Welcome to the Audeze LCD-5 review. This is the last of the flagships I had the pleasure to have on hand, and it was a good one. Now, I don’t think I’d “daily drive” this headphone, the Susvara would hold that crown for me (at least if I could afford it), but the LCD-5 packs some incredible performance, and is a headphone that I could certainly see myself reaching for if I want to grab every last detail out of a track.
Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro / Unboxing
01:47 – Build / Comfort
05:00 – Ranking List Intro / Overall Sound
07:50 – Bass / Treble / Mids
10:38 – Space / Imaging / Dynamics
13:15 – Practicality / Listening Style
15:00 – Conclusions
Also, it was requested that I make a ranking list. I’ve done my best to do that here. It’s a work in progress. Stay tuned for the rest of the reviews!
Susvara Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7Y9W61ZKoU
Here’s a fun video of my dad and I talking about each of the headphones below: https://youtu.be/mTDW-botrxQ
I’m just going to go ahead and link to all the high end stuff I had on hand when I was testing these, just to give you some context.
Links to stuff mentioned in the video (some affiliate):
Hifiman He1000v2: https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-he1000v2-planar-magnetic-headphone?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
He1000v2 (amazon): https://amzn.to/3pjNaze
Hifiman HE6SEv2: adorama.rfvk.net/4eydoo
Hifiman Susvara: https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-susvara-planar-magnetic-headphone?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
Susvara (amazon): https://amzn.to/3BSDAIz
Audeze LCD5: https://apos.audio/products/audeze-lcd-5?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
LCD5 (amazon): https://amzn.to/3h9zGBo
Abyss Diana TC: https://abyss-headphones.com/collections/abyss-headphones/products/abyss-diana-tc?gclid=Cj0KCQiA09eQBhCxARIsAAYRiynayQ5cRMv63mp3m1GNFbgcnq4X7v4bANATXvmJZYp4ZwzRCXut6tcaAtMHEALw_wcB
Final Audio D8000pro: https://apos.audio/products/final-d8000-pro-edition?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
D8000pro (amazon): https://amzn.to/3pxpoQv
RAAL SR1a: https://www.headphones.com/products/raal-requisite-sr1a
RAAL HSA-1b: https://www.headphones.com/products/raal-requisite-sr1a?variant=32085158264903
Burson Soloist 3xp: adorama.rfvk.net/6bq7EG
Soekris 2541: https://soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-2541
A playlist of my favorite NPR Tiny Desk Concerts: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1Qn6zz1plQHGmCZp6nchbRkHtL8JBs7
Check this playlist for more open-back headphone reviews: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1Qn6zz1plRYbVQ12xukSYfH_c2CxSb5
Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: https://www.head-fi.org/
HifiGuides: https://forum.hifiguides.com/
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/AVexchange/
Hifi-shark: https://www.hifishark.com/
US AudioMart: https://www.usaudiomart.com/
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: https://koss.com/products/kph40-utility
Need these pads for the kph40 though: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002971087244.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.250c4c4dEHGLbT
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: https://amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Super Cheap Closed-Back Gaming: Recon 500: https://amzn.to/3numqem
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: https://amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: https://www.schiit.com/products/modi-1
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: https://www.schiit.com/products/magni-1
Entry Balanced DAC: SMSL SU8: (look used)
Or Modius: https://www.schiit.com/products/modius
My Main DAC: Soekris 2541: https://soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-2541
My Main Amp: Burson Soloist 3xp: https://amzn.to/3oCPd0K
Tube Amp: Bottlehead Crack: https://bottlehead.com/product/crack-1-1-otl-headphone-amplifier-kit/
Headphone #1: Hifiman He1000v2: https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-he1000v2-planar-magnetic-headphone?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
Headphone #2: Focal Elex w/ Dekoni Fenestrated Sheepskin: https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-focal-elex-headphones?utm_source=linkshare&referer=YBNMSR
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: https://amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Mojo: https://amzn.to/3CbYWQs
TWS: Sony XM4: https://amzn.to/3Glr7Py
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: https://hartaudiocables.com/
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: https://amzn.to/3vEdwxO
Recording Gear:
Canon M50: https://amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: https://amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Beyerdynamic Fox Mic: https://amzn.to/3hoQ01v
Canon M100 (overhead): https://amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): https://amzn.to/3dowiAO
#audeze #lcd5 #headphones
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