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Audeze LCD-XC Review – Take a Shine to Closed Backs!

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audeze lcd-xcVerdict

The Audeze LCD-XC is definitely one of the top-tier headphones available now, and is a worthy stablemate to the similarly closed-back but smoother Fostex TH900.

Pros

  • Exceptionally comfortable
  • Sumptuous build quality
  • Amazing detail
  • Well balanced
  • Separation and imaging fully immersive
  • Sturdy travel case

Cons

  • May be too heavy for some

In the world of headphones we get the odd celebrity now and again; the flagships sail in and are esteemed due to their value if nothing else. But as with everything, a high price needn’t necessarily equate with a good product. Is this particualr celebrity just famous for being famous, or do they actually have some talent?

Key Features

Those shiny wooden earcups are a treat for the eyes, and the build quality is exceptional. Solid is definitely the word, but this may count against the Audeze LCD-XC as some necks may suffer under the 650g/1.4lb weight; those with the fortitude to ‘press a head’ should be well rewarded though. The tough carry case protects them in transit, and the supplied ribbon-type cable is ‘tangle free’. Also in the case is a little bottle of wax for keeping the shine on the earcups.

First Impressions

Having tried Audeze’s offerings before, my appetite was suitably whetted and it was not disappointed. By now the obvious build quality and good looks are meeting with blasé reactions – we all know what to expect from Audeze! The weight issue was in my mind, but since I’ve been enjoying the HifiMAN HE-400 for some time now with no issues I was not worried, and indeed the LDC-XC’s weight did not bother me.

Sound Quality

I first tried the Audeze LCD-XC with a Chord Hugo; both to feed as good a signal in as possible, and to try the Hugo’s resolution with the LCD-XC. The presentation was very accurate and crisp; I found it just a little too far into bright territory for my tastes. Then I tried the LCD-XC with my humble Fiio X3; the X3’s output is a little warmer than that of the Chord Hugo, and this was reflected within the sound of the headphones. Where before it was a little cold and uncompromising with the K120, it came to life and into colour for me with the X3. The LCD-XC is like a mirror for the amp; it brings out the best traits of the available equipment.

The closed-back nature of this model is possibly a down side, if only because so many great headphones in this price range are open and so have an advantage in terms of soundstage. As we all know however, isolation is often necessary if we aren’t to be distracted (and don’t want to disturb others), and the LCD-XC does not sound like a closed headphone. The soundstage is appreciably wider than the physical limits of the headphones, and the closed nature of them does not remain so obvious when in use.

Summary

With the asking price in mind, it’s no surprise to learn that this is an exceptionally competent headphone which can hold its own among some cutting-edge competition. If you are considering a highend closed-back model and you find the Fostex TH900 a little smooth, the Audeze LCD-XC may be just for you.

Score: 9.5/10

Chord Electronics Hugo review

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Chord Electronics Hugo review

Introducing the unassuming Hugo from Chord Electronics; the company which is now causing ripples in the portable audio world with this fantastic device.

Time and again we hear that headphones can mean a huge leap in sound quality; but equal to that is the process by which a particular signal reaches the headphones. Get both right and the effect is no less than sublime.

The Hugo is both a DAC and an amp, with a battery which can last a good while between charges, considering the processes it has to power. There are numerous options when it comes to connectivity, even a bluetooth input is available among the more traditional ins and outs.

The Hugo is built from aircraft-grade aluminium and it almost feels as if it designed for military purposes. Also the input controls are in keeping with this theme; they are obviously built to last also, particularly the large recessed volume control which is hard to knock or move accidentally.

 

 

The sound of the Hugo is probably better than a lot of people can imagine; the level of detail and sense of space one can glean from a given recording is out of this world. This is due to the DAC in the Hugo being designed for the Hugo; other designs take pre-existing DAC chips and implement them the best they can.

It consists of a field-programmable gate array, which is configured from the ground up by Chord. Basically it is a custom-made computer which specialises in the highest quality signal conversion.

Inputs include Optical/Toslink, Coaxial, bluetooth, and USB; with an extra HD USB input for operation to 384kHz in PCM format. Outputs feature 2 x 3.5mm sockets (these are slightly recessed and may give trouble, for instance with Earsonics in-ears), one 6.35mm socket and stereo RCA outs. Chord is aware that the Hugo is likely to be used as a DAC for full-size systems and accordingly it is possible to set the output volume to line-level for this purpose.

The effect of all this extra detail (even with 44.1kHz/16-bit recordings) is to vastly increase the sense of space and movement within the performace or recording, making it so much more realistic and captivating. Frequency response is virtually unchanged, so your favourite headphones should not take any rapid departures from their usual sound if used with the Hugo.

 

 

It is difficult to get across how much better music sounds with the Hugo, while nobody is a stranger to the potential benefit of the money this item costs! Therefore we welcome enquiries about our listening room; we are confident that the sound of the Hugo will alter your perceptions..!