Audeze LCD-5s Flagship Planar Magnetic Headphone

The Flagship That Slams

The Audeze LCD-5s is the newest evolution of Audeze's flagship open-back planar magnetic headphone, engineered for audiophiles, mastering engineers, and recording professionals who refuse to compromise on accuracy or comfort.

Building on the multi-award-winning LCD-5 platform, the LCD-5s introduces Audeze's patent-pending SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator) technology alongside a redesigned driver and newly sculpted earpads for genuinely mastering-grade precision throughout every session.

Hand-assembled at Audeze's facility in California, the LCD-5s pairs cutting-edge planar magnetic engineering with luxurious materials and meticulous craftsmanship throughout, ready for a quality headphone amplifier and your favorite source material.

Where SLAM Technology Earns Its Keep

Bass You Feel, Achieved Without DSP

SLAM stands for Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator, using precision-engineered acoustic channels built into the ring connecting the earpads to the drivers, technology originally developed for Audeze's elite CRBN2 electrostatic headphones.

These channels modulate low-frequency response and relieve pressure buildup, delivering a claimed 6dB bass boost extending down to 10Hz along with improved spatial precision, all achieved through acoustic engineering rather than DSP.

A Revised Diaphragm for the Most Precise Midrange Yet

A nano-scale Parallel Uniforce diaphragm connects to a new chassis structure, allowing the most precise midrange tuning Audeze has ever achieved, with vocals and acoustic instruments emerging with genuinely lifelike presence and immediacy.

Total harmonic distortion stays below 0.1% at 100dB, and treble extends smoothly to 50kHz without harshness, while Fazor waveguides manage how sound leaves the driver for tighter, more precise imaging throughout.

What Reviewers Are Saying

Latin Grammy-winning mastering engineers Bernie and Dale Becker called the LCD-5s "upgraded and improved beyond any reasonable expectation... better, bigger, smoother, wider, deeper, more articulate, and more comfortable."

Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram described refining "every aspect of the listening experience — from driver performance to comfort and industrial design — to deliver the most lifelike and emotionally engaging planar magnetic headphone we've ever created."

Who Is the LCD-5s Best For?

• You want physically engaging bass from an open-back flagship: SLAM technology delivers a genuine 6dB boost down to 10Hz without DSP
• You're a mastering engineer who needs a neutral, uncolored midrange: the revised diaphragm delivers Audeze's most precise midrange tuning yet
• You want luxury materials matched to the performance: carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine leather, and copper accents throughout
• You do long critical-listening sessions: newly sculpted leather earpads improve comfort and seal over hours of continuous use
• You want SLAM bass authority in a flagship planar — the LCD-5s adds exactly that

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Every LCD-5s ships with a premium cable tuned with directional OCC high-purity copper strands, terminating in a 4-pin XLR balanced connector for a low-capacitance, low-resistance signal path.

A 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm TRS adapter and a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter are both included, and at 35 ohms and 90dB/mW, Audeze recommends a dedicated amplifier delivering 500mW or more overall.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around an LCD-5s:

• Headphone amplifiers — 500mW or more is genuinely worth the investment to unlock this driver's full dynamic range
• Digital-to-analog converters — a high-quality DAC significantly improves what this driver has to work with
• Headphone cables — the balanced 4-pin XLR termination opens the door to aftermarket options
• Headphone stands — a proper resting spot for a genuine flagship instrument

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a headphone amplifier for the LCD-5s?

Yes, effectively. At 35 ohms and 90dB/mW it will produce sound from most sources, but Audeze recommends a dedicated amplifier delivering at least 100mW, with 500mW or more ideal for unlocking its full dynamic range.

What is SLAM technology, exactly?

Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator — precision-engineered acoustic channels in the ring connecting the earpads to the drivers, modulating low-frequency response and relieving pressure buildup entirely through acoustic engineering, without any DSP processing at all.

How does the LCD-5s compare to the original LCD-5?

The LCD-5s adds SLAM technology for more powerful bass, a revised driver with more precise midrange tuning, newly sculpted earpads, and a higher 35-ohm impedance up from the LCD-5's 14 ohms.

Is this comfortable for long sessions?

Yes. Newly sculpted genuine leather earpads improve comfort and seal, and the carbon-fiber and magnesium frame keeps weight to 475 grams despite the flagship-level materials throughout.

Can I replace the cable or earpads?

Yes. The LCD-5s uses detachable connectors at the earcups, and replacement earpads are available directly from Audeze as a normal consumable wear item over time.

What's included in the box?

The headphone, a premium 4-pin XLR balanced cable with OCC copper, a 4-pin XLR to 6.3mm adapter, a 6.3mm to 3.5mm adapter, and a lockable aluminum travel case.

See It in Action

The Headphone Show presents Audeze LCD-5S review.

The Headphone Show presents Audeze LCD-5S first impressions.

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Learn More

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