Audeze LCD XC Headphones - Black

Audeze LCD-XC Headphones - Black

What It Does in Your System

The Closed-Back That Studios Actually Trust

Since Audeze introduced the LCD-XC in 2013, it has become a reference closed-back in the professional world — used by working engineers for tracking, mixing, and mastering, and by listeners who want that same transparency without filling a room with sound. It shares its drivers and core construction with the open-back LCD-X, so the detail and transparency come from the same place.

The difference is isolation. The closed design keeps the outside world out and your music in, which matters whether you're tracking next to a live mic or listening at midnight in a house full of sleeping people.

106mm Planar Drivers, Matched by Hand

Instead of a conventional cone attached to a voice coil, a planar magnetic driver suspends an extremely light diaphragm — with the conductive trace printed directly onto it — between arrays of neodymium magnets. Force is applied evenly across the whole surface rather than at a single point, and less mass means faster, more accurate response.

Audeze builds these with Ultra-Thin Uniforce diaphragms and Fazor waveguides that manage how sound moves through the earcup, improving spatial presentation and frequency extension. Transducers are matched within ±1dB, so what you hear in one ear genuinely corresponds to the other.

Easy to Drive, Better with a Real Amplifier

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

Give it a proper headphone amplifier and it opens up considerably: more grip in the bass, more space between performers, and the effortless dynamic swing planar drivers are known for.

Is This Right for You?

A few things to consider before you order:

• Closed-back is the point. Choose the LCD-XC when isolation matters — tracking without mic bleed, working in a shared space, or listening without disturbing anyone. If you're always alone in a quiet room, the open-back LCD-X offers a more spacious presentation from the same drivers.
• These have real weight to them. Planar magnetic headphones carry substantial magnet structures, and the LCD-XC is around 677 grams. The steel-and-leather suspension headband distributes it well, but it's worth knowing if you're used to something featherweight.
• Confirm the finish and earpad material. Audeze has offered the LCD-XC with different earcup materials and both leather and leather-free earpads across its production run. If either matters to you, give us a call and we'll confirm exactly what's in stock.

Setup & Installation

The cable connects at both earcups using 4-pin mini-XLR connectors, which lock in place and are fully user-replaceable — a real advantage over headphones with captive cables, since the cable is usually what fails first. Audeze includes a braided OCC copper cable with a 4-pin XLR termination plus a single-ended 1/4" adapter, so the LCD-XC works with balanced and standard headphone outputs alike.

A travel case is included for storage and transport. If you're pairing these with a portable device, a 1/4" to 3.5mm adapter will get you connected, though a dedicated amplifier is where they show what they can do.

Features & Specifications

106mm Planar Magnetic Drivers
Large-area transducers with Ultra-Thin Uniforce diaphragms deliver even force across the full diaphragm for speed and accuracy a cone driver can't match.

Fazor Waveguides
Patented elements guide the flow of sound through the earcup, improving spatial presentation and extending frequency response.

Closed-Back Isolation
Blocks ambient noise and prevents microphone bleed, with a slight lift in bass response between 120 and 200Hz that gives electric bass extra definition.

Replaceable 4-Pin Mini-XLR Cabling
Locking connectors at each earcup mean the cable can be swapped or upgraded rather than ending the headphone's life.

Specifications

• Style: Over-ear, closed-back
• Transducer Type: Planar magnetic
• Transducer Size: 106mm
• Diaphragm: Ultra-Thin Uniforce
• Magnet Type: Neodymium N50
• Phase Management: Fazor
• Frequency Response: 10Hz – 50kHz
• THD: <0.1% at 100dB SPL
• Sensitivity: 100dB per 1mW
• Impedance: 20 ohms
• Maximum SPL: >130dB
• Minimum Recommended Power: >100mW (250mW or more recommended)
• Weight: Approx. 677g
• Cable Connection: Dual 4-pin mini-XLR
• Included: Braided OCC copper cable, 1/4" adapter, travel case

Frequently Asked Questions

How do these 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. Choose the XC when you need to keep sound in or out; choose the X when you can listen in an open room and want the most spacious presentation.

Do I need a headphone amplifier?
Not strictly — at 20 ohms and 100dB/mW these are efficient enough to run from an interface, console, or portable device. But 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.

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