Audeze LCD-1
Planar Magnetic Headphones
Made in the U.S.A.
Lambskin Headband and Earcups
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
Audeze LCD-1 (15 Ω, 8.9 oz./251g, 3.5mm plug with ¼″ adapter, $399). bigger. I'd get mine at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Thanks for helping me help you! Ken.
November 2020 Audeze reviews Headphones Tube Amps Audio all reviews
Introduction top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
These professional American-made open-back Audeze LCD-1 are astonishing because they sound as good as any headphones I've ever heard at any price, and they sell for such a ridiculously low price. They even use genuine lambskin leather for the earpads and headband; everything that looks like leather is soft lambskin leather.
Not only are they inexpensive, they sound great powered directly from an iPhone, iPod or iPad, saving you any need to pay more for fancy amplifiers or DACs.
The LCD-1 are smooth and detailed with the bottomless bass typical of planar magnetic headphones. They make live acoustic music sound like live acoustic music, gloriously with none of the glare typical of dynamic headphones that make recordings sound like recordings rather than live music. I prefer these to the older Audeze headphones I've reviewed because the LCD-1 have flawlessly clear and smooth midrange without the dip I heard in earlier models.
The LCD-1 just sound like live acoustic music. Everything sounds exactly as it happened, nothing more and nothing less. Voices sound like they're right there, Steinways sound like Steinways, Yamahas sound like Yamahas and celli sound like celli. The more you're around live instruments the more you'll appreciate these; they don't boost anything for effect.
They're very light at just 8.9 oz/250g, which is about the same as most midsize classic headphones like the Audio-Technica ATH-M50X, Senal SMH-1200 and Sony MDR-7506.
I can enjoy the LCD-1 all day long for hours and hours. The memory-foam leather feels great, and the sound is so smooth and detailed my brain just keeps wanting to hear more and more music without fatigue.
For $399 brand-new, plugged into an iOS device like my iPad Pro or my iPhone 11 Pro Max with Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter, the LCD-1 sound astonishingly similar to my roughly $3,000 STAX SR-007 MK2 Omega II electrostatic headphones and dedicated outboard Class-A STAX SRM-1 Mk II Pro high-voltage amplifier combination! Of course they don't sound exactly alike; these Audeze have better bass, but honestly I quickly forget which are on my head because they sound and feel so similar!
Even though I own the exotic $3,500 STAX SR-009 and STAX SR-007 MK2 Omega II headphones which require dedicated high-voltage Class-A solid-state and tube amplifiers to bias and power them, I almost never use them because it's too much bother plugging everything in and the STAX are too delicate to carry around. I treat my STAX like baby birds moving them (the SR-009 come in a wooden box made from 3,000-year-old gyojiiwood, for instance), while these Audeze just pop in my backpack and plug into all my Apple gear and sound about as good with zero effort!
The LCD-1 play LOUD driven from any iOS device (1V RMS maximum from near-zero source impedance), and my 5K iMac plays 6 dB louder (2V RMS maximum from near-zero source impedance).
I've been building my own live recording equipment since I was a third-grader in the 1960s and earned my living as a professional audio and recording engineer for the next 15 years until I got out of college and got a "real" job. I've heard a lot of headphones as I've recorded live concerts and designed a lot of advanced audio gear — so after all this to be able to drop under $400 and have these delivered to my door, I'm tickled pink. I've spent thousands and thousands of dollars on my other headphones, and now these come along and sound as good as the best almost for free, and they travel easily so I can enjoy them everywhere with any device without worrying about breaking something that would have to be shipped overseas for service.
Audeze is professional Made in U.S.A. recording studio equipment, not to be confused with consumer rubbish dragged-in from the Orient. When you consider this, the ultra-low price of the LCD-1 is even more shocking. These are the least expensive headphones Audeze makes; you're taking advantage of everything they've learned through years of innovations and patents in planar magnetic headphones. Other people fall all over themselves paying $4,000 for Audeze's LCD-4. It's like getting a more-durable Ferrari brand-new for just $15,000; these are all designed by the same engineer and made in the same California factory as the LCD-4 — and these LCD-1 fold for travel:
Audeze LCD-1 folded flat. bigger.
Audeze LCD-1 flipped-around to fit in included case. bigger.
New
Audeze's least expensive headphones ever — and I like them better than the more expensive EL-8, LCD-X and LCD-3 I reviewed years ago.
Single-sided magnetic core saves weight.
Folding design.
Good
Exemplary sound quality: the LCD-1 driven from just my iPhone 11 Pro Max and Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter sound astonishingly similar to my $2,000 STAX SR-007 MK2 Omega II electrostatic headphones as driven by a dedicated outboard Class-A STAX SRM-1 Mk II Pro high-voltage amplifier!
Sound just as good driven from iPad Pro or other iOS devices.
Folds for travel.
Rugged; I don't have to baby these professional American gems.
Case included.
1/4" adapter included.
Made in the United States of America.
Bad
Nothing!
Missing
No remote control in the cord. I really wish it had one; these are magnificent for use with iPads and other iOS devices. I'm tempted to get out my soldering iron and make my own remote cord.
No bluetooth; just regular wired headphones.
No mic for phone calls. No worries, if I get a call on my iPhone the audio comes through the LCD-1 and the iPhone's mic picks up my voice — you just can't talk with your iPhone in your pocket.
No batteries to charge, replace or change.
Nothing to break.
Nothing to go obsolete.
No problems!
Specifications top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
I'd get my LCD-1 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Type specifications top
Planar-magnetic, around-the-ear, open-back folding headphones.
Transducer Size specifications top
90mm diameter.
Magnets specifications top
Single-ended Neodymium N50 array.
Cord specifications top
Included cord, Audeze LCD-1. bigger.
7-foot (2.1 meter) cloth-covered straight cord with three 3.5mm stereo plugs.
Metal plug grips with plastic strain reliefs.
Three 3.5mm stereo plugs, and here's the secret part: plug any of the three into any of your source or the left or right earpieces and it all works great, there's no need to worry about which plug goes to which side because each earpiece connects only to its relevant terminals.
All the plugs are wired the same and it works however you plug it in, no fiddling needed. Bravo!
Impedance specifications top
Rated 16 Ω.
Measured 15.0 Ω DC.
My experience with every other planar magnetic headphone has been that's it's purely resistive, or 15Ω at 0º at every frequency, so I was too lazy to fire up my laboratory to measure its impedance versus frequency.
Sensitivity specifications top
Rated 99 dB @ 1 mW.
1 mW into 16Ω (rated) is 126.5 mV or -17.96 dBV, which as my 13-year-old son knows means 117 dB at 1V.
Distortion specifications top
Rated <0.1% at 100 dB, no frequency range or dB references specified, so this also doesn't mean anything.
100 dB SPL, which is probably what they mean, comes up with about -17 dBV or 140mV input.
Power Handling specifications top
Rated "5 watts RMS" (6.99 dBW); not specified if this is continuous or for how long, so it's meaningless.
5 watts into 16Ω (rated) is 8.944V or +19.03 dBV.
Maximum SPL specifications top
> 120 dB, which means, ignoring any potential power compression, that maximum SPL happens with >2V or >+24 dBm or >-6 dBW or >250 mW input into 16Ω.
Frequency Response specifications top
Rated "10 ~ 50,000 Hz," a meaningless specification as there is not even a decibel tolerance listed to qualify it. Ignore this.
Earpads and Headband specifications top
Lambskin and memory foam.
Quality specifications top
Designed and built in the United States of America.
Announced specifications top
October 2019.
Weight specifications top
8.855 oz. (251.0 g), actual measured weight, no cord.
Rated 8.8 oz. (250g).
Included specifications top
Audeze LCD-1 included hard case. bigger.
Headphones.
Cord.
Case.
1/4" adapter.
"Certificate of Authenticity."
Packaging specifications top
The box is much fancier than usual for American-made gear, which like Grado usually comes in a very simple box.
American gear puts the quality on the inside of the product, not in a fancy box like the Chinese.
Audeze's box is a fancy slipcase with foam inside and a semi-glossy sleeve that holds it all, so it appeals to consumers. I'd rather they put this money inside my headphones, but Audeze told me these boxes don't really cost that much — and I know consumers have a cow when great products come shipped in industrial-style packaging.
Audeze's Model Number specifications top
210-L1-1200-00.
Price, U.S.A. specifications top
$399, October 2019 ~ May 2020.
Performance top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
Overall Sound Balance & Image Bass Sensitivity
Isolation & Leakage Ergonomics & Comfort
I'd get my LCD-1 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Overall performance top
The LCD-1 make everything sound great. Everything sounds exactly as it should, and the sound never gets old. I can enjoy these all day and night and want more and more music. They are super comfortable and the sound is non-fatiguing.
These are sturdy, they aren't delicate and can be moved and carried around without fear.
The mechanics and appearance are basic and high-quality; thank goodness my $399 isn't being wasted on ugly chrome and silly finishes that we see all over headphones from Europe and the Orient — that do nothing for sound or durability.
They come in a fancier box than they need for pro gear; the fancy box is to impress consumers more familiar with offshored gear that will spend more on a box than the product inside, but not to worry as Audeze told me they still don't spend much on the boxes.
The magnet assembly is one-sided to save weight and cost. This is great; they are both super lightweight and they sound great and have tons of sensitivity.
These are the best ever if you work at a computer, DAW or mixing desk all day; iMacs and Macs have great built-in headphone amplifiers ideal for driving these and these feel great to have on all day — so long as you don't need isolation.
Sound performance top
The LCD-1 make everything sound as it's supposed to sound. Nothing's added or hidden, and the bass is bottomless. If something's in there, you're going to hear it
They're great for everything from Rachmaninoff to rap, from choral music and symphonies to Rob Zombie. Of course with limitless and bottomless bass performance the 32-foot ranks of pipe organs and hip hop sounds better on these planar magnetics than any other kind of headphone.
Its completely neutral and undistorted sound is ideal for enjoying choral and symphonic music, and if Rob Zombie's your thing, lets you hear exactly what and how and where everything is distorted. As mastering legend Bob Ludwig told us once at an AES meeting, say what you want about distorted music, but how and why it's distorted is critical to its message, and you need to be able to hear exactly what's going on just as you do for an orchestra.
Close-miked vocals (that's most vocals) sound like they're singing right next to you, which they are.
The sound is smooth and deep. The high end and upper midrange is as it should be; it's not boosted as it is with Hi-Fi headphones.
It's fresh, clean, smooth and clear.
With the LCD-1, it's as if an extra layer of crud standing between you and your music has been removed.
Balance and Image performance top
I see no specification for channel matching, and I'm impressed at the perfect balance between left and right.
The stereo images are precise. You'll hear what was recorded.
Bass performance top
Bass is strong and bottomless as we expect from planar magnetic. No shortage here!
Bass is smooth and tight and deep. It's perfect.
As I take for granted now with planar magnetic, 32-foot organ stops (16 cycle C) and synthesizers and everything that belts out the bottom octave all sing loud and clear, unlike most other audio transducers (and almost all speakers and subwoofers) that just can't reproduce music's first octave from 16 to 32 Hz.
If you want more bass, turn it up. Many people don't realize that our ears hear less and less bass at softer levels (our ears do this on purpose so we don't hear our own breathing and muscles working) so if you want more and deeper bass, crank it up.
Great headphones like this let you hear that every recording has different amounts of bass. Recordings made before the digital era usually are lacking because tape and LPs never could handle the deep, strong bass we take for granted in today's recordings.
Subsonic 8 Hz sine waves, while inaudible by themselves, are clean and modulate the apparent ambient noise level without any other audible effect. That's how an inaudible strong 8 Hz tone is supposed to sound.
Sensitivity performance top
These are very sensitive; I can make myself deaf with my iPhone — and it's still clean. Bravo!
As with other portable headphones I have my iOS volume set to about a half most of the time — or to three-quarters if I'm really hitting it.
It has loads of sensitivity for softly recorded classical music, too.
Isolation & Leakage performance top
As open-back headphones, they have very little isolation from ambient sound. External sounds are muffled a little but, and that's it.
Likewise, just as much sound comes out the back of each earpiece as the front. People next to you will hear your music if it's quiet.
Ergonomics & Comfort performance top
These are around-the-ear headphones, and do just that: sit around my ear and distribute a medium amount of pressure around a big, soft lambskin pad with memory foam underneath. It feels even better than this sounds.
I can wear these all day and not feel them.
Unlike other huge planar magnetic systems, these are compact, lightweight and stay on as I move around.
The real lambskin is much nicer than fake leather used on most under $2,000 headphones.
Compared top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
I'd get my LCD-1 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Versus the Verum 1 ($350)
I love my $350 hand-made Ukrainian Verum 1 Headphones. They have been my very favorite-sounding headphones ever since I got them in January 2019, and was very curious to see how boutique Eastern European headphones compare to the best in America.
I ran both the Verum 1 and the LCD-1 from my American-made professional Benchmark DAC1 HDR's class-A headphone amp and built-in DAC.
The most obvious difference is that the Verum 1 are huge, heavy and klunky. While they're comfy for hours once on my head, they too are delicate and I treat them with velvet gloves, also because their raw metal construction can scratch my fine wooden furniture if I'm not careful.
My family makes fun of me because I look so foolish wearing my Verum 1, but their sound is so pleasant I don't care.
They have about the same voltage sensitivity, but since the Verum 1 are only 6.2Ω compared to the 15Ω of the LCD-1, the LCD-1 have 2.5 times more power sensitivity. In other words, while they each sound as loud when connected to the same good (near-zero output source impedance) amplifier, the Verum 1 are actually drawing 2.5 times the current, and therefore 2.5 times the power, at the same voltage and playback level. In English this means that some amplifiers may have a much harder time driving the Verum 1, but using a good source like the Benchmark DAC1 HDR or Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter, it's not a problem. Beware if you're using less than professional near-zero output source impedance amplifiers. If you're using lesser amplifiers the LCD-1 are going to sound much better than the Verum 1, or at least go louder.
So how do the two sound with a great amp?
Each has somewhat different micro peaks and valleys throughout their responses, but they have very similar overall voicing. Each sounds worse when you swap between them because your ears have aligned to the previous one as "normal" after a few minutes, but as you listen, your ears then align to the new one and then the other sounds worse when you switch again! In other words, they each sound about as good.
The Verum 1 have slightly stronger deep bass by a couple of dB. They are both as deep and clean, while the Verum 1 have just a little more. Both are superb and better than I've ever heard out of any dynamic or electrostatic headphone.
The Verum 1 have a bit more presence and clarity, or maybe LCD-1 are smoother — it's your preference; they are pretty close to each other.
I prefer Verum's deep bass, but they're huge.
Lots of times I could use Verum but don't, because they're too big, clumsy and delicate. The Verum aren't portable, while the LCD-1 are, and the LCD-1 stay on my head better.
The LCD-1 are built, sold, serviced and supported in the USA, while the Verum 1 are built, sold and serviced exclusively from the Ukraine.
The LCD-1 are more practical to use, and with USA presence, much more practical to own over time if you live in the USA.
I prefer the LCD-1 not so much for their sound over the Verum, which is quite similar, but because I find their portability and perceived durability as more significant than the slight bass advantage of the Verum 1. The LCD-1 are like a mini Verum 1 that you can take with you, which is very important to me because I'm always traveling.
Versus the STAX SR-007 MK2 Omega II (~ $3,000 w/amp)
I compared the LCD-1, powered from my iPhone 11 Pro Max with Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter, to my roughly $3,000 STAX SR-007 MK2 Omega II electrostatic headphones powered by my dedicated outboard Class-A STAX SRM-1 Mk II Pro high-voltage amplifier combination.
I was shocked at the similarity overall sound, balance and on-head feel.
While comparing, I tended to forget which one I had on! They feel and sound about the same! The differences are very subtle; you'd need to own them to be able to compare at the same time in the same place.
Of course they don't sound exactly alike; the LCD-1 Audeze have better bass, but honestly I quickly forget which were on my head because they sound and feel so similar!
Both have about the same smoothness and overall voicing and tonal balance, which was the biggest shock. The SR-007 have a bit more detail, which could also be EQ.
I can see through the STAX drivers; they are optically transparent behind the screens (I can't see through the Audez'e).
The SR-007 have a cleaner, airier top end, and weaker bass.
The STAX have slightly boomier bass, and it's less deep (the Audez'e is better).
The STAX are a bit cleaner and more detailed. The STAX have a little more air.
I'll usually prefer the better bass of the LCD-1, while some people may prefer the STAX' additional clarity.
The SR-007 are much more fragile, and they're heavier and clumsier to put on and off.
The STAX are such a pain to fire up with a dedicated source, AC power and exotic high-voltage driver amplifiers that I rarely use them — and now I prefer the sound of the LCD-1 for their better bass, even running from my iPhone or iPad on battery power anywhere.
That's American ingenuity: headphones smaller, lighter, tougher and even a little better sounding, that just plug in and go. Bravo!
Versus the STAX SR-009 (~ $5,000 w/amp)
I compared the LCD-1, powered from my iPhone 11 Pro Max with Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter, to my roughly $5,000 STAX SR-009 electrostatic headphones powered by my dedicated outboard Class-A STAX SRM-1 Mk II Pro high-voltage amplifier combination.
The SR-009 are slightly brighter than either of the LCD-1 or SR-007. The SR-009 has less bass and more upper-end as if its overall balance is slightly tilted up. This of course is a matter of preference; the SR-009 are, ahem, lauded as the world's finest headphones which define proper balance, and while I prefer the balance of the LCD-1 or SR-007 for enjoying music; maybe you prefer the colder, drier sound of the SR-009.
Excepting the slight tilt, again it's astonishing how similar are the LCD-1 run from my iPhone and the combination of the SR-009 powered by an exotic all-aluminum (non-magnetic) chassis class-A high-voltage amplifier, which costs about ten times as much. What this shows me are that the "somewhat different micro peaks and valleys" that I heard in the Verum 1 were simply wrong; they match between the LCD-1, SR-007 and SR-009. These three are so close it's more like comparing amplifiers, which almost always match each other extremely closely, compared to transducers which usually sound very different.
The fact that the LCD-1, SR-007 and SR-009 match so closely shows me that the LCD-1 are incredible at having eliminated all the little erroneous peaks and valleys that plague anything other than state-of-the art audio transducers.
The slightly brighter SR-009 lead to a cleaner, airier and more open top end.
I'll admit that I still need to run the LCD -1 from a proper (Benchmark) amplifier rather than my iPhone for this comparison, as this $5,000 SR-009 now has definitely more detail up top. It's as if there's one less veil between me and the music; as if the LCD-1 powered by iPhone is more congested with complex passages. I can't be sure if I'm hearing a limitation in my iPhone's Lightning -> 3.5mm Adapter, if it's a limitation in the LCD-1 that cost one-tenth as much, or if I'm just imagining it based on the different frequency responses.
The LCD-1 have much better bass and deep bass. My SR-009 have always been too thin for me, so as a bass player I've never enjoyed them very much compared to my warmer headphones, regardless of their world's best (for other people) status.
If you're in the market for a $5,000 headphone/amp combo, you're probably not looking to compare it to $399 headphone run from an iPhone, and you should know that I prefer listening to the LCD-1 for its equally fluid vocals and midrange and superior bass to the SR-009.
Versus Grado SR325e ($295)
I ran these both from my iPhone 11 Pro Max with Apple Lightning -> 3.5mm Audio Adapter.
As conventional dynamic headphones that cost much less than the LCD-1, the American-made Grado SR325e don't have a chance against the LCD-1. While they sound great by themselves and compared to other dynamic headphones (Consumer Reports rated the SR325e as the best overall corded headphones in their March 2020 issue), the SR325e sound thin, tinny and crappy in direct comparison to the LCD-1.
The SR325e are a bit smaller and lighter and fold flatter, so they are even easier to carry around.
The SR325e are much more sensitive, especially in the midrange.
The SR325e have much less bass, and much less deep bass.
The SR325e are less comfortable, with rough foam pressing directly on your ears.
The SR325e sound much less smooth, again typical for almost all dynamic headphones compared to planar magnetic.
User's Guide top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
I'd get my LCD-1 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Unboxing
I couldn't find the paperwork at first because it was hidden in invisible an black folder that was stuck in the top of of box.
User's Manual
Here's Audeze's LCD-1 Users Manual.
Plugging-in the Cord
It doesn't matter: plug any of the three 3.5mm plugs into any of the earpieces or your source and everything magically routes where it should go.
Easy!
Reflections
The sound is so transparent that it changes as you bring your hands or external objects closer to each earpiece. This is because the half of the sound that goes out the back is reflected off something, reflects back into the earpiece, and travels right through the ultralight driver to your ear. The reflected and direct sounds interfere, and the sound changes. Keep the backs of each earpiece away from other things.
Amplifiers
Basics
Just plug the LCD-1 into your iOS device or Mac and it sounds glorious. As I showed above, run directly from an iPhone the LCD-1 sounds about the same as my exotic STAX electrostatics fed from dedicated class-A amplifiers. iOS devices are ideal for these very low impedance (15Ω) headphones because iOS devices have a near-zero output source impedance, lower than many other external audiophile headphone amplifiers, and thus are quite happy driving 15Ω headphones. Most iOS devices are rated for headphones between 8 ~ 600Ω, while many other dedicated headphone amps become unhappy with anything under 32Ω.
I tried to see if the LCD-1 sounded any better from a "real" headphone amplifier, my Benchmark DAC1 HDR, and couldn't hear any real difference. My Benchmark might sound a little cleaner and more open than my iPhone with very complex passages, but it just as well could have been my imagination. I wasn't running double-blinded, and as I know all too well our imagination plays a huge role in perceived sound quality; that's what makes music such an immensely powerful art form.
Even if the Benchmark sounded a little cleaner with complex passages, it certainly didn't sound enough better to justify sitting at my desk with it versus having my iPhone portable in the field anyplace I am.
I'm a music lover and audio engineer. I love music above all, and the fact that it sounds 99.9% perfect powered directly from my iPhone, Mac or iPad means all my painstakingly transferred music library is always available to me, anywhere, anytime. People more interested in the last 0.1% of performance than music may spend lifetimes fiddling with cables and plug-in-the-wall amplifiers; not me.
Apple has some of the world's best audio engineers working for them, as well as the budget to get their designs done right the first time because they sell so many devices that they can spread out the costs. They've sold over two billion iPhones, not including iPods and iPads, and they get it right. I've tested Apple's audio quality extensively in my lab as well as enjoyed them for countless hours, and if you follow your ears rather than what audiophiles "just know" based on how something looks, I've found Apple's devices have better audio quality than many of the expensive (but low production and with much lower development budgets) specialist headphone amplifiers I've tested.
My 5K iMac sounds really, really good. Its internal headphone amplifier has 6dB more output and headroom than the iOS devices, so if you're at a desk, just plug in and be happy — no dedicated amp or DAC needed.
Don't let me stop you from using a great headphone amplifier; just know that the unusually low impedance of the LCD-1 may throw anything other than the best domestic amplifiers for a loop - and the iPhone could be better!
Oddly as a 15Ω device, these may work better plugged into a speaker output rather than the headphone output of portable radios - but that's not why we buy these.
These work fine connected to a speaker power amplifier, and you could wire them to the 16Ω output of a tube power amplifier, just that it's likely that there will be too much noise — and if you do something stupid you could have enough power to make yourself deaf and burn out the LCD-1. The LCD-1 is rated to handle 5 watts, more enough to make you completely deaf, but most power amplifiers can put out far more than that if you play them too loudly.
The headphone jack of the classic Crown D-75 is wired directly to its speaker outputs and works great for driving planar magnetic headphones to super loud levels (it can burn them out if you want), and D-75s are inexpensive.
For Engineers
If you don't love music enough to just plug this into your iOS device, know that this is a very low impedance headphone, and may or may not work well with whatever off-brand amplifier you think you want to use. The good news is that planar magnetic headphones really are purely resistive, so the worst thing that's likely to happen with a non-ideal amplifier is that it might not play very loudly without distorting. But that's the catch: it's not unusual that an iPhone could have more output (play louder with more headroom) than a specialized headphone amplifier with a typically higher output source impedance.
Output source impedance should be zero or less than one ohm, and is rarely specified (I have to measure it in my lab and report it in my reviews). Source impedance is completely different from load impedance, which should be much higher than source impedance to drive these well. Many headphone amplifiers have source impedances of 20Ω to 120 Ω or more, which works poorly with 15Ω headphones.
Avoid most classic stereo preamps and power amps that typically use 100Ω build-out resistors to drive their headphone jacks, and likewise avoid amps that use common low-level audio op-amps that may not have the drive capability for sub-32Ω headphone loads. These probably won't go loud enough, and not as loud as an iPhone.
Likewise, most dedicated tube headphone amplifiers, even really great ones like from Woo Audio, have high output source impedances which means that they may have less output capacity into these 15Ω headphones than an iPhone does. For instance, the superb Woo WA7 has an output source impedance of not less than 22Ω, which is more than these headphones themselves (ideally this would be less than 1Ω, as iOS devices are).
Here's an idea: the TubeCube | 7 is a micro-power vacuum-tube speaker amp, and ought to work great if you have the chops to make a banana-to-stereo-3.5mm adapter. Hook the LCD-1 up to the 8Ω output and have at it — but the TubeCube rolls-off the high end, and might sound too dull. Since the TubeCube has a measured output noise of -70 dBV A and the LCD-1 give 117 dB SPL at 1V, we all know that that means that the amp's noise level ought to be 47 dBA SPL, which will be audible, so maybe it's not the best idea. Oh well; you really want a noise level below about 20 dBA SPL.
So in simple English, use your iOS device or a Benchmark headphone amp which I know work great, or you're on your own if I haven't already tested it.
Making Phone Calls
It has no mic, but your iPhone's mic will pick up your voice as it usually does and route the received sound to your LCD-1.
It works fine for phone calls so long as you keep your phone close. Don't put your phone in your pocket, because the other side will no longer hear you.
Recommendations top
Introduction Specifications Performance
Compared User's Guide Recommendations
Do I really need to go on? The LCD-1 will be the best $399 you've ever spent on audio gear; reference audio quality made in America for almost nothing. Use them with your phone; you don't need to buy anything else like external DACs or amps. Try it! They capture the smooth detail we hear in live classical concerts so lacking in almost every other headphone.
I've never heard better headphones, but I certainly have paid thousands of dollars for them, and those don't travel or just plug into an iPhone.
Having spent thousands of dollars on individual headphones in the past that don't sound any better than these, I'm ecstatic over the LCD-1. Technology has really advanced today; it's not 2018 anymore.
If you think $399 is a lot to spend on headphones, you should realize that these are wired headphones that don't go obsolete. I still have expensive headphones I bought in the 1970s and 1980s that work just as well as when they were new. These American-made pro headphones have nothing to go obsolete: no batteries to try to repair, no electronics (these are completely passive) and no Bluetooth that might not be compatible with new versions in a few years. These are simple passive headphones that should last you for decades and decades of pleasure.
I'd get my LCD-1 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H, at Crutchfield or eventually used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to approved sources when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. I use the stores I do because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new toys before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I use myself for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken, Mrs. Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.
© Ken Rockwell. All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés. Alle Rechte vorbehalten.
Help Me Help You
I support my growing family through this website, as crazy as it might seem.
The biggest help is when you use any of these links when you get anything. It costs you nothing, and is this site's, and thus my family's, biggest source of support. These places always have the best prices and service, which is why I've used them since before this website existed. I recommend them all personally.
If you find this page as helpful as a book you might have had to buy or a workshop you may have had to take, feel free to help me continue helping everyone.
If you've gotten your gear through one of my links or helped otherwise, you're family. It's great people like you who allow me to keep adding to this site full-time. Thanks!
If you haven't helped yet, please do, and consider helping me with a gift of $5.00.
As this page is copyrighted and formally registered, it is unlawful to make copies, especially in the form of printouts for personal use. If you wish to make a printout for personal use, you are granted one-time permission only if you PayPal me $5.00 per printout or part thereof. Thank you!
Thanks for reading!
Mr. & Mrs. Ken Rockwell, Ryan and Katie.