Ricky Kovacs / Headphone Guides

When Audeze released their first pair of headphones all the way back in 2009, the LCD-2, they immediately set themselves apart as a leader in planar magnetic technology and sound fidelity. Critics raved about the LCD-2. But they didn't stop there. In 2012 Audeze released their next iteration, the LCD-3, which improved on a number of ergonomic features. The next year (in 2013) the LCD-X and the closed-back variant, the LCD-XC, was released. The X and XC were more forward-sounding counterparts to the LCD-2 and LCD-3. Not to be stagnant, in 2016 Audeze released the third version of their main LCD lineup, the LCD-4. Even to this day, the LCD-4 is considered among the top reference headphones on the market.

Audeze has been expanding its headphone product line a lot within the past few years. With the emergence of gaming as a new market trend, you'll find a couple of gaming-oriented headphones and designs that they have implemented in their product lineup. These headphones have been considered some of the top gaming headphones in the industry thanks to their their state-of-the-art technology, design and remarkable sound quality that Audeze is known for in the audiophile community. Both the Mobius and the LCD-GX are very different gaming headsets from each other, but that's the beauty of them. Each one is designed with a specific ergonomic use or budget in mind for the consumer, so you can get the one that is best tailored to your gaming audio needs. Audeze shares this philosophy with their other headphone models as well; to help you find the right headphone for you.

Audeze is a company that continues to innovate and bring their technology and expertise to better and enhance markets and communities in the headphone realm. The LCD-1 is the latest model of their growing catalog of audiophile-grade headphones, and it certainly won't be their last.

Why would you settle for ordinary? People invest in what they love.

The question of why you need better headphones is one of the most important things you can ask yourself in the quest for your perfect sound in the world of audiophilia. Everything has room for improvement; it's in our very nature to seek perfection and at the same time our lot in life to never be able to achieve it. But the beautiful thing about headphones is that although improvement never leads to perfection, it always leads to more enjoyment. Your enjoyment is your investment when it comes to getting better headphones. Better headphones means better sound, and better sound means listening to your music like never before and falling in love with it all over again. So why would you NOT want to get better headphones?

Audeze's company mission is to "create the best headphones in the world." But perhaps we might lend a slight addendum: "for you." They have continued to create and innovate on their lineup of headphones, so much that they are improving upon each iteration. For instance the LCD-2 and LCD-3 have very different sound signatures from the LCD-X and LCD-XC, so you're likely to prefer one signature over the other. You'll hear us say this over and over: Everyone hears differently. So at the end of the day, it's not about creating the best headphone in the world, because that headphone could have all the wrong properties based on your listening preferences. Audeze's real mission is to create the best headphones in the world....for you.

Let's learn more about what makes Audeze headphones so great as we continue below.

Most headphones use inexpensive, mass-produced dynamic cone drivers. These drivers are available in standard sizes from manufacturers and can be selected and rebranded based on the needs of the individual headphone company. Because this technology is relatively cheap and readily available, it’s a good option for those headphone companies looking to sell a lot of headphones at low cost. However, dynamic cone drivers can have serious inherent design limitations which means that what you’re saving in money, you’re losing in audio quality.

Dynamic drivers are usually activated by a voice coil that’s attached near the center of a diaphragm - most often a paper, plastic or metal cone. As electrical current is passed through the voice coil, force is exerted at the center of the diaphragm, causing it to move. This is what produces the sound you hear.

Ideally, the entire diaphragm would move in unison. However, because the driving force begins in the center and must travel outward, not all parts of the diaphragm begin moving at the same time. This can often result in breakup modes, also referred to as local resonances, which cause audible, measurable distortion and loss of resolution - especially at higher volumes.

-Audeze, Planar Magnetic Technology

Audeze has placed a large amount of time and resources into creating one of, if not the largest and most flexible planar magnetic drivers on the market today.

Sound waves are extremely complex. Every sound heard in a good recording, from the loudest cymbal crash to the faintest creak of a piano bench, is represented in a tumultuous pressure wave. For an immersive and realistic listening experience, the driver needs to be able to reproduce that wave faithfully, without missing any of the details. Like a sports car, the diaphragm needs to be nimble, have excellent control, and be able to accelerate and change direction on a dime. The laws of physics governing this are pretty simple: Force = Mass x Acceleration. Acceleration defines the diaphragm’s ability to move rapidly. If the diaphragm has lower mass, it can have a much higher acceleration for the same force. Dynamic drivers use diaphragms that are orders of magnitude heavier and thicker than the ultra-light and thin diaphragms used in our planar magnetic drivers. As a result of their higher mass, dynamic drivers are simply not capable of accelerating as fast, or being as nimble as the planar drivers made by Audeze. The mass of the diaphragm used in dynamic drivers fundamentally limits their sonic performance, their ability to resolve and reveal details, and their transparency.

-Audeze, Planar Magnetic Technology

The next component we need to look at in the context of what makes planar magnetic driver technology more resolute than dynamic cone drivers are the diaphragm and magnet. These are two very important parts of the equation as they are the elements that help to produce sound.

In a typical pair of headphones, the diaphragm is usually a cone of plastic, cardboard, or lightweight metal. Audeze’s diaphragms are completely different, and this is where that micron measurement comes into play: the diaphragms in our headphones are flat sheets of film that are orders of magnitude thinner than a human hair, and are so light that they actually weigh less than the air that’s being moved! That extreme weight reduction is a key factor in our headphones’ superlative transient response (see our tech article detailing transient response, transparency and resolution here). In short, transient response boils down to this: thin diaphragms mean less weight to move; less weight to move means less inertia of the diaphragm to overcome. The faster the diaphragms can change direction, the more detailed, accurate, and transparent the sound.

-Audeze, Diaphragms

The Audeze diaphragm is truly something special. As they will be quick to point out, not all planar magnetic drivers are created equal. Planar magnetic technology does not automatically guarantee an uniform magnetic force, otherwise known as flux, across the surface of the diaphragm. Audeze states on their site: "The force acting on the diaphragm is proportional to the amount of magnetic force being produced by the magnets, but the magnetic field is almost never uniform... Our engineers came up with a novel and patented solution: why not vary the width of the conductor so that it's wider where the magnetic field is stronger and thinner where the magnetic field is weaker? This would ensure that all parts of the diaphragm experience the same force; resulting in true pistonic motion. Thus the Uniforce voice coil was born."

Because of all this, Audeze's drivers have some of the lowest distortion levels in the industry among headphones.

Many audiophiles prefer a "wider" sense of presentation compared to the "narrower" "in-your-head" sense of presentation that on-ear and in-ear monitors can deliver. On-ear and in-ear types lose the extra-dimensional "width" of over-ears due to their smaller form-factor, but focus on better mobility.

Audeze has made it their mission to create tailored sound signatures based on various listening preferences. There is always room for improvement compared to the headphones you already have. And if you already have a pair of Audeze headphones, then chances are there's still room for improvement based on your specific listening preferences. And thankfully Audeze has provided a plethora of models in their lineup of headphones to choose from.

Why are there so many models?

The fact is that no two people hear the same. What might sound warm and lush to you might sound muddy and dark to another. It is just as important to know your own listening preferences as it is to know what sound signature you prefer in your headphones. Audeze takes the philosophy that every person is different so the more options you have to choose from, the better the chances are that you'll find your true end-game headphone. And once you find it, nothing else will compare.

The advancements in technology you’ll find in every single pair of Audeze headphones makes them something truly special, and audiophiles and professionals the world over are hearing the difference. We’re always striving for excellence and innovation, and are constantly evolving in order to further our craft. Uncompromised Audio isn’t just a slogan, we truly believe in it, because we’re as passionate about audio as you are.

-Audeze

So, which Audeze headphone is the best? Over the iterations from the original LCD-2, to the LCD-3, the latest flagship LCD-4 version remains one of the best reference headphones on the market today. It's a favorite here in the office at Moon Audio, but like all things, it really depends on your own listening preferences and budget. You might not like a reference sound signature and might favor something that colors the sound more. There are no right or wrong answers in the world of audiophilia.

Here's an excerpt from our Audeze LCD-GX Headphone Review that compares the LCD-4 Flagship:

Now that we've discussed a general overview of price-points, we'll answer this question by addressing the next more important topic: ergonomics.

Like everything, there are pros and cons to weigh in all the form-factors. For example, the over-the-ear design requires the ear-cones surrounding the wearer's ears to be large enough to not only surround the user's ears but also to isolate sound. Isolation is created when a tight "sealing condition" around the ears effectively prevents the sound from leaking out.

Sometimes, this over-the-ear design choice will come with a few drawbacks that could limit the flexibility and the availability of ergonomic scenarios best suited for the use of the headphone. Compared to "lighter" fit-types, this means over-the-ear headphones can typically have a heavier and bulkier weight to consider in their inherent designs. After all, "large" usually implies "bulky" and "heavy" materials all working together to both surround the wearer's ears and to create a solid sealing condition that isolates sound, effectively. Whereas Audeze headphones are certainly known for their "larger" and "heavier" headphone designs, they are also renowned for the sound quality and overall comfort as a trade-off. Are there bulkier headphones on the market? Of course. But most will argue that Audeze's design is the perfect marriage of weight, comfort and sound quality.

Check out all the over-ear headphones Audeze makes below:

Let's be honest, all of these headphones will be more than appropriate for critical listening at home. But for the sake of really distinguishing ergonomic scenarios where these headphones really shine we'll leave out duplicates in the "For Home" tab, with the understanding that all of Audeze's headphones would be recommended.

So, which Audeze headphone is the right model for you? As depicted in the table above, sometimes, the answer boils down to the demands of your ergonomic scenario.

For a more in-depth guide on everything there is to know about the advantages and disadvantages between closed-back and open-back headphones in general, and the ergonomic scenarios best suited for each, read our ultimate Closed-Back vs Open-Back Face-Off Guide to find out which style is the best for your ergonomic situation.

Audeze has created a number of headphones each with their own specific sound signatures. When developing headphones for a wide variety of customers, it's important to create enough options to cater to various listening styles and preferences. Each headphone is discint

Audeze is one of the first companies to offer audiophile-grade headphones to the gaming community. Gaming as a whole has become an explosive market for the industry within the past 10 years, and we are starting to see more and more gaming-oriented audiophile headphones emerge. This is great news for gamers wanting a better auditory experience during their gaming sessions, just as audiophiles who also game can now enjoy higher-fidelity audio on par with their music hobby.

Audeze has put a lot of time and resources into understanding gamer's needs and has packed some very interesting features into their headsets, especially the Mobius. The Mobius is a planar magnetic headphone that is capable of being used wirelessly, which is not a common feature given the power requirements for adequately driving such headphones. The Mobius also implements such things like 3D audio emulation with support for 5.1 and 7.1 surround sound. Head tracking technology is also fun on specific applications. Given the sound quality and amount of technology they're crammed into the headphones, it's impressive that these headphones are on the lowest tier price point for the Audeze headphone product lineup.

The LCD-GX headphone takes a very different direction than the Mobius. consistent with their LCD line, Audeze keeps the "if-it-ain't-broke" philosophy and applies it to gaming. The GX is sonically similar to the LCD-X or LCD-24 in that it is a little more forward leaning, which is great to get all those tiny details out of your gaming sessions. Apart from that, they include a cable with a built-in microphone, the same boom microphone that they use on the Mobius in fact, and that's pretty much it. The LCD-GX is the no-frills audiophile experience for the seasoned gamer willing to cash out the money for an unparalleled and immersive experience.

For more information on each headphone, check out our reviews below:

Audeze knew they were onto something with the LCD-GX. Designing the cable the way they did allowed them to be able to use the cable with any LCD headphone, since they all have dual 4-pin mini-XLR jacks. Don't like the sound signature of the LCD-GX, or perhaps you have more expensive taste to move up the LCD ladder? Well now you can with the GX stock cable sold separately.