price difference the top is always the place to start :)

Nicely packaged too!

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/audeze2/1.png

Jeff.......Is there much sound outside the headphone when its on your head?


http://media.headphone.com/productph...23000_7618.jpg

I'm not Jeff but no. None of the headphones can give you a soundstage that's like a speaker.

The HD800 does its best tho but the bass performance is very anaemic compared to the LCDs and HEs.

If you do want an out of head soundstage you are gonna need something like the Smyth Realiser A8 :) it did a pretty impressive job of copying a pair of Dynaudio Temptations :(

The wood case is nice but the hardshell sure came in handy when I had to ship the LCDs back.

Yes, I would say if in a room with friends I wouldn't decide to check out all the recordings from the embarrassing music thread ;). These are definitely not for loud environments as you can hear ambient noise as well.

DH I have always been very curious about the A8. So you would agree with reviews that it sounds like floor standers? I just wish they would preload some setups.

Dan, the Smyth is an algorithm based amp that you take measurements with of a home audio system and your inner ear. Then when you listen to your headphones through the system it supposedly recreate the parameters to sound like your listening to the full size home system in front of you. They even have head tracking software so that when you move your head the image shifts like it would in the room. I have no idea if it works but it has some pretty good write ups.

It does work well but your mind also plays tricks on you. I can get that illusion when I'm in front of the speakers even when the speakers are off. But when I'm lying in bed, the illusion is a bit hard to picture (with imaginary speakers in the ceiling)

The main issue I have is that there's a lot of reverb from the room. Even in well damped showrooms so it feels weird when hearing the reverb on headphones because there's usually none over cans.

And of course there's no tactile bass sensation from the couch or on your skin. That's something that you can sorta address with a set of Crowson Tactile transducers.

Dan,
I have LCD-2 and have been very happy with them. I also have Beyerdynamic T1s, which are very transparent, more demanding on the amp. But my reason for using headphones is to listen loudly, and often to material that wasn't brilliantly recorded. This is tiring on the T1s, but great with the LCD-2, which have a warmer, punchier response.

I also have Sennheiser HD-600 and 650. I prefer the LCD-2 to either (I find the 650 unlistenable, and the 600 to be much better balanced).

I am sure the LCD-3 is better again, depends how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. They are a relatively big and heavy phone. I find the Senns and Beyer more comfortable, but not by a large margin.

I did buy an aftermarket cable, with a socket at the end which enable me to use either balanced or single ended connections. Although all my headphone current amps are single ended.

Glisse.......Thanks for your comments. My present headphone rig is the Sennheiser HD600 and a Musical Fidelity X-Can V8P tube headphone amplifier. I enjoy the sound but I'm intrigued by the planar driver concept and prodigious bass output the Audeze LCD-2 seems capable of reproducing.

In that case, I think you will like them. Their tonal presentation is not so different from the HD600, but they have more punch and dynamic contrast. More rock, more roll :D

I have not heard the MF V8P, but if it drives your HD600 ok, then I'm sure it will be fine for the LCD-2.

I believe the connector LCD-2 has been revised to the same metal connector as on the LCD-3.

I thought it was only if you opted for the pricier bamboo? finish.

If you take a look at their product page, it shows both the rosewood and bamboo models with the angled metal connector.

Shame really.

I know the wooden extension used to have complaints about the angle, that it protruded towards the neck but I felt it was a sturdier connector than the glued on metal clip.

LCD2's - I love mine
 

I had these for a few years and love them. It blows me away every time I put them on. I honestly don't listen to them as much as I would like. New headphone amp I recently picked up has changed that lately though.

http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/...psohl5wbxo.jpg

Wow, what a rack.

Dan I don't but I can say that I did audition them and really liked them compared to my old Senn 650s I sold. I wanted a step up to compete with the 800s so I have the LCDx and added a wireworld cable and yet another step up and the sound is amazing blows away my Senn 800s and I think in it's prices range I would image that the LCD2 is a great headphone.

You do hear a fair amount of musix outside on all the Audeze, not excessive and at low volumes not bad at all I would say on the open backs similar to an 800. I know they make a closed back too, but it is step up.

I have a set of these and absolutely love them. I have an older pre fazor pair. I plug them into my c38 preamp or my deckard. I also recently picked up a used ALO cable.

wkw... Welcome to AA! :wave:

Anyone own the Audeze LCD-2 Headphone?
 

Thanks! Glad to be hear[emoji101]