Audeze
LCD-5 Headphones
$3,999.00 USDPay Over Time
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Features
1/3 less weight than the LCD-4!
New sculpted earpad design improves upper midrange response
Improved structural design incorporating magnesium, acetate and carbon-fiber
Each LCD-5 comes with a balanced 4-pin XLR cable with single-ended adapter.
Video
What's in the Box?
Warranty
The Audeze LCD-5 represents the pinnacle of hi-fi planar magnetic headphone technology, building upon a decade of innovation and excellence in the LCD series. As the latest flagship model, the LCD-5 pushes the boundaries of audio performance with a host of groundbreaking improvements. Featuring a newly developed planar driver and magnet structure, these headphones boast an extended frequency response that captures every nuance of your music. The redesigned sculpted leather earpads enhance upper midrange clarity, while the innovative structural design incorporates magnesium, acetate, and carbon fiber for optimal strength and reduced weight. Each LCD-5 comes equipped with a premium balanced 4-pin XLR cable and a single-ended adapter, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of high-end audio systems. Building on the legacy of its predecessors - the LCD-2, LCD-3, and LCD-4 - the LCD-5 sets a new benchmark in both sonic performance and comfort, reaffirming Audeze's position at the forefront of high-fidelity audio technology. We recommend pairing your LCD-5 with a DAC and a headphone amplifier (amp) for the best headphone performance.
Dragon Cable Recommendation: We recommend pairing the Audeze LCD-5 Headphone with the Silver Dragon Premium Cable for Audeze Headphones. The Silver Dragon will give a big boost in instrument separation and detail. You'll get added clarity with some top-end sizzle. We often recommend a Black Dragon Premium cable if you want more warmth and musicality in your presentation. However, if you really enjoy critical listening, or your audio system leans warm or dark, then the Silver Dragon will be a good choice. It's a great cable for classical, jazz, and other genres with nuanced instrumentation, especially for open-back headphones.
Transparency, Resolution, and Speed
The LCD-5 establishes a groundbreaking standard in audio accuracy. Engineered with award-winning Fluxor magnets and updated Fazor waveguides, alongside the innovative Patent-pending Parallel Uniforce™ voice coils, this headphone represents a leap forward in technology. These voice coils feature parallel traces of varying widths, meticulously designed to maintain low impedance and enhance voltage headroom by optimizing current density across each trace. This uniform force distribution minimizes distortion and offers precise control over diaphragm movement, significantly enhancing sonic resolution and fidelity. The LCD-5 delivers unparalleled audio clarity and detail, making it an exceptional choice for discerning audiophiles and professionals alike.
Clarity and Imaging
Audeze has meticulously refined every detail of the LCD-5's acoustic chamber to achieve unparalleled pinpoint imaging and an exceptionally clean, clear soundstage. The newly sculpted earpads and acoustically transparent mesh are purposefully crafted to minimize unwanted reflections and resonance, ensuring pristine audio reproduction. At the heart of its design, the Parallel Uniforce™ voice coil technology enables increased spacing between magnets, enhancing frequency response and creating a more expansive, open soundstage.
Moreover, the LCD-5 incorporates newly designed low-profile Fazor waveguides, which play a crucial role in further reducing diffractions and minimizing interactions with the ear. This refinement results in improved coherence across the entire frequency spectrum, allowing for greater detail retrieval and a more natural presentation of music. The LCD-5 represents a pinnacle in headphone engineering, offering audiophiles and professionals alike an unparalleled listening experience characterized by exceptional imaging and a transparent, immersive soundstage.
Elegant Comfortable Design
The LCD-5 headphone, weighing just 420 grams, ensures extended listening comfort without compromise. Audeze has meticulously re-engineered every component, incorporating lightweight yet robust materials like magnesium, aluminum, and acetate. These materials not only contribute to the headphone's featherlight feel but also enhance structural rigidity for optimal performance.
Each pair of LCD-5 headphones envelops your head and ears in the finest materials available. Luxurious premium leather and carbon fiber come together seamlessly, showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. Hand-assembled in Audeze's California workshop, the LCD-5 embodies precision engineering and artisanal care, ensuring a luxurious and immersive listening experience that meets the highest standards of comfort and quality.
Sculpted Earpads
The redesigned, internally sloped earpad architecture of the LCD-5 is engineered to minimize unwanted resonances and internal reflections, enhancing overall audio clarity. Its ergonomic design is meticulously crafted to cradle your cranium naturally, ensuring the headphones are positioned optimally for an immersive listening experience.
These sculpted earpads are designed with a reduced contact surface area compared to standard designs. This thoughtful approach not only reduces fatigue during extended listening sessions but also ensures a superior seal that accommodates various head shapes and sizes. The result is enhanced comfort and isolation, allowing listeners to enjoy rich, detailed sound without distraction.
Features:
- New planar driver and magnet structure extends frequency response
- New sculpted earpad design improves upper midrange response
- Improved structural design incorporating magnesium, acetate and carbon-fiber
- Each LCD-5 comes with a balanced 4-pin XLR cable with single-ended adapter.
What's in the Box?
- LCD-5 Headphone
- Premium Braided 2.5m Cable 4-Pin XLR Balanced cable
- 4-Pin XLR to 1/4" adapter
- Aluminum Travel Case
- Certificate of Authenticity and Warranty Cards
FAQ
How does the LCD-5 compare to previous Audeze models?
The LCD-5 is generally considered to be more neutral and accurate, with improved detail retrieval and a lighter, more comfortable design compared to previous models.
What is the impedance and sensitivity of the LCD-5?
The LCD-5 has an impedance of 14 ohms and a sensitivity of 90dB/1mW, making it relatively easy to drive.
Does the LCD-5 require a powerful amplifier?
While it can be driven by most sources due to its low impedance, the LCD-5 benefits from a high-quality amplifier to reach its full potential.
How is the comfort level of the LCD-5?
The LCD-5 is significantly lighter than previous Audeze models, weighing about 420g, which improves comfort for longer listening sessions.
What type of sound signature does the LCD-5 have?
The LCD-5 is known for its neutral, highly detailed sound with excellent bass response and extended treble.
Is the LCD-5 suitable for all music genres?
Yes, its neutral and accurate sound signature makes it versatile for all types of music.
How does the LCD-5 handle bass?
The LCD-5 is praised for its tight, accurate, and well-extended bass response.
What accessories come with the LCD-5?
The headphone comes with a premium carrying case, a high-quality cable, and a certificate of authenticity.
How does the LCD-5 compare to other high-end headphones in its price range?
The LCD-5 is often considered one of the best in its class, competing with top-tier headphones from brands like Focal, Hifiman, and Meze.
Audeze LCD-5S Headphones Review: The Flagship with Bass that Hits Back
Read Time: Approx. 12 min.
TL;DR:
- The LCD-5S corrects the original LCD-5's overly bright, analytical tuning by adding warmth, bass authority, and midrange body without sacrificing technical precision.
- Audeze's new SLAM technology is the star of the show — it delivers 6dB+ of bass enhancement while simultaneously reducing distortion and opening up the soundstage.
- Build quality is flagship-tier with carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine leather, and a premium OCC copper cable included out of the box.
- This is a much more versatile headphone than the original, covering more genres and suiting a wider range of listeners.
- It needs real amplification (500mW+ recommended, pair it with a quality amp and DAC), but if you feed it properly, the LCD-5S rewards you with one of the most immersive, full-bodied planar magnetic presentations available.
The LCD-5's Warmer, Wiser Sibling with More Body and Less Bite
Some headphones are beautiful but only sound OK. Other headphones sound phenomenal, but their styling leaves something to be desired. And then there are the headphones that score high in both departments–unique aesthetics with exceptional sonic fidelity. Audeze has mastered the art of both, with its renowned LCD line catering to listeners seeking the pinnacle of high-end planar magnetic headphones. Their longstanding flagship, the Audeze LCD-5 Headphones, were the company's cream of the crop open-back headphone for many years, and its latest iteration, the LCD-5S, expands on that success as the new flagship audiophile-grade headphone.
The LCD-5 was regarded for its transparent, resolute, borderline analytical sound. A tonality that catered to a select group of critical listeners, but left a lot of music lovers out in the cold. The Audeze LCD-5S Open-Back Headphones are Audeze's answer to the question that's been hanging in the air ever since: What if we kept the precision but brought back the soul?
The short answer: they pulled it off.
PROS
- SLAM technology delivers visceral, extended bass response
- Warmer, more musical tuning than OG LCD-5
- Improved comfort for long listening sessions
CONS
- Heavier than the LCD-5
- Analytical listeners who loved the LCD-5 may find it too warm or forgiving
Design
The LCD-5S looks unmistakably like an Audeze Headphone–large, round ear cups, carbon fiber and magnesium construction, that one-of-a-kind grille. If you placed this pair of headphones in a lineup of popular flagship headphones from brands like Focal, Meze, or HiFiMan, chances are you could spot it based on those traits alone. With each new headphone release, Audeze has maintained its strong brand identity while adding subtle design cues that make each model different from the next.
What makes the LCD-5S stand out? The tasteful copper accents for starters. It pays homage to the LCD-5's tortoise shell finish, but takes it to a new level with vivid copper detailing on the ear cups, tension rods, and lining inside the grille. This isn't the first time we've seen Audeze add color to its grille design, most notably done in the LCD-GX, but the design to use copper adds this je ne sais quoi factor to it that pulls you in immediately. At 475g, it's slightly heavier than the LCD-5, but the weight distribution is well-managed thanks to the genuine leather headband and suspension system.
Audeze has redesigned the earpads here with a new sculpted geometry that improves both the seal against your head and long-term comfort. Included with the LCD-5S is a 4-pin XLR balanced cable, a 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm TRS adapter, and an aluminum travel case. The cable deserves a special mention because it has been upgraded too: directional OCC high-purity copper strands terminated in a 4-pin XLR balanced connector. It's a low-capacitance, low-resistance design that maintains sonic precision and accuracy. For those running a single-ended setup, the included 6.3mm adapter ensures compatibility with a wider range of headphone amplifiers.
Sound
Now this is where the LCD-5S makes its case as the new flagship, rightfully taking the place of the LCD-5. The original LCD-5 was a precision instrument: ruthlessly detailed, bright in the treble and upper frequencies, and lean throughout the midrange. It was a headphone that excelled at dissecting recordings but could make long listening sessions fatiguing. The LCD-5S brings musicality and depth into the mix without sacrificing the technical feats that made the original special. To get the most out of them, pair the LCD-5S with a capable amplifier and DAC — desktop units from brands like iFi deliver excellent results, and any dedicated headphone amp pushing 500mW or more into the right impedance will let the planar drivers sing.
But the biggest improvement that has audiophiles losing their marbles and scrambling to own a pair is bass response. And not just any bass response, but a visceral, physical bass response and sub-bass response that makes you step back and question how this could be achieved in an open-back design. We've historically associated bass response with closed-back headphones like the Audeze LCD-XC. When an open-back headphone claimed to have a bass response, it was deduced to something quick and snappy. So when an open-back pair replicates the bass response of a closed-back pair of headphones, you take a step back and wonder how it was achieved.
Audeze went to the drawing board here and developed a breakthrough technology, SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator), that delivers more lifelike bass and detail retrieval. I'll get into the technical specifics of SLAM in the features section below, so keep reading. There's real weight and extension here–Audeze claims 6dB or more of bass enhancement–and it doesn't come at the cost of control or clarity. The bass hits with authority but stays tight and articulate when it needs to be.
The midrange has more body and warmth as well. Vocals and instruments sound fuller, more fleshed out, with a natural timbre that the original LCD-5 sometimes struggled to convey. The upper midrange is smooth and free of harshness. A revised driver chassis with Audeze’s Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce Diaphragm contributes to this precise midrange tuning. The LCD-5S isn't as bright as the OG LCD-5 was, which was a sore spot for many listeners. If the LCD-5 was too bright and analytical for your tastes, the 5S will feel like a revelation.
Now, don't get me wrong, the LCD-5S still has the hallmarks of the LCD-5. It's still detailed, natural, and resolute, but it's less clinical-sounding. And I use the word clinical very lightly because it can be easily mistaken for harsh-sounding, and that's not the case with the LCD-5. It was the perfect headphone for that detail-oriented, analytical listener. But it missed the mark for listeners like me who enjoy a slightly warmer, more dynamic, lifelike tonality. If you’ve followed the evolution of the LCD series–from the LCD-2’s lush warmth, to the LCD-3s refinement, and the LCD-5’s surgical precision– the LCD-5S feels like the culmination of lessons learned across every generation. There's a place for analytical-leaning headphones in my collection, depending on what songs I'm listening to or the mood I'm in, but the LCD-5S is a crowd pleaser. It complements more genres than the LCD-5.
Same Person, Old Mistakes
By Tame Impala
(Currents)
E85
By Don Toliver
(Octane)
August
By Taylor Swift
(Folklore)
I've Been In Love
By Jungle
(Volcano)
Features & Technology
- Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce diaphragm for the most responsive, natural frequency response
- SLAM technology provides powerful bass extension and a strikingly open soundstage
- Revised driver chassis enables the most precise midrange tuning possible
- New curved earpad geometry for hours of effortless comfort and minimal acoustic reflections
- Premium OCC high-purity copper cable with directional strands for unsurpassed signal accuracy
- Handcrafted luxury materials: carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine leather, and polished polymer acetate
- Fluxor magnet array with Fazor waveguides for pinpoint driver control
- 90mm planar magnetic transducers with Neodymium N50 magnets
- Frequency response from 5Hz to 50kHz for full-spectrum audio reproduction
- Lightweight 475g design despite flagship-level construction quality
SLAM: Breakthrough Technology for More Lifelike Bass and Detail
SLAM is worth understanding because it's doing more than just boosting bass. The fundamental challenge with a sealed ear cup is that air pressure between your ears and the driver diaphragm creates asymmetric forces–the driver faces more resistance pushing air toward your ear than pulling away. This introduces distortion, resonances, and compromises linearity.
Audeze's solution involves precisely engineered acoustic channels integrated into the ring connecting the ear pads to the planar drivers. Each channel's dimensions are carefully tuned to relieve pressure buildup and modulate the low-frequency response. The result is twofold: enhanced bass extension and a more linear, symmetric driver behavior that improves clarity and openness across the entire frequency range. It's clever engineering that solves multiple problems at once.
Dragon Cables
[Bronze Dragon Premium Headphone Cable]
There are a lot of reasons why you need to make sure your audio cables are not afterthoughts.
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
If the original LCD-5 was a complete departure from Audeze's house sound, the LCD-5S Open-Back Headphone is the perfect middle ground. It's warmer and more forgiving than the original, making it a far more versatile high-end headphone that covers more genres and fits more listeners. But it hasn't gone soft–the technical foundation is still flagship-grade. It's the headphone you can listen to for hours on end without fatigue.
It has enough tonal warmth to make jazz vocals feel intimate, and the bass authority to bring weight and impact to electronic music and hip-hop. You don't have to choose between precision and pleasure. And for cable enthusiasts looking to further tailor the sound, our Bronze Dragon Premium Headphone Cable pairs well here, adding a touch more body in the low end and musicality. For analytical listeners who adored the original LCD-5's clinical precision, the LCD-5S might feel like a step in a different direction. But for everyone else—and that's us warm and musical listeners—this is Audeze's flagship at its best. The LCD-5S doesn't just update the LCD-5. It completes it.
Featured Products
Related Videos
Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Unboxing
Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Review & LCD-4 Comparison
Best Headphone Cables for Audeze Headphones
What's in the Box
- Audeze LCD-5S Headphones
- 4-pin XLR Premium Balanced Cable
- 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm TRS adapter
- Aluminum travel case
Specifications
PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Style: Over-ear (circumaural), open-back
Weight: 475g
Shipping Weight: 9 lbs.
Dimensions: 16 L x 14 H x 8 W in.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Transducer Type: Planar Magnetic
Transducer Size: 90mm
Magnetic Structure: Fluxor™ magnet array
Magnet Type: Neodymium N50
Phase Management: Fazor™
Acoustic Management: SLAM™
Diaphragm Type: Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce™
AUDIO SPECIFICATIONS
Frequency Response: 5Hz - 50kHz
Impedance: 30 ohms
Sensitivity: 90dB/1mW (@ Drum Reference Point)
Maximum SPL: >130dB
THD: <0.1% @ 100dB SPL
Minimum Power Requirement: >100mW
Recommended Power Level: >500mW
Maximum Power Handling: 5W RMS
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Physical Specifications | |
| Style | Over-ear, open-back |
| Transducer Size | 90 mm |
| Weight | 420g |
| Technical Specifications | |
| Transducer Type | Planar Magnetic |
| Magnet Type | Neodymium N50 |
| Magnetic Structure | Fluxor™ magnet array |
| Diaphragm | Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce™ |
| Audio Specifications | |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz |
| Maximum SPL | >130dB |
| THD | <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL |
| Impedance | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point) |
| Maximum Power Handling | 5W RMS |
| Minimum Recommended Power | >100mW |
| Optimal Power Requirement | >500mW |
- ADAnthony D.Verified BuyerRated 5 out of 5 stars4 years agoLove dealing with Moon/ lcd ok
Moon was great. For high end buyers they treat you right and know what they sell well. A little disappointed with the LCD-5’s they feel cheap to me and I don’t like the headband/ can holders