"I heard about the Audeze LCD-X from my son’s teacher at Berklee School of Music. The guy swears by these for rigorous studio listening that’s practically as good as any high-end speaker system. I had a chance to try them out, and the depth of sound and overall transparency creates an almost three-dimensional listening experience. The giant, rather heavy earcups won’t make you many friends on the subway (if you ever return to the subway, they’ll probably think you’ve arrived from Planet Vlogosphere). But in the studio, the LCD-X helps isolate you from outside noise so you can focus on the minute details that demand your attention. The bass is what really distinguishes these, though the middle and high frequencies add warmth and a crisp snap, respectively. That translates to separation and richness unlike anything I’ve heard before with headphones. With an ordinary pair of buds or cans you might tap your foot and bounce your head. The second you slip on the LCD-X headphones, it’s impossible not to dance. As befits the, yes, $1,600 price tag, the unit comes with a padded traveling case worthy of 007 and earpads lined with memory foam and shrouded in rich leather."
"It is pretty clear that we enjoyed these headphones. For an entry-level pair of headphones covering audiophile listening and planar magnetics, these really hit the nail on the head. The price point is well fit and their range is fantastic. They compete well with brands of similar reputation and price. Best driver by a propper headphone tube or DAC amplifier, we fell in love with these. Again, everything we mention, score, and all are all based upon price point and performance. Sure, we have heard better. However, better usually means a lot more when it comes to price. These make for one of our planar favorites within the $300-$500 range."
"The Audeze LCD-4 is one of the flagship models from Audeze. The LCD-4 incorporates extensive research, performance advancements, and high-quality workmanship that clearly place it above other planar magnetic headphones in the market. The LCD-4 not only features a great invention and research, but it is by far one of the most thrilling headphones you can listen to. The only real downside of this headphone would be the price. At close to $4000, the LCD-4 is way outside most people’s budget."
"The LCD-1’s are a pair of open-back headphones, aimed at studio users, musicians, and audiophiles alike. They include an open circumaural design, which is meant to provide an enhanced transparency and sound stage. Each can includes a 90mm over-ear Planar driver, with something Audeze are calling Ultra-thin Uniforce Diaphragms and Fluxor Magnets.'
"The Audeze LCD-1 headphones are priced at $399. That’s not inexpensive, but it’s also far from the high end of the range—Apple’s Beats Pro over-ear headphones will set you back just as much. So the LCD-1s bring planar technology down to the level where music lovers other than deep-pocketed audiophiles can afford them."
"As someone who still has old 1970s classic hi-fi equipment sitting next to my consoles and TV, it is only expected to hear I love a good pair of open-backed headphones. I love the audio landscape they offer and enjoy how they sound as I dive into a complex piece of music, but it is not something you can easily find in home headphones despite the audio you get from that design. This is where the Audeze LCD-1 comes into play. These open-back portable headphones strike a refreshing balance between studio and home quality, and are an easy pair to recommend to anyone looking to up their audio listening game."
"There’s nothing better than a pair of open-backed headphones—so long as you aren’t worried about noise isolation or noise bleed. The Audeze LCD-1 are some of the most reasonably priced open-backed headphones available today, and provide a crisp and clean sound that’s comparable to freestanding speakers"
We sit down with Chris Berens, Audeze's head of customer support and artist relations, as he takes us through the LCD Reference line of headphones. The LCD Reference line features our most neutral drivers, so you can edit, mix, record and produce in confidence anywhere in the world, from studios to bedrooms to volcanoes...
"There is something quite admirable about Audeze’s almost complete refusal to compromise. From the outset, the company has targeted both the professional market and the higher-end domestic consumer – and by using an alluring combination of planar magnetic technology, lavish materials and an unmistakable aesthetic, it has established a product range that’s been rapturously received. This is an extremely light headphone, coming in at around 250g. It’s also quite small, reminding me somewhat of their earlier Sine on-ear headphones – but of course the Audeze LCD-1 is thankfully still an over-ear headphone. The ear cups also fold upwards to help with portability."
"The look is sleek and understated. The pair I received is matte black with subtle gray accents. Branding is kept to a minimum with an “A” on either side and “Audeze” across the top of the headband. The company name is off-center which bothers me from a looks perspective, but the design is exactly what I want. I don’t like neon, loud colors in my AV equipment, although there are models with copper or blue accents for those who find the stealth look too tame."
"Audeze may not be a name that many folks recognize in gaming hardware circles, certainly not as common as SteelSeries or Razer. But Audeze has been around for a number of years producing high end planar magnetic driver headsets for audiophiles and now they are dipping into the gaming market with some pretty slick features just for gaming immersion. Enter the Audeze Mobius."
"My search for the perfect headphones has been long. It’s taken me through several manufacturers, slowly turning my office into an audio graveyard. There have been more than a few brushes with excellence. However, the Audeze LCD-1 is the closest I’ve come to finding the ideal solution for my audio editing and music needs."
We are honored to be the recipients of the Golden Hardware Award from mmorpg.com. Earning a nearly perfect score of 9/10, the LCD-1 has proven itself to be just as outstanding for gaming as it is for audiophile listening, and professional work. Find a link to the full review on our blog!
"Planar magnetic headphones use a different type of driver to 99% of headphones (these are the only ones here of the type). Instead of magnets driving a large cone to shift air and create sound, here a thin flat film is moved instead. The result is more precise sound than almost any other headphones can manage, with ultra-low distortion – meaning less of the very finest edges of the sound get sanded away. At the same time, they can drive a more impactful soundstage, where robust bass doesn’t overwhelm the mids or trebles."
Over the last few months, I’ve been playing video games on my PS4 and Nintendo Switch using Audeze’s Mobius Headphones. They’ve also been part of my music listening regiment when I want to have a more intimate experience. While the last few years I’ve been mostly on budget headphones for gaming and and using Air Pods with my iPhone and iPad, it was extremely cool to dive into a more immersive listening experience with a high-end set of headphones.
When Planar Magnetic headphones first hit the scene, there were three significant barriers to entry. First was the size. Most were big and bulky, and some couldn’t handle the weight wearing them for long periods. Audeze is a U.S. based manufacturer (California to be exact) that does one thing. They make impressive Planar Magnetic headphones. Most of their models are of the big, power-hungry, expensive variety, but they have also come up with smaller, more portable designs like the SINE on-ear and the iSINE in-ear. The SINE (now discontinued) was their first portable planar magnetic headphone. It was designed to take the spacious and detailed sound Audeze is known for on the road, but it got mixed reviews due to comfort and tuning. Regardless, it was still a massive shift in PM headphone design and had plenty of potential. First of all, comfort is no problem with the LCD-1. Unlike the SINE, it’s an over-ear model, so the pads go around the ear instead of resting directly on them. The pads and headband are also heavily cushioned, and the clamp is just about perfectly judged, even for a big head like mine. They are snug but without undue pressure on the head.
The LCD-1 sound better, with anything, anywhere. I tested them using Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and a record player. I used them as reference headphones when recording. I even kept them plugged in when playing video games like Grand Theft Auto Online (91.1 The Lowdown, the soul station narrated by Pam Grier, is the only choice for any self-respecting criminal, and it sounded better than ever).
“All these gamers who are serious about becoming competitive [and] having a competitive advantage are going to invest in better tech,” Jake Fyfe said, “because it’s an arms race when you’re trying to be the best. And headphones can give you an edge. From my conversations the standout headphone currently is Audeze’s Mobius headset. “They are the best headphones that I’ve used for gaming – ever,” OG Arabian Prince told me. It is also among the most expensive of headsets. At the same time, Audeze being a very high end headphone company where headphones can retail in the multi-thousands, the Mobius is one of their least expensive and best-priced items."
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