I tried the new Audeze LCD-XC 2021 profile and didn’t like it anywhere near as much as yours. It just seemed really muffled and rob the sound of most of it’s bite and sparkle.
Amir’s review of the LCD-XC is out:
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“spatial qualities were excellent with instruments taking up their own spot in 3-D space outside of each ear to the left and right with some depth”
Nice to see he’s giving subjective impressions as well, although I eagerly await the controlled listening test to determine if such claims are true 
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Terrific review with some interesting claims. Appreciate the weight chart, but the D-8000 and D-8000 pro is missing. They weigh 523 grams. 
I’d say this is much better than the your first one. Bass is amazing and highs tamed just a tad.
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Thanks for the feedback. Yeah it’s one of those things where the more time I spend with it the more I’m able to dial it in. I think it’s like that with most headphones haha.
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Hi, first time poster here! I’m planning to use your EQ on my Qudelix 5K for these cans, but unfortunately, it only has a 10-band PEQ. Would you have a version of your EQ settings that can work with it? Thanks in advance!
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Update: Decided to use Headfonics 2 filter PEQ instead, and am perfectly happy with the results:
Preamp: -6.0 dB
Filter 1: ON LS Fc 60 Hz Gain 6.0 dB Q 0.2
Filter 2: ON PK Fc 6000 Hz Gain -2.0 dB Q 1.0
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I just pulled the trigger on a pair of these! I’m chomping at the bit.
So when they come in I’ll be needing EQs to experiment with. Any contributions or suggestions most welcome.
@Resolve Are these EQ settings of yours for the 2021 XC?
I’ll be primarily using these headphones for tracking as I have the LCD-X for mixing/mastering. Does anyone else know how these cans are for tracking? It’s weird that I haven’t come upon any mention of this type of usage.
Thanks all!
-J
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Oh and also appreciated would be headphone FR measurements. I have already put the ASR’s measurements into REW to try to get a compensated graph to chart from.
But the more measurements the merrier!
-Blessings,
J
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Yes 2021 version. Our FR measurements for these versions should be in the index also on this forum.
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@Resolve Thanks bro, I have so much respect for you and all your hard, educating work!
Would you happen to be able to give me a .csv file of your LCD-XC 2021 FR measurements? That would enable me to easily input it into REW!
Blessings,
-J
Unfortunately those currently aren’t available. Are you looking to EQ based on the results? Because that’s only something you should do up to a certain point of the ear gain.
Hey @Resolve,
Thanks for the quick response!
I’m not sure what you mean by “ear gain”. But to answer your question I was going to input the Harman curve as the house curve in REW and input your measurements to get an idea of where to start my own EQ. I’ve already done this with ASR’s measurements.
I EQ mainly to harman (mostly in the mid-range) because as a music creator I want to know what my music sounds like as the masses are listening to it, not necessarily to my own preference though often they are one and the same I’m finding.
Don’t sweat not having the .csv, it was a long shot.
Blessings,
-J
Yeah I generally recommend not doing that - at least above 5khz. We did a video on this called “the limits of EQ”, but in short, the 1/3 or 1/2 octave smoothing of the target is too coarse grained to reflect actual HRTF information. So there’s a very good chance that’s not going to sound right.
Yeah, I totally get it. I’ve watched your “the limits of EQ” video several times and found it very educational and helpful. I understand what your saying about the smoothing causing inaccurate results when processed wrong by me.
I use the results of Oratory1990’s measurements and following EQ profiles from about 200Hz to about 6000Hz. Outside of that range I use my ears and broader strokes and I certainly don’t try to EQ some of the very abrupt spikes that can occur in the higher frequencies above 6kHz.
Do you think that this is OK?
Blessings,
PS - My new LCD-XCs should be arriving in a few hours! I’m so chomping at the bit! Do you personally own a pair yourself?
-J
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Yeah that sounds like a good approach. Leave what you can alone if you can haha.
And yes I still own one. It’s at the top of my closed-back ranking list because it really does perform so well with a touch of EQ.
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Yeah, your ranking list helped me decide to purchase these headphones and so far I love em!
They perfectly fill the gap I had of “really good tracking cans”. Minus a bit of the soundstage “goodness” of the LCD-X, with EQ they can match each other in most every aspect.
So a closed back version of the LCD-X?..check.
Thanks again!
-J
PS - I’m working on the perfect EQ and have more to say about it and your own EQ profile for these cans…
Going on 4 years of ownership now of the LCD XC and I’ve got no desire to sell them. Another wonderful thing is they have an SPL rating of 130DB which is freakishly loud meaning you can push them quite loud at 90DB and they don’t lose their composure.
I love their tank like build too! Just feels like a high end headphone on your head. Great presence, but uncomfortable for some I know.
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I have to say that the LCD XC sound the best with solid state amplifiers in my experience. Would love to hear other opinions with people using transformer coupled tube amps that have had terrific experiences.
Thanks in advance. I’m actually looking at buying a nice tube amp with a pre amp option.