This is the official thread to talk about the Audeze LCD-4z.
These are Audeze’s take on a more efficient LCD-4 (which I thought the MX4 did a good job of even though that was a cross between the LCD-X and the 4).
At 15 ohms, these cans can be driven by pretty much anything. They come in the magnesium gold but you can also get them in a custom wood like the LCD-4.
A common thing that I have seen around is people wondering if they can get the LCD-4z magnesium build with 200 ohm drivers. The official answer on this currently is no.
The LCD-4 can be had in their wood version with the 200 ohm drivers or 15 ohm driver.
I’m a cynic, so much so that after extensive research I’ve just ordered Bamboo LCD-2s because the general consensus seems to be the difference in quality is negligible
I can’t seem to find one, and I think this would be a good candidate for an upcoming review on the new channel, as you’ve already done an excellent review of the LCD-4.
Yeah I’d love to review that one - but I’d like to do it side by side with an LCD-4. Not sure when it will be but I’ll ask the guys from headphones.com if that’s something I could potentially get in for review.
Haven’t reviewed it because in my experience that product in no way is up to the par of the “full” LCD 4 yet costs the same. It suffers in stage and grain levels a surprising amount for what is essentially just a reconfigured trace pattern to maximize efficiency. I don’t recommend it and wish they’d come out with a magnesium chassis LCD 4 as a default option, otherwise untouched. Right now you can get one of those but you have to special order it.
Tonally a bit off vs. neutral without deliberate EQ or Reveal/Roon DSP … but once that’s addressed it’s the most accurate and useful planar I’ve heard.
The AB-1266 Phi CC/TC pips them in some areas, but is a bit less precise and a bit more “fun”, “fast” and “engaging” in it’s tuning … while being rather more ergonomically challenging.
RAD-0 is an interesting compromise … tonally more correct than the LCD-4, but lags slightly on technicalities (better value overall).
