Andrew! I’m so glad you finally got to review the XC!! I’ve been raving about this headphone for a couple of years now. So nice that you share a lot of my sentiments of the XC. I think it punches incredibly well. I love the bass and dynamics. So addictive. Still the undisputed champion of closed backs for me. Once I try the Stellia maybe that could change. :) Thank you again for this great review. Cheers man.
@@CalmTempest I have not. I’d very much like to along with the Verite Closed from ZMF. 2 closed headphones that are massively on my list…actually I haven’t tried the DCA stealth either. I’m behind and it is COVID’s fault. 😡
Just so everyone is aware, older units may measure differently depending on if there was a revision. At the moment I'm unclear as to what or if there were any changes to the XC like there was with the LCD-X in early 2020. If I find an answer on this I'll update this comment. If you have a unit from before 2016, my EQ WON'T be applicable (and Reveal+ may actually work better).
2016 revision is the only one I know of. This model was retuned the most apparently, according to the classic 2016 revision head-fi post about said revision
I bought a XC Creator edition several years ago, I like it (relaxing with the 4,5 kHz dip, making electric guitars less tiring than in reality, great sub-bass slam), but I always have experienced it as having much less resolution and dynamics than my Elegia (not to speak of the Stellia). For me among the TOTL Audezes it diverges the least from neutrality compared to other TOTL Audeze headphones, especially compared to the LCD-4 (and 4z) which I find so deviant from neutrality that they are a no-go for me. I agree with you in the sense that from my perspective the XC would be Audeze's "best" headphone.
When we talk about the price of these, if I remember correctly, they used to cost around $2800 when released. So I don't think they have a $1200 sound actually. Either way, I still enjoy mine and I don't find them heavy on the head because they are super comfortable. Great review!
Really confused by all the brightness comments in your review? I listened for about 20 min at a dealer on my iPhone 12 pro max with a dragonfly cobalt & heard everything you described except I was in love with the highs, and I am a picky primadonna in this area. It was smooth and extended and blended right in with the other frequencies. This was music imported IAFF 16/44. The Lows pounded & the mids rich and fleshed out. But as always everyone's ears are each to their own. Great review! 👍🎼✨🎧
Follow up: So I actually decided to buy these for studio application. Some thoughts and comparison with the HiFiMan Arya, Focal Clear and LCD-3 ... So first of all, this is an amazing review. Thank you so much kind sir. Your fact and measurements based approach works 100%. I was able to deduce that these will essentially be the closed back version of Arya sound wise ... and they are! XC is the most natural and clear sounding Audeze I've heard and the most natural and balanced closed back ... on the market maybe. I mean seriously, these sound a lot more natural than many open backs. It's ridiculous for a closed back. If you know how Arya sounds, this sounds the same with more compact and close sound stage. It's pretty much a perfect studio headphone. Requires minimal EQ to make it truly neutral, something that is simply impossible with LCD-3 for example. Arya and XC are the best all around headphones I've ever heard. Comparing with Focal Clear ... Clears are really good headphones, but to me not on the same level as both Arya and XC when it comes to detail and presentation ... but I prefer the planar sound quality. Clears technically do everything XC and Aryas do ... you can't fault them objectively ... so it's probably only a preference thing, but I was impressed by Clears and then subsequently BLOWN AWAY by Aryas and XCs. Clears for me are just a bit too sharp (when comparing to good class studio monitors I think they sounded sharp in places where no other reference piece would ... so either they are a bit too sharp in some areas, or they show something that the others don't ... but I think these are just a bit sharp as the monitors, Aryas and XCs align in those areas and Clears were sticking out), and also when a lot of low bass is layered with busy midrange and treble they tend to distort the bass just a bit. It's noticeable for me, but maybe not for you. You really have to listen to these back to back to make up your mind. TL;DR for me XCs exceed Clears in all technical performance and monitoring / reference areas. Some thoughts : - For the money you can get these for now in creators package (£1250 new with 3 years warranty) these are a steal, especially if they will have any production double duties. - These are HUGE. I'm not joking, absolutely freaking huge. The size of the HEDDphone huge. LCD-3 which are not small in their own right are compact in comparison. - And these are heavy, no joke. I'm still not bothered for my application, but 30 min and you start to feel them. - But the build quality is exceptional. I got the maple wood finish, it looks spectacular. It looks serious, feels serious and sounds serious. TL;DR it's a serious piece of gear.
Cathode Ray Mission let me know how you find them. These had a refresh in 17 or 18 I think. I was taking about the new version. Apparently pre refresh had a different driver / signature but didn’t have the chance to compare.
@@krisrudecki9477 Yes my pair is the new version with latest headband (still the wood cups). I think the only retail models you can find now are the carbon cups.
Great review. It gave me the confidence to buy the LCD-XC. My LCD-2 Classic's frequency response was not agreeable without Reveal, thus restricting it to PC listening. The LCD-XC needed a simple a -3 dB high-shelf above 2 kHz (that's right) and a + 6 dB low-shelf below 100 Hz to suit my preference. I also added -3 dB at 220 Hz Q 1.5 to reduce the boominess in the bass. I can apply this EQ right in my Monolith THX Desktop amp and use it with any source.
@@ChrisKeyman Yes and no. Both require EQ as they are lacking in bass out of the box. The LCD-XC has accurate bass with good impact. However it feels the same no matter how much you turn up the volume, presumably due to dampening behind the ear cups. When you turn up the volume on the LCD-2 Classic to unsafe levels, it turns into a sub-woofer with long reverberating bass that vibrates the ear pads. At normal volumes the LCD-XC has more impact. The LCD-2 Classic has strange treble and needs the Audeze Reveal plugin to sound right. I would not buy the LCD-2 Classic again.
@@ChrisKeyman I have the LCD-5 and prefer its sub-bass to the LCD-XC's, even though the LCD-XC has more impact. The LCD-XC sounds a bit boomy in comparison though that can probably be fixed with EQ. I have the Aeon 2 Closed as well. The sub-bass is audible down to 10 Hz, but it is dampened and doesn't have the impact of any of the LCD models. It's the most comfortable headphone of them all. I would not buy the Aeon 2 Closed again though. I can't recommend the older LCD models now given how lightweight the new design of the LCD-5 is. If I had to recommend an Audeze headphone after the LCD-5, it would be the Mobius or Penrose as those sound perfect out of the box with their built-in EQ. They have excellent sub-bass impact and outperform most headphones costing 5x their price.
I now fall into the camp whereby the LCD XC needs to be EQ’d and when you do the XC becomes an absolute monster. This headphone is still relevant and Andrew’s EQ profile is bang on I think.
Thanks Andrew, I just saw a Black Friday offer for the LCD-XC and you persuaded me to order it. 🤣 As soon as the Audeze LCD-XC in carbon has arrived I make a video on my TH-cam channel where I can compare the size of the XC and the Abyss PHI TC.
@@Ratseeker Everyone hears differently and listens to different music, blindly accepting an EQ from someone I think makes no sense. Experimenting yourself, amps also make a huge difference, forming your own opinion, testing things and finding out your own preferences instead of just copying things.
I am not bothered by the weight of my Heddphone, however, when I tried this one I can't even last half an hour. I think the feeling of being sealed has something to do with the discomfort, it is like you are in a helmet.
somebody put like a drinking straw between each cup & ear to relieve the pressure. that bothers me too, my eardrums are being pushed and i hear my heartbeat.
@@nxxxxzn As soon as I receive mine, I'll try cutting out some felt rings and attaching them to the pads with an M3 double scotch (same type of tape they use to attach new pads to the headphones... but 20 times cheaper). That might help. But first they have to arrive to Australia... hopefully within 8 weeks.
Same complaint with the lcd-2c. Way too much pressure on the eardrums that I can’t last an hour. Always find myself going back to Fostex mk3 with pads even though I really like the sound from lcds, just too much discomfort to tolerate.
I'm searching for a closed back headphone with good imaging and sound stage, from what I've seen these are probably it? How do they compare to the Aeon 2 closed in that aspect and others you have tried.
I made the mistake of buying this headphone online as I had owned high-end Audeze's before. They did sound unbelievable but that weight caused problems that I had never experienced before. After about 8 months, I had to sell. I always regretted having done this as I could not find a headphone that I liked sound wise until I tried the Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon. Totally different sound signature but probably the most beautiful, musical presentation of any headphone I have owned.
@The Bishop I also own the HD 650. Don't be afraid to bend the head band it works s treat and stays loose on your noggin. Like you I also own the AKG 712 pro, which is an outstanding headphone. AKG house sound with decent low end response, dreamy! In my collection I also have Denon AHD 7200, Audeze Sine, Focal Elear and Tin audio P1 planar iems. My Hifi system consists of Extremely modified Turntable based of Rega Planar 3 running gear ( absolutely outstanding and currently worth about 3k ) It has taken me nearly 3 years to build it to this standard. Roksan Kandy K2 Integrated with K2 Power Amp run as dual amp setup. Tannoy XT 8F speakers.
@Fisher Man One thought is that, depending on your use case, it’s worth considering open back. I also was focused on closed until I learned that open would work fine on conference calls. After comparing different open and closed cans I chose open.
Hi! I was wondering what you would suggest as a DAC/amp to pair with the focal clears? Currently using a micro idsd BL but I am now looking to upgrade to something in the 2-3k range. Thanks. P.s. I really trust your recommandations keep the great videos coming!
Thanks for your review. I am looking for a closed back headphone to listen 70's classical rock which generally consists of bad sound quality. For this reason, I am searching a pair which forgives bad sound quality. What do you think in this regard? XC or Elegia or anything else?
For rock and metal? Yeah maybe this or an EQ'd LCD-4 if you can handle the weight. ZMF Verite is a lot of fun for rock and metal as well, great slam. In mid-fi, maybe a Sundara with a bass boost.
I hope you don’t mind me chipping in and sharing that I personally really like the HD-600 Series for rock, as well as the Focal Clear. I listen mainly to rock, and as guitarist myself, I feel like those headphones are able to represent that instrument extremely well! To me, the mids on those are tuned just right for electric guitars 😁
Hi, I have just bought this headphones, could you advise me which AMP/DAC should i get? My budget is arround 1500 but i can increase this if needed. Thanks!
Hello Andrew, Have you listened to Audeze Sines? If yes how would you compare it’s characteristics to LCD-XC? I really love the character of the Sines, and want to upgrade it with a similar character planar magnetic headphone. So that’s why I’m asking.
@@lookforbeauty1964 very strange. This reviewer loved the Celestee and said those would be the headphones he would buy. Let’s see, who should we believe. Anonymous Jose or this guy, whose been reviewing hundreds of headphones.
@@SkywhiteChannel Please, don't misvalue my opinion. I am not trying to compare to anybody. My opinion is mine and what I express in it is what I felt when I tried them out. The reviewer can try thousands of headphones, if I don't like this exact ones does not mean he is right and me wrong or viceversa. It's just an opinion. If you like the Celestee, enjoy it !!!
do you know if the version u reviewed has 6 or 8 fazors bars in the front ? i just read (apparently confirmed by audeze) that current revision of lcd-xc's has have 6 magnets while some older ones have 8 magnets.
Would be great to hear your thoughts on the denon d9200. I own LCD-XCs and D9200, and both are really excellent closed backs. The denon has excellent technicalities, but it may be a little bright for you.
@@rafael6693 For reference, I have Late 2018 XCs with bubinga wood, so essentially the same as reviewed here. The Denon’s have better technicalities; they’re more resolving, better separation and layering, wider soundstage. The LCDs can’t even compete with the Denon’s bass, which is very detailed and linear, not tapering off quite as much as on the XCs. Using similar terminology as in the review, the D9200s give me a much clearer window into the music than the LCDs. This make them much more engaging than the Audezes and, hence, I listen to the Denon more of the time. The Denon’s seem to excel at more things than any other headphone I’ve tried, and are a bit paradoxical in some ways; They have excellent bass (slam, resolution, quanty), airy clear highs, yet their mids are also very well presented and engaging. Nothing over powers anything else, yet everything is so well done. In my earlier comment I mentioned that they may be too bright for some, and that’s because Andrew mentioned that the XCs are bright. By this I meant that the Denons have a more airy and detailed treble, but having said that they don’t sound bright or harsh in any way. They don’t just give the illusion of detail by having elevated highs with annoying peaks and resonances like some headphone do.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thank you. How bad is the 700g weight of the LCD-XC? I never tried an Audeze headphone. I saw your review and was thinking about buying the LCD-XC and using them while I work in the office (sitting upright at a desk), but was concerned that they could cause discomfort while I work and snap my neck. Do you recommend to avoid buying the LCD-XC to use at work while working in the office because of the discomfort from their weight?
@@JosefBalabanovsky depends how long you listen for. I've been able to get through a full day but I do feel it after a while. I find it to be more comfortable than other high end Audeze planars for some reason - like the top headband is perforated which helps.
@@ResolveReviews thank you. I would like to use them for about 4-6 hours a day while I work in 1-2 sessions. I'm concerned about wearing heavy headphones that could add considerable discomfort that could distract me from my work. Do you think the LCD-XC would be a good choice in my case or do you recommend to choose the Focal Elegia that has lower sound quality but more comfort?
@@Mosamania not at all. There are plenty of headphones I don't find comfortable that are heavy and expensive. Weight distribution, headband, clamp force, pads etc. It all makes a difference in comfort. Weight alone is not a singular factor to overall comfort.
Joshua Vincent I own the LCD-X which are lighter than the LCD-4 and uses a similar headband system, after 3 hours of listening, my neck really starts to hurt and will have muscle strain pain for the rest of the day, I LOVE my LCD-X, but I developed a slight fear from wearing it due to that pain.
@@Mosamania then maybe you should get different headphones. I explained how the LCD-4 works for me, I use them for up to 8hrs a day with no issues. You're the one getting neck pain, im not sure why you are insisting that these are too heavy for me.
Lcd xc if you need the complete isolation, to the level of not leaking sound to others. Otherwise the zmf stuff, but they got air ports and leak sound.
Held these in my hands last weekend. So close to buying, but the dealer won't allow a listen in these covid times:( Love my LCD-2Cs and am looking for a good closed back for when I go back to the office.
Thank you for another fantastic review. I am still in the dark as to their sound leakage, that is, whether these would be suitable to take out and about (listening to them at a cafe maybe) without annoying other people around me.
@@MonstieurVoid That's very interesting. A lot of LCD-XC owners have reported quite a bit of leakage due to wooden cups not isolating well. And the same people say that Aeon 2 closed leaks almost nothing. I'm quite confused :)
@@yukabak Maybe it's because the Aeon pads don't seal well for me. If I move my jaw, the seal breaks at the bottom rear on both sides. The LCD pads remain sealed.
Whats the chances the wood cracks BAD like every other Audeze LCD with wood? Last 7 used Audeze's (2, 3 & 4) I looked at all bad massive cracks so its a serious question!
Thanks for the review mate! Please can someone suggest me the least expensive ampli that is good enough to drive this gem without ruining its dynamic response? Thanks in advance!
Dynamics is different from tonal balance. Extra bass can enhance the perception of slam, but there's more to it than that. Moreover, it's still well extended in the bass. The brightness is just too much treble elevation above 11khz.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow So slam basically refers to how dynamic a HP is, in all frequencies? For example a triangle percussion section of a classical piece can also display slam..? Or am I getting it wrong? I thought slam was the ability to punch hard with definition and detail in the lower regions.
@@alexpea22 It's all related, but 'macrodynamics' is essentially the headphone's 'physicality', which can be present at all frequencies. It's the excursive quality that often shows up as punch and slam, which can be one of the more engaging aspects of certain headphones. Typically dynamic (moving coil) driver headphones do this better than many modern lightweight planars. So think like Focal headphones which are really punchy for example, compared to an Ananda which while it has a great FR, it's not at all punchy.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I might have to re-watch the episode where metal is guest, wasn't terminology a discussed topic? I'm looking for an upgrade to my TH-X00 and have concidered the LCD-X or XC to be a perfect fit. But I'm not so sure now, as slam may not be what I thought it was. Cuz I really like the sub bass punch and tonality of the Fostex, but perhaps TH900 or Atticus/Eikon may instead be the proper upgrade. Thoughts?
This and the Arya is about the same price in my country right now, with the Arya just being A$75 more. Which one would you personally pick between the two, considering design, comfort, sound and closed back/open back advantages?
It's really up to you. Do you want closed back? Are you okay with heavy headphones? These are questions you gotta answer, but I think they're both excellent as far as sound quality goes.
I've listened to the Aryas in the store and I didn't like them. The earcups are much too big and they are so position sensitive. Just a mm shift - and you hear quite a different sound. Maybe I just have a small head. Didn't noticed any outstanding clarity, detail and separation. Neither a wider stage. Maybe their tonal balance is better than LCD-X or XC. Of course, I never heard them within the cosiness of my home but rather in the busy shop, so my judgement is a bit unfair. But I'd still choose LCD-XC over Arya, hands down.
I own the LCD-X. If the closed version uses the same driver could you undo the four screws and switch back’s? I haven’t really heard anyone talk about this and it seems like a question that should be answered. I don’t know if somehow there’s different tuning going on but I would buy the closed back piece and mod it myself
I love mine. My neck hates me for it. I did A/B testing of the X/XC before buying. The XC resonates a bit more in the bass IMHO, everything else sounded the same. Gonna try your EQ settings now and compare with Reveal+, which I find sometimes weird too, but helping quite a bit to make them less aggressive on some tracks.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow do you have the different filters parameters? Jriver doesn't have graph view of the EQ, so I am basically ballpark reverse engineering your graph now :)
@@mimizone I've updated the written review with the EQ profile, but that's much more fine-grained than you need to do. Really just a bass boost and a treble downshelf will do.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I spent the last 4 weeks using your EQ setup on and off to see how much I like it and try to understand your own way of hearing and speaking about it. I can see what you mean by more neutral, I feel also some added bass etc... It impacts a lot the piano reverb and the details in the cymbals etc...I listen to jazz a lot so I disable it often. Which I believe is what you also said in your review about the LCD-XC. Glad I can interpret your reviews of other gear using that info. Cheers.
If you EQ it then it would be fine with the Hugo 2. Otherwise the neutral Chord Hugo 2 will show no mercy in the treble. Power wise it should have enough current to drive the planar xc.
@@Ratseeker Actually I tried it with Hugo 2 and it wasn't that great, but maybe because the XC was not burnt in. but still the mids were not that great really.
It's that typical trade off conundrum...the build is great , solid but heavy as a tank and I can't use them for more than an hour vs. these are very comfortable but seem a bit fragile and why all the plastic?
Can you review the Monoprice Monolith M1060C, the headphones are in my price range and I would buy them, would like to have a little more feedback. Can you compere the M1060C with the Sundara? (I would like to have closed headphones because I can use them during work hours.)
They are a very interesting headphone but very expensive in Sweden, 23.500 sek= 2684 $, dollar. In US 1300 $. So dubble the price in Sweden. Are they worth that? I haven’t listen to them yet.
I would reccomend looking into options where it can be bought and shipped from the US, if possible. Over 1000 bucks extra is nothing to scoff at, you could be using that to buy another headphone.
Your head weighs between 4-8 kg I think you'll be okay lol Pad and strap design tend to be more important than actual weight. There are plenty of 100gram headphones that are painful to wear.
@@miigon9117 The wood cups are quite light. I took off the wood cups on my pair. The wood cups are realtively thin and therefore do not contribute alot to the weight.
Now that I think about it, the heaviest and probably most difficult part to reduce weight should be the magnets, considering there’s a lot more of them in plannars than dynamics. Personally i would prefer something in the 400g range, no matter how well it distributes weight. My neck would get sour after wearing a 400g hifiman for an afternoon, I would certainly not enjoy a 700g one maybe i just got a weak neck😅
Have you possibly heard a pair in carbon? I'm afraid they won't sound as good after the change. I'm finding it very difficult to get these in wood at this point. In my experience a change in cup material can have a very pronounced impact on the sound so I'm a bit hesitant and I don't have a way to demo them in my area. Audeze is telling me there should be no difference, but I would trust a 3rd party opinion a bit more since you aren't trying to sell them to me =)
There's a lot of damping material in the cups and I don't notice any of the cup colouration or resonance that you usually hear with closed back headphones, so the cup material might not make any difference.
-5db pre amp, +5db low shelf at 100hz - the easy "fix" -8db pre amp, +8db low shelf at 100hz, +3db high peak at 6000hz with Q of 3, +2.5db high peak at 8000hz with Q of 3 - this eq will make it sound a bit more "fun", but still close to neutral
I tested it 3 times and i was disappointed every time with the Isolation and the Sound. Especially as someone who is making music, it sounded so wrong with so many songs. With the LCD-X you could easily fix those issues with EQ but with the XC, you need very fine grained EQ in a lot of places and even then, it just sounds wrong... But i never heard any closed back Headphone that was usable for making music out of the box. Maybe thats just something that is not possible with closed backs... not sure
I just bought Focal Elegia and I thought I got the deal of the century at 400.00 but it's discontinued now? hmmm maybe it was a production closure sale...? slightly disappointing
I've auditioned this at a local can jam ... Same equipment used for all the headphones and I honestly don't find this that different sounding from the m1060c. Anyone else has heard both that can comment?
@@metal571 Yeah I actually weighed it because I was watching your show and you said 700 grams for some. What I don't understand is why my LCD-X from May seems to be ok in the mids. Not perfect but just like old Audeze. Unit variation?
@@jamesthoma4927 unfortunately there's no easy way for me to acquire a sample or 3 or more for example from a current run from the factory so no way to know for sure but as far as I know, I'd be careful about buying an LCD-X specifically without hearing the unit first
I think it's pretty subjective, although I prefer my Audeze's. Don't really know why, but I really feel like Audeze's really have a much larger presence, although that may well be subjective coloring of my opinion since I actually paid for these. Try visiting a shop in person and using both for a couple of hours. Most places let you bring your gear and try out their headphones so you can listen to them for a good, long while before deciding what you want to buy.
LCD-XC is way better than the Elegia technically? I don't find Elegia to be far behind the Clear technically, so that would mean that the LCD is also technically way better than the Clear. I also owned Stax L700 which I felt was close technically to the Clear, meaning the LCD would also significantly outperform the Stax. Damn, those Audeze planar drivers are some cutting edge stuff man. Even electrostats don't compete. Well, OK L700 isn't the TOTL one. The SR-009 would compete with the LCD I guess. :D But still it sounds kinda wrong if you say you are upgrading from Stax L700 to LCD-XC (isn't the LCD-XC cheaper as well?) for technical performance upgrade. lol Doesn't seem right to me. Seriously though, even if LCD-XC is in fact technically better than Elegia, Clear and L700, I think you are probably exaggerating LCD-XCs performance advantages, especially given the fact that even the most basic dynamic driver like KSC75 from Koss can already give you most of the information in a recording in a reasonably refined manner IMO. It surely gets better from there, but diminishing returns hit hard, especially past HD6XX level. But even past HD555/598 level, hearing technical differences already can be a challenge, at least to me. Although admittedly, I am not a musician or audio engineer and don't have golden ears either. I do have normal hearing though and I am a critical listener with years of headphone experience as an audio gear enthusiast. Believe me, I try to hear minute differences in gear all the time and really wish I could hear huge differences, but alas - most of the time they are quite subtle and require my full attention just to catch them before they fade away again as soon as I stop concentrating and try to just enjoy the music. :( Of course, I am talking about differences in technical capability of gear, not tonal balance. FR is a different matter altogether. FR differences are far easier to spot, although still far from easy if you don't work with audio and know your frequency ranges really damn well or just EQ all the time. lol
I don't know about the L700, but yeah I'd say the XC is technically more detailed than the Clear. The LCD-X is also more detailed than the Clear - even though they're pretty close in general. The Clear has better dynamics though, so it really depends what you value.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Ok, so the LCD-XC would be somewhere between the Clear and Utopia in technicalities. The problem I have with this isn't that there's a difference in technicalities as there certainly is one and I am sure the Utiopia is more resolving than the Clear as it should be since it uses better material for the driver. My problem is that you seem to think the difference is really big and obvious. Well, I know you said LCD-XC is a big upgrade over the Elegia, not the Clear, but I think the Elegia and Clear are quite close and so if LCD is much better than Elegia then it should also be much better than the Clear. The LCD-XC should be in a different league technically vs. the Clear and I really doubt that's the case. I've read quite a few opinions where people prefer Clear over the Utopia and some don't even mention the Utopia's technical advantages. They just think the Clear sounds better. If the Utopia was indeed far superior to the Clear technically where you could hear a big technical jump, I am sure nobody with working ears could say that the Clear is better. At least they would mention how much more resolving the Utopia is, but that they prefer the tonality of the Clear, or something like that. I think what's going on instead is that there are differences, but they are, in fact, subtle and not huge at all - like 5-10% extra sort of differences. You'll have to spend a fair bit of time comparing both to figure out the improvements and even when you do, if you just go back to listening with the Clear, your brain will adjust and you won't find anything missing from it again.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Just an example: When I compared the Elex to HD555, I noted how similar they are. In fact, I basically concluded that the Elex is an HD555 with better treble clarity. No there are also subtle difference in the midrange and bass quality, but it took critical listening to figure them out. HD555 used to cost about $200 I believe and that was like 15 years ago. The Elex is going for $700 today. Huge differences between them? They are apparent for sure, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that it's like a curtain has been opened or something. Elex doesn't crush the HD555. Without a direct comparison the HD555 can provide realistic experience, just not quite as realistic, but certainly enough for music to sound believable and lifelike. And that's comparing an $100 vs $700 headphone. Differences only get smaller the more you pay. Elex vs Clear is a really subtle difference. I am sure Clear vs. Utopia is even more so.
@@vm6038 well incremental improvements from the Elegia to the Clear to the LCD-XC means the distance is greater between the Elegia and the XC. A few things though, we're comparing open back to closed back, and that's not exactly apples to apples, and then also a planar to a dynamic, which makes the presentation different as well. I think for individual instrument lines the clear is pretty close to the XC, but for busy passages the XC is definitely more clear and well defined. While you can have good and bad headphones of any driver type, there are trends that are worth thinking about for each in terms of their sonic characteristics.
Have you heard the latest XC revision and the Ether C side by side? Because to my ear the Ether C isn't significantly better than the Aeon 2 for detail.
The HEADPHONE Show I have the ether c flow 1.1 using the white foam insert. Imo it rivals my sennheiser 800s for detail. To be fair I haven’t heard the latest XC revision so I cant really claim it’s better than that. It is better than earlier versions. Is the latest XC rev much more detailed than previous ones?
The only Audeze headphone I've ever had an issue with is the Mobius. 1) the build quality is absolute scrap. 2) the headband is too thin and starts to hurt after a while. I usually think Audeze headphones are super comfortable (by the way cheers, recently bought the LCD-X thanks to you guys) due to the large headband and the.. 'Squishiness' of the ear pads. Maybe I have a stronger neck, who knows ahahah.
We may be spoiled but honestly they are worth the money if you can afford it. It’s like the difference between a Toyota and a Ferrari comparing $200 headphones to $2000 ones.
![[LIVE] : ONE ลุมพินี 88 | คู่เอก "ป้อมเพชร vs อัสลามจอน"](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1ZqTVVbMgbo/mqdefault.jpg)
Andrew! I’m so glad you finally got to review the XC!! I’ve been raving about this headphone for a couple of years now. So nice that you share a lot of my sentiments of the XC. I think it punches incredibly well. I love the bass and dynamics. So addictive. Still the undisputed champion of closed backs for me. Once I try the Stellia maybe that could change. :)
Thank you again for this great review. Cheers man.
Have you tried the Denon 9200? Same price range closed back with, aside from the headband, great reviews through and through.
@@CalmTempest I have not. I’d very much like to along with the Verite Closed from ZMF. 2 closed headphones that are massively on my list…actually I haven’t tried the DCA stealth either. I’m behind and it is COVID’s fault. 😡
Just so everyone is aware, older units may measure differently depending on if there was a revision. At the moment I'm unclear as to what or if there were any changes to the XC like there was with the LCD-X in early 2020. If I find an answer on this I'll update this comment. If you have a unit from before 2016, my EQ WON'T be applicable (and Reveal+ may actually work better).
2016 revision is the only one I know of. This model was retuned the most apparently, according to the classic 2016 revision head-fi post about said revision
I bought a XC Creator edition several years ago, I like it (relaxing with the 4,5 kHz dip, making electric guitars less tiring than in reality, great sub-bass slam), but I always have experienced it as having much less resolution and dynamics than my Elegia (not to speak of the Stellia). For me among the TOTL Audezes it diverges the least from neutrality compared to other TOTL Audeze headphones, especially compared to the LCD-4 (and 4z) which I find so deviant from neutrality that they are a no-go for me. I agree with you in the sense that from my perspective the XC would be Audeze's "best" headphone.
When we talk about the price of these, if I remember correctly, they used to cost around $2800 when released. So I don't think they have a $1200 sound actually. Either way, I still enjoy mine and I don't find them heavy on the head because they are super comfortable. Great review!
I don't know if that's correct. There's the $1799 non 'creator' version that comes with a case.
Really confused by all the brightness comments in your review? I listened for about 20 min at a dealer on my iPhone 12 pro max with a dragonfly cobalt & heard everything you described except I was in love with the highs, and I am a picky primadonna in this area. It was smooth and extended and blended right in with the other frequencies. This was music imported IAFF 16/44. The Lows pounded & the mids rich and fleshed out. But as always everyone's ears are each to their own. Great review! 👍🎼✨🎧
You should do a headphone tier list, something similar to what DMS did. So there'd be a headphones, dac, amp, and IEM tier list.
I'm working on a ranking list at the moment.
The HEADPHONE Show cool!
there's a thought
Anything metal likes = F tier
metal571 Nah. You’re sound reviews are super on point.
I think it’s great that you’re branching out and doing boat anchor reviews! lol
Wow, impressive. This landed on top of my list 👌not bothered by the weight but I rarely use headphones for more than 45 min at a time.
Follow up: So I actually decided to buy these for studio application. Some thoughts and comparison with the HiFiMan Arya, Focal Clear and LCD-3 ...
So first of all, this is an amazing review. Thank you so much kind sir. Your fact and measurements based approach works 100%. I was able to deduce that these will essentially be the closed back version of Arya sound wise ... and they are!
XC is the most natural and clear sounding Audeze I've heard and the most natural and balanced closed back ... on the market maybe. I mean seriously, these sound a lot more natural than many open backs. It's ridiculous for a closed back. If you know how Arya sounds, this sounds the same with more compact and close sound stage.
It's pretty much a perfect studio headphone. Requires minimal EQ to make it truly neutral, something that is simply impossible with LCD-3 for example.
Arya and XC are the best all around headphones I've ever heard.
Comparing with Focal Clear ... Clears are really good headphones, but to me not on the same level as both Arya and XC when it comes to detail and presentation ... but I prefer the planar sound quality. Clears technically do everything XC and Aryas do ... you can't fault them objectively ... so it's probably only a preference thing, but I was impressed by Clears and then subsequently BLOWN AWAY by Aryas and XCs. Clears for me are just a bit too sharp (when comparing to good class studio monitors I think they sounded sharp in places where no other reference piece would ... so either they are a bit too sharp in some areas, or they show something that the others don't ... but I think these are just a bit sharp as the monitors, Aryas and XCs align in those areas and Clears were sticking out), and also when a lot of low bass is layered with busy midrange and treble they tend to distort the bass just a bit. It's noticeable for me, but maybe not for you. You really have to listen to these back to back to make up your mind. TL;DR for me XCs exceed Clears in all technical performance and monitoring / reference areas.
Some thoughts :
- For the money you can get these for now in creators package (£1250 new with 3 years warranty) these are a steal, especially if they will have any production double duties.
- These are HUGE. I'm not joking, absolutely freaking huge. The size of the HEDDphone huge. LCD-3 which are not small in their own right are compact in comparison.
- And these are heavy, no joke. I'm still not bothered for my application, but 30 min and you start to feel them.
- But the build quality is exceptional. I got the maple wood finish, it looks spectacular. It looks serious, feels serious and sounds serious.
TL;DR it's a serious piece of gear.
@@krisrudecki9477 ty for the follow up and for sharing your experience with us. Much appreciated!
Cathode Ray Mission let me know how you find them. These had a refresh in 17 or 18 I think. I was taking about the new version. Apparently pre refresh had a different driver / signature but didn’t have the chance to compare.
@@krisrudecki9477 Yes my pair is the new version with latest headband (still the wood cups). I think the only retail models you can find now are the carbon cups.
Barry Convex cool, that’s exactly what I’ve tested. Let me know how you get on with them :)
I'd be interested to know what DAC you'd recommend for the XC.
Great review. It gave me the confidence to buy the LCD-XC. My LCD-2 Classic's frequency response was not agreeable without Reveal, thus restricting it to PC listening. The LCD-XC needed a simple a -3 dB high-shelf above 2 kHz (that's right) and a + 6 dB low-shelf below 100 Hz to suit my preference. I also added -3 dB at 220 Hz Q 1.5 to reduce the boominess in the bass. I can apply this EQ right in my Monolith THX Desktop amp and use it with any source.
Does lcd-xc have better sub bass than the lcd-2c ?
@@ChrisKeyman Yes and no. Both require EQ as they are lacking in bass out of the box. The LCD-XC has accurate bass with good impact. However it feels the same no matter how much you turn up the volume, presumably due to dampening behind the ear cups. When you turn up the volume on the LCD-2 Classic to unsafe levels, it turns into a sub-woofer with long reverberating bass that vibrates the ear pads. At normal volumes the LCD-XC has more impact. The LCD-2 Classic has strange treble and needs the Audeze Reveal plugin to sound right. I would not buy the LCD-2 Classic again.
@@MonstieurVoid thank you!!
@@MonstieurVoid what about lcd-x open back on sub bass?
Is the lcd-xc even better ?
Do you have also any opinion about the Aeon 2 closed?
@@ChrisKeyman I have the LCD-5 and prefer its sub-bass to the LCD-XC's, even though the LCD-XC has more impact. The LCD-XC sounds a bit boomy in comparison though that can probably be fixed with EQ. I have the Aeon 2 Closed as well. The sub-bass is audible down to 10 Hz, but it is dampened and doesn't have the impact of any of the LCD models. It's the most comfortable headphone of them all. I would not buy the Aeon 2 Closed again though. I can't recommend the older LCD models now given how lightweight the new design of the LCD-5 is. If I had to recommend an Audeze headphone after the LCD-5, it would be the Mobius or Penrose as those sound perfect out of the box with their built-in EQ. They have excellent sub-bass impact and outperform most headphones costing 5x their price.
Do the xc maple woods in this video sound different than the carbon fiber ones? Thanks for your help!
I would love to hear them but 700g is just too much. A headphone built like a tank is great but when it also weighs as much as one... not so great.
i got the HEDDphone, ye man
Skull-Transforming Experience
Weights like a tank, but not durable all also (since you can easily pop audeze drivers by just pressing the cups when they are on your head.
Have them, but weight isnt an issue. Suberb quality sound and thats by far the main reason why you buy an expensive headphone in the first place
Great review. I was about to ask you wether I should choose lcd2 closed or xc and you pointed everything 👍🏼 really appreciate your video.
I now fall into the camp whereby the LCD XC needs to be EQ’d and when you do the XC becomes an absolute monster. This headphone is still relevant and Andrew’s EQ profile is bang on I think.
Perceived amount of isolation would be nice to mention when comparing closed-backs. Cheers!
Thanks Andrew, I just saw a Black Friday offer for the LCD-XC and you persuaded me to order it. 🤣 As soon as the Audeze LCD-XC in carbon has arrived I make a video on my TH-cam channel where I can compare the size of the XC and the Abyss PHI TC.
His EQ settings will need to adjusted a few db up/down for your Carbon cup model.
@@Ratseeker Everyone hears differently and listens to different music, blindly accepting an EQ from someone I think makes no sense.
Experimenting yourself, amps also make a huge difference, forming your own opinion, testing things and finding out your own preferences instead of just copying things.
I am not bothered by the weight of my Heddphone, however, when I tried this one I can't even last half an hour. I think the feeling of being sealed has something to do with the discomfort, it is like you are in a helmet.
somebody put like a drinking straw between each cup & ear to relieve the pressure.
that bothers me too, my eardrums are being pushed and i hear my heartbeat.
@@nxxxxzn As soon as I receive mine, I'll try cutting out some felt rings and attaching them to the pads with an M3 double scotch (same type of tape they use to attach new pads to the headphones... but 20 times cheaper). That might help. But first they have to arrive to Australia... hopefully within 8 weeks.
@@Sasha_May I have a beard, that would be so itchy. Good luck to you.
Same complaint with the lcd-2c. Way too much pressure on the eardrums that I can’t last an hour. Always find myself going back to Fostex mk3 with pads even though I really like the sound from lcds, just too much discomfort to tolerate.
i can guarantee there are some people in the world who have that kink
"Do you even lift"?
>nods in direction of Audeze headphone<
*defeated tone*
"Oh".
I'm searching for a closed back headphone with good imaging and sound stage, from what I've seen these are probably it? How do they compare to the Aeon 2 closed in that aspect and others you have tried.
Will you do an Review on the Zmf Verite Closed?
Edit: Welp, Maybe i should watch the whole video before i comment.
I made the mistake of buying this headphone online as I had owned high-end Audeze's before. They did sound unbelievable but that weight caused problems that I had never experienced before. After about 8 months, I had to sell. I always regretted having done this as I could not find a headphone that I liked sound wise until I tried the Audioquest Nighthawk Carbon. Totally different sound signature but probably the most beautiful, musical presentation of any headphone I have owned.
@The Bishop I also own the HD 650. Don't be afraid to bend the head band it works s treat and stays loose on your noggin. Like you I also own the AKG 712 pro, which is an outstanding headphone. AKG house sound with decent low end response, dreamy! In my collection I also have Denon AHD 7200, Audeze Sine, Focal Elear and Tin audio P1 planar iems. My Hifi system consists of Extremely modified Turntable based of Rega Planar 3 running gear ( absolutely outstanding and currently worth about 3k ) It has taken me nearly 3 years to build it to this standard. Roksan Kandy K2 Integrated with K2 Power Amp run as dual amp setup. Tannoy XT 8F speakers.
My Nighthawk Carbons are for sale. PM
Thanks for the video. Would these be a significant step up from the Oppo PM-3? That’s where I’m upgrading from.
@Fisher Man Yes, but to the Focal Clear. I auditioned ZMF Verite Open and Auteur and chose the Clear. The PM-3 is remarkably good, though.
@Fisher Man One thought is that, depending on your use case, it’s worth considering open back. I also was focused on closed until I learned that open would work fine on conference calls. After comparing different open and closed cans I chose open.
Hi! I was wondering what you would suggest as a DAC/amp to pair with the focal clears? Currently using a micro idsd BL but I am now looking to upgrade to something in the 2-3k range. Thanks. P.s. I really trust your recommandations keep the great videos coming!
Check his review of the Pro iDSD
Thanks for your review. I am looking for a closed back headphone to listen 70's classical rock which generally consists of bad sound quality. For this reason, I am searching a pair which forgives bad sound quality. What do you think in this regard? XC or Elegia or anything else?
Great review as always. Off-topic question, have you listened to the T+A Solitaire P planar-magnetostatic headphones?
Hey there. I read in the review you recommend this for rock or metal. What's your favorite headphone for those genres, overall and mid-fi?
For rock and metal? Yeah maybe this or an EQ'd LCD-4 if you can handle the weight. ZMF Verite is a lot of fun for rock and metal as well, great slam. In mid-fi, maybe a Sundara with a bass boost.
I hope you don’t mind me chipping in and sharing that I personally really like the HD-600 Series for rock, as well as the Focal Clear. I listen mainly to rock, and as guitarist myself, I feel like those headphones are able to represent that instrument extremely well! To me, the mids on those are tuned just right for electric guitars 😁
Hi, I have just bought this headphones, could you advise me which AMP/DAC should i get? My budget is arround 1500 but i can increase this if needed. Thanks!
Hello Andrew, Have you listened to Audeze Sines? If yes how would you compare it’s characteristics to LCD-XC? I really love the character of the Sines, and want to upgrade it with a similar character planar magnetic headphone. So that’s why I’m asking.
I'm really interested in the new Focal Celestee, which you recently reviewed. How would you compare that to the LCD-XC?
I haven´t tried the LCD-XC but, for my ears, the Celestee sounds muddy and surprisingly ugly
@@lookforbeauty1964 I bought Focal Celestee two days ago. Great headphones.
@@odzinski Glad you like it, I don't. And, I don't have any serious problems, at all !!!. Simply I don't like the Focal Celestee sound
Take care.
@@lookforbeauty1964 very strange. This reviewer loved the Celestee and said those would be the headphones he would buy. Let’s see, who should we believe. Anonymous Jose or this guy, whose been reviewing hundreds of headphones.
@@SkywhiteChannel Please, don't misvalue my opinion. I am not trying to compare to anybody. My opinion is mine and what I express in it is what I felt when I tried them out. The reviewer can try thousands of headphones, if I don't like this exact ones does not mean he is right and me wrong or viceversa. It's just an opinion. If you like the Celestee, enjoy it !!!
do you know if the version u reviewed has 6 or 8 fazors bars in the front ? i just read (apparently confirmed by audeze) that current revision of lcd-xc's has have 6 magnets while some older ones have 8 magnets.
This would have been the original, 8 fazor version. Production switched to the updated drivers very late in 2020.
Hello, these has better sub bass than focal clear and focal stelia?
Also between this and the lcd3 please?
Oof this should be supplied with a neck brace
Would be great to hear your thoughts on the denon d9200. I own LCD-XCs and D9200, and both are really excellent closed backs. The denon has excellent technicalities, but it may be a little bright for you.
which one is technically the better phone in detail retrieval and image separation?
@@rafael6693 For reference, I have Late 2018 XCs with bubinga wood, so essentially the same as reviewed here.
The Denon’s have better technicalities; they’re more resolving, better separation and layering, wider soundstage. The LCDs can’t even compete with the Denon’s bass, which is very detailed and linear, not tapering off quite as much as on the XCs. Using similar terminology as in the review, the D9200s give me a much clearer window into the music than the LCDs. This make them much more engaging than the Audezes and, hence, I listen to the Denon more of the time.
The Denon’s seem to excel at more things than any other headphone I’ve tried, and are a bit paradoxical in some ways; They have excellent bass (slam, resolution, quanty), airy clear highs, yet their mids are also very well presented and engaging. Nothing over powers anything else, yet everything is so well done. In my earlier comment I mentioned that they may be too bright for some, and that’s because Andrew mentioned that the XCs are bright. By this I meant that the Denons have a more airy and detailed treble, but having said that they don’t sound bright or harsh in any way. They don’t just give the illusion of detail by having elevated highs with annoying peaks and resonances like some headphone do.
Great review! How do you compare XC vs XC Carbon?
I thought it is only a cosmetic difference?
Did u ever find out? I really want to know!
@@theprinceofeverything1975 nope. Not yet.
@@klaymoon1 are you sure there a difference in sound or are you just wondering like I am?
@@theprinceofeverything1975 I’m wondering too, but I’ve read the new version is an improvement.
Andrew, which closed back headphones do you recommend the most to use at work in the office?
Focal Elegia.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Thank you. How bad is the 700g weight of the LCD-XC? I never tried an Audeze headphone. I saw your review and was thinking about buying the LCD-XC and using them while I work in the office (sitting upright at a desk), but was concerned that they could cause discomfort while I work and snap my neck. Do you recommend to avoid buying the LCD-XC to use at work while working in the office because of the discomfort from their weight?
@@JosefBalabanovsky depends how long you listen for. I've been able to get through a full day but I do feel it after a while. I find it to be more comfortable than other high end Audeze planars for some reason - like the top headband is perforated which helps.
@@ResolveReviews thank you. I would like to use them for about 4-6 hours a day while I work in 1-2 sessions. I'm concerned about wearing heavy headphones that could add considerable discomfort that could distract me from my work. Do you think the LCD-XC would be a good choice in my case or do you recommend to choose the Focal Elegia that has lower sound quality but more comfort?
@@JosefBalabanovsky you can also go with the middle-ground and get the ZMF Eikon or Atticus
Tbh I felt a physical dent on my head after wearing ADX5000 for 8 hours (it weighs 270g), wonder what 700g would do🤖
weight does make a difference but not everything when it comes to comfort... I have LCD-4's 745g and they are comfortable enough to wear for 8 hrs+.
Joshua Vincent translation: they are expensive enough that I can tolerate the weight just fine.
@@Mosamania not at all. There are plenty of headphones I don't find comfortable that are heavy and expensive. Weight distribution, headband, clamp force, pads etc. It all makes a difference in comfort. Weight alone is not a singular factor to overall comfort.
Joshua Vincent I own the LCD-X which are lighter than the LCD-4 and uses a similar headband system, after 3 hours of listening, my neck really starts to hurt and will have muscle strain pain for the rest of the day, I LOVE my LCD-X, but I developed a slight fear from wearing it due to that pain.
@@Mosamania then maybe you should get different headphones. I explained how the LCD-4 works for me, I use them for up to 8hrs a day with no issues. You're the one getting neck pain, im not sure why you are insisting that these are too heavy for me.
Lcdxc or zmf eikon/atticus? If you don't plan to eq
Lcd xc if you need the complete isolation, to the level of not leaking sound to others.
Otherwise the zmf stuff, but they got air ports and leak sound.
I think if I am getting any higher-end closed-back headphones, it's the Aeon 2 Closed, not this. I find the Aeons to be super-comfortable.
Held these in my hands last weekend. So close to buying, but the dealer won't allow a listen in these covid times:( Love my LCD-2Cs and am looking for a good closed back for when I go back to the office.
Thank you for another fantastic review. I am still in the dark as to their sound leakage, that is, whether these would be suitable to take out and about (listening to them at a cafe maybe) without annoying other people around me.
Yeah not a problem there.
The leakage is close to zero. Much less than my Aeon 2 Closed.
@@MonstieurVoid That's very interesting. A lot of LCD-XC owners have reported quite a bit of leakage due to wooden cups not isolating well. And the same people say that Aeon 2 closed leaks almost nothing. I'm quite confused :)
@@yukabak Maybe it's because the Aeon pads don't seal well for me. If I move my jaw, the seal breaks at the bottom rear on both sides. The LCD pads remain sealed.
Are you planning to review the ZMF Verite closed?
If it is not comfortable, it does not matter how good it sounds.
I stopped with Audeze at lcd-2 - like you, not matter how good they sound, if they are too heavy and uncomfortable, I won't use them...
Whats the chances the wood cracks BAD like every other Audeze LCD with wood? Last 7 used Audeze's (2, 3 & 4) I looked at all bad massive cracks so its a serious question!
Damien Ramirez you need to treat the wood with a cream, wich I will assume some people neglect to do on a regular basis
Wood like leather, it needs some care. Also the warranty covers 3 years for the drivers and 1 year for the rest of the parts.
facebook.com/104435281280677/posts/150572866666918/
No longer crack now. With these. 😉
Small. The wood is treated both on the inside as well as the outside.
Thanks so much Sir. Can it be powered by ifi xcan or the fiio Q5s TC? God bless stay safe.😇🙏
It can
I realise this might be sinful. If buying aftermarket covers for the audeze LCD-X, is is possible to eq the headphone to sound similarly to the XTC?
I want these quite badly i have a lcd2 amongst thousands of dollars in other headphones and the LCD2'S take the cake easily my favorite cans
Which revision is this? Does the model number ends in 00 or 01?
Would you say the amp in the ifi pro idsd is enough for the LCD XC?
Thanks for the review mate!
Please can someone suggest me the least expensive ampli that is good enough to drive this gem without ruining its dynamic response?
Thanks in advance!
This is the old model. The new one is very different.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Better or worse?!
There's a carbon-fiber Edition that's even heavier I'd love to watch you try to evaluate that thing
It's heavier?
@@Krankynator lol. No
What do you mean by slam? I get confused when you say it's a bright headphone with not so much bass, but it slams better than anything else..
Dynamics is different from tonal balance. Extra bass can enhance the perception of slam, but there's more to it than that. Moreover, it's still well extended in the bass. The brightness is just too much treble elevation above 11khz.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow So slam basically refers to how dynamic a HP is, in all frequencies? For example a triangle percussion section of a classical piece can also display slam..? Or am I getting it wrong? I thought slam was the ability to punch hard with definition and detail in the lower regions.
@@alexpea22 It's all related, but 'macrodynamics' is essentially the headphone's 'physicality', which can be present at all frequencies. It's the excursive quality that often shows up as punch and slam, which can be one of the more engaging aspects of certain headphones. Typically dynamic (moving coil) driver headphones do this better than many modern lightweight planars. So think like Focal headphones which are really punchy for example, compared to an Ananda which while it has a great FR, it's not at all punchy.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I might have to re-watch the episode where metal is guest, wasn't terminology a discussed topic? I'm looking for an upgrade to my TH-X00 and have concidered the LCD-X or XC to be a perfect fit. But I'm not so sure now, as slam may not be what I thought it was. Cuz I really like the sub bass punch and tonality of the Fostex, but perhaps TH900 or Atticus/Eikon may instead be the proper upgrade. Thoughts?
All of those have good dynamics. It's only when you hear something like the Ananda or Aeon 2 do you realize it's absence.
This and the Arya is about the same price in my country right now, with the Arya just being A$75 more. Which one would you personally pick between the two, considering design, comfort, sound and closed back/open back advantages?
It's really up to you. Do you want closed back? Are you okay with heavy headphones? These are questions you gotta answer, but I think they're both excellent as far as sound quality goes.
I've listened to the Aryas in the store and I didn't like them. The earcups are much too big and they are so position sensitive. Just a mm shift - and you hear quite a different sound. Maybe I just have a small head. Didn't noticed any outstanding clarity, detail and separation. Neither a wider stage. Maybe their tonal balance is better than LCD-X or XC. Of course, I never heard them within the cosiness of my home but rather in the busy shop, so my judgement is a bit unfair. But I'd still choose LCD-XC over Arya, hands down.
Good stuff Andrew.
So is this really the same as the X? I was told by many you cannot just get a pair of the closed wood cups and put them on an X and have it work?
I own the LCD-X. If the closed version uses the same driver could you undo the four screws and switch back’s? I haven’t really heard anyone talk about this and it seems like a question that should be answered. I don’t know if somehow there’s different tuning going on but I would buy the closed back piece and mod it myself
Yes you can. Already discussed it a lot on head-fi [dot] org.
Love the wood!
@@isoperimetrix Bubinga is getting scarces. That's why they moved to maple, but tried to imitate the look of the bubinga wood cups.
Please do a review on Sony Z1R and comparisons. Thank you
I love mine. My neck hates me for it. I did A/B testing of the X/XC before buying. The XC resonates a bit more in the bass IMHO, everything else sounded the same. Gonna try your EQ settings now and compare with Reveal+, which I find sometimes weird too, but helping quite a bit to make them less aggressive on some tracks.
Apparently this re-tune was after 2016, so my EQ profile would only be applicable if its a similar tuning.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow do you have the different filters parameters? Jriver doesn't have graph view of the EQ, so I am basically ballpark reverse engineering your graph now :)
@@mimizone I've updated the written review with the EQ profile, but that's much more fine-grained than you need to do. Really just a bass boost and a treble downshelf will do.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow much appreciated
@@TheHEADPHONEShow I spent the last 4 weeks using your EQ setup on and off to see how much I like it and try to understand your own way of hearing and speaking about it. I can see what you mean by more neutral, I feel also some added bass etc... It impacts a lot the piano reverb and the details in the cymbals etc...I listen to jazz a lot so I disable it often. Which I believe is what you also said in your review about the LCD-XC. Glad I can interpret your reviews of other gear using that info. Cheers.
1st time viewer..I thought, wow quite nice for under 13 bucks... Gasp...1300!....
Would it be paired with Hugo 2 nicely do you think?
If you EQ it then it would be fine with the Hugo 2. Otherwise the neutral Chord Hugo 2 will show no mercy in the treble. Power wise it should have enough current to drive the planar xc.
@@Ratseeker Actually I tried it with Hugo 2 and it wasn't that great, but maybe because the XC was not burnt in. but still the mids were not that great really.
Will you be able to review Audio technica ath-awtk hp?
It's that typical trade off conundrum...the build is great , solid but heavy as a tank and I can't use them for more than an hour vs. these are very comfortable but seem a bit fragile and why all the plastic?
Can you review the Monoprice Monolith M1060C, the headphones are in my price range and I would buy them, would like to have a little more feedback. Can you compere the M1060C with the Sundara? (I would like to have closed headphones because I can use them during work hours.)
They too bougie on here to do Monoprice stuff
I own m1060c. Together with ether c flow, focal elex. M1060c are grate headphone. You won't be disappointed for sure!
@@specialtaras OK, what amplifier you used with them? I think i buy the Fiio k5 pro or k3.
@@nutzerlossprivataccount6586 matantz hddac1, thx aaa
@@nutzerlossprivataccount6586 m1060c requires burn in about 100h. It sounds even better after this time
Check out the Denon AH-D 9200!
pls do, but why
note to self but the Audeze lcd-xc for your birthday April 10
700 grams, dude. 700.
Even 350 would be too much for me!
The weight of these things and the hedd scare the hell out of me tbh. It's really my main barrier to entry.
what material the pads are made of?
They are a very interesting headphone but very expensive in Sweden, 23.500 sek= 2684 $, dollar. In US 1300 $. So dubble the price in Sweden. Are they worth that? I haven’t listen to them yet.
I would reccomend looking into options where it can be bought and shipped from the US, if possible. Over 1000 bucks extra is nothing to scoff at, you could be using that to buy another headphone.
700gram... That's like wearing 3 headphones at the same time...
Your head weighs between 4-8 kg I think you'll be okay lol
Pad and strap design tend to be more important than actual weight. There are plenty of 100gram headphones that are painful to wear.
Not sure why they chose wood though. Have it be plastic it would be so much lighter
@@miigon9117 The wood cups are quite light. I took off the wood cups on my pair. The wood cups are realtively thin and therefore do not contribute alot to the weight.
Now that I think about it, the heaviest and probably most difficult part to reduce weight should be the magnets, considering there’s a lot more of them in plannars than dynamics.
Personally i would prefer something in the 400g range, no matter how well it distributes weight. My neck would get sour after wearing a 400g hifiman for an afternoon, I would certainly not enjoy a 700g one
maybe i just got a weak neck😅
@@rendezvous009 If I'm paying that much for headphones that features wooden aesthetics I want real wood
A direct competitor to the Atticus
Have you possibly heard a pair in carbon? I'm afraid they won't sound as good after the change. I'm finding it very difficult to get these in wood at this point. In my experience a change in cup material can have a very pronounced impact on the sound so I'm a bit hesitant and I don't have a way to demo them in my area. Audeze is telling me there should be no difference, but I would trust a 3rd party opinion a bit more since you aren't trying to sell them to me =)
There's a lot of damping material in the cups and I don't notice any of the cup colouration or resonance that you usually hear with closed back headphones, so the cup material might not make any difference.
700 grams is ludicrous. I own the LCD-X and they are frankly already far too heavy.
Excuse me, can you help for Sennheiser HD600 EQ? Been looking at your GitHub, no luck yet for that pair of Headphones :(
-5db pre amp, +5db low shelf at 100hz - the easy "fix"
-8db pre amp, +8db low shelf at 100hz, +3db high peak at 6000hz with Q of 3, +2.5db high peak at 8000hz with Q of 3 - this eq will make it sound a bit more "fun", but still close to neutral
I tested it 3 times and i was disappointed every time with the Isolation and the Sound. Especially as someone who is making music, it sounded so wrong with so many songs. With the LCD-X you could easily fix those issues with EQ but with the XC, you need very fine grained EQ in a lot of places and even then, it just sounds wrong...
But i never heard any closed back Headphone that was usable for making music out of the box. Maybe thats just something that is not possible with closed backs... not sure
I just bought Focal Elegia and I thought I got the deal of the century at 400.00 but it's discontinued now? hmmm maybe it was a production closure sale...? slightly disappointing
i wanna buy one for outdoor use but the weight kills it 😓
I would be happy if you could compare it to new Audio-Technica ATH-AWAS, it has similar price in EU. Thank You!!
I've auditioned this at a local can jam ... Same equipment used for all the headphones and I honestly don't find this that different sounding from the m1060c. Anyone else has heard both that can comment?
But was it the retuned version? That matters a lot.
Does anyone know why the carbon version is more heavier then the wood?
hey man the headset is beautiful, but you lost me at 700g
Weighed my May 2020 LCD-X at 701 grams. Just got my LCD-4 weighed in at 732 grams
Sounds right in line with the ones I've weighed, pretty typical
@@metal571 Yeah I actually weighed it because I was watching your show and you said 700 grams for some. What I don't understand is why my LCD-X from May seems to be ok in the mids. Not perfect but just like old Audeze. Unit variation?
@@jamesthoma4927 unfortunately there's no easy way for me to acquire a sample or 3 or more for example from a current run from the factory so no way to know for sure but as far as I know, I'd be careful about buying an LCD-X specifically without hearing the unit first
Sony has a flagship closed back headphone that has sold more units than any of the headphones you mentioned in the comparison section.
Yeah unfortunately I haven't heard it so I can't compare.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Does headphones.com not carry the Z1R?
XC cost €400 less than Stellia in Europe. Is Stellia worth the extra money?
I think it's pretty subjective, although I prefer my Audeze's. Don't really know why, but I really feel like Audeze's really have a much larger presence, although that may well be subjective coloring of my opinion since I actually paid for these. Try visiting a shop in person and using both for a couple of hours. Most places let you bring your gear and try out their headphones so you can listen to them for a good, long while before deciding what you want to buy.
These or Arya?
Just give me a closed back LCD-1.
That’s exactly what I want. I love my sines and they don’t hurt my ears so I’m lucky!
The only variant of the LCD-XC avialable (excluding limited editions) is the carbon fiber one. Audeze has stopped making Audeze LCD-XC with wood cups.
I dont mind carbon fibre, but the massive AUDEZE text is so incredibly tacky that i would never buy it
LCD-XC is way better than the Elegia technically? I don't find Elegia to be far behind the Clear technically, so that would mean that the LCD is also technically way better than the Clear. I also owned Stax L700 which I felt was close technically to the Clear, meaning the LCD would also significantly outperform the Stax. Damn, those Audeze planar drivers are some cutting edge stuff man. Even electrostats don't compete. Well, OK L700 isn't the TOTL one. The SR-009 would compete with the LCD I guess. :D But still it sounds kinda wrong if you say you are upgrading from Stax L700 to LCD-XC (isn't the LCD-XC cheaper as well?) for technical performance upgrade. lol Doesn't seem right to me.
Seriously though, even if LCD-XC is in fact technically better than Elegia, Clear and L700, I think you are probably exaggerating LCD-XCs performance advantages, especially given the fact that even the most basic dynamic driver like KSC75 from Koss can already give you most of the information in a recording in a reasonably refined manner IMO. It surely gets better from there, but diminishing returns hit hard, especially past HD6XX level. But even past HD555/598 level, hearing technical differences already can be a challenge, at least to me. Although admittedly, I am not a musician or audio engineer and don't have golden ears either. I do have normal hearing though and I am a critical listener with years of headphone experience as an audio gear enthusiast. Believe me, I try to hear minute differences in gear all the time and really wish I could hear huge differences, but alas - most of the time they are quite subtle and require my full attention just to catch them before they fade away again as soon as I stop concentrating and try to just enjoy the music. :( Of course, I am talking about differences in technical capability of gear, not tonal balance. FR is a different matter altogether. FR differences are far easier to spot, although still far from easy if you don't work with audio and know your frequency ranges really damn well or just EQ all the time. lol
I don't know about the L700, but yeah I'd say the XC is technically more detailed than the Clear. The LCD-X is also more detailed than the Clear - even though they're pretty close in general. The Clear has better dynamics though, so it really depends what you value.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Ok, so the LCD-XC would be somewhere between the Clear and Utopia in technicalities. The problem I have with this isn't that there's a difference in technicalities as there certainly is one and I am sure the Utiopia is more resolving than the Clear as it should be since it uses better material for the driver. My problem is that you seem to think the difference is really big and obvious. Well, I know you said LCD-XC is a big upgrade over the Elegia, not the Clear, but I think the Elegia and Clear are quite close and so if LCD is much better than Elegia then it should also be much better than the Clear. The LCD-XC should be in a different league technically vs. the Clear and I really doubt that's the case. I've read quite a few opinions where people prefer Clear over the Utopia and some don't even mention the Utopia's technical advantages. They just think the Clear sounds better. If the Utopia was indeed far superior to the Clear technically where you could hear a big technical jump, I am sure nobody with working ears could say that the Clear is better. At least they would mention how much more resolving the Utopia is, but that they prefer the tonality of the Clear, or something like that. I think what's going on instead is that there are differences, but they are, in fact, subtle and not huge at all - like 5-10% extra sort of differences. You'll have to spend a fair bit of time comparing both to figure out the improvements and even when you do, if you just go back to listening with the Clear, your brain will adjust and you won't find anything missing from it again.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Just an example: When I compared the Elex to HD555, I noted how similar they are. In fact, I basically concluded that the Elex is an HD555 with better treble clarity. No there are also subtle difference in the midrange and bass quality, but it took critical listening to figure them out. HD555 used to cost about $200 I believe and that was like 15 years ago. The Elex is going for $700 today. Huge differences between them? They are apparent for sure, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that it's like a curtain has been opened or something. Elex doesn't crush the HD555. Without a direct comparison the HD555 can provide realistic experience, just not quite as realistic, but certainly enough for music to sound believable and lifelike. And that's comparing an $100 vs $700 headphone. Differences only get smaller the more you pay. Elex vs Clear is a really subtle difference. I am sure Clear vs. Utopia is even more so.
@@vm6038 well incremental improvements from the Elegia to the Clear to the LCD-XC means the distance is greater between the Elegia and the XC. A few things though, we're comparing open back to closed back, and that's not exactly apples to apples, and then also a planar to a dynamic, which makes the presentation different as well. I think for individual instrument lines the clear is pretty close to the XC, but for busy passages the XC is definitely more clear and well defined. While you can have good and bad headphones of any driver type, there are trends that are worth thinking about for each in terms of their sonic characteristics.
Anyone travel with these? How do they hold up to airplane noise?
That's definitely not what these are good for haha.
@@TheHEADPHONEShow Can you recommend a low impedance pair of headphones that double for office use as well as travel? I have a Lotoo Paw 6k
Audeze nuts
I went for elegias due to price and weight.
700g headphones is simply insane and frankly ridiculous! What the hell are they thinking at Audeze?
the goto of elon musk.
int main() {
money_t m = make_tons_of_money(g_ctx_musk);
space_send_item(m);
\\ error handling's for suckers
goto elon_musk:
elon_musk:
return EXIT_SUCCESS;
}
I disagree.
The ether c flow is clearly better technically and tonally. Much better detail.
Have you heard the latest XC revision and the Ether C side by side? Because to my ear the Ether C isn't significantly better than the Aeon 2 for detail.
The HEADPHONE Show I have the ether c flow 1.1 using the white foam insert. Imo it rivals my sennheiser 800s for detail. To be fair I haven’t heard the latest XC revision so I cant really claim it’s better than that. It is better than earlier versions. Is the latest XC rev much more detailed than previous ones?
It's quite possible. I'm led to believe the old one was particularly bad.
Try ZMF Eikon
The only Audeze headphone I've ever had an issue with is the Mobius. 1) the build quality is absolute scrap. 2) the headband is too thin and starts to hurt after a while.
I usually think Audeze headphones are super comfortable (by the way cheers, recently bought the LCD-X thanks to you guys) due to the large headband and the.. 'Squishiness' of the ear pads. Maybe I have a stronger neck, who knows ahahah.
hi
My limit is 300g on my head 😏
Lol
Only in the good old USA can you find people paying that much money for headphones.
We may be spoiled but honestly they are worth the money if you can afford it. It’s like the difference between a Toyota and a Ferrari comparing $200 headphones to $2000 ones.
Great headphone for body builders, strong man competitors, pro wrestlers and heavy weight boxers.