The original hooks were a pain for me but the new ones are much better, no issues for me, I have the LCD-i3s.
1 Like
Are you sure you had a good fit with your eartips? With the right tips, you hardly need the hooks. I found that memory foam works best for my ears. None of the supplied tips nor spintips provide as clean a connection. I could see even trying some custom eartip.
1 Like
Probably not. I have tried dozens of eartips, and only recently have found some that stay in (Azla Sedna Xelastec). Perhaps I should give the LCDi4s another try with the newest hooks and eartips that fit.
1 Like
That 60hz feeling
Itās not the Cipher cable. The LCDi3 and i4 are both quite sensitive to picking up 60hz power line hum and probably a 120hz harmonic of it. I was traveling today, and packed my MacBook Pro 14 inch. This laptop has a decent DAC onboard and a 3.5mm headphone output.
Iām listening to ROON output through the system, LCDi4 Audeze EQ applied and not much else. Qobuz source or downloads. When I power the laptop through the USB-3 port I get a faint hum. This gets louder if I touch the IEMs. When Iām on battery itās absent. The CIPHER cable is in the carry case - Iām using the braided silver plated copper single-ended cable that comes with the LCDi4.
Using a laptop - even one like an M1 MacBook Pro is not an ideal combination. Iām limited to 92kz so ROON kicks in sample rate conversion on 192Khz files. Itās loud enough, but lacks the control and authority of even the CIPHER on USB-3 (with Anger adapter) and is certainly much less than a proper separate DAC. I have the Sabaj at this house, but didnāt bring a 3.5MM to 1/4 inch adapter.
Still itās not bad. These are big-boy IEMs. Listening to a new release playlist. āShow Me Some Loveā by Honey Dijon from the āBlack Girl Magicā album is good enough to break through my end of day haze. I think I will need to explore the album.
1 Like
Dear Audeze -
The bluetooth Cypher cable does not drive the LCDi4 to a sufficient volume. Moreover, in a dark room it has an annoying āIām Bluetoothingā blue flash.
2 Likes
So I owned the LCDi4ās before, and sold them as the ear-hooks hurt my ears. Well, I purchased them again recently, and am glad I did! The new ear-hooks are much more comfortable and the sound is spectacular.
Perhaps it is my declining hearing acuity, but they sound better to me than any of my high end balanced armature IEMs, including my U12Ts: richer bass and better spatial accuracy.
Am driving them from my Mojo2/Poly or my AK SP3000 as Roon-Ready endpoints, using the Audeze LCDI4 equalization setting provided within Roon. Sounds great!
Surprising that after all the audio gear that I have purchased and sold, that I am repurchasing some of the gear that really worked for ME.
I also had the original Mojo, and the Mojo2 is that much better. The Poly is great when it works, but the GoFigure configuration app leaves a lot to be desired
3 Likes
Perhaps the single large planar is just a way more coherent source than any multi driver is ever likely to be.
4 Likes
Just purchased a Woo Tube Mini to use with the LCDi4s. Wow! Great synergy.
Like it a lot.
Tom
2 Likes
That looks like a great new toy. Did you go for an L&P W4 like a few of us did after @Torq brought it to our attention with his happy dance? Itās been end-game as far as a dongle for me, although that Woo Tube Mini is just sittinā there like a piece of baklava cheesecake after you pointed it out.
Yes, I have a few dongles. Have tried most of them. I have the LoToo PAW S2 which I like, and the L&P W4.
But particularly with the LCDi4s I really like the Woo Audio Tube Mini. Perhaps it is the new toy syndrome, but I am reaching out for it most often. I am impressed that they can make it work without an internal battery. That is a big plus.
1 Like
One issue I have with all portable gear is the mess of accessories and cables required. My solution for the LCDi4s is to use a Pelican 1020 case for the headphones and Woo Audio Tube Mini in one neat package - without detaching the ear hooks!:
3 Likes
I have tried the LCDi4s with the Luxury & Precision W4, the Woo Tube Mini, and the Chord Mojo 2. The L&P-W4 is a good pocketable solution; the Woo Tube Mini gives that romantic ātube soundā, but the Chord Mojo 2 is the best overall with these wonderful planar magnetic open-backed in ear monitors.
1 Like