On the original LCD-2 (technically the LCD-2.2 circa 2012) vs. the later “fazored” versions, I had a distinct preference for the non-fazor version.
Pre/post fazor LCD-3 were somewhat less polarizing for me, and I could listen to either. Though it’s not clear to me that this is quite as simple a comparison as I believe there were changes to the trace pattern on the diaphragm that came about at the same time.
Would be interesting to hear an LCD-4 without the fazors, but not interesting enough to actually try and make that happen! Though they do benefit enormously from either “Roon’s” LCD-4 DSP preset or Audeze’s “Reveal” plug-in:
That plug-in took the LCD-4 from something I used with very specific niches of music to getting a lot more head-time.