Audeze LCD-3

How long have you been using?
1 month

Did you try many other models before buying it?
A dozen including (in chronological order - see Notice on Audiofanzine for those who are interrested)
Sennheiser HD25-SP
Grado GS1000
JHAudio PRO 13
Ultrasone PRO900
AKG K450

What is so special that you like most and least?

MORE:

Stamps: very realistic, and the saxes, trumpets and cymbals are other copper, large crates skin patches clear metal crates, wood basses, electric distortions are the voice of flesh and breath, air air molecules ... And it shows! The rendering is very physical and natural.

Transparency: beautiful array of colors on a canvas tonal black ink. It is clear!

Register human: the voices are beautiful, I think I'll become a fan of opera with this headset.

Bass: abyssal very well controlled, very crazy. Basses are succulent fingers (jazz) or skewer (classic) high gastronomy!

Aigues endless natural ...

Soundstage: rather intimate. Coltrane sax it was 2 cm from the skull, large crates full of rock face. You must love, I love. On the other hand volumes / reverbs / atmosphere are so well rendered live recording / unamplified depth that appears. Superb classical orchestras (Aaaaahhhh Mozart's Requiem by Karajan ....)

Distortion practically non-existent until levels which we have no right to speak here for public safety issues ...

Build quality of the headphones: nothing wrong on that side, it's very well finished handmade and seems very solid (unlike the Grado GS1000)

Comfort: very comfortable for me, may be heavy for some. Soft leather that feels good and super soft foam, very "cocooning".

THE CAN DO BETTER (to be picky):

Dynamic: it lacks slightly on that side in my opinion, the sound tends to be somewhat "soft", not always super fast. This is quite nice, not aggressive, but it moves away can be a bit of reality. Attention is very very relative, it is great but it can be challenging when you pay that price ..

Tonal balance: can be slightly unbalanced, not enough midrange-treble (?), Although the spectrum is very beautiful. In fact it is rather than the low take a lot of space. General tone slightly dark even if the top end is very pure. Matter of taste I guess, and also associated amp ....


THE LEAST:

Connectors on cable mini XLR headset side not top to remove / change back to cable (XLR or phone). See downright rotten, it blocks a lot of dog remove those damn connectors!

Price: Very expensive + requires a good headphone amp

CONCLUSION:

This headphone is typed "HiFi" not "Monitoring" even if it is very accurate. To "dig in the mix" => JH13PRO (https://fr.audiofanzine.com/casque/jerry-harvey-audio/jh13-pro/avis/r.64541.html), though ... By aillor the points mentioned above are valid for reasonable quality recordings very good! Overall the headphone is pretty happening everywhere but the qualities are revealed with really good recordings + headphone amp.
headphone very involving (Involving), real good sound with all that goes with listening. Very little tiring, I just got listening 6 hours with sometimes significant volumes and frankly I leaves in very good condition.
The great thing is that it also goes well with the Mozart Requiem with Rage Against the Machine! If surprenament real close (with a good headphone amp) and transparent.
Special mention for classical music and "live unamplified" for which he has put you in that situation, stunning!
The music takes you, takes you and do not let go: addictive, really!

How do you rate the quality / price?
Outstanding quality and price! And we must add a serious budget headphone amp ...
A good gourmet restaurant, it costs but it is delicious! And we must add the wine to really appreciate ...

With experience, you do again this choice?
Personally it was that or renew my speaker pair, I chose this and a headphone amp (Bryston BHA-1) and I KIFF! So YES!