Pro Audio Reviews

Wendy and Lisa, original members of the Revolution of 'Prince and the Revolution' sit down with us to compare the LCD-1 and MX4. Check out the link here to read the interview. 

Juro 'Mez' Davis, longtime mix engineer for J. Cole (The Come Up, Born Sinner, 2014 Forest Hills Drive) and in-house engineer at Dreamville Records, talks about his experience moving from the LCD-X to LCD-MX4 as well as what albums he's mixed on them. (Revenge of the Dreamers, The Lion King on Ice, etc.)

"Audeze have been making waves in the headphone world with an approach to headphone design that includes flexible circuit material designed for NASA and magnetic planar drivers. These come together in the LCD-MX4, their studio-focussed unit. These open-back cans were designed for mixing and mastering applications, and feature a frequency response of 10Hz to an astonishing 50kHz. They also have a remarkably low impedance of 20 Ohms, although with headphones of this quality you’re likely going to want to pair them with an equally high-end headphone amplifier. As the over-ear LCD-MX4’s are for studio work, Audeze has designed them to be balanced, neutral, and transparent. They’re also incredibly precise and detailed, with a tight and fast response. While not the lightest headphones on this list, the carbon fibre band helps keep the weight down, while the leather-covered memory foam cups ensure comfort during long listening sessions. They come bundled with a 1.9m 1/4-inch to dual four-pin mini-XLR cable and a sturdy travel case. The Audeze LCD-MX4 headphones are extremely expensive, and thus out of the reach of most musicians and producers. But for the truly discerning professional, they’re something of a pinnacle of headphone technology.

"Despite the drop in price though, these open back headphones still boast the company’s signature planar magnetic technology and such sci-fi sounding features as Uniforce Diaphragms, Fluxor Magnet and Fazor Waveguides."

Audeze evidently takes the needs of its pro customers seriously, because the LCD-1s major hugely on detail and resolution. It helps that there’s so much space to work with – an impressive amount even considering the open-back design – and instruments are placed so definitely within it.

If you are in the market for a high-end headphone that will serve as both an audiophile experience and a brilliant studio headphone, then the closed-back LCD-XC is worth your consideration. This is by no means the newest headphone in the lineup, but after hearing it at NAMM in January 2020 at the Audeze booth, we had to get our hands on a pair to test in the studio and at the home turntable lounge aka the sanctuary.

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.

Audeze’s flagship LCD-4s will set you back nearly four grand but their more reasonably priced LCD-1s have been a hit with pros.

Whether you're a professional audio engineer or a bedroom producer with some extra time on their hands, you should read this review of Reveal+ and the LCD-1 from Pro Audio Files.

“If you are looking to make an investment in your listening pleasure, the LCD-1 should be at the top of your list.”

Headfonia writes "With the MX4 you get great detail and precision, with an enjoyable, correct spaciousness and top level clarity and cleanness." 

Tape Op's Geoff Stanfield reviews the LCD-X, LCD-3, iSINE20 and Deckard for pro audio use.

"The only issue I have with Audeze products is that they have made listening on pretty much any other headphone system a letdown. Like everything else in pro audio, high-quality comes at a price; and in this case, it is worth it."

A thorough review of the Audeze LCD-4 by John Atkinson from Stereophile!

"They're the best sounding headphones I've heard in the 45 years since I bought my first high-end cans."

Stereophile's John Atkinson provides an in-depth look at the Audeze LCD-X as a professional audio mixing tool in this review. 

AMMP studios recommends the Audeze LCD-X as a high-end solution for audio professionals and new producers working out of their home studios! Learn more in this unboxing/review video.

Streaky Mastering reviews the Audeze LCD-X from an audio engineer's perspective.

Experienced mastering engineer Stuart Hawkes shares his take on the Audeze LCD-MX4.

Tony Cousins, founding member of London's Metropolis Mastering Studios, becomes a planar believer thanks to the Audeze LCD series.

Hear what Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer Lewis Hopkin has to say about the Audeze LCD-X!

Hannes Bieger is a Berlin based Producer & Mixing Engineer and Journalist for Sound On Sound Magazine.