I haven’t listened to the LCD5 without EQ much, wasn’t my jams.
EQ’d vs Susvara.
Build goes to LCD5. Feels premium, nice fit and finish. Susvara is pretty good, but its still very much “just the best Hifiman have done” vibe to it. It’s not as precise put together. The mesh on the drivers is chopped from a flyscreen. Has some cheap plastic innards. Wood is a bit weird.
Sound. I’d say they trade blows, and it’ll come down to preference. Audeze has more punch and excitment, which is me. Susvara has a effortless laid back delivery. Both excellent speed and clarity. If you had both, I’d probably put Susvara on for acoustic, classical. Audeze everything else. That’s IF you had both. Neither lack really. Susvara needs less EQ, just a bass shelf. Audeze needs typical amounts of EQ for an Audeze, but the results are rewarding.
Both suck for price, and both are “overpriced” when you compare to some other models “value”. But thats the top end of hifi, if you want it, its a exponential premium for that last 5-10%. No regrets so far.
Lots of LCD-5 listening today, mostly comparing with different amplifiers.
The clear standout so far is the HSA-1b, which has fantastic synergy here - incredible bass drive and articulation, lush mids and buttery-smooth and airy treble. The very high-current design (about 100x more capacity than the LCD-5 needs), and free running PSU, seem to pay real dividends with the LCD-5.
Dynamics go beyond “explosive” and edge into “savage” territory with the HSA-1b/LCD-5 pairing.
It’s maybe losing a little micro-detail vs. the direct output from my Chord DAVE (which is true of pretty much everything). But the overall “Hotel Sierra” presentation via the HSA-1b is hard to ignore and is proving quite addictive.
Oh, and that’s all off the “Conventional” headphone output. The Ribbon output is a bit too powerful here, and you need to engage all 10 dB of input level attenuation to get useful range on the volume dial from that.
The Bakoon AMP-13R (and I assume the Enleum AMP-23R) also sounds fantastic with the LCD-5. A hair behind the HSA-1b in dynamics, but perhaps ahead in transparency. Mesmerizing, either way.
Wasn’t thrilled by the Phonitor X here, which is a first and really took me by surprise. Have to dig into that a bit more.
HPA4 was surprisingly engaging … not as clinical as I’m used to, but I haven’t run the LCD-5 on that long enough to know if the usual fatigue I get from the HPA4 is present here too and, if so, how long it takes to come on.
More to come …
And I may deviate into tube-amp drive for a bit … the LCD-5’s apparent love of raw current is not a traditional strength of tube amplifiers (especially not OTL designs).
I felt less of a upgrade in technical performance from say a HD600 or even a beyer 770pro to a arya or lcd x.
The LCD-5 is such a huge upgrade in terms on technical performance. Yes the arya has great open sound and good details and lcd x has great rounded bass and detail but LCD 5 is not good but amazing in so many categories.
I am seriously in love with this headphone. spent the last few weeks a/b ing headphones and amps and im so impressed and I listen to EDM 95% of the time.
I take back this comment I made in previous post. It does seem to change the texture but after more listening I realised I’m enjoying it more.
The holographic/3d like experience this amp gives together with its great dynamics is mindblowing.
Sounds feel like there going thru me instead of just in front of me like my solidstate amps.
Got to say mogwai + LCD5 with EDM is a experience I never want to have to give up.
This is the EQ I am currently using.
I still have the LCD XC 2021(on sale) even though I have never heard the LCD4 I think I know what you mean about the bass.
But I think the tactility and texture of the LCD 5 is so good that it makes my other great bass HP sound bloated in comparison.
Its difficult to describe but maybe a strange way to describe is the texture/tactility of the bass is so good that in some songs I feel like I can bite thru it and that bite feels so satisfying. I can seriously feel it.
Maybe this sounds stupid. Don’t know how else to describe it.
Songs I am really enjoying at the moment.
Actually some of the whole album of these songs are amazing.
I’m new here and wanted to thank everyone for their contribution on making this such an interesting, informative and exciting thread. Witnessing this new flagship Audeze that is such a deviation from their MO get discovered in real time is so cool to watch happen!
My LCD-5s will be here in time for Christmas and I am continuing to listen in to amp thoughts on this thread as they materialise to get the very best out of these absolute beauties. Haven’t been able to stop thinking about them since I demoed them a couple of weeks ago
Our crazy Audiophile ears are tuned to get a hard on with that last 10%. Its why we pay the big bucks. I do it too. And im content. They are the best headphones I’ve owned (VO, VC, D8000, Empyrean, Susvara etc) and probably heard.
These are $6700 AUD, no used market. For half that, new deal, demo, lightly used, you can get a D8000, Verite, LCD-4z, HE1000se. For a quarter of that you get a new HD800S.
The value proposition is very much only there for us crazies.
Even thought its not required A&S Mogwai / Forge with LCD-5 is amazing.
I remember seeing headphones.com selling a combo of the LCD-5 + Forge.
The holographic experience is on another level.
I plug it in to a ss amps after listening to lcd 5 on mogwai and think. What is this
And plug it straight back in
This is the biggest thing for me. I’ve never heard such clean articulate, but impactful bass before in a headphone even with no EQ for my preferences… and I thought I was a basshead hah. Every now and then when I want to really want some fun I’ll EQ it up a bit, but 95% of my listening is stock.
Yeah, you’re definitely paying a “premium” right now because (a) there is no used market yet, and (b) there is huge demand for the few pieces that have actually been produced. Give it a year or so and these should drop to a more reasonable actual market value in the $3500-$4k area. You always pay top dollar when you want to live on the bleeding edge of technology.
I’ve never EQ’d before, but took @Resolve 's recommended settings and applied them via Roon. The difference was notable and very positive. I was in love with what I was hearing pre-EQ, but add in that enhancement and the sound gets richer, deeper (great sub-bass) and sweeter.
It took some convincing my wife that I had just purchased a headphone for £4000.
Even I still can’t believe I bought them.
Jeezz I thought £1250 for Arya, Lcd XC, LCD X and Focal Radiance for each one was crazy money for a headphone but at the end of the day people will pay the price for good quality. As its been proven
No regrets though and selling or sold most of my headphones.
I have not heard a gigantic difference between my A&S Kenzie Ovation and my Chord Hugo TT2/HMS combo. Maybe a tad less separation via the solid state option, but the SQ is pretty comparable to me.
Anyone use the Headamp GSX-Mini amp with the LCD5? I have a Denafrips Ares II dac and the combo sounds great with my LCD4z, hoping it will provide enough current to run the LCD5 properly. Have not seen much mention of this headphone-amp combo anywhere.
