Just launched by AUDEZE in Southern California:

For US$399 you get a US-made, planar magnetic, open-back, easy to drive, foldable, light-weight headphone.

- Impedance: 16 ohms
- Sensitivity: 99 dB/1mW
- Ear Pads:genuine lambskin leather
- Weight: 250gm
- Removable cable
- Travel case: included

It sounds all good from here.

Steve Guttenberg AUDIOPHILIAC says:

(Compared with Steve's Massdrop HD6XX (Sennheiser HD 650):

" I'm sorry, the Audeze LCD-1 just clobbers it ! "

" ...really, really, really good bass... ballsy "

(Compared with the Audeze LCD-2 Classic):

" tone & tonal balance... they actually are pretty similar...but...spatially smaller :

" the essential Audeze sound in a more affordable package "




AUDEZE webpage - www.audeze.com/products/lcd-1

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

The EQ king also gives a very positive review

Retails for AU$650

Soundline don't have it on their website yet and other retailers of Audeze products don't seem to be selling any Audeze products.

Now there's a true GEEK

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

A freshly published in-depth review from AUDIOPHILE STYLE of the planar-magnetic AUDEZE LCD-1 (MSRP US$399), provides measurements together with technical & subjective comparisons to the bargain-priced Sennheiser HD-6XX/650 (Massdrop price US$195).

AUDIOPHILE STYLE firstly points out that these 2 'phones are not competing in the same market:

" The HD-6XX and its variants are...designed for desktop use and desktop use only. " (They need power to drive & is not designed for portability.)

Whereas...

the AUDEZE LCD-1 is aimed squarely at the portable market. "


Freq Response comparison with the Sennheiser HD-6XX/650 - (LCD-1 (red), HD-6XX (blue))


" ...the overarching story from the graph is that both the LCD-1 and the HD-6XX are predominantly neutral cans. "


Sonic observations:

" The LCD-1 provides a more immediate, up-front sound than the HD-6XX. "

" The final score gives the HD-6XX the edge on soundstage (both depth and width) and microdynamics and the LCD-1 the edge on macrodetail and low-end clarity. "

Note that these are both 'open-backed' headphones.

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

HI-FI NEWS (8 May 2020) - Keith Howard & Ken Kessler review the AUDEZE LCD-1:

" ...the LCD-1s are so good, so masterfully conceived, that they may redefine their price sector.... and are so free of nasties that I could imagine them crossing the thin line between hi-fi and studio usage. "

" If you want true high-end cans but can't or won't pay four figures, you must hear these. "

DarkLantern blog - darklanternforowen.wordpress.com

I could be tempted by these for my bedroom system. I currently use mainly the Oppo PM3 which works well and isn't too intrusive when lying down. The PM1 and LCD3 are really too cumbersome for bedtime duty.
Be nice to be able to trial a pair.