If you want some headphones to replace your Apple Airpods, then they are not.

Saying that, youcanpay for them in installments…

Essentially, these are audiophile-quality headphones aimed at serious users, rather than casual listening.

a person watching content on a smart tv screen

Keen to know more?

No cardboard nonsense here.

Don’t want any fingerprints on them, now, do we?!

audeze lcd-5 editors choice

Just sit down and enjoy the music, for crying out loud!

They follow an open-back design, which you’ll be used to seeing on a lot of studio-quality headphones.

Thus, each headphone has one inputa four-pin XLR socket to plug the braided copper cable into.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones mesh

The ear cup enclosure itself comes in an attractive tortoise-shell design, crafted from lightweight acetate.

They’re light, too, weighing in at a mere 0.9 lbs.

That doesn’t put me off at all, though it is a little cumbersome.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones side view

In all, you’ve got a really beautiful pair of headphones, here.

Powerful on Paper

In terms of specifications, the Audeze LCD-5 headphones have plenty to shout about.

I mean, they’re over four grand, so expect premium quality at every turn.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones front view

The headphones use a planar magnetic transducer.

It’ll just be very loud.

In terms of impedance, you’re looking at a surprising 14 ohms.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones inside earcup

This compares to the 200 ohm LCD-4, hence the figure is somewhat surprising.

As I said before, I loved the LCDi3 IEMs.

The open-back design coupled with an in-ear form is innovative and performance was exemplary.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones turtleshell earcup housing

I’m happy to say that the Audeze LCD-5 blew me away even more.

My ears are not your ears, meaning the following is subjective and might not be your experience.

The LCDi3 in-ear monitors afford incredible clarity, and the LCD-5 even more so.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones adjustment rod

The planar magnetic transducers respond fast to a sound signal, meaning that detail is rich in its presentation.

Imagine watching a band live, and they’re playing their tightest set ever.

Every sound perfectly aligned with one another.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones XLR cable connector and headphone jack

This is what the LCD-5 headphones do when you listen to music through, them.

They sound incredibly bright, punchy, and they deliver the detail rapid-fire.

It is this near-perfect response that makes the music you’re listening to sound so good.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Mini XLR top

This is what I love about listening to music through Audeze cans.

Mids really shine, though, with the LCD-5, and do so from the off.

On to testing with my DJ equipment, and I was pleasantly surprised.

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Mini XLR

This leads me to assert that these headphones would play a wonderful role in a music production set-up.

Especially with that reference-level bass.

Should You Buy the Audeze LCD-5 Headphones?

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Case

This is a difficult one to answer.

You get me here?

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Case Clasp

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Case

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones front view

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones mesh

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones inside earcup

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones adjustment rod

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones turtleshell earcup housing

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones Mini XLR

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones side view

Audeze LCD-5 Headphones XLR cable connector and headphone jack