In this article we look at the high-end Audeze LCD-5s planar headphone. It is selling for $4,500 USD.
Disclaimer: The Audeze LCD-5s was sent to us by Audeze directly, in exchange for our honest review. Audeze is not related to Headfonia in any way.
Audeze
If you’ve been following the personal audio world for the last 10+ years, then the name Audeze will ring many bells. The California based company completely changed and upped the headphone game to new levels. Bio from the Audeze site:
Audeze’s origins go back to 2008 when founders Sankar Thiagasamudram and Alexander Rosson met engineer Pete Uka who developed specialized flexible circuit materials for NASA.
They quickly realized the material might be perfect for headphones. And the rest is history.
Since then, Audeze has launched many successful audiophile headphones, IEMs and gaming headphones. We’ve reviewed almost all of the Audeze products here on Headfonia, the latest ones being the MM-500, Maxwell 2, LCD-S20 and the CRBN2
If you’re not familiar with Audeze’s LCD and other headphones, then I strongly suggest to read up on them first. Especially the LCD-5.
Audeze LCD-5 Review
In this review we’re checking out the full-sized circumaural open-back Audeze LCD-5s, let’s get started.
Audeze LCD-5s
The Audeze LCD-5s is the second version of the award winning LCD-5 Planar Magnetic headphone, and it’s Audeze’s flagship planar headphone in the Audiophile line-up.
In this latest version, Audeze incorporated their latest technical advancements: A new driver design combined with SLAM technology. According to Audeze this results in mastering-grade precision even better than the original LCD-5, with a more natural, lifelike frequency response.
An important new feature also are the redesigned earpads, precisely sculpted to ensure long-term comfort and improved seal. More on that later.
Here are some of the unique LCD-5s features:
SLAM technology
SLAM stands for Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator and it basically is a tuning to enhance bass frequencies and deliver lower distortion. The SLAM tech maintains optimal pressure distribution on the diaphragm and this tech is patent pending.
SLAM gives the LCD-5s the powerful and life-like physical bass of with natural detail presentation and immersive stereo imaging.
New Driver Design
To present listeners the most natural frequency response, the latest LCD-5s uses a new driver design featuring Audeze’s thinnest, most responsive materials. The nano-scale Parallel Uniforce diaphragm connects to a revised chassis structure, allowing the most precise midrange tuning possible. The driver still is a Neodymium N50 90 mm one, featuring Audeze’s Fazor phase management to control how the wavefront behaves as it leaves the driver.
You can find out all about the Audeze LCD-5s on its dedicated web page here.
Price, Box & Accessories
The Audeze LCD-5s planar magnetic headphones because of the technology and materials used don’t come cheap and the LCD-5s is selling for $4,500 USD and even €5.499 Euro.
Inside the beautiful aluminium travel case, you will find the LCD-5s Headphone, a certificate of authenticity, a set of gloves and the usual user guide and warranty Card.
The LCD-5s comes supplied with Audeze’s 4-pin XLR premium balanced cable, as well as an easy 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm TRS adapter.
The LCD-5s uses Audeze’s most premium cable, specially tuned with directional OCC high-purity copper strands, to provide a low capacitance, low resistance signal path, maintaining unsurpassed sonic precision and accuracy.
It’s a nice and luxurious package, as you expect for a headphone of this level. You can buy the LCD-5s directly from Audeze or via your preferred dealer.
Design, Build Quality
I really like the look and feel of the LCD-5s. The gorgeous and typical Audeze grill, the carbon headband and the ear cup design make it a stunning headphone.
The copper accents on the headband system, ear cups and the grill look stunning. The carbon headband is one of the nicest I have seen, and I just love the fine details such as the grill design and the rod finishing (see pictures).
The pictures don’t do the ear cup and headphone design justice though, it looks so much better in real.
Not only does the LCD-5s look good, it’s also very well built with luxurious and nice looking materials such as carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine leather, and polished polymer acetate.
Each LCD-5s is hand-assembled and tested in California.
Fit, Comfort and Isolation
To me the Audeze LCD-5s is small in size compared to some of the competition, but even if Audeze work on the weight, it still comes in at 475g.
While I feel Audeze did an excellent job in making the LCD-5s a very comfortable headphone, the weight for some could still be an issue. To me, the LCD-5s headband and pads work flawlessly in distributing the weight over your head, and getting the side pressure just right.
I can use and listen to the LCD-5s for hours without any discomfort, and the new earpad geometry certainly helps with that. From Audeze:
The smoothly flowing, curved forms of LCD-5s’ new earpads are crafted to provide effortless comfort for hours of listening. This design also minimizes audible reflections to elevate sonic accuracy
The upgraded and redesigned earpads improve the long-term comfort, with better contact surfaces and fewer seams. Going back to the original LCD-5 pads is rather difficult if you’ve been listening to the LCD-5s, the new pads surely are a win in this latest development.
Sound Impressions
Sound – Intro
This is the section in which we check how the companies describe the sound of their own units. For The Audeze LCD-5s we find the following:
Mastering grade accuracy meets natural, lifelike listenability. Refinement, precision, luxury. The pinnacle of planar technology.
The new LCD-5s rewards listeners with a vast, immersive soundscape and palpably physical bass response.
Let’s dive in and see if we can relate to those descriptions.
Sound – General
I’ve listened to the LCD-5s with a series of desktop amplifiers, in combination with the EF1000DAC and Musician Aquarius. The LCD-5 was always connected in balanced mode.
Before going to our subjective description, let’s first look how the new LCD-5s sounds like on paper. Isn’t that a weird thing to say?
As you can clearly see the LCD-5s now has a slight bass boost but nothing to huge and up to 1K, the presentation is actually balanced and linear. Starting from 1k we see the popular peaks and drops, but again here there’s nothing worrying or wrong with the measurement.
After listening to the LCD-5s for a good couple of months, it’s easy to say that the newest flagship has a warmer and smoother tonality. It’s easier to listen to as it is softer to the ear, both literally and figuratively.
The LCD-5s at all time has good weight and body, and it’s equally present from top to bottom, it’s very well balanced, coherent and natural in this regard. The vocal presentation here is softer and more blending in, where it was standing out more in the original.
The bass presentation of the original flagship was leaner, and more in your face. Note it’s still powerful, but better spread out, resulting is a less contrasty signature in combination with the new treble softness.
From a technical level, the LCD-5s still performs well, and at a high level as we expect of a reference headphone at this price point. The only downside here – if I may call it that – is the width of the sound stage, and the more intimate presentation, especially when compared to other planar flagships.
While the LCD-5s is still dynamic in presentation, it’s now more balanced and softer in it’s presentation. It’s a more natural but less contrasty presentation, with vocals that blend in better, in a natural way. The treble section is precise but safely tuned and soft on the ear. I didn’t manage to make the top end sound shouty or sibilant in any way.
All-in-all the latest Audeze LCD-5s flagship is a well-performing, easy to listen to planar flagship, with a natural and soft tonality. Musically and technically strong with a safe tuning. Never offending and looking to push contrasts.
The Audeze LCD-5s review continues on the second page. Click here or use the jumps below to keep reading.
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