Today, Marcus reviews the Audeze LCD-4z, a high-end set of open-back low-impedance planar headphones designed for portable, home, or studio use. It is priced at $3995.00.
Disclaimer: This sample was sent to me in exchange for my honest opinion. Headfonics is an independent website with no affiliate links or services. I thank the team at Audeze for their support.
Click here to read more about the Audeze products we have previously reviewed on Headfonics.
Note that this review follows our current scoring guidelines, which you can read in more detail here.
The Audeze LCD-4z open-back planar headphones were launched around 6 years ago but have flown under the radar despite their lofty status as one of the company’s flagship offerings.
Models such as the refreshed LCD-5 and the electrostatic CRBN have hogged the most recent limelight and even the older original LCD-4 still resonates favorably.
That really should not be the case, even now in 2024. The LCD-4z captures the easy-to-drive ethos of the LCD-5, is as comfortable if not more so than the LCD-4, and delivers one of the company’s most neutral-sounding high-end tunings, a trait that has found a natural home among the pro-audio community.
Arguably, this flagship model, priced at $3995 embodies many aspects of what I would call the ‘older’ Audeze look. However, that is not a bad thing at all. In fact, it’s still one of their best-looking models, in my opinion.
So, is the LCD-5 or LCD-4 worth their dominant attention and your money, or is the LCD-4z a contender 6 years later? I find out the pros and cons of this dark horse in my full review and comparisons below.
Features
The Audeze LCD-4z is a set of open-back headphones equipped with the company’s larger 106 mm planar driver format and surrounded by a double Fluxor™ Neodymium N50 magnet array rather than single-sided.
Aside from the larger driver size, it also differs from the LCD-5 with its Nano-Scale Uniforce™ diaphragm, one of the previous iterations before Audeze launched its newer Parallel voice coil.
Both old and new versions continue to use the current iteration of Audeze’s Fazor waveguide technology. However, the LCD-4z waveguide positioning is not inside the earcups and has tighter spacing between the magnets and the voice coil than the LCD-5.
Perhaps the standout aspect of the LCD-4z is how easy it is to drive. This is a somewhat ironic aspect considering the newer LCD-5 was pitched as much easier to drive than the LCD-4, a benefit the LCD-4z already possessed.
At 15Ω as opposed to the LCD-4’s aluminum trace driver’s 200Ω rating and just 1Ω more than the LCD-5 it’s up there as one of the company’s most efficient models on sale today. Portable gear will be able to drive the LCD-4z with a sub-250mW maximum power rating.
At 98 dB/1mW SPL the LCD-4z is more sensitive on paper than the LCD-5’s 90 dB/1mW benchmarked measurement though by no means Audeze’s most sensitive model out there. For example, the slightly cheaper LCD-MX4 is rated at 105 dB/1mW but with a higher 20Ω rating.
Design
The LCD-4z aesthetics are gorgeous despite it being technically an older design iteration compared to the LCD-5 and the MM-500.
There is something about that dash of gold permeating under the narrow grill spacing combined with the bling of the similarly golden-accented adjusting rods and pivot blocks that give it a ‘daddy cool’ vibe.
The LCD-5 is an entirely new design concept being the smaller and lighter of the two at 420g instead of 540g so you should consider the LCD-4z form factor a classic LCD-type shape, with the LCD-MX4 its closest relative stylistically.
Classic means you get the older yoke and adjuster rod assembly with a glossy carbon fiber headband and a wider ventilated leather strap underneath.
The chassis and yoke are crafted from cast magnesium which is 25% lighter than the original LCD-4 design and finished in black with some bold labeling on the yoke arches in white.
The integrated Mini-XLR connectors are positioned centrally on the side of the cup instead of rear-mounted with a forward angle to ensure the connected cables clear potential obstructions or lay uncomfortably on your person during use.
I also looked back at some of the original LCD-4z launch marketing collateral and noted the design has gone through some nuanced changes through the years.
For example, I saw some early pictures of the LCD-4z from 2018 with different mesh grills, pads, and lacking the latest iteration’s central stabilizing ‘bridge’ on the carbon fiber headband.
Comfort
Yes, the LCD-4z weighs in at 560g so by no means a light headphone, especially when compared to the LCD-5.
However, before you cue those comfort memes let me tell you the combination of the wide ventilation pressure strap and plush leather pads makes for a very comfortable real-world wearing experience.
Of course, if you are not used to the weight of an LCD-class headphone, the LCD-4z’s girth might come as a surprise. It is heavy and you will feel that weight on your head.
However, how Audeze has engineered the headphone’s pressure distribution makes it one of Audeze’s most comfortable LCD-class offerings for my head for longer listening sessions.
My experience with the LCD-5’s stronger clamping and the initial teething with the fluted earpad design makes the comfort of the softer and more rounded pads of the LCD-4z more immediately palatable. Also, the further weight reduction over the LCD-4 from 690g down to 540g is noticeable.
The overall fit certainly feels secure when moving around vigorously, a feature that helps me understand why the LCD-4z has a certain appeal to the pro-audio community beyond the sound signature and impedance levels.
Stock Cable
The LCD-4z is one of the few Audeze headphones I have received for review that comes with a balanced 4-pin XLR cable.
More than that, it is also packed with a similarly wired piggy-tailed 4-pin XLR to 6.35mm adaptor for single-ended use, something which I doubt I will use much in my system setup but is much appreciated nevertheless for older SE tube amplifier compatibility.
I have to qualify all the above praise with the fact that Audeze has been quietly updating its product offerings with similar balanced cable and adapter packages.
For example, the LCD-5 I reviewed a few years ago came with a default 6.35 SE termination. This has now been replaced with the same stock-balanced cable and connector as the LCD-4z.
The cable wiring is consistent with 20AWG directional OCC high-purity copper inside, branded Rean mini-XLR connectors, and Neutrik plugs on the opposing side. It has the same geometry, wiring, and connectors for the accompanying short adaptor cable.
As with the LCD-5 stock cable, the LCD-4z version has a nice two-tone black and copper finish to its braided jacket and is fairly low-profile, aka, not too thick and wieldy. It also handles well with low memory retention and without any unwanted microphonics.
Packaging & Accessories
The LCD-4z packaging has had an overhaul since the 2018 launch. Gone is the larger, somewhat flatter, and curvy carry case, to be replaced by the boxier standard travel case used with most LCD series models save for the LCD-5’s higher-end aluminum case.
This is slightly different in design from the aluminum Travel Case though the mechanics and internal foam lining follow a similar pattern.
I can’t say if it is weatherproof like the Premium Travel case but it does have a sturdy external finish. You also get a set of small keys to lock the case which is rather handy considering the price of the headphones.
Aside from the keys you also get a warranty card in a separate thin foam slot alongside the stock cable but no LCD-5 white cotton gloves.
Click on page 2 below to read my sound impressions and recommended pairings.
