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om3gapro OP t1_ja12j7f wrote

For Christmas I ended up getting the Focal Clear OG and the Sennheiser HD8XX and was VERY happy with them but there were still 2 headphones in the $1000 tier that I just HAD to get as well. The Hifiman Arya and the Audeze LCD X. I ended up getting both (I have no self control) but this post is about the LCD X.

I had heard complaints about the weight of this headphone but always thought to myself "It can't be THAT bad," I was wrong. You WILL feel these headphones and my first few days with them definitely caused some soreness but honestly, after a couple of days, they don't really feel too heavy to me anymore. There's definitely some days where I choose to wear other headphones and when I come back to these I'm always reminded of their weight but it definitely isn't as bad as those first few days.

As far as the sound, I think they might be my least favorite out of my Clears, HD8XX and Arya but it's really not by much and there's even some days where I prefer these, especially if I'm after that deep booming bass. I usually prefer the dynamics of the Clears if I'm listening to bass but the Clears feel much more closed in than the LCD X so if I'm in the mood for bass+SOME width (emphasis on SOME, these are definitely not wide) then I grab these. Not too big on EQing because I swap headphones so regularly, I often times forget to switch EQ profiles. That being said, the LCD X DO sound better with EQ but I don't think it's necessary to enjoy this headphone. I've been using Resolve's EQ for this headphone if I do EQ as I tend to not really like Oratory's settings on my headphones, but a lot of people do so you could try those!

All in all, idk if I would ever be happy with these as my ONE headphone. Especially due to the weight, I couldn't see these being a daily driver unless you only wear headphones for 2-3hrs a day. I wear headphones 8+hrs most days due to my job and after the third hour or so, these definitely gotta come off. That being said I think these are an AMAZING complimentary headphone to something like an HD600/800 series headphone, making up for the bass those lack. Happy to have this legendary headphone in my collection!

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andysaurus_rex t1_ja173kd wrote

> For Christmas I ended up getting the Focal Clear OG and the Sennheiser HD8XX

Hey it's me, your long lost brother.

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AntOk463 t1_ja29tlq wrote

Everyone will make fun of AKG headphones for being made of cheap plastic until they put on large planar headphones made of metal and want to go back to the AKG which just float on your head.

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ReekyRumpFedRatsbane t1_ja44vzv wrote

That was my experience with the R70x. First impression: Very light, feels cheap. Later: I don't even need to wear it, it just floats by itself!

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DreamDropDistancia t1_ja6ocrk wrote

Yeah, well, a tiny dynamic driver in a mostly hollow, plastic chassis with a little bit of sponge inside will tend to be lighter, yes.

I'd say, though, that any headphone can be comfortable, if the headband is doing its job correctly.

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Zero_Aspect t1_ja1a1ls wrote

Man, I really wanted to round out my kilobuck collection with the LCD-X but after reading your post, I'm having second thoughts. Might just go for the HEDDphone or a ZMF instead. Out of the other three, which one have you been enjoying the most?

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blorg t1_ja1p289 wrote

I have the Clear OG, HD800S and Arya Stealth (and for that matter the 6XX) as well, the LCD-X is a good complement IMO and has better bass than any of them, that's what I bought it for and it delivers on that. It's actually different.

For me, it's unlistenable without EQ, incredibly muffled, but EQ fixes it. It took a bit of tweaking, there may also be unit variance but Oratory1990's EQ pushes the upper mids too high for me, it's becomes a bit harsh.

I use a modified Oratory Harman EQ, just a bit less in the upper mids/lower treble. The overall shape of Oratory's EQ is similar to Resolve's EQ, it's fixing the same issues, just the shape and exact heights of some of the peaks are different, Resolve's EQ is a little less but also spikier. Mine is less again, Oratory1990's straight Harman EQ makes it too intense in the upper mids for me so I pull that back. With this it is distinctly darker than something like the HD800S or Arya but it's not totally muffled and veiled either.

I definitely would not buy this if you are not willing to EQ. Without EQ for me, it's flat out bad. If you are willing to EQ though, it's a great headphone.

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Zero_Aspect t1_ja1se0n wrote

Does the LCD-X sound best when EQ'd to be that dark as in wouldn't it drown out the mids? If the bass is different enough from the Arya's/Clears than it might still be worth looking at - especially since it can be EQ'd real low at 20hz which the other three can't do well.

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blorg t1_ja1vwv3 wrote

These are the EQ curves, not the frequency response of the headphone after EQ. So all of them, it's bringing up the upper mids substantially over stock. I just do it a bit less than Oratory or Resolve in my last one, my EQ is smoother/darker than Oratory's EQ. It's substantially less dark than the stock tonality which is much too dark.

How much exactly is personal preference, I found Oratory1990's Harman just a bit too much. I don't on most other headphones, I use his Harman presets extensively. But on this one, a bit too much. I found it just a bit better without quite as much of a boost. But exactly the level is personal preference, the bands I reduced by -2dB were the treble high shelf which raises everything over 1,800Hz and the presence/sharpness at 3,850Hz.

The one other headphone I brought Oratory's preset down in the upper mids was the HE6SEV2. Most of them I am good with his Harman preset as is in the upper mids, I usually just add a bit more air (his presets often cut the air, I usually leave this out).

The LCD-X is a lot punchier than than the Arya or HD800, and I think also even than the Clear, while also having much better sub-bass extension than the Clear.

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thms0 t1_ja317uq wrote

So you always listen to your headphones on the same computer/place ?
Never in bed ?
How do you manage EQs especially if you have different profiles/headphones ?

I have my smartphone + XDUoo 05 Plus, as well as work laptop, personal laptop, personal computer. Too much of a hassle for me to EQ.

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blorg t1_ja39238 wrote

I use Equalizer APO on my computer, and Qudelix 5K for mobile. I also have a second Qudelix 5K connected to my bedside amp for Bluetooth input and EQ.

I don't tend to need to listen to all my headphones everywhere though anyway. I have quite a lot of different headphones, and some are better for some scenarios than others.

The LCD-X I bought knowing it needed EQ, and I wouldn't recommend it to anyone unless they are going to EQ it. It's pretty heavy and one of the headphones I wouldn't pick so much for lying in bed, I tend to use IEMs in bed as they are a lot easier for that. I do have another headphone amp by the bed with the Qudelix so I can use whatever if I wanted to... but usually IEMs. If I am using an over-ear it's usually something smaller/lighter, like the R70X or HD650. But usually IEMs.

Most IEMs I don't EQ anyway, as they tend to be better tuned stock and I tend to just use them stock. There are a few that do need EQ, the Shure KSE1500 has an EQ built in to its DAC/energizer and I use that, the Audeze Euclid, I use the Qudelix. But the vast majority of my IEMs, I don't EQ at all.

There certainly are things that don't need EQ. I don't usually EQ the HD650, it's one of the few overears that is tonally near perfect stock and doesn't need it. I sometimes use that on a tube amp where the high output impedance adds bass/warmth. I'm certainly not EQ absolutely everything. But I would not have bought the LCD-X if I couldn't EQ it, because it sounds crap to me without EQ, and I could tell that from the reviews/graph before I got it, it sounds like it graphs, with muffled recessed upper mids.

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om3gapro OP t1_ja1gkka wrote

This is a really hard question. I think the Focal Clear actually sound the best to me but the lack of soundstage really hurts it imo. I think the Focal Clear would be a great daily driver, but I really like having a wide soundstage so unfortunately I think that eliminates the Clear for me but if you don't mind a lack of soundstage I would probably go for the Clear OG.

So this leaves the HD8XX vs Arya. I have sticker modded my HD8XX which is a rather simple process but I get not everyone would want to do that, so if that's something you're not willing to do, then I would say the HD8XX is easily the worst out of all 4 headphones. With the sticker mod applied, I THINK I lean towards the HD8XX. I think the Arya sound a bit better and actually have pretty great bass but they have this really prominent sibilant spike that can get pretty fatiguing. They also have a pretty decent soundstage. They're like a really good inbetween of the Clear and the HD8XX but the HD8XX is more comfortable and since I play a lot of videogames I like the additional soundstage. The HD8XX is just REALLY lean sounding, the mids don't sound very natural and there is next to no bass, whereas the mids on the Arya are also a little lacking but they make up for that with good bass performance. For reference I have the Arya V2 not Stealth

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Zero_Aspect t1_ja1nkhm wrote

Cannot agree with you more about the Clears. Amazing for most of the music I listen to, but way too intimate of a soundstage for gaming/movies (where voices sound a little unnatural). It's a screaming good value though, and I actually prefer it without any EQ (except some moderate bass boost). I use mine to focus/study as their metallic timbre is perfect for more melodic/instrumental music.

I was iffy about sticker modding an HD8XX so I got the HD800S instead, but its awesome that you've had success with it. I also agree with your analysis of HD8xx/Arya except I have the Stealth which is supposedly less bright than the V2 (but V2's have more soundstage). My Arya's are my go-to pair for enjoying music, everything sounds amazing on them (but I do miss the dynamic-ness of the Clears here sometimes). I haven't really figured out how to get the most of my HD800S for music yet, but it gets probably the most usage out of all my headphones as I use it for gaming/movies. The soundstage is just wayyy too good. If I had to pick one though, I'd probably pick the Arya's since they're an exceptional all-arounder.

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Cyberspace242 t1_ja3hzgy wrote

I’m really intrigued by the 800s. How wide would you say the soundstage is? Anything else cheaper that comes close? Do they compliment an Arya nicely?

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Zero_Aspect t1_ja3qgqd wrote

Out of all the headphones I have (6xx, r70x, clear og, arya) the HD800s has noticeably the widest soundstage with nearly the best imaging as well (the Arya Stealth's are slightly better). As for cheaper options, I believe that the AKG K702 or K712 comes close in soundstage width but may be lacking in other areas. Idk if Arya's really complement the HD800S well, they both sound similar except Arya's have more bass. If you want HD800S for just music, I'd pass if you already have the Arya's. If you want them for gaming/movies, I'd say it's worth considering.

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blucsigma05 t1_ja6bprl wrote

Agree with the Clears too. Ironically I ended up with the Sony mdr-z1r which is closed back to compliment the clear but it serves as more of more bass wider soundstage mood.

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npalnpal t1_ja2m6qv wrote

I just returned my LCD-X to get a pair of Arya and I favor the Arya significantly. Great addition to my ZMF Verite Closed and DCA Aeon 2 Noire. The LCD-X even with EQ didn’t sound quite as good as the others to me and yes comfort is also a big thing when you’re focusing partially what’s in your head and partially the music. Weight isn’t awful but definitely not all day headphone like he said above.

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GnT_Man t1_ja3ji2f wrote

I had pain in the lower back of my neck constantly when i had mine, and that was with only 2-3 hours of use per day. The sound just wasn’t worth that sacrifice for me.

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GnT_Man t1_ja3j91x wrote

Ended up returning my pair of LCD-Xs. I just don’t have the neck of an f1 driver. After returning them at my local store i accidentally ended up trying some headphones, and they had just gotten the 109 pros in. It had the same magic, but with more punch and half the weight. Was so wowed that i ordered them then and there.

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om3gapro OP t1_ja3rrtc wrote

After getting the Clears, HD8XX, Arya and LCD X, I thought I'd never feel the need to get another headphone. Well, now after hearing all the 109 hype I can't help but feel curious. Maybe one day haha

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GnT_Man t1_ja3tco1 wrote

I’d say it’s the opposite of most high end headphones. Most are master of one aspect but lack in others. Like the HD800s have great soundstage but lack bass, LCD-X have great sound but lack soundstage etc. The 109s on the other hand aren’t the best of perfect in any way, instead it’s very good at most things. A Jack of all trades master of none if you will. So for me as a student, that’s exactly what i need.

But they also have a trick up their sleeves. They lie like nothing else. They’re like an insurance salesman crossed with a televangelist. Even horrible underground metal or rap recordings sound good on them. It’s like they’re somehow not revealing and have great detail. Like, my best recordings sound just as good with all the details as they did on my LCD-X, and at the same time my worst black metal recordings that were unbearable on the X sound mesmerizing on these.

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johnwall47 t1_ja3zenp wrote

Needed to do some of those f1 driver neck exercises lol

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GnT_Man t1_ja4052h wrote

Wearing the LCD X for more than an hour could be an f1 driver neck exercise 😉

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School-Tricky t1_jaayn1v wrote

That’s the beauty of owning several cans. I love throwing on the LCD-X for a couple hours here and there to get that primo bass and slam, but they come right off and I can swap over to the HD800S. If I’m traveling or at the office, it’s my two closed backs (Celestee and Aeon 2C). But rotating through always keeps thing fresh and keeps me from buying something too crazy (cough Susvara, cough cough 1266 TC)

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