Audiophile Reviews

One brand that understands that there has been a quantum shift in listening habits is Audeze. Not only have they continued to develop state-of-the-art products, but they have focused heavily on the gaming segment and that was clearly the way to go considering how many millions of people play daily. I’ve raised 3 avid gamers, so I know the drill. So does my bank account.

With a list price of $399, the Audeze LCD-1 is far less expensive than most planar-magnetic headphones. Along with its generally outstanding sound quality, that makes it a no-brainer in my book."

Ecoustics takes a look at the LCD-1 and Clarus Coda USB.

"Penrose X uses a wireless 2.4gHz dongle instead of the completely wire-free Xbox protocol. This enables the headset to also be used on PC, which is a huge bonus. To connect to the Xbox, though, just make sure the dongle is in the Xbox mode, plug it into a USB port, and turn on the headset. It’s simple to get up and running and the connection was rock solid, in my experience."

"Not only the Audeze LCD-1’s sound is great but the whole package is. Design, size, comfort, price, and sound: everything works in favor of this headphone. It’s going to be tough for the competition to beat this headphone at this price."

"By prioritizing intricate frequency performance, the LCD-1 is best suited to sound mixing and production. For casual listening, I was most impressed by them when listening to orchestral soundtracks – Back II The Future’s theme blew my mind with these on. But unless you’re willing to feed these high quality audio sources, you’ll find they lack the energy you may find in more consumer focused headphones....."

"The Audeze LCD-1 Planar Magnetic Headphones are so airy and precise, if you listen to a well-recorded album like Holly Cole’s “Temptation,” you will swear you’re in the room. The sound is fast and immediate, but with depth and quality soundstage. I can’t believe these are only $399!"

"Maybe this next statement is a bit of a Shook-ism, but I’ve always felt that “you can always get what you want if you know how to ask for it.” For me: I want the truth, I want clarity, and I want my feelings acknowledged. I want to see myself inside of the song, and to feel what the artist feels. I want to know that I have someone on the other side who shares in my joy and pain. The Audeze LCD-1 headphones have gifted me both an understanding and exposing musical companion. They are both partner and savior in the music loving experience. I now pass them on to you, highly recommended."2

"I like headphones that have a lot of clarity, which the AUdeze have. You get deep rich bass and an ambient feeling it gives you a roomier feel to it, as compared to the Meze 99"

"I heard about the Audeze LCD-X from my son’s teacher at Berklee School of Music. The guy swears by these for rigorous studio listening that’s practically as good as any high-end speaker system. I had a chance to try them out, and the depth of sound and overall transparency creates an almost three-dimensional listening experience. The giant, rather heavy earcups won’t make you many friends on the subway (if you ever return to the subway, they’ll probably think you’ve arrived from Planet Vlogosphere). But in the studio, the LCD-X helps isolate you from outside noise so you can focus on the minute details that demand your attention. The bass is what really distinguishes these, though the middle and high frequencies add warmth and a crisp snap, respectively. That translates to separation and richness unlike anything I’ve heard before with headphones. With an ordinary pair of buds or cans you might tap your foot and bounce your head. The second you slip on the LCD-X headphones, it’s impossible not to dance. As befits the, yes, $1,600 price tag, the unit comes with a padded traveling case worthy of 007 and earpads lined with memory foam and shrouded in rich leather."

"It is pretty clear that we enjoyed these headphones. For an entry-level pair of headphones covering audiophile listening and planar magnetics, these really hit the nail on the head. The price point is well fit and their range is fantastic. They compete well with brands of similar reputation and price. Best driver by a propper headphone tube or DAC amplifier, we fell in love with these. Again, everything we mention, score, and all are all based upon price point and performance. Sure, we have heard better. However, better usually means a lot more when it comes to price. These make for one of our planar favorites within the $300-$500 range."

"The Audeze LCD-4 is one of the flagship models from Audeze. The LCD-4 incorporates extensive research, performance advancements, and high-quality workmanship that clearly place it above other planar magnetic headphones in the market. The LCD-4 not only features a great invention and research, but it is by far one of the most thrilling headphones you can listen to. The only real downside of this headphone would be the price. At close to $4000, the LCD-4 is way outside most people’s budget."

"The LCD-1’s are a pair of open-back headphones, aimed at studio users, musicians, and audiophiles alike. They include an open circumaural design, which is meant to provide an enhanced transparency and sound stage. Each can includes a 90mm over-ear Planar driver, with something Audeze are calling Ultra-thin Uniforce Diaphragms and Fluxor Magnets.'

"The Audeze LCD-1 headphones are priced at $399. That’s not inexpensive, but it’s also far from the high end of the range—Apple’s Beats Pro over-ear headphones will set you back just as much. So the LCD-1s bring planar technology down to the level where music lovers other than deep-pocketed audiophiles can afford them."

"As someone who still has old 1970s classic hi-fi equipment sitting next to my consoles and TV, it is only expected to hear I love a good pair of open-backed headphones. I love the audio landscape they offer and enjoy how they sound as I dive into a complex piece of music, but it is not something you can easily find in home headphones despite the audio you get from that design. This is where the Audeze LCD-1 comes into play. These open-back portable headphones strike a refreshing balance between studio and home quality, and are an easy pair to recommend to anyone looking to up their audio listening game."

"There’s nothing better than a pair of open-backed headphones—so long as you aren’t worried about noise isolation or noise bleed. The Audeze LCD-1 are some of the most reasonably priced open-backed headphones available today, and provide a crisp and clean sound that’s comparable to freestanding speakers"

We sit down with Chris Berens, Audeze's head of customer support and artist relations, as he takes us through the LCD Reference line of headphones. The LCD Reference line features our most neutral drivers, so you can edit, mix, record and produce in confidence anywhere in the world, from studios to bedrooms to volcanoes...

"There is something quite admirable about Audeze’s almost complete refusal to compromise. From the outset, the company has targeted both the professional market and the higher-end domestic consumer – and by using an alluring combination of planar magnetic technology, lavish materials and an unmistakable aesthetic, it has established a product range that’s been rapturously received. This is an extremely light headphone, coming in at around 250g. It’s also quite small, reminding me somewhat of their earlier Sine on-ear headphones – but of course the Audeze LCD-1 is thankfully still an over-ear headphone. The ear cups also fold upwards to help with portability."

"My search for the perfect headphones has been long. It’s taken me through several manufacturers, slowly turning my office into an audio graveyard. There have been more than a few brushes with excellence. However, the Audeze LCD-1 is the closest I’ve come to finding the ideal solution for my audio editing and music needs."

We are honored to be the recipients of the Golden Hardware Award from mmorpg.com. Earning a nearly perfect score of 9/10, the LCD-1 has proven itself to be just as outstanding for gaming as it is for audiophile listening, and professional work. Find a link to the full review on our blog!