Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back Review

Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back Review

Closed planar magnetic headphones

The American company Audeze never ceases to delight us with new products. We recently tested the LCD2 Classic headphones , and the LCD2 Closed-Back has already been released. As the name implies, the radiators are taken from the most popular LCD2 model, only the acoustic design has been changed. Now these are completely closed headphones, which allows them to be used where open models are not suitable due to their lack of sound isolation.

Specifications Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back

headphone type: closed, full-size;

frequency range: 10 Hz - 50 kHz;

driver size: 106 mm;

sensitivity: 97 dB/mW;

nominal impedance: 70 Ohm;

maximum input power: 15 W (peak);

maximum SPL: > 130 dB;

harmonic distortion: < 0.1% at 100 dB.

Official product page: audeze.su

All parameters of the new headphones correspond to the open LCD-2 model, except for the lower sensitivity. Probably, part of the sound energy goes into the damping of the closed internal volume.

The Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back uses the same diaphragms and powerful double-sided magnets. But, as in the LCD2 Classic model, 2 Fazor phasing plates are missing. This reduces the cost, size and weight of the headphones, in return simplifying the sound a bit.

The design of the headphones is no different from older models in terms of reliability and comfort. And in terms of design, even, perhaps, it will give them a head start. An interesting feature: the ear cups are made of high-tech polymer. On the matte finish there is an engraving in the form of a stylized letter "A".

Cables are connected separately to each headphone. Includes 2m 1/4″ TRS (large jack) to 4-pin Mini-XLR cord. Separately, you can buy a branded cable to a balanced 4-pin full-size XLR connector. A cable from any similar Audeze headphones, as well as third-party manufacturers, will do.

TRS connector gold plated full size. If you need to connect to devices with a minijack connector, then you should use an adapter that is not included in the kit - most high-quality equipment is equipped with a full-size connector. Branded adapter is not very expensive.

The headband has step adjustment. The design requires a lot of effort to extend the pin, but in return holds the selected length firmly. The fit on the head is quite comfortable. The only remark: the headphones themselves are slightly heavier than the open model.

The ear pads have huge cushions that provide very high comfort and a snug fit to the ear. Headphones have good sound isolation.

Frequency response measurements

During the measurements, we used the RightMark Audio Analyzer Pro software and hardware complex of our development. Also used was the Brüel & Kjær 4153 - Artificial Ear/Ear Simulator (IEC 60318-1), which emulates the acoustic impedance of the ear in accordance with international standards.

Frequency response measurements are provided for reference only. Do not guess the sound of the headphone model from them! On the frequency response, only the frequency range and the main trends are visible. The rise in frequency response at low frequencies for closed headphones is highly dependent on the pressing force of the cup and can be up to 6 dB.

In addition to our own measurements, here are the official headphone measurements: Audeze LCD-2 (in blue) vs. LCD-2 Closed-Back (pink) versus competitive headphones (red)

All chart patterns are preserved. By 400 Hz, there is a slight decline, then a rise to 2 kHz, then a strong decline to 5 kHz, a peak at 6 kHz and 12 kHz.

The manufacturer offers everyone to download the free Audeze Reveal plug-in - judging by our measurements, the plug-in delicately compensates for the main frequency response irregularities. It is possible to implement this without a plug-in, in almost any equalizer, using the graph of our measurements or the manufacturer's measurements.

The plugin is distributed for PC and Mac in VST2/VST3 and AU formats. We connected the plugin to foobar2000 via a VST2.4 adapter. The strength of the compensation effect can be changed manually, but you can also leave the default values.

The manufacturer says that such a preset is especially suitable for professional use of headphones, when a more even frequency response is important, without timbre distortion.

Sound

Let's talk about the requirements for a power amplifier. Some users take this requirement too literally. If it is indicated that “headphone power is 2 W or 5 W”, then no other amplifiers supposedly will work, and it’s even better to take it “with a reserve”. The manufacturer also indicates that even the slightest excess of the indicated passport figure of 5 W RMS (15 W peak) will inevitably lead to the failure of the headphones! Not to mention that as you approach this power, it will be impossible to listen to the headphones due to unbearable volume, dangerous to hearing! That is, usually the passport indicates the power with which the headphones can no longer be listened to .

Therefore, it is not necessary to pursue the highest possible figure without fail, this threatens with a number of technical and operational problems. Firstly, you can accidentally disable the headphones - especially if you suddenly connect not Audeze, but more sensitive models. Secondly, the volume of an amplifier that is too powerful will inevitably have to be lowered with a control to very low values, and you will most likely get a situation with increased noise at the output of the amplifier. Thirdly, if the adjustment is made with an analog regulator, then in the first 10% of the volume value you can get a very unpleasant imbalance in the volume of the channels, up to 3 dB difference. That's what a mindless pursuit of high power can lead to. It is best to choose amplifiers with a hardware Hi/Lo gain switch.

In our tests, we could not even come close to the 200 mW power figure - it was unbearably loud for hearing. That is, in reality, a headphone amplifier of only 100 mW into a 70 ohm load may well be enough for you, depending on preferences. However, the owners of Audeze headphones are not random people, they usually know exactly what they want, so they don’t need such advice.

We had concerns that the use of a closed design would lead to some negative consequences, to an inevitable compromise. However, we liked the Audeze LCD2 Closed-Back even more than the open LCD2 Classic! It seemed to us that the high frequencies were worked out even a little better, there are somehow more of them, and the sound from this is more effective. At the same time, the differences from the open model at low frequencies are not so big. Perhaps it turned out to be a little less than the lowest basses, but then there was no hint of mumbling at all! The sound as a whole is very attractive, it is coherent and has its own slight interpretation of timbres. Those who like a more neutral sound can use the official plugin or equalizer.

The sound insulation of the user of the headphones from the outside world is at a very high level, and the surrounding people do not hear the music playing in the headphones. In general, one can only complain about the increased weight compared to the open model, but this is an inevitable trade-off.

Conclusion

Once again, Audeze headphones surprise us with good sound, which turned out to be significantly better than our wildest expectations. The price of the LCD2 Closed-Back is only slightly higher than that of the most affordable LCD2 Classic , which can be counted as a plus for the novelty. We were also surprised by the official headphone frequency response correction plug-in, the equalization in which really corresponds to the frequency response curve we took. The comfort and reliability of the novelty did not raise any questions for us. Once again, we will scold the manufacturer for a very modest package - a simple cardboard package and only one cable with a TRS connector. On the other hand, the price tag of this model is lower than that of the regular version of the LCD-2.