Audeze LCD-3
Clipdat
Posts: 9,299
My new headphones have arrived: Audeze LCD-3 in maple wood.
I was surprised, as I was expecting the standard zebrano wood, but I'll roll with it.
Tried to show the grain in the last photo. Gorgeous, huge, and fairly heavy (635g/1.4lb) headphones! But easily the most comfortable fitting pair out of the seven or so I've tried thus far.
Here's a photo of someone far more attractive than me wearing them, to give you an idea of how huge they are. 106mm!
I was surprised, as I was expecting the standard zebrano wood, but I'll roll with it.
Tried to show the grain in the last photo. Gorgeous, huge, and fairly heavy (635g/1.4lb) headphones! But easily the most comfortable fitting pair out of the seven or so I've tried thus far.
Here's a photo of someone far more attractive than me wearing them, to give you an idea of how huge they are. 106mm!
Comments
SDA 2BTL * Musical Fidelity A5cr amp * Marantz DV-9500 * Modded Adcom GDA-600 DAC * Rythmik F8 (x2)
Micro Seiki DQ-50 * A hodgepodge of cabling * Belkin PF60
Preamp rotation: Krell KSL (SCompRacer recapped) * Manley Shrimp * PS Audio 5.0
BlueSound Node->Ethereal optical cable->Peachtree Audio Nova 150->GoldenEar Triton 2+
TT - Pro-ject Classic SB with Sumiko Bluepoint.
TV 3.1 system -
Denon 3500 -> Dynaudio Excite 32/22
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Nice! My wife actually has a pair of those as well! Very impressive audio quality.
J/k
Congrats man.
I need a Henry Rollins neck.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
I ordered it from Stager Silver Solids: https://stagersound.com/silver/frames/overview.html
Product page: https://stagersound.com/silver/frames/specs-f.html
It's constructed of solid core silver wires with teflon insulation.The conductors are spiraled and then held in place with clear polyolefin heatshrink sleeving. It's 2m long and cost $245. It's a bit unwieldy and rigid due to the nature of the stiff solid core wiring, but it's flexible enough.
Initial impressions versus the stock cable which is constructed of braided OCC copper.
With the Stager cable, the first thing I noticed was that I didn't have to turn up the volume knob on my Phonitor X amplifier as high to get to the same listening level that I was just at with the stock cable. Cable buffs will have to let me know if this is because of it's capacitance/inductance or something.
Secondly, there was more agility in the lower midrange and bass frequencies, along with a polished and pristine quality to the high frequencies. Because of how quick the bass was, it seemed to extend even deeper, down in to subterranean levels on some tracks. Overall, the sound came across as very quick and rhythmic, with no frequencies being abnormally accented.
When I hooked the stock cable back up, I realized that it colors and bolsters the midrange details. This makes for a fun and engaging listen, as it gives you something to "lock on" to and follow along as it makes it's ebbs and flows. Bass did not extend quite as deep, but seemed to exhibit a slight mid-bass bump, that again made for a fun listen. Highs were extended and accurate, and fairly similar to the Stager cable, albeit with a tad more brightness on the attack. I thought this was interesting, as it is fairly opposite of how you'd typically expect a silver cable to be a little bright/forward up top.
Both cables provided good depth and space, creating a convincing soundstage for the music to expand into. I have to give a slight edge to the stock cable for it's downright fun factor and engaging quality, but the Stager silver cable is arguably more transparent and accurate, as well as extending further into the depths of bass that these Audeze headphones are capable of.
I hesitate to outright proclaim that one is "better" than the other, because I think they both have their strengths and ideal use cases.
Current Gear:
Torus RM15 -> Emm Labs TSDx/Bluesound Node 2 -> Emm Labs DAC2x -> Audio Research Reference 40th Anniversary -> Boulder 2060 stereo amp (w/ Audioquest WEL Signature) -> new speakers + JL Audio F113v2 x2
Rotel RA1592 Super Integrated -> Sonus Faber Olympica 3
Oppo 105D -> Rotel RC1570 preamp -> Rotel RB1582 amp -> Focal Kanta 2
Main speakers system evolution over the years:
Klipsch Promedia 4.1 -> Axiom M22ti -> Sonus Faber Concertino -> Sonus Faber Concerto -> Polk LSi7 -> Polk LSi9 -> Martin Logan Mosaic -> AV123 Onix Ref 1 -> Martin Logan Vantage -> AV123 Strata Mini -> Martin Logan Summit -> Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor -> BW 802D2 -> Sonus Faber Stradivari -> Rockport Avior -> BW 802D3 -> BW 800D3 -> ???
Old Gear:
Speakers:
BW PM1 (3.5/5), CM10s2 (3.75/5), BW800D3 (5/5), Rockport Aviors (5/5), Sonus Faber Stradivari (5/5), BW 802D2 (4.5/5), Martin Logan Summits (4.25/5), Martin Logan Vantage (4/5), Sonus Faber Cremona Auditor (3.75/5), AV123 Strata Mini (3.5/5), ML Mosaic (3.25/5), Onix Ref1 (3/5), Sonus Faber Concerto (2.75/5), SF Concertino (2.5/5), Axiom M22ti (2/5), Polk LSi9 (3/5), LSi7 (2.9/5)
Source:
Squeezebox 3 -> PS Audio Digital Link III -> Cary 306/200 CDP -> Cary 306 SACD -> EMM LABS DAC2X/TSDX
Preamplification:
Rotel RC1070 -> Rogue Perseus -> Cary SLP98 -> Cary SLP98F1 -> Cary SLP05 (sold and then repurchased) -> ARC 5se -> ARC Ref 40th Anniversary
Amplification:
HK AVR330 -> Rotel RB1070 -> Rotel RB1090 -> Plinius SA102 -> Cary 211FE -> Classe M600 -> Boulder 2060
Subwoofer:
Infinity Entra2 -> SVS 25-31PCi -> SVS 25-31PC+ -> Dual JL Audio F113v2
And what a couple of weeks it's been!
"The Voda Series UP-OCC copper cable is smooth and engaging. It offers a touch of organic warmth with a slight boost to the bass, but it gives up nothing in resolution or detail. It's an excellent complement to a brighter headphone like the Sennheiser HD800 or Sony MDR-Z1R.
Our Ultra Pure Ohno Continuous Cast (UP-OCC) wire is custom made to our specifications by one of the largest producers of OCC wire. OCC is an industrial process that produces a sonically superior wire by eliminating grain boundaries, impurities and oxygen. The resulting single crystal of silver or copper provides a high bandwidth path for signal transfer.
Please allow 50 hours for burn-in and stabilization of sound."
Not sure I need 50 hours to determine how this cable performs. It sounds great right out of the box!
First impression is that I agree with the description of the slightly bolstered bass, which I find welcome. Second thing is that the highs aren't sharp or harsh at all. All the upper treble details are still present and easily discernible, but there's nothing fatiguing or unpleasant. I can actually turn up the volume slightly higher and the highs don't become overpowering like they sometimes would with the stock cable.
The "air and space" is remarkable. Every bit as good as the stock cable and maybe even a little better. Overall sound quality is just smooth and enjoyable. This UP-OCC wire is no joke. On top of the sound, the construction and feel of the cable is fantastic. It's super flexible and light and feels good between the fingers.
In summary, for my aural tastes, this cable is the best match I've heard yet with the LCD-3s. Amazing synergy!
Sounds noticeably different than the three other Audeze headphone cables I have.
Sometimes I wish there was no difference between headphone cables, because it would be hell of a lot easier to just write "Nope, no difference, they all sound the same!"
I keep saying one more song, one more song. Can't stop listening. Wow.
I can't recommend enough for anyone who's curious about Audeze headphones to pick up a pair of these LCD-3s. They're seriously THAT good. Just do it. Life is short.
When I listen to them I feel hot, I feel my blood pumping. They make me feel alive. They provide a truly emotional and visceral listening experience.
Or, I could be having a minor stroke.
Village Idiot of Club Polk
Village Idiot of Club Polk
I need something like my Sennheiser HD600 headphones that have a more ergonomic/anatomical shape to the ear cup.
Speaking of closed backs, I just ordered these to try out: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SRH1540--shure-srh1540-closed-back-mastering-studio-headphones
Normally I'm a sucker for exotic materials and somewhat unnecessary design in headphones, but the simplicity of those Shure's look really good too. They just look comfy.
Digital: Cambridge CXC / Streaming > Cambridge CXN v2
MastersounD Dueventi > Rosso Fiorentino Certaldo or Arcam rHead > Hifiman HE4XX
Discogs
Indeed, I have a pair of the X1's that I like a lot, and I think @codycatalist has the X2HR and had the L2 before them.
I think @codycatalist had both the L2 and the M2. Perhaps he can chime in is he’s still around...
Game Room HT: Denon AVR-X4200w; Sony UBP-x700; Definitive Technology SM450; Definitive Technology LCR2000; Definitive Technology StudioMonitor350; Mirage Nanasats; Sub - HSU VTF-2 MK5
Master Bedroom
Cambridge Azur 551r; Definitive Technology promonitor 800; ACI Titan Subwoofer
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