Audeze LCD-GX Measurements and Short Review

Subjective impressions

1. Surprisingly lightweight for this family. LCD-GX loaner weighs 491g, which is much lighter than LCD-3 loaner (625g) or LCD-2C (545g). I like GX’s 4z-ish design and coloring. Also their suspension headband works pretty well as intended.
2. As reported before, mic cable had some imbalance issues (I am suspecting it’s defective). Thus, most of my listening was done via braided quarter inch stock cable, which not only has zero channel balance issues but also sounded noticeably better in clarity.
3. Sonic-wise it’s still Audeze. Had a lot of similarities with its siblings -- specifically LCD 2 classic. When I had LCD2C in the house, I was consistently bothered by its nasal and tint-ish midrange. LCD-GX still has this problem but it’s meaningfully improved. GX also has a bit better top end extension and airiness. Downside is that LCD2C had a tad tighter and punchier bass. GX is no slouch though.
4. Compared to the LCD-3 loaner I tested recently (a while ago), LCD-GX loses smooth and coherent mid-high connection, but has better upper treble response -- LCD-3 sounded grainier and rougher by comparison.
5. Overall, it’s not bad at all. At least much better than I expected when they were first announced. For those who like Audeze house sound, LCD-GX could be viewed as LCD2 Classic v2. I am not sure if $900 is a proper pricing for current headphone market situation though. My preference of this price range is Aurorus Borelias ($1,000) or I’d rather take Verum 1 ($350) and save money for later.

EARS measurements
(measured at 94db @ 300hz)


Fig 1. Left and right channels (SBAF-compensated)


Fig 2. Distortions


Fig 3. Step response


Fig 4. Waterfall plot

 

Comparative graphs


Fig 5. LCD family


Fig 6. LCD-GX vs Verum 1


Fig 7. LCD-GX vs Borelias

 

Forgot attaching pic


Fig 8. Audeze LCD-GX with its braided stock cable

 

May warrant pointing out before CSDs that the EARS rig really isn't suited for them and as such there'll be inevitable ridges (esp. around 4.5kHz) that's not so much the headphones themselves as much as the cruddy fake pinnae.

I'm really close to just completely removing one of the ears and modifying the other to a flat foam plate for impulse, CSD, distortion, etc. Can have one "EAR" for flat=neutral compensated measurements then just do both channels on the flat plate side to test channel balance.

P.S.
Requesting distortion in dB please? Just cuz I'm kinda used to it now )

 

Agreed. Good point. Cylindrical canal has something to do with many abnormal EAR results around 4.5k -- mostly distortion and time-domain decay. I am not a fan of flat couplers though -- human ears affect linear responses then (by extension) they may change non-linear responses too. Maybe something like 'blocked ear measurements' could get more reasonable results.. but it seems to take lots of effort to get mods right.

And here are distortions in absolute scales!


Traditional presentation (harmonics plotted at the fundamental)


Alternative presentation (harmonics plotted at the excitation)