Audeze LCD-X (100-LX-1018-00)

The Audeze LCD-X is a reference-grade open-back planar magnetic headphone with some of the best sound quality we've tested. It's heavy, uncomfortable for long sessions, and has no wireless or ANC features. Buy it for critical listening and studio work, not for casual use.

The sound is where the LCD-X earns its reputation. That 106mm planar magnetic driver delivers a level of detail and speed that dynamic drivers struggle to match. The ultra-thin diaphragm responds fast, which means transients hit with precision and there's very little distortion even at higher volumes. Audeze's Fazor elements help keep the waveform clean by reducing internal resonances, and in practice that translates to imaging you can trust. You can pick out individual instruments in a dense mix without straining.

The frequency response extends from 10Hz up to 50kHz, so sub-bass is present and controlled, and the top end has plenty of air. The 20 ohm impedance and 103dB sensitivity mean you don't need a monster amp to get loud, but you'll still want something clean. Plugging these into a phone dongle technically works, but you're leaving performance on the table. The open-back design gives you a wide, natural soundstage, but it also means zero isolation. These are for quiet rooms, not commutes.

Build quality is solid, landing in the 75th percentile. The anodized aluminum rings look sharp and the overall construction feels durable. But the comfort score is a real problem. At 612 grams, these are among the heaviest headphones we've tested, and the comfort rating sits in the 3rd percentile. That's one of the worst we've seen. After an hour or two, you'll feel it.

Compared to the Sony WH-1000XM6, the LCD-X is a completely different animal. The Sony gives you wireless convenience, excellent ANC, and a fraction of the weight for less money. But the Sony can't touch the Audeze for raw detail and soundstage. The WH-1000XM6 is a commuter headphone. The LCD-X is a studio tool. If you need to block out the world, the Sony wins. If you need to hear every flaw in a mix, the Audeze wins.

The Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 is another interesting comparison. It's a premium wireless headphone with a warmer, more consumer-friendly tuning. The Px8 is far more comfortable and practical, but again, it's not in the same league for critical listening. The Apple AirPods Max 2 is similar. Great for Apple users, solid ANC, but the sound is tuned for enjoyment, not accuracy. The Sennheiser HDB 630 and TOZO HT3 are budget options that don't really compete on sound, but they're a fraction of the price and far more comfortable for long sessions.

Value is tricky here. The LCD-X lists at $1,199 USD in the US, but European pricing is all over the place. We're seeing EUR prices ranging from EUR 1,344 to EUR 2,874 across four listings in Germany, Spain, France, and Italy. That's a EUR 1,530 spread, which is wild. If you're in Europe, shop around. The lowest EUR 1,344 price is the one to look for, and paying anywhere near EUR 2,874 would be a mistake. In Canada, expect to pay around CAD 1,699 to CAD 1,700.

For that money, you're getting one of the best-sounding headphones on the market, but nothing else. No Bluetooth, no ANC, no mic worth using. The budget score of 36.2 out of 100 reflects that. If you're a mixing engineer or a dedicated listener with a good amp and a quiet room, the LCD-X earns its keep. If you want features and versatility, there are better ways to spend this much.

The Audeze LCD-X is a high-end, open-back planar magnetic headphone aimed squarely at audio professionals and serious enthusiasts. It sits in that premium bracket where you're spending well over a grand, and for that money you get a 106mm planar driver, a 10Hz to 50kHz frequency response, and a 20 ohm impedance that makes it surprisingly easy to drive from a decent headphone amp. This isn't a lifestyle headphone. It's a tool for people who want to hear everything on a recording, warts and all.

We've seen the LCD-X top our sound quality charts, landing in the 98th percentile for audio performance. That's the absolute best right now for this category. But it comes with some real trade-offs. The 612g weight is no joke, and comfort lands near the bottom of our database. If you're asking whether the Audeze LCD-X is good for casual listening, the answer is complicated. It sounds incredible, but it demands a quiet room and a tolerant neck.

For studio work, the LCD-X scores a 67.1 out of 100 in our testing. Music listening comes in at 63.7. Those numbers reflect the headphone's strengths and weaknesses. You get reference-grade clarity and detail retrieval, but the comfort and practicality issues drag the overall experience down. It's a specialist's headphone, not an all-rounder.

Skip the LCD-X if you want a headphone for travel, commuting, or office use. The open-back design leaks sound and provides zero isolation, and the 612g weight makes it uncomfortable for long sessions. Gamers should look elsewhere too, since the mic scores a dismal 11.6 out of 100 and there's no wireless option. If you want great sound with modern conveniences, the Sony WH-1000XM6 or Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are better fits. And if you're on a budget, the TOZO HT3 gets you decent sound for a fraction of the price.

Should you buy the Audeze LCD-X? If you're a mixing engineer, a mastering engineer, or a serious audiophile who prioritizes sound above everything else, yes. This is one of the best-sounding headphones we've ever tested, and the detail retrieval is genuinely top-tier. The 98th percentile sound score isn't marketing fluff. These things reveal everything.

But if you're a casual listener, a gamer, or someone who wants a headphone for travel or office use, skip it. The comfort is a dealbreaker for many people, and the lack of wireless, ANC, and a usable mic makes it a poor fit for everyday life. The LCD-X is a specialist's tool, and it's brilliant at that job. Just know what you're signing up for.