Audeze LCD2C Measurements and Impressions

Discussion in 'Headphone Measurements' started by purr1n, Dec 18, 2017.

  1. TheBarnard

    TheBarnard Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    64
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    South Florida
    This is pretty exciting stuff, and I definitely would love to test drive these on whatever tour comes up

    I'm also glad to hear the LCD-4 getting some respect. I've been praising it for a while, but its always been met with lukewarm criticism, especially from people who haven't heard it

    The things in the graph that I like, that are similar to prefazors, is the slight elevation around 1k with a gradual, linear descend. That hole around 3.5k is a little deep, but this changes on unit to unit variation, and I'm willing to bet the hole in the graph is on the deeper side. A 5-6k bump below the 1k point is also much more preferable to a 10k spike with a higher db than the 1k point as well.

    If there is no 10k peak to limit listening level, then a it of 4k hole isn't the end of the world. Unlike late 2016 fazor, where the quietness in that region could not be overcome due to the uncomfortable upper treble
     
    Last edited: Dec 19, 2017
  2. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,102
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Seoul, South Korea
    It's not Massdrop.

    Having recently acquired Liquid Glass and Code-X6 my wallet has taken a heavy toll, but the LCD-2C seems like it's too good of a deal to pass up at $599. Is LCD-2C complementary to LFF-modded HE-5/6? The HFM classics, when properly modded by the master and driven by LG, resolves the shit out of my recordings that I don't really miss the HD650/800. But you got me at Audezes having the potential to resolve better than the HFM classics.
     
  3. Serious

    Serious Inquisitive Frequency Response Plot

    Pyrate BWC MZR
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,594
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    near Munich, Germany
    These are V2 measurements, so already a lot less upper midrange than the old V1 measurements of other Audeze phones. The sharp dip is also an artifact looking at the CSDs. Not saying the dip doesn't exist, but there's no way it's -25db.

    The sad thing to me is that it seems Audeze have changed their tuning target somewhere along the way from smooth and dark to 'wonky FR with upper mid dip', or as Audeze likes to put it: "The characteristic dip between in the 4kHz-5kHz region is due to the earpad shape and prevents our LCD series from appearing bright." (link)

    Most LCD4s I've heard sounded more like this:
    Audeze LCD4 Tyll.jpg
    than this:
    Audeze LCD4 sn4142923 Katz 3rd Measurement.jpg
    (Well, the Katz LCD-4 was broken, but you get the idea)

    I just wish we could go back to this:
    Audeze LCD2 SN 5312123.jpg

    Also the LCD4 diaphragm seemed too light to me. When I heard it, it didn't seem to possess the same heft and power of the old Audezes. Honestly with such a dark FR I'd care more about dynamics and slam than ultimate resolution and clarity. But then I would never own an Audeze as my main headphone anyway.
    How does the LCD2C compare to the LCD4 in that regard? Similar heft as the old gen Audezes, or weaksauce light diaphragm sound? I bet it's somewhere in-between. Not quite as good as the old ones, but more consistent and snappy.

    (BTW: Yes, I made my own target for the IF curves. Yes, I have graphs for other phones, too. I was annoyed that somehow we still didn't have a new IF target, so I made my own)
     
  4. rott

    rott Secretly hates other millenials - Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,176
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Nation's Capital of failure
    I think @Koth Ganesh might have been referring to the secret amp @Marvey mentioned.
     
  5. songmic

    songmic Gear cycler East Asia edition

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 28, 2015
    Likes Received:
    2,102
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Seoul, South Korea
    Yeah I know, that’s what I meant.
     
  6. TMRaven

    TMRaven Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    621
    Trophy Points:
    93
    We're not talking TH-X00 levels of thunderous low bass here are we?
     
  7. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Not levels. More a matter of massive sustain and heft in the sub and low bass.

    From memory, seems just slightly lighter, but also faster. Not a huge difference. I'd really need to grab Craig's LCD2r2 to compare.
     
  8. Ringingears

    Ringingears Honorary BFF

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2015
    Likes Received:
    3,659
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Northern Californium Valley
    Do it man! My Christmas present is on the line here.
     
  9. Scubadude

    Scubadude Almost "Made"

    Joined:
    Jan 23, 2016
    Likes Received:
    332
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Pretoria, South Africa
    Thanks for the measurements and impressions Marv! Exactly what I expected ... I have a 2016-model (i.e. latest "silent revision" membrane) de-fazored pair. Compared to the LCD 2R2 pre-fazor I had (which was a lovely example of the breed) it is certainly faster, clearer, more focussed, more neutral ... and it is the one I decided to keep in the end.

    Which sort of underlines that the biggest improvement in the fazor model was the new membrane not the fancy wave guide. Wave guides are a bit like ground effect skits in Formula 1 ... at one point very trendy with everyone doing it ... now just an absurd relic from the past. Has anyone posted a how-to guide on removing fazor elements?

    Well-done, Audeze, on making real progress in this market segment! Unlike some others ...
     
  10. joch

    joch Friend

    Pyrate Contributor
    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,397
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    the other side of the big ocean
    This, the LCD-2C, and the re-released HE5...I'm feeling like it's 2010 again.
     
  11. starence

    starence Facebook Friend

    Contributor
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2016
    Likes Received:
    133
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    United States
    I was on the fence about these headphones, then I noticed this on Audeze's site and I knew I had to have them.

     
  12. gahan

    gahan New

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Spain
    @Marvey Can you explain more about Jot synergy with this LCD-2C?
     
  13. gLer

    gLer New

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Cape Town
    I second that, would love to know how these compare sonically to the latest (post July 2016) LCD-2F. Are they smoother, warmer, bassier, faster, slower? Are the differences big or small - enough to recommend the LCD-2C (or 2F) as an “upgrade” over the other?
     
  14. gLer

    gLer New

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2017
    Likes Received:
    22
    Trophy Points:
    3
    Location:
    Cape Town
    Also, since no-one on the “other” forum seems to own a kitchen scale, please can someone here weight the 2C and give us an official weight :)
     
  15. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,607
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NJ
    thanks @Marvey ....I caved....another one on the way.
     
  16. westermac

    westermac Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Aug 3, 2016
    Likes Received:
    2,245
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    Milly-wau-kay
    While we're discussing weight, I'm super excited to see the suspension headband making its way to a lower-priced model (sans carbon fiber of course). I've owned the LCD-X twice, the first time with the standard headband and I maybe kept it 2 weeks - the second time with the suspension headband and I kept it for at least a year; could wear it all day no problem.

    Speaking of which, @Marvey what is the headband bracket actually made of? Springy steel or some kind of plastic/nylon? Any impact on clamping pressure?
     
  17. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    I can't give you the full report yet since I haven't had a chance to reterminate to balanced. The Jot is quite a bit better (more refined, greater ease, more slam, etc.) from the balanced output. I will reterminate before sending it out on the loaner program next week.

    The usual caveats with close and flat soundstage will apply, but I don't think people with Audezes put soundstage on priority. Personally I don't give a crap about soundstage with headphones because it's like caring about quarter mile dragstrip times with FWD four bangers.

    But on similar amps, Jot, Magni 3, etc. I actually do prefer the LCD2C from solid state amps. I can't see the Jot's aggressiveness as an issue with the LCD2C - it's likely synergistic.
     
  18. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

    Staff Member Pyrate BWC
    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2015
    Likes Received:
    89,771
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Padre Island CC TX
    Don't blame me if you don't like it. You really have to like the Audeze sound first. Violin and cello strings do sound muted. Maroon 5 and Daft Punk are great on it though. I'm sure Psalm, et al. are having an aneurysm right now with the mild hype - he probably can't wait to get his hands for it for five seconds to make a sweeping announcement that guitars are all wrong on it.
     
    Last edited: Dec 20, 2017
  19. Cellist88

    Cellist88 Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Nov 11, 2015
    Likes Received:
    1,607
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Location:
    NJ
    Lol at the psalm reference. I don't blame anyone for purchase decisions Lol...sounds pretty petty. I actually don't like listening to cello and violin music...I hear it everyday irl so I don't see a need to try to find realism. I listen to more piano, jazz, and pop like the two artists you mentioned before. These seem to fit the bill. Looking for a warm, rich, hefty, creamy, fun experience compared to the andros. I doubt they'll sound better than my studio monitors, but its not like the asking price is ridiculous. If I don't like these I'll probably be aiming for the clears. ;) anyhow looking forward to more impressions from other senior members while I wait!
     
  20. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

    Pyrate
    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2015
    Likes Received:
    634
    Trophy Points:
    93
    Yeah, I can hear it now: "The guitar notes have been separated from their distortion. So effed up."
     

Share This Page