Audiophile Reviews

If you like the idea of portable high-end headphones but aren’t swayed by the bulky HiFiMAN DEVA above, then the AUDEZE LCD-1 are worth a serious look. They don’t have the DEVA’s Bluetooth, but they are significantly lighter—and crucially—can fold up (AUDEZE are known for making massive headphones, so the LCD-1 are a welcome exception). We don’t think they sound quite as good as the DEVA, with slightly dryer bass and a reduced soundstage, but they still have plenty going for them—chiefly in the upper mids, which sound warm and engaging. These headphones respond exceptionally well to genres like rock and acoustic and should be high on the list for anyone who enjoys vocals.

We awarded the AUDEZE LCD2Cs an Editor's Choice award when we reviewed them: they take the original LCD-2's rich bass and unbelievable depth, and wrap it in a wallet-friendly package. Sure, you lose the wood cups and the hard travel case, but who cares? These are absolutely out of this world.

Audeze is professional Made in U.S.A. recording studio equipment, not to be confused with consumer rubbish dragged-in from the Orient. When you consider this, the ultra-low price of the LCD-1 is even more shocking. These are the least expensive headphones Audeze makes; you're taking advantage of everything they've learned through years of innovations and patents in planar magnetic headphones. Other people fall all over themselves paying $4,000 for Audeze's LCD-4. It's like getting a more-durable Ferrari brand-new for just $15,000; these are all designed by the same engineer and made in the same California factory as the LCD-4 — and these LCD-1 fold for travel.

Headfonics says the Audeze LCD-1 "is the whole cake this time and at $399 it tastes rather good." Find a link to the full review here!

"The Audeze LCD-1s represent the new gold standard for entry level planar headphones, if such a thing can be said about a category which "slums" it at $400, but can top out in the $1000's"

We won’t lie, £400 for a gaming headset is pretty extortionate. But, if you can afford it, the Audeze Mobius more than justifies its upfront cost. The Mobiusfeatures a wealth of custom hardware you won’t find on any other gaming headset.

The Mobius makes fantastic use of the detailed planar magnetic drivers to produce game audio that is up there with anything on the market today. Forget the dubious 3D audio and head tracking gimmicks, the actual aural experience is what makes these cans great.

The best audiophile headphones are operate on the open-back principle. That makes for a less fatiguing experience and delivers the best sound as it’s not bouncing around inside a closed ear-cup creating strange reverberations. It also means you get broad, expansive soundscapes perfect for open-world gaming.

The Audeze LCD-X is a headphone that's been around for some time now, however I'm told there was a recent revision near the end of last year that makes it worth evaluating in 2020. For a long time, the LCD-X was considered the first step up into true flagship territory, taking notable steps forward in terms of technical performance over the LCD-2. But now, with the HiFiMAN Ananda regularly on sale at $700, the LCD-Xhas some stiff competition at its $1200 price tag. I had considered the Ananda a bit of a benchmark at its lower price tag, so it's worth asking if the LCD-Xin 2020 is worth the price increase over the HiFiMAN Ananda

With memory foam pads, and super-flexible band, these headphones are a joy to use. They have no issue blocking out most at-home sounds you’d run into, and the memory phone molds to your head over time. Plus the headset supports just about every connection method possible, with a 3.5mm cord, USB compatibility, and Bluetooth 5.

These headphones sound unreal. Audeze has quite a few different models including in-ear monitoring, so research their line of products before buying. These are pretty much the best sounding headphones I’ve ever heard.

If what you care about most of all is audio quality and you don't mind paying for it, the Audeze Mobius headphones are the top of the pile. Their price tag is extreme and there are more comfortable headsets out there. Build quality could be a little better too, but for the absolute best in audio quality, whether it's in-game action or your own personal music collection, this is the headset to get.

Buying headphones is similar to buying a pair of shoes. You wonder how? It's because both of them come in all shapes and sizes but eventually, you end up buying the ones that fit you comfortably.