Audeze LCD-X Over Ear Open Back Headphone new 2021 version Creator Package with carry case

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Last but definitely not least – you can choose between leather and leather-free earpads. Mine pair is leather, and I could tell that right away because of…the smell. It is definitely the best smelling pair of headphones in my collection. Of course, it is not as important as many other things when it comes to headphones, but it’s definitely a welcome treat to have. Who doesn’t like the smell of quality leather? First things first though – the D8000 Pro is better at detail retrieval, it has even better imaging and the overall quality is higher, but you definitely could expect that. Planar magnetic headphones are in some ways a hybrid concept, sharing features with both moving-coil and electrostatic designs, and employing a similar principle to ribbon loudspeakers. Like an electrostatic design, a planar magnetic driver is based around a very thin, flat diaphragm, but like a dynamic design, this is set in motion by electromagnetic induction rather than electrostatic force. Instead of a voice coil, the diaphragm has very thin, flat wire ribbons running through it. On either side of the diaphragm, mirrored arrays of magnets are arranged so as to produce a consistent magnetic flux across its whole area.

Believe it or not, the Apple Lightning to Headphone adapter has its own DACs and analog headphone amplifier hidden inside it, so it sounds the same regardless of the iOS device from which your feeding it. It's like a microscopic version of the DAC1 HDR! In theory, electrostatic headphones share some of the advantages that capacitor microphones have over moving-coil designs. Because the electrostatic diaphragm is not burdened by the mass of the voice coil, it can be thinner, less stiff and more responsive to transients; and because it is driven evenly over its entire surface rather than from the central ring where the coil is attached, it is less prone to distortion. Unlike capacitor microphones, however, electrostatic headphones have never troubled the mass markets, as they tend to be expensive and require special headphone amps capable of delivering hundreds of Volts to the drivers (which isn’t as scary as that sounds: the currents involved are minuscule). People say it and it rarely happens with top level equipment, but I really do keep hearing new things in my music I haven't heard before with the LCD-X, and I have a lot of state-of-the-art headphones and loudspeakers. Weird, but true.Nowadays, it’s the Audeze LCD-2C (Classic) that hovers close to the same price as what the Ananda goes for. To test sibilance on headphones I use Panic! At The Disco’s “High Hopes. The intro trumpets are a bit sharp, which is unusual, but it’s only on higher volumes. There is a tad bit of sibilance, but nothing crazy, definitely towards the lower to mid-end of the spectrum. Our patent-pending Fazor elements are unique to the LCD-X and LCD-XC and help guide and manage the flow of sound in the headphone. The result is improved phase response, greater frequency extension, smoother frequency response, and remarkable 3D holographic imaging.

For many years now I’ve recommended around 3: HIFIMAN’s Ananda, Audeze LCD-2, and Dan Clark’s Aeon Flow (For a closed option).The X’s resolution makes it a favored choice for music enthusiasts, producers, and audio engineers who demand precision and accuracy in their work. Amplification The treble is probably where the biggest difference starts to show. While the LCD-X 2021 sounds soft and very pleasing in the upper frequencies, the HEDDphone is shinier, more forward, and crispier sounding. It’s not harsh or unpleasant sounding though, as the resolution of the entire HEDDphone is better than the LCD-X 2021, thanks to that wonderful AMT driver. Having in mind the price difference, I must admit that both the LCD-X and the HEDDphone are very, very impressive, and you can’t go wrong with either. This feature enhances the overall listening experience by making it feel as if you’re inside the music.