Audeze LCD-X Headphones Review: The Audio Professional's Choice
Read Time: Approx. 17 min.
TL;DR:
- The Audeze LCD-X is the company's long-standing "Audio Professional's Choice," used by producers like Manny Marroquin, engineers, and audiophiles alike.
- The LCD-X delivers robust, physical bass and energetic top-end sparkle rather than a neutral or laid-back tuning — great for genres that benefit from punch and excitement.
- The post-2020 LCD-X swapped the original textured steel headband for carbon fiber, along with driver/magnet updates that boosted sensitivity and lowered impedance.
- At 612g with a 106mm planar driver, the LCD-X is larger than some other Audeze models — comfortable for many, but worth considering for long sessions.
- More forward and bass-heavy than the neutral, detail-focused MM-500, and more energetic than the warmer, smoother LCD-2/LCD-3 pair.
A Studio Standard Among Audiophiles
If you're looking for a high-end headphone that's earned its reputation both in the studio and in the listening room, the Audeze LCD-X is hard to beat. It's long held the title of Audeze's "Audio Professional Choice," as a planar magnetic headphone built for critical listening, mixing, and mastering, but equally at home for anyone who just wants to hear their music the way it was meant to be heard.
The LCD-X has been trusted by mixing engineers and producers for years, including Grammy-winning producer Manny Marroquin, who used the LCD-X (along with the LCD-4 and LCD-5) throughout his career before collaborating with Audeze on his own signature headphone, the MM-500. That pedigree says a lot: this is a headphone built for people who need to hear every detail in a mix, and it holds up just as well for enthusiasts who want that same level of insight into their favorite recordings.
PROS
- Robust, full-bodied bass with real physical presence
- Powerful, forward overall presentation
- Proven track record in professional studio use
CONS
- Larger and heavier than some alternatives
- May be fatiguing for listeners sensitive to top-end energy
Design
Audeze has built a collection of open-back and closed-back headphones with a distinctive look. The LCD-X echoes that signature look, with dark gray housings that give it a serious, purpose-built aesthetic, but it hasn't always looked this way. The LCD-X was originally introduced to the headphone industry in 2013, but over the years, several small production changes occurred that led Audeze to re-release a revised version in late 2020 dubbed the LCD-X 2021. The update changed the driver and magnet structure, increased sensitivity, revised the pads and headband, and reduced the impedance. Pre-2020 units feature a textured steel headband, while the post-2020 version swaps this for a carbon fiber headband–a change that shaves some weight and updates the feel of the headphone without changing its core identity.
At 612g, the LCD-X is on the larger and heavier side compared to some of Audeze's other headphones. It's a substantial piece of gear, and that heft is part of what gives it such a big, room-filling sound. Many may find the size and fit of the LCD-X especially comfortable, though the weight is worth keeping in mind if you plan on long listening or mixing sessions. The ear cups are generously sized, wrapped in premium materials that hold up well to extended wear, and the overall build quality feels robust and ready for the rigors of daily studio use.
Sound
The LCD-X is known for a forward, energetic sound signature with robust bass and real sparkle up top. It's a headphone that doesn't hold back: the low-end has genuine physical weight and impact, and the top-end has plenty of air and sizzle.
The LCD-X uses a 108mm planar magnetic driver, larger than the driver found in some of Audeze's other headphones, contributing to its bigger, more powerful overall presentation. With an impedance of 20 ohms and sensitivity of 103dB, the LCD-X is efficient enough to drive with a variety of sources, though as with all planar magnetic headphones, a dedicated headphone amplifier or highly capable DAC/Amp combo will unlock its full potential.
Listening to Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," the LCD-X delivers real physical bass–the kind of low-end weight you can feel as much as hear, giving the track a visceral, engaging quality. On Jethro Tull's "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day," the LCD-X brings extra zing to the bells and flute, with a powerful and energetic overall presentation that draws you into the performance.
Sound Summary: Forward, powerful, energetic, with robust bass and top-end sparkle
Billie Jean
By Michael Jackson
(Thriller)
Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day
By Jethro Tull
(Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day)
Willow
By Taylor Swift
(Evermore)
Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy
By Elton John
(Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy)
Comparisons
Comparison to the LCD-2 and LCD-3
The LCD-3 is one of the warmest headphones in Audeze's lineup, with a huge bottom end and a smooth, musical presentation that includes some top-end roll-off. It's a great match for bass-heavy genres like EDM as well as jazz and classical for listeners who prefer a smoother sound. The LCD-2 offers a similar house sound but isn't quite as resolving as the LCD-3. Both headphones, with their generous bass and smoother top-end, appeal to a different kind of listener than the LCD-X, which leans more forward and energetic overall.
Comparison to the M-500
Audeze's collaboration with producer Manny Marroquin resulted in the MM-500, a headphone designed specifically with mixing engineers in mind. Comparing the two side by side reveals just how distinct the LCD-X's sound signature really is. Where the LCD-X brings robust, physical bass and plenty of top-end sparkle, the MM-500 takes a more neutral, detail-focused approach, trading some of that low-end heft and energy for a bit more separation and nuance in busy passages.
On "Skating Away on the Thin Ice of a New Day," the LCD-X delivers more zing from the bells and flute, along with a more powerful, more energetic overall presentation than the MM-500. Where the LCD-X really shines is in that visceral, felt-in-the-body low-end. On "Billie Jean," the bass has a subtle physical vibration that gives real confirmation of the LCD-X's low-end heft, something the more neutral MM-500 doesn't quite replicate.
If detail retrieval and instrument separation are your top priority, the MM-500 has an edge there. But if you want a headphone with real low-end impact and an exciting, forward presentation, the LCD-X remains an excellent, proven choice.
Dragon Cables
[Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable, Blue Dragon Premium Headphone Cable]
The LCD-X already has plenty of bass and top-end energy on its own, so your cable choice can be used to fine-tune the presentation to your taste. For listeners who want to max out detail and top-end sparkle even further, the Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable is the clear winner. But for those who want to simply "clean up" the sound without altering the LCD-X's signature, consider the Blue Dragon Premium Headphone Cable.
Our HiFi Audio Dragon Cables bring out more of what you love in your music and audio gear. If you love your headphones but wish they had a bit more top-end sparkle, a Silver Dragon Headphone Cable would be a great option. If your USB cables keep dying - as many stock cables do - then check out our quality USB Audio Cables. We say time and time again that materials matter, and our audio cables and custom geometries actually help to bring out those desired properties in your gear and music. We make tons of custom options for our customers so that you can get the right HiFi Audio cable for your exact needs. If you have any questions feel free to Contact Us and we'll be more than happy to help.
Verdict
The Audeze LCD-X Open-Back Headphones have earned their reputation as "the audio professional's choice" for good reason. It's a headphone that doesn't compromise in any department: robust bass, energetic top end, and a forward, engaging presentation that brings excitement to any genre. Pros will appreciate the LCD-X's proven track record in the studio, while music lovers will enjoy how alive and dynamic it makes their favorite recordings sound.
If you love a headphone with real low-end punch and top-end sparkle, and you want something with a long-standing reputation among mixing engineers and audiophiles alike, the LCD-X is a fantastic choice. Add in one of our Dragon Audio Cables, like the Silver Dragon Premium Headphone Cable, for even greater performance. The Silver Dragon will max out detail and top-end sparkle even further. For listeners who might prioritize detail and neutrality over outright power, Audeze's more recent releases — like the MM-500 — offer a different take on the studio-monitor formula, but the LCD-X remains a benchmark in its own right.
Featured Products
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Audeze MM-500 Headphones Unboxing & Overview
Audeze MM-500 Headphones Review & Comparison
Best Headphone Cables for Audeze Headphones
What's in the Box
- LCD-X Headphones
- Headphone Cable
- Travel Case
- Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty Cards
Specifications
- Style: Over-ear, open-back
- Weight: 612g
- Transducer Type: Planar Magnetic
- Transducer Size: 106 mm
- Magnet Type: Neodymium N50
- Magnetic Structure: Proprietary magnet array
- Phase Management: Fazor
- Diaphragm Type: Ultra-Thin Uniforce
- Cable: 1.9m (6.2ft) length 4-pin XLR with single-ended 1/4" (6.3mm) adapter
- Wire Material: 20 AWG high-purity OCC audio-grade copper
- Frequency Response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Maximum SPL: >130 dB
- THD: <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL
- Sensitivity: 103 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
- Impedance: 20 ohms
- Maximum Power Handling: 5W RMS
- Minimum Recommended Power: >100 mW
- Recommended Power Level: >250 mW
