Disclaimer: I'm not a professional reviewer. I have only a layman's rudimentary understanding and knowledge of tech and jargon. Take this as a normal guy who likes music and wants it to sounds good.

I've always wanted a pair of Audezes, years ago teenage me never thought I would be in the position to purchase a pair. The day finally arrived where I felt I could hit the "buy button" and not fear that I would have to solely exist on ramen for a month. I'm also at the age where probably over the next fedw years my hearing will probably significantly decrease due to past damage (wear earplugs kids!). I figured if I don't pull the trigger now... I may not get to enjoy the full soundscape of these headphones. A few days and a lower account balance later an Audeze box arrived.

Build Quality and First Thoughts:

Going through the unboxing process I was impressed by the effort that was put into the presentation. Nice protective case, warranty card, hand signed inspection card, nice cables, etc. The cans themselves are heavy, but the jokes about them breaking necks are blown out of proportion. Yes, they have tons heft - but the headband's weight distribution is 🤌. I find them more comfortable than the DT1990s. As far as ruggedness they seem more delicate than the DT1990s. The DT1990s are a Panzer MBT - Rugged and IED proof. They evoke a head montage of German foundries pouring molten metal to the sounds of Ministry. Fire, hammers, and sparks. SOLID.

The LCD-X on the other hand is like a sports car - Expensive looking, capable, and built to deliver performance. But, you wouldn't want to take it down a road with pot holes. The yokes that hold the ear cups are a lot less substantial than I would expect. I'm actually on my second pair of LCD-Xs. The first pair that I received were extremely underwhelming in the quality department. 1/4 jack was crooked, clicking and popping from the right diaphragm, loose screws, and the slot where the headband yoke inserts into right ear cup was not milled/punched properly causing them to sit offset on my head (like wtf). That example was one of the worst quality to expense items I've ever purchased - fit and finish was utter shit. The second pair however, extremely pleased with them. But the design itself doesn't invoke a feeling of ruggedness. I have reservations of how they will hold up long term.

The Sound:

I hastily plugged them in and begun to do back to back comparisons (with and without EQ) against my DT1990s. I had a few tracks in mind:

Atomized - Machinegum

1991 - Crystal Castles

Bark at the Moon - Ozzy

Anarchy Road - Carpenter Brut

Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears For Fears

Enter Galactic - Kid Cudi

The Arm - Islands

The sound... The sound! Holy shit! The LCD-Xs fill that proverbial sonic hole in my soul. I've owned AKG 712pros, Sundaras, K-55s (nostalgia). and more recently the DT1990pros. All of which I run through a Mayflower ARC mk2. The Sundara's warmed me to planars, I knew my next pair after the DT1990s would be a either DCAs or Audezes. The LCD-Xs are waaaay easier to drive, I found that the dial on the Arc mk2 was at a quarter of what the DT1990s required for the same volume.

The LCD-Xs are definitely warmer than the DT1990s (no duh right?). The DT1990s are an amazing headphone. Price per dollar there are very few cans that can compare. However, the DT1990s are aggressive, and can be exhausting and fatiguing. I also found it hard to listen to music while working with them on. The DT1990s present the music in such way that you are almost forced to critically listen to the track coming through them. They are just so engaging, they hold your ears hostage (in a good way)! The LCD-Xs clarity and imaging are staggering, much like the DT1990. They don't have the impact or slam of the DT1990s, but they just sound bigger. Bass doesn't "boom", it envelops. Sub-bass is very present (I love it!). Mids are full and thick, albeit recessed. I found the guitar on "Bark at the Moon" much more textured and engaging. In my minds eye I could picture and feel the recesses between the windings of the guitar strings as they vibrated. The Treble is present, but not hammering your eardrums like the DT1990s likes to. I'm a bit treble sensitve, and even with EQ I still find the DT1990s peaky.

The Sound stage is deep and tall, it's hard to describe from a layperson's perspective. The LCD-Xs present instruments and vocals on top and close around of you, but not in your head like Sennheisers. it's like your head is sitting in a massive deliciously layered sound cake. Where the DT1990s sound like a concert hall, the LCD-Xs sound like you're center stage at a smaller venue. The pure bandwidth of information the LCD-Xs convey is substantial. Machinegum's Atomized is a great example of a rich and layered song. I found little Easter eggs of sound on the LCD-Xs, that were previously more recessed on the DT1990s.

EQ'd: Tuned to oratory1990's EQ presets... Well damn, these are better than I could ever have hoped. Treble is more glistening and present, but not peaky. Bass is a bit more relaxed but not gutted. They sound much more like a neutral reference headphone. Very nice and balanced. But their overall sound signature is still laid-back, darker, and deeper. Darker doesn't mean muddled or muted, just more bottom-end focused?

Conclusion:

My hang ups about build quality aside; these are now my daily drivers. I will be selling my DT1990s. These provide the sound that I prefer. It's my opinion that technically the LCD-Xs are superior to the DT1990s, and for the price tags you would hope so. They are the first headphone that makes me really want to go back and re-listen how music can be presented differently through them, and even start plunging into looking into other headphone I wouldn't normally consider. If my Sundaras were the gateway drug, these are a full blown addiction.

TLDR: The LCD-Xs are a real and actual upgrade from the DT1990s.