Article: Audeze LCD-4 vs LCD-5: Yin and Yang

[mitchco]

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[The Computer Audiophile]

Thanks so much @mitchco. I loved reading this. Your choice of music really nailed it! I love, "Maybe an unusual pick, but for a guitar player, this song rips!" Fantastic. 

 

I think your objective data and subjective points of view should really help people get a handle on these headphones. I really like how you describe the sonic difference, even after the correction filters have been applied. An armchair engineer may think a filter makes them sound the same. No way.

[AudioDoctor]

This reminds me Mitch, I need to return your email...

 

SO many other things have been taking my attention lately. Please forgive me.

[MFJG]

I must say, @mitchco this LCD-5 FIR Eq filter is absolutely first class. It brought out the best in my Audeze headphones just as the FIR Eq filters for the Abyss AB1266 Phi TC did. 

Thank you for the comparison with the LCD-4, very good work.

[Stevem324]

I used to own the 4z and now I have the 1266TC, Susvara, Utopia and ZMF VO.   I have no desire to own a headphone that I feel needs EQ.  I stream using my Aurender W20SE/Holo May KTE and I have no practical way of adding EQ.  I enjoy my headphones without EQ using either my Enleum 23R or my Auris Nirvana headphone amps.  When the LCD5 first came out, there were a lot of rave reviews and I was tempted to buy it.   I'm glad that I resisted buying a headphone that is bright without EQ.  I don't have an issue with EQ but it's not easily implemented in my system.

[PeterG]

1 hour ago, Stevem324 said:

I used to own the 4z and now I have the 1266TC, Susvara, Utopia and ZMF VO.   I have no desire to own a headphone that I feel needs EQ.  I stream using my Aurender W20SE/Holo May KTE and I have no practical way of adding EQ.  I enjoy my headphones without EQ using either my Enleum 23R or my Auris Nirvana headphone amps.  When the LCD5 first came out, there were a lot of rave reviews and I was tempted to buy it.   I'm glad that I resisted buying a headphone that is bright without EQ.  I don't have an issue with EQ but it's not easily implemented in my system.

100%.  As evidenced by your collection, there's very stiff competition among flagships--no need to compromise on fundamentals

[dathzo]

Great article @mitchco, very enjoyable read!

Is the DSP software commercially available?

[The Computer Audiophile]

Perhaps there’s a misunderstanding about what’s going on here. This isn’t EQ. No headphone is perfect. It’s possible to make it closer to perfect with a convolution filter. That’s it. 

[mitchco]

18 hours ago, Stevem324 said:

I don't have an issue with EQ but it's not easily implemented in my system.

This will be possible with Hang Loose Convolver (HLC) down the road.

 

Also working on adding trial activation and embedded headphone FIR filters to HLC so folks can hear firsthand what high resolution FIR filtering can do.

 

6 hours ago, dathzo said:

Great article @mitchco, very enjoyable read!

Is the DSP software commercially available?

Cheers! Hang Loose Convolver is commercially available on my web site. The DSP headphone FIR filter designer is still in development.

[MFJG]

14 minutes ago, mitchco said:

The DSP headphone FIR filter designer is still in development.

…Hang Tight

[dathzo]

1 hour ago, mitchco said:

This will be possible with Hang Loose Convolver (HLC) down the road.

 

Also working on adding trial activation and embedded headphone FIR filters to HLC so folks can hear firsthand what high resolution FIR filtering can do.

 

Cheers! Hang Loose Convolver is commercially available on my web site. The DSP headphone FIR filter designer is still in development.

Excellent, these are great news!

[manishex]

Is the lcd-4 measurement with the new or old earpads?