Audeze LCD-X - perhaps I was expecting too much?

Pier said:

I've read a couple of people saying they started having neck issues months after they started using the LCDX...

Thanks, I think I'm probably going to get some Hifiman instead.

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So I bought the LCD X after demoing a few, and I told myself I’ll just get used to the weight, “it’s not THAT bad”, etc.
I tried to use them for a few days. I just couldn’t. They’re incredibly uncomfortable. The most uncomfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, bar none.
More than the overall weight was the fact the drivers literally touched my ears, bc the padding is so soft it squished down very easily and the excess weight caused them to just sink into the sides of my head.

I returned them for the hifiman arya. Those are ridiculously lightweight and comfortable. Highly recommended over the lcd x. Or Focal Clear/Clear MG, those are also super comfortable and the MG have a warmer, more balanced sound signature which sounds more like priceless studio monitors, I love them for mixing and composing.

HiFiMAN Arya sound more like you’re sitting in the front row of an orchestra. They are VERY expansive and layered. Definitely the most immersive listening experience I’ve ever had, but they’re also very bright. All Planars kind of suffer from a less natural timbre in the high mids/treble region, Arya can sound a bit metallic or shrill, like on violins for instance. Once you buy a pair and get used to it, it’s not a big deal, but if you’re A/Bing any, it really sticks out as unnatural. I love them for listening but less for mixing or composing, bc the way they present sound is incredibly unique (it doesn’t present what the average listener would hear) and the strange timbre can also cause me to overcompensate in the mixing stage. Also worth noting these are the Arya stealth I am referring to (v 3) and were now on v4 with Arya Organic

bfreepro said:

So I bought the LCD X after demoing a few, and I told myself I’ll just get used to the weight, “it’s not THAT bad”, etc.
I tried to use them for a few days. I just couldn’t. They’re incredibly uncomfortable. The most uncomfortable headphones I’ve ever worn, bar none.
More than the overall weight was the fact the drivers literally touched my ears, bc the padding is so soft it squished down very easily and the excess weight caused them to just sink into the sides of my head.

I returned them for the hifiman arya. Those are ridiculously lightweight and comfortable. Highly recommended over the lcd x. Or Focal Clear/Clear MG, those are also super comfortable and the MG have a warmer, more balanced sound signature which sounds more like priceless studio monitors, I love them for mixing and composing.

HiFiMAN Arya sound more like you’re sitting in the front row of an orchestra. They are VERY expansive and layered. Definitely the most immersive listening experience I’ve ever had, but they’re also very bright. All Planars kind of suffer from a less natural timbre in the high mids/treble region, Arya can sound a bit metallic or shrill, like on violins for instance. Once you buy a pair and get used to it, it’s not a big deal, but if you’re A/Bing any, it really sticks out as unnatural. I love them for listening but less for mixing or composing, bc the way they present sound is incredibly unique (it doesn’t present what the average listener would hear) and the strange timbre can also cause me to overcompensate in the mixing stage. Also worth noting these are the Arya stealth I am referring to (v 3) and were now on v4 with Arya Organic

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Thanks for your detailed comment.

I'm considering the Hifiman Ananda actually. Initially I considered the Arya but I've read many comments saying the Arya are too "spacious" for production work.

Unfortunately I can't find the Focal Clear here in Mexico except for some overpriced sellers who sell at like $2,500 USD.

I believe that one thing needs to be understood.

There are comfortable headphones, there are headphones that provide a pleasant listening experience, and there are headphones for professional work ( that are a great reference )

The LCDX headphones are headphones that need to be understood.

They are not headphones for composing or super long session; they are great headphones for mixing and mastering.


If you grasp this concept and use them with an excellent headphone amplifier and a reliable calibration system like Acustica Audio Sienna, you will realize that they come as close to a monitor listening experience as possible.

I have tried numerous headphones for this purpose, and I still believe that the LCDX headphones are one if not the best option available for mixing and mastering.

For example, for me, they even surpass the Focal Clear headphones I've had.

As with all headphones, it's crucial to use them with a calibration system, and I consider Sienna to be the most musical option.

Personally I find the LCD X to be very comfortable, no problems at all wearing them for hours upon end. I remember reading about the weight before I got them, but found it to be a complete non issue from day one.

This will vary from person to person no doubt, but just thought I would add that perspective as well.

I find the weight to be no issue and wear them for everything hours a day. Mine have the leather ear cups and I've read where some use another material and maybe that has something to do with comfort issues and reports about about ears touching the driver baffles. People are going to speak up about such things at these price points, and they should. Trying them first or buying from someone reputable with a suitable return policy is always good idea. But I would say your first listen should be thru correction EQ. I didn't do that, and they came real close to being sent back after 30 seconds listening. Glad I hung with them though, they're very, very good once corrected. Interesting just how detailed high quality reference material is rendered with these...almost as if you can pick out the exact things used to process each track in the mix. I get very little of that level of detail with corrected 701 in comparison.

I’ve been writing on my LCD-Xs daily since 2018 and have never had an issue with weight, neck pain, or audio quality.

They sound a little dull at first listen, but as others have said, running them through Sonarworks sorts out any issues.

The only problem I’ve ever had with them is that the adhesive they used to attach the leather ear cups on mine wore out after a while, leading to the ear cups falling off. I emailed Audeze about it and they immediately sent me new adhesive to reattach the ear cups.

I haven't found any headphones better than the LCD-X for mixing. I use them as a compliment to studio monitors. I don't feel they hype the presentation, but at the same time are very sensitive (they sound sort of flat overall). The bass is honest and they are super for quality control, checking faint noises, and reverb tails. They are even better than Sennheiser HD600 and 650s which I also love, but use more for casual listening. I plug the LCD-X straight into a RME ADI-2/4 PRO SE. I do notice the weight, but prefer not using them for long listening sessions, only for critical listening.

I haven't heard the LCD-X but I got the MM-500 and they are a revelation, I've never heard headphones this good and I've owned a bunch. I kind of choked paying that much (I even got an open-box demo deal) but they are truly mind blowing. I've owned other 'flagship' headphones like HD-800 and Focal Clear and they aren't even close IMO.

To your situation definitely give them some time to get used to. If you're used to the Audix they are very hyped and not flat. Trying some EQ correction is another good suggestion. Open backs will never slam like closed backs but the trade-off is you get so much more detail and depth.

walkaschaos said:

I haven't heard the LCD-X but I got the MM-500 and they are a revelation, I've never heard headphones this good and I've owned a bunch. I kind of choked paying that much (I even got an open-box demo deal) but they are truly mind blowing. I've owned other 'flagship' headphones like HD-800 and Focal Clear and they aren't even close IMO.

To your situation definitely give them some time to get used to. If you're used to the Audix they are very hyped and not flat. Trying some EQ correction is another good suggestion. Open backs will never slam like closed backs but the trade-off is you get so much more detail and depth.

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I tried those two days ago and they’re superb. Significantly more comfortable than the X too.

A real eyebrow raiser for me was just how close in SQ a pair of Hifiman HE400SE planar is to my LCD-X 2021 when both are EQ corrected and driven with a good headphone amp. There is a difference but its pretty darn modest even without considering the price delta. And uncorrected, the Hifiman completely mops the floor with the Audeze. Was not expecting this when comparing $110 and $1300 cans. But I own both and that's my assessment of them. That said, I'm not selling my Audeze since corrected they are really really good imo.

kgdrum said:

Audeze headphones really need a quality headphone amp to sound right.

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That was exactly my first thought, when I read the OP and the specs of the LCD-X.

I have no experience with Audeze, but with my Beyerdynamic T90 it's the same ... with a good headphone amp the T90 begins to really shine. The resolution is absolutely stunning.