Audeze LCD-5: New luxury reference headphones for the upper 1%
Audeze has announced the LCD-5 reference headphones. At $4500, only the chosen few will ever be able to indulge. But those who can afford them can look forward to some pretty impressive specs.
Audeze LCD-5
Audeze’s range of reference headphones has build a solid reputation not only for their exquisite sound, but also for their mesmerizing prices (although the company has recently introduced an affordable model). The previous flagship model, the LCD-4, retails for about USD 4000. With the new LCD-5, Audeze has not only made some significant improvements to the headphones themselves, but also bumped up the price by another 500 bucks. It goes without saying that you won’t find these in many home studios or even most professional facilities anytime soon. But if you’re prepared to cough up more cash for a pair of headphones than many of us can spend on their main monitors, you’re in for a treat.
Audeze LCD-5 · Source: Audeze
Audeze says that the over-ear, open-back LCD-5 uses a new driver design with a new Fluxor magnet assembly, Fazor waveguides and newly developed voice coils, which go by the name “Parallel Uniforce”. By employing varying width parallel traces, Audeze was able to keep the impedance at a low 14 Ohms and provide increased voltage headroom.
According to the manufacturer, the entire design was optimized to minimize reflections. They also claim that the LCD-5 offers an improved frequency response and “a more open yet accurate soundstage”. The earpads have also been redesigned to improve the upper midrange response.
The LCD-5 has been completely redesigned · Source: Audeze
Audeze has also done some work on the supporting structure of the headphones by incorporating materials such as magnesium, acetate and carbon fiber. The transducer size has been reduced from 106 mm to 90 mm. This results in a significant weight reduction compared to the LCD-4. The LCD-5 tips the scale at 420 grams, with is 1/3 less than the predecessor. That said, they’re still quite a bit heavier than many other reference headphones, but those who strive for the maximum in audiophile exclusivity won’t mind at all.
Technical specs
- Style: Over-ear, open-back
- Transducer type: Planar Magnetic
- Magnetic structure: Fluxor™ magnet array
- Phase management: Fazor™
- Magnet type: Neodymium N50
- Diaphragm type: Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce™
- Transducer size: 90 mm
- Maximum SPL: >130dB
- Frequency response: 5Hz – 50kHz
- THD: <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL
- Sensitivity: 90 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
- Impedance: 14 ohms
- Max power handling: 5W RMS
- Min recommended power: > 100mW
- Recommended power level: >500mW
- Weight: 420g
The LCD-5 weighs 1/3 less than the previous model · Source: Audeze
Price and availability
The Audeze LCD-5 is available immediately for USD 4500.
More information
- Audeze website
- More news from Audeze
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One response to “Audeze LCD-5: New luxury reference headphones for the upper 1%”
One thing I have noticed about more expensive gear is that it comes with much higher expectations, which are more likely to be let down. The act of recording a sound and reproducing it inherently degrades it. That’s why it’s so easy to get stuck on the unobtainium treadmill with audio gear because it’s not possible to be perfectly happy with any reproduction system. Besides the fact that I’m not crazy rich, I stay away from this stuff because “good enough” is a lot easier to live with than “almost perfect.” I go to the symphony when I want aural perfection.