While the LCD3 is still a great pair of headphones for people that like that warm, dark, and very lush sound signature, the LCD-X is simply better in technical capabilities, and its tuning is more universal and neutral. You can absolutely crank the level on your headphone amp and, provided the amp itself is up to the mark, all you get is a deeper and more engaging listening experience.

I can push a multiband limiter a bit, hide the artifacts this creates insiOn first listen, in fact, the closed-back EL8s can seem tinny or even trashy rather than smooth and classy, but once you get used to this slightly aggressive sound, you realise that they retain many of the useful qualities of their siblings. Using Audeze's patented engineering techniques and state of the art laser-etching technology, Audeze put great care into each step of the manufacturing process to ensure Audeze headphones meet the exacting audio and production quality standards. These are far and away the heaviest headphone I have ever worn, and the old headband design puts a lot of that weight on the center of my head.

Additionally, the newest version is tuned differently, and it’s meant to eliminate the flaws of the original LCD-X, its uneven midrange performance. Even though I love the headband adjustment design, the adjustment mechanism isn't the smoothest and the 612g weight is substantial for you to always be aware of them sitting on your head. This Creator Pack includes Audeze's new economy travel case and standard single-ended cable, making these an affordable option for budget-conscious listeners making the LCD-X available to more users. Nonetheless, I’m happy to report that the LCD-X 2021 is a totally different headphone when it comes to its midrange performance. If you do have a dedicated DAC / Amp (such as the excellent iFi 'Zen Dac', Lake People 'G109P' or RME 'ADI-2 DAC'), then you can unlock another level of detail and precision.Unfortunately, said connectors are held in place only by friction, of which there isn’t quite enough to do the job securely. In fact, apart from a marginally brighter mid-range and a fractionally less confident and full bass, I’d be hard put to pinpoint exactly how they differ from the LCD-Xs. Sound wise, HD800S is Sennheiser's take on the Diffuse Field target and is the brighter headphone of the two.