Carbon + Audeze LCD-X headphones Q

[Marsdy]

Are the headphone outputs of Carbon beefy enough to drive Audeze LCD-X headphones?

I would imagine they are but read somewhere that LCD-Xs are a difficult load.

[dominicperry]

I can't help directly, but as no one else is chipping in.

I don't have the Audeze LCD-X, but the specs seem to be
Sensitivity 103 dB/1mW
Impedance 20 ohms

I've used the following and they are all fine...
Sony MDR 7520
Sensitivity 108 dB/mW
Impedance 24 Ohms

Sennheiser HD650
Sensitivity somewhere between 100-105 dB/mW depending on test. A much debated topic.
Impedance 300 ohms

Austrian Audio Hi-X 60
Sensitivity 110 dBspl/V
Impedance 25 ohms

All of them sound better with my RME ADI-2 Pro fs, but that can produce massive current and voltage into any load - which seems to translate to better low-volume performance too (even into really easy-to-drive phones like the MDR 7506's).

As the Audeze are open back, I'm assuming you intend for them to be used for mixing rather than tracking, so absolute volume is less likely to be a problem? The Carbon headphone amps aren't weak but I can see that they might struggle with ultimate volume for tracking with difficult loads.

Dominic

[smurfyou]

Planar headphones are usually pretty efficient and easy to drive. Haven't used Audeze but they say as much on the product page.

[Marsdy]

Originally Posted by dominicperry

I can't help directly, but as no one else is chipping in.

I don't have the Audeze LCD-X, but the specs seem to be
Sensitivity 103 dB/1mW
Impedance 20 ohms

I've used the following and they are all fine...
Sony MDR 7520
Sensitivity 108 dB/mW
Impedance 24 Ohms

Sennheiser HD650
Sensitivity somewhere between 100-105 dB/mW depending on test. A much debated topic.
Impedance 300 ohms

Austrian Audio Hi-X 60
Sensitivity 110 dBspl/V
Impedance 25 ohms

All of them sound better with my RME ADI-2 Pro fs, but that can produce massive current and voltage into any load - which seems to translate to better low-volume performance too (even into really easy-to-drive phones like the MDR 7506's).

As the Audeze are open back, I'm assuming you intend for them to be used for mixing rather than tracking, so absolute volume is less likely to be a problem? The Carbon headphone amps aren't weak but I can see that they might struggle with ultimate volume for tracking with difficult loads.

Dominic

Thanks Dominic, my HD650s are fine so I should be good to go. They arrive tomorrow so I’ll soon find out! They are indeed for a second reference when mixing.

[Marsdy]

Originally Posted by smurfyou

Planar headphones are usually pretty efficient and easy to drive. Haven't used Audeze but they say as much on the product page.

Thanks. In my ignorance I thought it was the other way round!

[Marsdy]

Answering my own question - the LCD-Xs are absolutely fine with Carbon and actually slightly louder than my old HD650s.

[dominicperry]

Excellent! Pleased to hear it.

Dominic

[originalscottyg]

Originally Posted by Marsdy

Thanks. In my ignorance I thought it was the other way round!

The electrostatics (CRBN) are the ones that are apparently hard to drive and Audeze recommends extremely expensive dedicated headphone amps for them.

I just got a pair of MM-500's, which I love, and they have been fine on my MTRX Studio and Omni headphone outputs. I did, however, get a Grace m900 to use with them, which I also love. The crossfeed feature is really really nice.