The great flagship planar magnetic headphones shootout: Audeze vs. Hifiman vs. Meze vs. MrSpeakers

Audeze LCD-MX4

Audeze LCD-MX4

The LCD-MX4 is one of the newest headphones in Audeze’s venerable LCD collection. If you are a long-time headphone enthusiast, then you will know that headphones like the LCD-2 and LCD-3 are the stuff of legends. For those new to the game, just know that Audeze, along with compatriots Hifiman, are pioneers of modern-day planar magnetic headphones.

The LCD-MX4 was conceived after getting feedback from the professional community from their time spent with the earlier LCD-4. As good as the LCD-4 is, its weight (well over 500g) meant that they could be uncomfortable for extended listening sessions. Additionally, their need for beefy amplification meant that they could not be used freely with laptops or mixing consoles.

And so Audeze sought to make the LCD-MX4 more friendly to audio professionals. For a start, it features extensive use of lightweight materials. The ear cups are fashioned out of magnesium and the head band is carbon fiber. But despite Audeze’s best efforts, the LCD-MX4 still weighs close to half a kilogram. But as a Singaporean male who has grown accustomed to wearing combat helmets during my time in National Service, I didn’t find the LCD-MX4’s weight to be excessive. The heavy magnets within the driver are to be blamed, but I found the suspension-style head band and the thick ear pads to help greatly with comfort.

I’m pleased to say that Audeze’s efforts on the sensitivity front have borne greater fruits. The LCD-MX4’s impedance is just 20 ohms while sensitivity is a very high 105dB/1mW. For comparison's sake, the LCD-4’s comparative figures are 200 ohms and 97 dB/1mW respectively. Even out of an iPad, the LCD-MX4 plays loudly and sounds authoritative. The same can’t be said for any other LCD headphone. That’s not to say that an amplifier is superfluous. Oh no. As is the case with any high-end headphone, an amplifier will still greatly improve the performance of the LCD-MX4.

The LCD-MX4 comes in Audeze’s signature pelican-style rugged carrying case. It ain’t pretty but it is gasketed, airtight, corrosion-resistant, fungus-resistant, waterproof, and lockable. In other words, it’s zombie apocalypse level stuff, which is good, because the LCD-MX4 is not cheap and you’ll want a sturdy case to protect your investment.

Inside the case, you’ll find that the LCD-MX4 is sparsely accessorized. All you have is the headphone along with a 1.9-meter long single-ended cable that terminates in a standard 6.35mm plug and that’s it. Considering the price and the target audience of the headphone, I think an additional balanced cable should have been provided as standard. Similar to other headphones in the LCD series, the LCD-MX4 relies on 4-pin mini-XLR inputs.

The LCD-MX4 features the company’s latest driver technologies including Double Fluxor magnetic arrays, ultra-thin Uniforce diaphragms, and Fazor technology. Fluxor arrays are a special way of arranging magnets in the driver to increase magnetic density. High magnetic density results in better driver control. Uniforce diaphragms employ variable trace width to compensate for variations in the magnetic field so that the driving force across the entire diaphragm is more consistent. This reduces distortion and improves resolution and imaging. Finally, Fazors are specially-designed acoustical elements that are positioned on the magnet assemblies to help smooth out the flow of sound as it passes through them. Audeze claims this improves phase response, imaging, and reduces distortion.

 
Not surprisingly, the LCD-MX4 sounds similar to the LCD-4, and that’s a good and bad thing. The thing is, while the LCD-4 did some things well, it also had an uneven upper-mid to treble representation. Sadly, this is present in the LCD-MX4 too. Is it a deal-breaker? Not necessarily, because, remember, we are comparing it with three other über high-end headphones so flaws - no matter how small - are going to show up more clearly.

Similar to the LCD-4, the LCD-MX4 has an overall sound signature that is more neutral than Audeze’s older offerings. It is, however, a bit more laid back than its rivals here and it's pleasing and easy to get accustomed to - it instantly sounds agreeable. Resolution, clarity, and responsiveness are outstanding. Details and nuances in the sound are easy to pick out and transients are razor sharp. You instantly know that you are listening to something that is very high-end. Staging and space are good too, as the LCD-MX4 projects a wide image and doesn't sound closed in.

The LCD-MX4 upholds Audeze’s tradition of marvelous bass performance. Bass notes extend very deep and have a texture and cleanliness that is impressive even in this realm of über high-end planar magnetic headphones. The transition to mids is very clean and the mids themselves are smooth and present. Vocals and guitars sound lifelike, liquid, and lush. Unfortunately, for all of its merits, the LCD-MX4, like most other Audeze headphones, suffer from unevenness in the upper registers. Its main issue is that the upper-mids and treble, where it sounds jagged and peaky in some areas. This causes some instruments, strings, and pianos most prominently, to sound unnatural, as in Ryuichi Sakamoto’s classic Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.

Even so, the LCD-MX4 remains a very alluring listen. It’s by no means the most technical competent headphone, but it is tastefully tuned and I think music lovers who listen to more modern and contemporary stuff won’t mind its deficiencies. However, its erratic treble representation means fans of classical and instrumental music should probably look elsewhere. Overall, the LCD-MX4 delivers on Audeze’s promise of a lighter, easier to drive, and cheaper version of the LCD-4, and in that light, it is something of a bargain.