LCD-X 2021

The LCD-X 2021 is a deliberate revision, not a minor refresh, and the review needs to start with that honesty. Audeze re-tuned the LCD-X for the 2021 model toward a more neutral measurement target — closer to Harman, further from the warm-and-musical character that defined the older LCD-2 and the original LCD-X. It divides loyalists, and pretending otherwise misleads readers.

What the planar-magnetic driver actually does justifies the price. A planar diaphragm is a thin sheet driven uniformly across its surface by a magnet array, rather than a cone driven from a single voice coil. The result: lower distortion at the same volume, faster transient response, and a more even frequency response across the bandwidth. None of that is hand-waving — it's measurable and audible against any sub-£1,500 dynamic headphone.

Tonally the 2021 revision is closer to neutral. Mids are uncoloured rather than warm, bass is honest rather than emphasised, treble is extended without push. For mix engineers and home producers — who need a planar reference at sub-flagship money — that's exactly right. For listeners who came up through the older Audeze house sound, it's a noticeable change of direction.

The build is properly engineered: magnesium and aluminium throughout, leather suspension strap, replaceable cables and pads. But heavy. Long sessions get tiring; that's the planar trade-off, not Audeze-specific.

The right Audeze for engineers and modern listeners. The wrong Audeze if you loved the LCD-2.