These look interesting as they’re a blend of the LCD-2 and their Flagship LCD-4. Curious as to how they’ll sound. Not listed on Audeze’s official website as of the time of this post.
The marketing copy suggests that removing magnets (which reduces the efficiency and power of the motor/driver) is a sonic improvement. Over what? The LCD-4? The LCD-2?
(It took the LCD-4 to unseat the LCD-2 for me in Audeze’s line-up.)
No idea what to make of them.
Of course, that’s always hard without actually hearing them!
At $3,500 they’re up against the $2,600 Rosson RAD-0 … which is dangerously close to the LCD-4 as it is (and the RAD-0 is perhaps better balanced even then) and, of course, the LCD-4 is just a little further up the price-ladder.
I was thinking the same…I’m guessing the lighter factor while striking a balance between the LCD-2/4?
But the price point throws it out of whack for me as well…too many other options below that price point that are exceptional…specifically like you say the Rad-0…which I could technically make purple
I saw rumblings of the LCD-24 a couple months ago and then pretty much nothing since then. I know the Las Vegas Audio Boutique store had one over the weekend but in terms of actual thoughts on it I don’t have a whole lot right now.
Audeze hasn’t officially given any information to any of their dealers on it so can’t speak to release dates or anything. I would have to agree with @Torq that the positioning of it is a little weird.
I can totally see you visiting Rosson/Alex in person to do your custom build.
And the commentary will be “Yes, yes, but MORE purple! MUCH MORE PURPLE!!”
Can’t really argue with that, either. I like it too.
Hell, I bought the TH-X00 in Purpleheart mostly because of the color (they’re a lot of fun to listen to too … And then proceeded to convert them for balanced operation and even extended the purple color-scheme to the connectors:
Fostex need to do the TH900 Mk2 in Purple, with the full Urushi finish/silver foil, etc. I’d buy a set just to look at (nearly kept the Emerald Green for that reason).
So far, all of the TH900 Mk II and TH909’s are super-pretty.
Not purple though!
Even having literally just sold my TH900 Mk II (Emerald Green), I’d be on board for a properly-purple™ set regardless of how wonky their tonality actually is.
I do regret not buying them now. If you can find them, it’s usually on the secondary market at a hefty markup. Supposedly the tuning was different on the 900 mk2 SB’s. I don’t know about the 909 SB’s. But I do know that urushi lacquer is gorgeous. I think that it’s my favorite finish on any headphone. I’m not a purple fan per se, but that urushi finish would probably look good in any color.
