Audeze LCD-1 Open-back planar-magnetic headphones

The Audeze LCD-1 headphones can fold up for easy storage and transport (requires included 3.5mm mini listening cable for use, not shown).

Audeze over-ears with an "everyday" design

Audeze's LCD-series planar-magnetic headphones are some of the best-sounding over-ears we offer. But their sheer size tends to limit when and where you can use them. The Audeze LCD-1 headphones take the shape of a more traditional set of over-ears, while preserving the company's signature spacious, detailed sound.

These headphones weigh in at less than nine ounces. That makes them the smallest, lightest over-ear planars I've ever seen. That's no small feat, considering the basic principle behind this type of headphone driver is using a larger diaphragm to move more air. But Audeze developed a more efficient "way to play."

Tuned for music creators, great for music lovers

Audeze planars are popular among studio engineers and personal audio aficionados for many of the same reasons. They deliver a clean, well-balanced sound with a high level of detail and precise impulse control. I've personally always been struck by how their lifelike dynamics can add to the emotional impact of certain songs. 

The open-back design allows air to move more freely for a spacious, transparent sound.

These are all traits beneficial to the mixing and mastering process, where accuracy is especially important. This stage of the music creation process can last hours on end for a single song — a long time to wear headphones. So Audeze not only made the LCD-1 headphones smaller and lighter, but they also tuned them to sound less fatiguing. 

That means you get a nice, even treble that preserves high-end detail but minimizes harshness. Great for the studio, of course. But that also sounds pretty pleasant for those of us who like to recline, close our eyes, and soak in our favorite albums and playlists. 

Audeze's most efficient over-ear headphones

It takes a lot of power to drive most Audeze headphones, but the LCD-1s are a lot more flexible. They include a two-meter cable with a 3.5mm stereo miniplug, and they're efficient enough to work with a portable music player or pro audio interface. You could even connect to a phone and get good results, but I would suggest using a separate headphone amp to hear them at their best. 

They make a nice combo with the one of the compact, convenient AudioQuest DragonFly plug-in USB DAC/amps. 

How planar magnetic drivers work

Planar magnetic drivers rely on a really thin diaphragm with a large surface area to generate sound. A flexible circuit is etched across the entire surface of the diaphragm, which is suspended within a magnetic field. When the circuit receives an audio signal, it causes the diaphragm to move back and forth — moving air and creating sound.

Double the magnet strength means lighter headphones

Traditionally, planar drivers needed a magnet array on both side of the diaphragm to get it to move. But Audeze developed a patented Fluxor™ magnet array that doubles the strength of a normal magnet array.

Audeze's engineers figured out that they could greatly increase efficiency by laying out their magnet array in an asymmetrical pattern. In other words: fewer magnets, yet stronger magnetic attraction. And high-performance headphones you can more easily carry with you and use on the go.