Audeze LCD-X (2021) with or without EQ?

[Guitarking]

Hello everyone,

Got my hands on the Audeze LCD-X 2021 version.
I have also installed Audeze's Reveal+ plugin. I am only using the LCD-X 2021 eq curve (so no Aural Map: room simulation or limiter etc...). The use of Reveal makes the headphones come alive. Especially when listening to classical music it's great to get more depth and ambiance.

As much as I like the eq curve, it also stresses me out: what is neutral? When I'm hearing the headphones without EQ? But they sound a bit dull/lacking high mids/high end. I love using the EQ curve, but almost feel 'guilty' because some voice in my head says: it's not good to use because it's 'fake'.

Are there more people who use reveal + with the LCD-X 2021. Do you use them while mixing? Or also when listening to music?

And does anyone have a FR chart of what reveal+ LCD-X 2021 curve is doing?

Thanks.

[sonics]

They do seem very deficient in low bass and low treble, like they were never designed to be used without equalisation. After correction they would seem to sound great. Use it and be glad!

[Zukan]

I have the X and don't bother with any correction. It is fine as it is. Excellent low end, magic on mids and highs.

However, I am one of these people that doesn't use correction. I prefer to adapt and get used to the headphone's' response rather than shape it for my needs.

[tea for two]

I'm with Zuke and Sam on this.
https://www.soundonsound.com/reviews/audeze-lcd-x-el8

When I auditioned LCD-X mk1 2015 few months earlier without any eq software, it was a revelation compared to my K712.
Particularly for Rock, Metal, Reggae, Dub, HipHop, Bass Heavy, Beats, EDM.
It was also no slouch for Orchestral, Choral, Folk.

Has mk2 2021 changed from mk1 2015?

[ore_terra]

I own a pair of the closed cousins. New version with carbon fiber caps.

I used to use Sonarworks before these, and I decided to try without. It’s been a year and a half now and I love everything of them (except for the weight!). I can mix and master consistently with these headphone. That deson’t’ mean I can do it well, just consistently average

[Guitarking]

Thanks everyone.
I was thinking. How about using no eq when mixing? And how about using some eq when using them for fun listening. Like having 2 headphones. Or would that not give me the opportunity to get to know them?

[ore_terra]

for me it's all about getting used to them. spending hours on them listening to music.

I don't see the benefit in using 2 headphones unless one of them offers different features than the other, apart of a different EQ. i.e., one of them has much lower distortion than the other, or one of them is much more comfortable than the other.

[RichardT]

Thanks everyone.
I was thinking. How about using no eq when mixing? And how about using some eq when using them for fun listening. Like having 2 headphones. Or would that not give me the opportunity to get to know them?

I think you will be fine with or without EQ as long as you give yourself time to get used to the sound.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with using EQ if the intention is to get a flatter response. No need to feel guilty. No phones are flat, and some are an enormous distance from flat!

The benefit of using EQ for me is that there is much less tonal difference between phones and speakers, and also that recorded instruments do sound, to me, more like the real thing with EQ than without.

But if you work in many places, not all of which have Sonarworks or Audeze’s proprietary system, you are better off working without EQ.

[Drew Stephenson]

The benefit of using EQ for me is that there is much less tonal difference between phones and speakers, and also that recorded instruments do sound, to me, more like the real thing with EQ than without.

This is why I use Sonarworks on my headphones.

[Guitarking]

Using EQ to make them comparable to speakers; do you mean headphones are generally darker voiced?

[Wonks]

Monitor speakers tend to have a lot flatter response, (though affected by the room) whilst headphones can vary from quite flat to quite coloured. This could be a lot brighter or a lot more middle, and some are chosen because of an extended bass response. Sometimes the colouration helps you find problem areas in the mix that you wouldn’t find so easily on speakers, but having headphones that match the monitor sound can be beneficial to your working practices e.g. you may gave to finish a mix for a deadline on headphones because it’s late at night and you can’t have the monitors on.

Not everyone needs flat response headphones, but quite a lot of people do benefit from them.

[Guitarking]

What is it on the LCD-X 2021 that makes them so good for mixing?