If Google is showing you this page directly, click https://www.headfonia.com/audeze-lcd-4z-review/ to go to the start of the article.
Sound – Synergy
According to Audeze, the LCD-4z can be used from any device, without loss of quality. We read the following:
Flagship Performance from Any Device – LCD-4z combines our thinnest, most advanced driver film with our most powerful double Fluxor™ magnetic array to delight listeners with world-class precision and musicality from almost any device, without a dedicated headphone amplifier.
Let’s find out!
First up is the Cayin RU7 dongle DAC/AMP and it in high actually perfectly manages to drive the LCD-4z volume wise. There is a good amount of body from top top to bottom, but compared to desktop amps it is on the lighter side. That said, the combo does sound full enough to enjoy it. The delivery is precise, fast and musical. Bass impact is on the lighter side and the focus here is on the vocals and upper mids. It’s sounds a bit forced and shouty to my ear. I suppose it a perfectly acceptable sound if you like this kind of tuning, but the LCD-4z can sound a whole lot better.
Switching up to the Chord Electronics Mojo 2, the LCD-4z sounds more relaxed and it is way easier to the ear with a softer, more natural upper end as well as vocal presentation. You get more body overall and the bass impact – even though still on the lighter side – now is punchier and it has more impact. This is a more balanced sounding setup and the mid-timbre, depth and layering now is more present as you wpuld expect from a high-end headphone. I could live with this setup as a back-up solution.
Switching to the award winning Astell&Kern SP3000T DAP, the LCD-4z to me sounds best in Hybrid mode, with high tube current and max (5) tube flavourness. Here you more or less get the same type of presentation as with the MOJO 2, the difference being in the resolution and overall technical performance. Body, weight and bass are very comparable to with the Chord, but as the overall tech level is higher, it is nicer to listen to. To me this is the best sounding portable setup I have tried, but the LCD-4z can still easily sound better
Switching to desktop gear, first up is the Ferrum OOR, hooked up to the Hypsos and with the Violectric V850 as DAC. We already know that the OOR is an excellent amplifier with a more analogue sound and this is immediately audible here. I love the presentation here with its soft and relaxed character. The pace might be a little slower but the combo makes up for it with musicality, smoothness, effortlessness and pure sound quality. The mid timbre and smoothly natural vocals are superb in this combo and the layering and depth is reference worthy. It’s a really good combo, even though not the fullest and biggest sounding. Body wise this combo delivers a more neutral approach, but it is good, period. Happy listening guaranteed.
Switching up to the even higher-end Niimbus US4+ amplifier, we know upfront that this amp is known for it’s fuller and warmer delivery, in combination with a high technical level and a gorgeous stereo imaging. The energy level in this setup is better, and you get a livelier, faster presentation with more precision and extension. You get an overal fuller and weightier presentation combined with natural vocals, better extension, depth and layering. I really like this combo as I feel it shows best what the LCD-4z is capable off. Once again we prove that the Violectric/Lake People/Niimbus gear works magically well with Audeze headphones.
I expected the super powerful SAEQ Armageddon to be too much for the LCD-4z, but I was partially wrong. While playing at a very high technical level like with the US4+, you here get a faster pace, more clarity and an overall cleaner presentation while keeping everything else. Note that this is on the attenuated -10dB output. The direct output and the -5dB one sound far too shouty for me with this headphone, but the -10dB one really works well with the Audeze.
When connected to a high-end tube amp such as the Auris Headonia 300b, the LCD-4z sounds powerful, full, controlled and precise. This perhaps is the technically strongest combo of all, but I find the energy level a bit much for my ears, and I clearly prefer the softer, smoother US4+ presentation with this set of headphones. As such I used the latter to compare the LCD-4z to its siblings, let’s get started!
Comparisons
For the comparison part, I decided to focus on two of Audeze’s other offerings, the LCD-5 and the LCD-MX4.
Audeze LCD-MX4
The LCD-MX4 is selling for $2,995 USD and it like the 4z uses Audezes 106mm driver. In this version it has an impedance of 20 Ohms and a sensitivity of 105dB.
The LCD-MX4 – from Audeze’s PRO line – with its 575g feels very different on the head (lighter even!), mostly because of the older style pads I prefer more.
From a sound point of view, the 4z’s mids sounds fuller and the bass is punchier and heavier. The MX4 sounds more energetic and the vocals and upper end (4-5k) have more focus on them, placing them more forward in the mix. The more balanced tuned LCD-4z is smoother in its presentation and softer on the ears with a more velvet delivery. I also find the 4z to be more spacious and airy sounding of both, however because of the MX’s more forward tuning and upper end boost the note extension and decay here are more audible than in the 4z. The 4z is the easiest to listen to. It is softer on the ear than the more contrasting MX4.
Audeze LCD-5
The LCD-5 – from the Audiophile line like the 4z – is selling for $4,500 USD and it uses a 90mm transducer, with a 14 Ohm impedance and a 90dB Sensitivity.
The LCD-5 with its 420g wears completely different compared to the 4z. It also looks totally different with the new-style Audeze look. It is a lot lighter and smaller in size and the feel is quite different. While I prefer the weight of the LCD-5, the pads on the LCD-4z feel better to me, and my ears are more comfortable with them (even more on the MX4). The LCD-5 is the least relaxing headphone to wear, out of these 3.
The LCD-4z and LCD-5 are very differently tuned headphones, the latter being more intimate and less spacious sounding, limiting its stage performance. Like the MX4, the LCD-5 has a more forward vocal presentation making the 4z the more relaxed sounding headphone of both, it’s just easier on the ears. The bass presentation of the LCD-5 is faster and more punchy, but the 4z’s bass (and sub bass) has more weight and warmth to it. The LCD-5 gives more presence to the vocals and upper mids, creating a more v-like mids section where this in the 4z is more balanced. I personally prefer the treble section on the LCD-5, giving you more liveliness and extension. It on the 4z is darker tuned, though some might prefer this as it is much softer on the ears.
Conclusion
The LCD-4z is a reference headphone with the classic Audeze approach. While the driver isn’t new, multiple updates were done to the LCD-4z to make it a modern flagship headphone.
The LCD-4z doesn’t come cheap but you in return get a beautiful headphone with an excellent build quality and a nice set of accessories. Performance wise the LCD-4z also delivers with a revealing, yet ear-pleasing tuning. The LCD-4z is precise yet musical and the tuning is very easy to like.
While you don’t need a lot of power, I do find the LCD-4z to scale up nicely with good amplification. The LCD-4z is transparent in this regard and it will show you the effect of all the units in your setup. Feed it with low quality and you will hear exactly that. From a comfort point of view, Audeze has done the best possible to make the LCD-4z’s weight disappear, but it still is a heavy headphone and that can’t be hidden.
All-in-all I quite like the Audeze LCD-4z even if it isn’t the newest or most modern headphone. It is very enjoyable, especially with the Niimbus US4+ it to me offers reference quality in a musical and easy to listen to package. What’s not to like?
Summary
Pros:
- Tuning
- Performance & Sound Quality
- Looks & Design
- Amplification (Easy)
Cons:
- Weight (+ pads for me)
- Price
- Amplification (Still performs best with a good amp)
Technical Specifications
Style: Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type: Planar Magnetic
Magnetic structure: Double Fluxor™ magnet array
Phase management: Fazor™
Magnet type: Neodymium N50
Diaphragm type: Nano-Scale Uniforce™
Transducer size: 106 mm
Maximum SPL: >130dB
Frequency response: 5Hz – 50kHz
THD: <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL
Sensitivity: 98 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point)
Impedance: 15 ohms
Min recommended power: >100mW
Recommended power level: >250mW
Weight: 560g
Page 2: Synergy, Comparisons, Conclusion, Summary, Specifications
