Audeze LCD XC Headphones - Black

The Closed-Back Studios Actually Trust

The Audeze LCD-XC has served as a reference closed-back planar since 2013, used by working engineers for tracking, mixing, and mastering alongside listeners who want that same transparency without filling a room with sound.

It shares its 106mm drivers and core construction with the open-back LCD-X, so the detail and transparency come from the same place — the difference here is isolation, keeping the outside world out and your music in.

That matters whether you're tracking next to a live microphone or listening late at night in a house full of sleeping people, and it's why the LCD-XC has held its place in studios for over a decade now.

Where the 106mm Planar Driver Earns Its Keep

Ultra-Thin Uniforce, Matched by Hand

Instead of a cone attached to a voice coil, a planar magnetic driver suspends an extremely light diaphragm between arrays of neodymium N50 magnets, applying force evenly across the whole surface rather than at a single point.

Fazor waveguides manage how sound moves through the earcup, improving spatial presentation and frequency extension, while transducers are matched within ±1dB so what you hear in one ear genuinely corresponds to the other.

Closed-Back, With a Purposeful Bass Lift

The closed design blocks ambient noise and prevents microphone bleed, while producing a slight, deliberate lift in bass response between 120 and 200Hz that gives electric bass and kick drum extra definition and weight.

At 20 ohms and 100dB per milliwatt, the LCD-XC is efficient enough to run from an audio interface or a portable device — unusually easy to drive for a planar of this size — though Audeze suggests upward of 250mW for best results.

Who Is the LCD-XC Best For?

• You need isolation without giving up planar detail: the same drivers as the LCD-X, sealed against mic bleed and outside noise
• You track next to a live microphone: the closed design keeps monitoring sound from bleeding into an open mic
• You listen late at night in a shared home: isolation works both directions, keeping your music from disturbing anyone nearby
• You want real weight and definition on electric bass: the closed-back's deliberate 120-200Hz lift adds genuine low-end punch
• You want genuine isolation from an Audeze planar — the closed-back LCD-XC

How Does It Connect to Your System?

Dual 4-pin mini-XLR connectors at each earcup lock securely in place and are fully user-replaceable, a real advantage since the cable is usually the first thing to fail on a headphone this well built.

Audeze includes a braided OCC copper cable terminating in 4-pin XLR with a single-ended 1/4" adapter, working with balanced and standard headphone amplifier outputs alike right out of the box.

Pairs Well With

What finishes the system around an LCD-XC:

• Headphone amplifiers — 250mW or more unlocks the grip and dynamic swing this driver is capable of
• Digital-to-analog converters — a clean digital source feeding your amp matters as much as the amp itself
• Headphone cables — the replaceable mini-XLR connectors open the door to balanced or aftermarket options
• Headphone stands — a proper resting spot for a headphone built to last for years

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the LCD-XC compare to the LCD-X?

Same drivers, same basic construction, so a very similar level of detail and transparency. The LCD-XC adds isolation and a modest bass lift between 120 and 200Hz; the LCD-X trades that isolation for a more spacious open-back presentation.

Do I need a headphone amplifier?

Not strictly — at 20 ohms and 100dB/mW these are efficient enough to run from an interface or portable device. They respond well to real power, and a quality amplifier delivering 250mW or more is where they sound their best.

Can I replace the cable?

Yes. The dual 4-pin mini-XLR connectors are a standard Audeze fitting, so cables can be replaced if damaged or swapped for a balanced or aftermarket option down the road.

Is isolation good enough for tracking with a live mic?

Yes, that's exactly the scenario this closed design was built for — keeping monitoring sound from bleeding into a nearby open microphone during a session.

Are these comfortable for long sessions?

At around 677 grams they carry real weight, but the steel-and-leather suspension headband distributes it across the top of your head rather than clamping at the sides, so long sessions stay manageable.

Where is the LCD-XC made?

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

See It in Action

Audeze presents Audeze LCD-X. Mind Blowing Details🤯.

The Headphone Show presents Audeze LCD-XC Review - I was not expecting this.

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Learn More

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