"As consumers, we have become accustomed to highly compressed audio on cheap devices, and it's easy to forget the quality and amount of work that goes into a lot of sound engineering. During the testing, one of my favorite renditions of Black Sabbath's "Changes," performed by Charles Bradley, started playing. Now, I’ve heard this song hundreds of times, but the first time I ever heard it, it really moved me, even making my eyes tear up a bit. Hearing it this time on these headphones was like hearing it again for the first time. The depth and clarity in Bradley's soulful voice reached me as if I had never heard it before. "
"The LCD-1 headphones come from Audeze's LCD Reference headphone range. They're built for audio engineers and sound professionals to deliver the best, most accurate representation of music—any genre, any style."
"The microphone, however, is not always as phenomenal. So, it attaches easily and intuitively as one would hope, however I found myself needing to do a great deal of fiddling with its position and volume settings to really get the sort of quality I was hoping for. Small changes can make big differences as far as quality and volume here. You certainly can get some high quality recording out of it, but it will take some patience, some practice, and a whole lot of fiddling."
"The Audeze LCD-1 is a superb model for those who value critical listening. It delivers the crisp, detailed, and rich sound that one comes to expect from high-end open-back headphones, but at a more attainable price point. The lightweight and compact design is also a sigh of relief from the heavy and bulky cans best associated with the category. Yes, you’ll have to live with certain exceptions like zero controls, special features, and noise neutralization. Are these dealbreakers? Maybe, but not for audio purists who want hi-fi sound on the cheap, which is what the LCD-1 offers you."
"The Audeze Penrose gives me perplex feelings.It’s a brilliant headphone, with superb presentation and the deep bass every planar lover craves, that you can virtually connect to any modern device, thanks to the wireless dongle. But, on the other hand, the sound signature doesn’t suit my taste, even more since I own the Mobius, which gives me that extra layer of definition I missed with the Penrose.On a daily basis, plugged into my console, the difference is negligible, but once you focus your attention, the Penrose feels like a cut-off version of the Mobius. A very good headphone, but overshadowed by its bigger sibling!"
"I found the LCD-X headphones to be the perfect “final arbiter.” They were useful well after I had finished a mix to my satisfaction on monitor speakers, or when I would later hear the mastered version. I would take a day off, then come back and play it on the LCD-X headphones. If there was something bothering me in the mix or mastering, then I investigated. But usually it was good and the LCD-X headphones were all I ever needed"
"Noise-canceling headphones are ubiquitous these days, but just drowning out ambient noise isn’t worth much if those headphones don’t sound any good. Audeze’s LCD-1 Headphones strike the perfect balance between audio quality, comfort, durability, and price. The open circumaural design and 90mm over-ear planar drivers deliver incredibly wide, spacious sound no matter what you’re listening to. For travelers, the lightweight design and memory foam earpads guarantee all-day comfort, even on the longest transoceanic flights. With a sub-$400 price tag, these might be the best bang-for-your-buck headphone value on the market."
"If what you care most about is having glorious, impeccable sound that would impress even the most discerning audiophiles, as well as incredibly wide soundstage, then you’ll be more than happy to pay that $300 price tag. Just be prepared to give them some time to bed in."
"Though Audeze produces some of the most high-end planar magnetic headphones on the market, their high-end headphones can cost more than renting 40 hours of professional studio time. That’s why I have no qualms in saying that their entry-level Audeze LCD-1 headphones are more than accurate enough to serve as a reference tool for home recording artists."
"The LCD-1 headphones have been meticulously engineered and feature some of Audeze’s most powerful planar magnetic technology. The 90mm Over-Ear Planar Drivers in the LCD-1 headphones deliver frequency extension from 10Hz up to 50kHz with flawless precision and clarity, helping to deliver the rich, clear sound expected from Audeze headphones."
"The staging is excellent, much more open than I expected with a neutral to natural vibrant quality to its tonality but still retaining all the traditional hallmarks of typical Audeze planar bass response. The design is vastly more mature than my original LCD-2 Rev 2 with a very comfortable support system and thicker pads to mitigate lateral pressure and that above-average weight. "
"Audeze is well-known for its headphones that use planar magnetic drivers, which are able to achieve incredible fidelity with virtually zero distortion, and they're typically really expensive. Think well over $1,000. But Audeze has been able to keep the price well down on LCD-1, and right now they're some of the best-sounding headphones you can buy for under $500."
"Right away, I found the LCD-1 headphones to be lightweight at 250-grams, comfortable on my head while making a good seal, and perfect for gaming, mixing music, or just relaxing and listening to music."
"Though Audeze produces some of the most high-end planar magnetic headphones on the market, their high-end headphones can cost more than renting 40 hours of professional studio time. That’s why I have no qualms in saying that their entry-level Audeze LCD-1 headphones are more than accurate enough to serve as a reference tool for home recording artists."
"High-end audio company Audeze broke new ground when it released the Mobius, the first mass-market gaming headset to use planar magnetic audio drivers. The Mobius was the gold standard for PC gaming headsets, with better surround sound than anything released since, fantastic audio, and Bluetooth compatibility. The Audeze Penrose is the company’s follow-up to the Mobius, jettisoning the Waves Nx surround sound in favor of wireless audio—an easier trade-off to make now that consoles have their own spatial sound systems."
"At $400, the LCD-1s are the cheapest ‘phones in Audeze’s LCD Reference series. But they still managed to blow me away. I haven’t heard another pair of $400 headphones with this kind of clarity, sound stage, and flat frequency response, and the accessible form-factor just makes these headphones even better."
"Audeze is a California-based high-end headphone and audio manufacturer whose products for years have been at the top of the list for both audio professionals and musicians. The company attributes its unique selling point to combining the most high-tech materials available with its own “precision craftmanship.” Indeed, it was when the Audeze founders stumbled upon an ex-NASA scientist in 2008 – who had himself developed an ultra-thin membrane which became the basis for planar magnetic diaphragms – that Audeze established itself as a leading purveyor of high-quality and reference headphones. Consequently, the team rejected the use of conical drivers in favor of this new and strong material, originally developed for space applications."
"These headphones may be relatively pricey, but they earn every penny between the build quality and performance. I view it as an investment in mental health, great sound and great music soothe the soul. For delivering uncompromised sound in a package that allows you to enjoy music without disturbing other, the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back is a Top Choice selection, no doubt about it."
