Audeze LCD-X - Headphones - Black - Leather Ear Pads - Travel Case

The Headphone Studios Actually Use

The Audeze LCD-X has been Audeze's best-selling headphone since it launched in 2013, and plenty of records you've heard were mixed on a pair — engineers reach for it because it tells the truth about a recording rather than flattering it.

This is the current 2021 revision, a real overhaul rather than a refresh: Audeze reworked the magnet array, thinned the diaphragm film, retuned the overall sound, and replaced the old headband entirely with a suspension design that spreads the weight far better.

This version ships with genuine lambskin leather ear pads and a travel case, the traditional pairing behind the LCD-X's deep, lambskin-cushioned seal around each ear across every listening session you actually sit down for.

Where the 106mm Planar Driver Earns Its Keep

A Diaphragm That Starts and Stops on Command

A conventional headphone driver is a cone pushed from a single point, prone to flexing and breaking up. The LCD-X uses an ultra-thin Uniforce diaphragm driven evenly across its entire surface by a double-sided neodymium N50 magnet array with Fazor waveguides.

The transient response that produces is about as fast as you could ask for, and the bass carries genuine punch — a quality planar headphones aren't always known for — while distortion stays at 0.1% even at 100dB.

Genuine Lambskin, Sealed for the Bass to Show Up

Deep lambskin pads seal evenly around your ears, and getting that seal right noticeably improves both bass response and comfort — the pads are soft enough to conform without needing to clamp hard against your head.

At 612 grams the LCD-X is a substantial headphone, but the wide suspension headband distributes that weight across the top of your head considerably better than the design it replaced back in 2021.

Who Is the LCD-X Best For?

• You want accuracy, not flattery: the LCD-X is voiced neutral and revealing, a genuine mixing and mastering tool
• You want the deepest, most traditional seal available: genuine lambskin pads conform gently while sealing evenly around each ear
• You listen in a quiet room at home: the open-back design produces real spaciousness in exchange for some sound leakage
• Low impedance genuinely matters to you: 20 ohms and 103dB/mW make this one of the easiest planar headphones to drive properly
• You need isolation instead: that's the closed-back LCD-XC, not the LCD-X, which trades isolation for a more open, spacious presentation

How Does It Connect to Your System?

The cable connects at both earcups with 4-pin mini-XLR plugs that lock in place and can be replaced, a real advantage since the cable is usually the first thing to fail on a headphone this well built.

Audeze includes a cable terminating in 4-pin XLR plus adapters for standard headphone jacks, so the LCD-X works with balanced and regular amplifier outputs alike right out of the box.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around an LCD-X:

• Headphone amplifiers — a quiet, well-designed amp brings more grip in the bass and more space between performers
• Digital-to-analog converters — this driver's transparency reveals differences in source quality clearly
• Headphone cables — the replaceable mini-XLR connectors open the door to balanced or aftermarket options
• Headphone stands — a proper resting spot between mixing sessions

Frequently Asked Questions

Does genuine leather sound different from the leather-free pads?

Slightly. Ear pad material and shape both affect how a headphone measures, and listeners who've compared the two report small differences in the midrange. Neither is better — it comes down to preference and how the seal feels against your ears.

Do I need a headphone amplifier?

Not to get volume. At 20 ohms and 103dB per milliwatt, a phone or laptop will drive them properly. But they scale with power, and a good amp brings more grip in the bass and more space between performers.

How does the LCD-X differ from the LCD-XC?

Same drivers and the same basic build. The LCD-X is open-backed, which gives it a more spacious, airy sound. The LCD-XC is closed, blocking outside noise and keeping your music in.

Will people around me hear my music?

Yes — that's the nature of an open-back design. The open earcup creates the LCD-X's sense of space and air, but sound escapes freely in both directions, so it isn't suited to a shared space.

Can I replace the ear pads myself?

Yes, over time. Genuine lambskin pads are a wear item on any headphone, and Audeze sells direct replacements so you can refresh the seal once the original pads eventually compress or wear thin.

Where is the LCD-X made?

Handcrafted in Audeze's Southern California workshop, the same facility that builds every headphone in the current LCD line.

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Learn More

Want to learn more about planar magnetic headphones, headphone amplifiers, or getting the most from an open-back design? Visit our Learning Center for guides, tips, and expert advice.