Audeze LCD-X 2021​ Audeze LCD-X is the best-selling Audeze headphone ever since its release in 2013. I quickly forgot about them until I took them off and then felt the pressure the pads were putting on my face.

This isnt a downgrade of the LCD-X itself, which still comes with a premium braided quater inch cable, but the flightcase and balanced cable are now not included as standard, but of course can be bought separately if required. The vast majority of studio headphones are, in effect, miniature loudspeakers, constructed in the same way as moving-coil dynamic microphone capsules — often, in fact, on the same machines. Also, it isn’t as prone to create hot spots on the top of your head after wearing them for a while, and since it is still a heavy headphone at 612g, it’s a very important aspect of the design. The LCD-X features a newly-developed and processed transducer made of a thinner and lighter alternative material.Yeah I’ve only heard 2 soundstages from headphones: center-of-my-head (HD650) and horseshoe shaped with vocals on my forehead. Personally, after getting my pair custom EQ'd by Sonar Works around five years ago, I never felt they gave me anything to be unhappy about.

edit: artists that sound fantastic on the LCD-X: Tool, Neurosis, Cult of luna, Mogwai, Explosions in the sky, Sigur Ros, Noorvik, Mono, Leech, Khuda, Isis, Ef, Esbjörns trio, Gaspacho, Grails, Norah Jones, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Tonbruket. Now if Audeze somehow manage to reduce LCD-X's weight by a couple of 100 grams, it will be a big time win for them! It not only makes you aware of every little nuance in the song since everything is so well separated, spaced out and cleanly presented but also makes for a very interesting and exciting listen since the signature is very musical. Audeze’s decision to pursue an alternative headphone technology has yielded rich rewards, especially in their flagship LCD-Xs.Place it on your head, and the combination of plush leather pads and the new-car aroma will transport you inside of a Bentley faster than you can say ‘ Focal Radiance’. They both have equally good detail retrieval but HD800S has stronger, more forward instrument definition. Audeze has always been known for its pretty accurate, yet rather intimate staging capabilities, and it’s no different with the X 2021.

Besides "don't EQ sharp dips in the treble", I don't see what it can tell us or how it correlates to sound quality.The X is sensitive enough to be driven directly by portable players like iPods, iPhones, and the better smartphones but an external amplifier produces better results.