Audeze LCD-S20 Review: Your Next Mixing Headphone

After much anticipation, the Audeze LCD-S20 is here! This is a new midrange closed-back model from Audeze, whose open-back models already hold high regard in the audiophile community. This closed-back model comes as a complement to the MM-100, the midrange open-back that is used for studio mixing. Is the LCD-S20 your next reference headphone? Or will it not live up to the months of waiting? 

This Audeze headphone shares a similar style to the ones that came before it. The LCD-S20 is over-ear in style and completely circular for the ear cup shape. The ear pads themselves are more ergonomic and are comfortable to wear over your ears for extended listening sessions. The materials that make up the headphones are very sturdy and reliable for multi-year usage. While wearing these headphones, I could feel their weight very early on. The LCD-S20 is a very heavy headphone, with a loose clamping force to make it easy to take off quickly.

Like the MM-100, the LCD-S20 comes with a single-ended 3.5mm to 6.35mm cable. The headphone itself has dual ports, but it is up to you to decide which side you want to wear the cable on. The headband is also adjustable, with three different tiers of height on either side. 

For my taste, the LCD-S20 headphones were not that comfortable; the weight made them fatiguing, and the loose fit made me feel like they would fall off if I moved my head too quickly or sharply. Perhaps I just have a smaller head, but it is worth noting. 

• Style: Over-ear, closed-back
• Transducer Type: Planar magnetic
• Magnetic structure: Fluxor™ magnet array
• Magnet Type: Neodymium N50
• Phase Management: Fazor™
• Acoustic Management: SLAM™
• Diaphragm Type: Ultra-Thin Uniforce™
• Transducer Size: 90mm
• Maximum SPL: >120dB
• THD: <0.1% @ 100dB SPL, 1kHz
• Impedance: 18 ohms
• Sensitivity: 93dB/1mW (@ Drum Reference Point)
• Maximum Power Handling: 5W RMS
• Minimum Power Requirement: >100mW
• Recommended Power Level: >250mW
• Weight: 550g

SOUNDSTAGE & IMAGING

Now we're on to the listening portion of our review. The Audeze LCD-S20 was fun to listen to, especially paired with a lot of different DACs and amplifiers. The soundstage on the headphone was quite wide and had accurate instrumental placement. I was definitely a fan of how the stereo field expanded in width, though that was kind of where it stopped. The LCD-S20 doesn't provide any vertical height, and the depth is rather limited. In tracks with large instrumentation, the sound stays very neutral and flat on the stereo plane. 

The overall sound signature on the LCD-S20s is neutral and precise. You don't have a lot of bass response, and midrange detail comes in full force in any track. The V-shape signature puts the midrange right at the front, with the bass and treble accentuating those details. For a headphone marketed as a reference pair of cans, this is to be expected from the LCD-S20. It's a great neutral ground for you to start working on. If you are looking for a fun, closed-back listening experience, I could see the LCD-S20 being a bit disappointing. 

BASS FREQUENCIES

Simply put, the Audeze LCD-S20 has a very weak bass response. Tracks that I ran through the headphones that I knew to be bass-heavy just did not deliver the same slam or punchiness I expected out of an Audeze headphone. It was definitely more recessed than even some other treble-heavy headphones, and the coloration of the sound is more the focus than the body. You get a decent amount of detail from this range and tonal accuracy that leans towards the top edge of this range rather than the other side. Sub-bass rumble is definitely missing from some heavier pop and EDM tracks.

However, I will say that the LCD-S20's lack of bass isn't necessarily a bad thing. For mixing purposes, having very little bass makes you able to hear the more natural tones of your instruments. You don't get overwhelmed by heavier frequencies, and you have more room to play with how much you dial it up in your personal EQ. 

MIDRANGE FREQUENCIES

This is the range in the LCD-S20 that gets the most attention. The midrange comes forward to create the V-shaped signature noticed upon a first listen. You get to hear vocals and a lot of other melodic instruments come right to the front and be the center of attention, with everything else filtering slightly backwards and more sideways. Every element in the midrange comes across in spectacular detail, where you aren't left wondering or grasping for missing pieces. 

I really appreciated the coloration of the instruments in this range on the LCD-S20. Vocals sounded crystal clear and natural, as if the singers were in the room with you. Acoustic guitars and grand pianos had the timbre you'd expect from those instruments, added with intense detail so you didn't miss any of the finer details. This range made it obvious that this headphone could definitely be used as a reference headphone, with its flat quality and neutral tuning across all elements. 

TREBLE FREQUENCIES

The treble range may not be as strong as something like the midrange, but it certainly came through to deliver clarity and space to the headphone. The LCD-S20 has a decent amount of space at the top end, with a natural roll-off that doesn't cut off the ultra-highs. There is a certain airiness that this range possesses, giving a thinner presentation than something as heavily textured as the midrange. The treble is a good balance to the LCD-S20's bass response, where you get the clarity and space to prevent an overly compressed and heavy mix. 

This is a range that can be heard throughout the entire signature of the LCD-S20s. Between the ring of a snare drum, the treble twang of a bass guitar, and the reverb that dies out in an orchestral symphony, the treble works overtime to give you incredible clarity and detail throughout the entire sound signature. The analytical listener will definitely appreciate the attention to detail they get when using the LCD-S20.  

The LCD-S20 doesn't need an amplifier due to its low impedance and high sensitivity, but I used one for my test listening anyway. I used a range of portable and desktop DAC/amps, as this headphone would be easy to use on the go as well as at a desk. 

• Fosi Audio ZH3
• iFi GO Blu
• FiiO BTR15
• FiiO QX13

I found that DAC/Amps like the iFi GO Blu and the FiiO BTR15 were great options, but there were also quite a few desktop amps that paired well with the sound signature. The flatness of the LCD-S20 can be quite jarring, so pairing it with something that can play around with the filters and tunings allows you to embrace the SLAM technology with planar driver precision. I liked the iFi GO Blu the best, with the XBass filter on to fill in what the headphone itself was missing. 

The Audeze LCD-S20 proves itself to be a true powerhouse in its class. The build is sturdy for long listening sessions, and the sound delivers just what you need to start working right away at whatever project is on your list. The LCD-S20 may not be a headphone for casual listening, but it certainly does pair well with DAC/amplifiers and lets you hear their unique filters. 

I think this is a headphone that recording artists will love as an upgrade from their current models. Mixing engineers who want a good value headphone will want to get their hands on one of these. The best test will be to come in and listen to the headphones yourself. Your ears will be the ultimate judge if the LCD-S20 is the next pair of cans to add to your audiophile arsenal. 

The Audeze LCD-S20 is available today at Audio46.