Marcus critiques the Audeze LCD-5s, a 2nd-generation flagship planar magnetic driver open-back headphone that includes SLAM know-how. It’s at the moment priced at $4500.
Disclaimer: I obtained this pattern in alternate for my sincere opinion. Headfonics is an impartial web site with no affiliate hyperlinks or companies. I thank the group at Audeze for his or her help.
Click on right here to learn extra in regards to the Audeze merchandise now we have beforehand reviewed on Headfonics.
This text follows our present scoring pointers, which you’ll learn in additional element right here.
Audeze LCD-5s Evaluation
Abstract
The open-back planar driver Audeze LCD-5s sound is a satisfying mixture of outdated and new. It combines SLAM with the wonderful velocity and technical functionality of the LCD-5 driver and the extra emotionally partaking, smoother sound of the older fashions.
Professionals
Improved bass presence and smoother upper-mids.
Comfier ear pad design than the LCD-5.
Simple to drive from high quality amplifiers.
Cons
Intimate soundstage.
Some may discover the tuning a bit darkish.
Heavier than the unique LCD-5
Though a decidedly totally different sort of headphone, final 12 months’s electrostatic Audeze CRBN2 headphones launched the idea of SLAM know-how for bass enhancement.
This know-how has rapidly develop into a bedrock in subsequent different driver headphones throughout each ends of the pricing spectrum, starting from the $499 LCD-S20 in mid-2025 to their newest creation, the flagship $4500 LCD-5s open-back planar headphones.
The arrival of the brand new LCD-5s additionally means the discontinuation of the unique LCD-5. A headphone that generated a number of totally different opinions amongst Audeze headphones followers, outdated and new. A brand new design, a special driver, and a brand new sound; change can usually be unsettling.
The brand new LCD-5s design and SLAM-enhanced tuning actually tackle a number of the LCD-5 consumer suggestions. It sounds smoother now, with much less pinna achieve, with weightier lows. For some followers, this may quell the old-school thirst for that darker Audeze home sound.
However is it a return to the legacy tuning of the LCD-4 and even the newer LCD-4z? Or maybe it’s shifting the entire course of nearer to the objectives of the SLAM-equipped CRBN2? And the way does the LCD-5s carry out and examine to all three? I came upon in my full assessment under.
Options
The Audeze LCD-5s is an open-back planar magnetic driver headphone related in dimension and kind issue to the earlier LCD-5.
It has some overlapping options with the older model, together with a 90mm driver with Audeze’s present Fazor waveguide, a nano-scale diaphragm thickness, and 14 Neodymium N50 magnets in a single-sided Fluxor magnet array.
Nevertheless, there are some key variations, together with the aforementioned SLAM know-how, a revised chassis construction for the driving force diaphragm (focusing on the mids), and a extra snug ear pad design.
SLAM targets the LCD-5s lows, delivering a thicker, extra highly effective bass response than the flatter LCD-5 efficiency with out lengthening the diaphragm tour and dramatically decreasing effectivity.
Probably the most tangible exterior proof of SLAM contained in the LCD-5s is the extra gold ring between the cup and pad, one thing that’s not current on the older mannequin.
This ring homes a number of fine-tuned bodily channels that act as a conduit between the pads and the driving force to alleviate stress and acoustically modulate or increase the low-frequency response of the LCD-5s by a number of dB over the unique with out including distortion.
There’s a slight enhance in load at 35Ω in comparison with the LCD-5 14Ω ranking, however the sensitivity ranges stay unchanged at 90 dB/mW. It isn’t a tough headphone to drive, however I all the time discovered the unique to excel with amps providing good dynamic vary, with the LCD-5s following the same sample.
Design
The LCD-5s has the identical kind issue as the unique LCD-5 however has been given the LCD-4z remedy by way of aesthetics. In brief, it’s been jazzed up a bit with copper accents, although my eye suggests it’s nearer to a rose gold end on the adjuster rods.
Nonetheless, it cuts a richer trying visible with copper-accented grill meshes and copper-toned labeling mixed with the copper or rose gold rod adjusters, and the brand new SLAM copper/rose-gold ring between the ‘Tortoiseshell’ dyed and polished acetate enclosures and the brand new pads.
My eyes are additionally signaling to me that the enclosures do have a barely extra vibrant look to them with a stronger injection of yellow or gold, however that would properly be a manufacturing variation since utilizing dye makes for distinctive ending on every cup.
Another nuanced change within the ending appears to be the stronger mini-XLR connector rings. The unique LCD-5 pattern I’ve right here has thinner rings on the connection stem entry, whereas the brand new ones look a bit beefier and have a chrome end.
All different areas appear largely unchanged, which means molded black magnesium connectors and gimbals that tightly hug the contours of the LCD-5s cups, and a light-weight carbon fiber headband and stress strap system.
One factor to notice is the burden distinction between the unique and the LCD-5s. The brand new design weighs 475g in comparison with the unique’s 420g. That could be a noticeable distinction, however under no circumstances a deal-breaker because of the new pads’ comfier design.
I can solely presume the extra SLAM ring, chassis refinement, and thicker connectors have contributed to the LCD-5s’s weight achieve.
Consolation
There have been some main modifications to how the LCD-5s sits in your head relative to stress distribution and the ear pad design. The results of it is a rather more snug becoming expertise in comparison with the unique.
I need to caveat this by saying the LCD-5s consolation ranges received’t beat the likes of Susvara or an Empyrean for that lush really feel on the aspect of your temples, however in the event you personal an LCD-4z, it feels slightly nearer to that degree, which is completely passable.
So, what has Audeze finished to realize this? The primary is the stress within the headband, which feels extra malleable for numerous head sizes in comparison with the extra restrictive LCD-5 headband.
That appears to decrease the LCD-5s’s lateral clamping stress, which was the important thing challenge with my private LCD-5 becoming expertise.
The second massive change are the brand new ear pads. I’m not 100% positive in the event that they modified the reminiscence foam inside, however they really feel slightly softer than the OG pads.
The LCD-5s pads are additionally slightly extra streamlined on the intense edges across the stitching, which boosts the softness, decreasing the pointed edging of the unique and making a flatter, barely wider contact floor.
Additionally, the ear pad’s inner-wall fluting is shallower, and in the event you look immediately inside, the beginning of the pad’s base is a couple of mm increased than the originals, giving them a shallower look.
I believe that that is to permit the SLAM rings to work effectively, and you may see them on the base of the cups simply in entrance of the driving force enclosure. Arguably, the opening is slightly smaller and narrower, however on the optimistic aspect, your ears are much less prone to contact the driving force enclosures.
Inventory Cable
The LCD-5s inventory cable appears unchanged from the LCD-5 authentic, at the least in response to my notes.
Which means a balanced connection, which might be uncommon for an Audeze headphone inventory cable. Followers of single-ended connections is not going to really feel overlooked because the LCD-5s comes with a brief 4-pin XLR to six.35mm pig-tail connector utilizing the identical jacket design and wiring.
This isn’t Audeze’s common 4-wire AWG20 single-crystal OCC copper and silver-plated copper Premium cable, bought for $599 on their web site.
Fairly, it’s much like the unique LCD-5’s directional OCC high-purity AWG20-rated copper wiring with the identical darkish copper and black dual-tone PVC jacket end.
The inventory cable connectors are Neutrik’s next-gen zinc diecast-finished NC3FXX 4-pin XLR for the jack, and Rean mini-XLR for the cups.
This cable handles properly. You shouldn’t have any issues with undue weight, stiffness, or distracting microphonics when linked to the LCD-5s headphones and in use.
Packaging & Equipment
The LCD-5s comes packed inside the identical sort of aluminum journey case that Audeze used for the unique LCD-5 and is properly protected throughout delivery by way of 2 foam inserts inside an everyday brown courier field.
The aluminum case is bigger and barely totally different in design from the usual Economic system LCD Journey Case, although the mechanics and inside foam lining comply with the same sample.
I can’t say whether it is weatherproof just like the Premium Journey case, but it surely does have an upscale and smoother-looking exterior end in comparison with the Economic system model that comes with the likes of the LCD-XC 2021.
Just like the smaller financial system case, you get a set of small keys to permit you to lock the LCD-5s model, which is fairly helpful contemplating the value of the headphones.
You additionally get a guaranty card in its personal separate skinny foam slot and a really helpful pair of white cotton gloves in case you are OCD within the dealing with of the LCD-5s headphones.
The gloves maintain the fingerprints off the enclosures and reduce down on any undesirable switch of grime and grease out of your arms.
Sound Impressions
The next sound impressions of the Audeze LCD-5s had been accomplished utilizing the dCS Bartok Apex, the Ferrum OOR/WANDLA GSE combo, and the Auris Audio Headonia 300B/Holo Audio Spring 2 DAC.
Abstract
Lots has modified; the LCD-5s sound fairly totally different from the LCD-5. Some will prefer it, some is not going to, and a few will completely find it irresistible.
For the ‘old-fashioned’ followers, the brand new smoother, weightier tuning is a step in the best route. The LCD-5s has extra in widespread with the LCD-4z, and general, I might regard it as a really clean and pure performer.
Sibilance isn’t a difficulty; incidents of metallic overtones within the treble are non-existent; it is a very coherent sound signature.
For many who discovered the LCD-5 a bit ‘shouty’, the LCD-5s is a satisfying treatment. Pure, even-harmonic-biased vocal notes, with a barely rounded tone, are attributes that may permit for longer listening periods with out fatigue.
For LCD-5 (and MM-500) evangelists, the LCD-5’s darker mids may come as a shock. Vocals at the moment are extra relaxed of their imaging, the highs much less energetic, delivering a set of upper-mids that I discover a lot simpler on the ear however arguably don’t reduce via the combination as decisively because the LCD-5.
I believe each camps will agree that the LCD-5s’s low-end response is now rather more vital under 80Hz.
For rhythmic recordings, the LCD-5s delivers a fulsome, extra highly effective bass, albeit with a barely softer, lower-contrast tone than the LCD-5’s leaner, however extra rapier-like strategy.
The LCD-5s lows will profit from amplifiers that mix weight, precision, and power, sounding attractive with the likes of the dCS Bartok Apex.
Since it’s a related 90mm driver dimension, the LCD-5s’s technical functionality is unchanged from the LCD-5 to my ear, so it’s nonetheless a reasonably compact soundstage.
Fairly, it’s the change in tuning emphasis that impacts how element is perceived. Depth is a powerful level now with the LCD-5s; mids are much less compelled, and the highs are relaxed.
Frequency Response
The most important FR modifications on the LCD-5s relative to the LCD-5 are sub-100Hz and all the pieces actually past 2-3k.
The FR on the LCD-5s has a lifted sub-bass response that begins round 70-80hz however is extra noticeable round 50Hz when recordings name upon it, and the amplifier can reproduce it.
Nonetheless, even with a conveyable DAP or amplifier, you’ll discover a weightier response when switching between the 2 headphones. In addition they sound fuller than the LCD-4z, but it surely’s not as unfold out or ambient in its supply as the larger headphone.
I don’t sense an enormous change in tuning from 200Hz as much as 1k. It’s pretty linear with a sluggish rise as much as 1k-2k, so vocals and most midrange devices that traverse this area get a delicate elevate.
Clearly, the firmer bass response will have an effect on the elemental frequency magnitude; lower-mids devices will sound beefier than earlier than, however in any other case the imaging feels about the identical.
Midrange be aware timbre on the LCD-5s will even sound slightly extra rounded and smoother than the LCD-5, courtesy of a diminished 2-4k FR bump.
It’ll sound slightly darker and extra distant than the strident LCD-5 imaging, however in its personal proper, I discover the steadiness excellent with vocals properly weighted and natural-sounding.
There isn’t an enormous quantity of ahead power from 5-10k. Fairly, it’s mildly lifted to forestall percussion timbre from sounding blunted, and there’s a first rate if not overwhelming quantity of air past the mids.
Arguably, the LCD-5s has extra extension or barely extra amplitude than the LCD-5 from 5-10k, however once more, it’s not compelled, so this isn’t a headphone that may sound shiny or metallic in its supply.
Click on on web page 2 under for my really helpful pairings and chosen comparisons.
