We have another really important Audeze story that we’re not allowed to share until later next week, but it’s something that has much broader implications because it does not involve the personal audio space. It does involve headphones; groundbreaking ones that will potentially help a lot of people and we’ve had a chance to physically see them and learn about what makes them so special. As someone who also works in the science/engineering space with biomedical devices that are used to detect medical issues, I plan on giving this amazing new product a lot of coverage. Until then — meet the new Audeze LCD-R headphones which are part of a bigger collaboration with our friends at Schiit Audio.
Sorry to get you all excited about something that we can’t quite share yet but it could be a game changer.
The Schiit Jotunheim-A is a unique current-drive headphone amplifier, which inspired Audeze to develop the LCD-R headphone. While the Jotunheim-A is not new (I tried it for the first time almost a month ago in NYC at a private event hosted by Audeze), the Audeze LCD-R headphones are something that will be available in limited quantities and not forever.
Audeze let us demonstrate another new headphone that is also coming out very soon but that will have to wait as well. It’s not as radical as product #1 but it made me change my opinion about Audeze headphones in a dramatic way. My “luggage on your head” attitude has been changed forever.
I still can’t afford them but it would appear that the industrial design of the Meze Audio Empyrean headphones set off some alarm bells about headphone weight and ergonomics and those lessons have been implemented into the forthcoming generation of Audeze headphones.
There are also some changes coming to the way Audeze makes their wood rings and the types of materials used.
The Audeze LCD-R impedance is only 2 ohms, and uses Audeze’s new patented Parallel-Uniforce technology. Audeze refer to the LCD-R driver as a “Ribbon” instead of Planar due to the extremely low impedance and over 98% trace coverage of the diaphragm surface.
Audeze has been working on new driver technology for awhile (long before COVID) and expect to see some dramatic new drivers this year across the product line-up.
Audeze and Schiit are building only 67 sets of these LCD-R headphones and Jotunheim-A amplifiers. They are offered on a first come, first served basis and are ready to ship now for $2,500.
- 3 Year driver warranty
- 5 Year amplifier warranty with Schiit
- Handcrafted in small batches
- Free US Shipping
Some Current Schiit. Not Old Schiit.
The LCD-R comes with a customized Schiit Jotunheim model A current-drive headphone amp. Specially modified by Schiit, the Jotunheim-A offers the ideal electrical match to bring out the best performance from extremely low impedance drivers. The LCD-R is engineered to work exclusively with the included Schiit amp and should not be used with any other amplifier.
Specifications
| Style | Over-ear, open-back |
| Transducer type | Ribbon |
| Magnetic structure | Double Fluxor™ magnet array |
| Phase management | Fazor™ |
| Magnet type | Neodymium N50 |
| Diaphragm type | Ultra-thin Parallel Uniforce™ |
| Transducer size | 106 mm |
| Maximum SPL | >130dB |
| Frequency response | 5Hz – 50kHz |
| THD | <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL |
| Sensitivity | 103 dB/1mW (at Drum Reference Point) |
| Impedance | 2 ohms |
| Custom connection | OCC monocrystal copper with female 4-pin XLR |
| Weight | 615g |
| Jotunheim-A amplifier voltage | 115V or 230V depending on model |
For more information: Audeze LCD-R & Schiit Audio Headphone System
More coverage of Audeze and Schiit Audio.
