Audeze LCD-3 zebrano (standard case)

Audeze LCD-3 zebrano, open-back planar headphones

Fifteen years in the catalogue without a name change is rare longevity in high-end headphones. Introduced in 2011, these open-back circumaural headphones have gone through several revisions to their driver and materials while retaining their original silhouette. The zebrano wood rings are still selected, grain-matched and hand-assembled in California, and the sound reproduction retains the expansive character that built the LCD series’ reputation.

A 106 mm diaphragm between two magnet arrays

The principle of the planar magnetic driver lies in the distribution of driving force. Instead of a moving coil glued to the centre of a cone, a conductor is printed across the entire surface of a very thin membrane, sandwiched between two arrays of N50 neodymium magnets. The membrane is therefore pushed and pulled uniformly across its entire surface, rather than from a central point. It moves in an almost piston-like manner, without the breakup modes that occur when force takes time to reach the edges.

With a 106 mm diameter, the radiating surface far exceeds that of a dynamic headphone driver, which explains its bass foundation without significant excursion. Audeze states harmonic distortion of less than 0.1% at 100 dB. Another consequence of this construction: the load seen by the amplifier is essentially resistive, so impedance remains stable across the entire frequency range, whereas a dynamic driver sees its impedance rise around its resonant frequency.

Fazor elements complete the acoustic mechanics. These are waveguides placed just outside each magnetic structure: they channel the sound passing through the magnets instead of allowing it to diffract around them. The brand explains that this diffraction causes certain frequencies to arrive with a time offset, and therefore phase differences. Fazor’s work concerns the upper end of the spectrum and soundstage precision, not bass extension.

Zebrano rings matched by grain

Zebrano is an African wood recognisable by its alternating light and dark stripes, which vary greatly from one piece to another. Audeze sorts the rings by grain and shade so that a pair is consistent, pairing them with discreet gold finishes. The rear of the driver remains unobstructed behind a large black metal grille, as required by the open-back design.

The ear pads of this version are leather, over thick foam that rests against the jaw rather than squeezing the temples. The ventilated suspension headband distributes the load across the head. That load is real: the headphones weigh 635 g, which remains the accepted trade-off of a dual-sided magnetic structure and solid wood rings. They stay securely in place while seated, less obviously when standing or moving around, and several hours of listening can be felt in the neck. The open back, meanwhile, filters nothing in either direction: you hear the room, and office neighbours hear the music. These are headphones for the living room or a quiet office, not for commuting.

What a 110-ohm impedance requires

Official figures state 110 Ω impedance with a sensitivity of 101 dB for 1 mW, measured at the eardrum reference point. Audeze sets the minimum power requirement at 100 mW and recommends exceeding 250 mW. A smartphone output or small USB dongle will produce sound, but will lack headroom on peaks, with bass becoming compressed and dynamics flattening as the volume is raised.

Impedance stability simplifies amplifier selection. A tube amplifier, whose output impedance is often high, will not cause here the coloration it would induce with a variable-impedance dynamic driver: the response does not change according to the load. Audeze states that the headphones work equally well with a tube headphone amplifier, a transistor model, or an integrated amplifier with a good headphone output.

Balanced cabling supplied as standard

Each earcup has a 4-pin mini-XLR connector; the cable splits into a Y before the earcups. The supplied termination is a 4-pin XLR, in other words a balanced connection. For an unbalanced output, the 4-pin XLR to 6.35 mm jack adapter cable takes over, while a second adapter steps down from 6.35 mm to a 3.5 mm mini-jack. The supplied configuration therefore favours amplifiers with balanced outputs, with other models using an additional adaptation stage.

As this mini-XLR connector is very widespread, replacing the original cable presents no sourcing difficulty. The set travels in the standard LCD carrying case, a moulded plastic shell with cut-out foam, accompanied by the warranty card and certificate of authenticity.

Fifteen years of revisions without a name change

The 2011 model and today’s model share the same commercial reference but are not identical. Fazor elements arrived in the mid-2010s and changed the upper end of the spectrum. The driver has undergone several developments, the headband has moved to the ventilated suspension model, and the ear pads and connectors have been revised. A second-hand unit therefore requires checking its production year: two LCD-3s separated by ten years do not sound the same.

In the brand’s current audiophile line, it sits between the LCD-2 and the higher-end models, the LCD-5s and electrostatic CRBN2. Audeze describes it as the easiest model in its range to listen to for long periods, with authoritative bass, natural midrange and extended treble. Manufacturing remains manual, at the brand’s Californian factory.

Technical specifications

Construction

• Open-back over-ear headphones
• Planar magnetic drivers
• Proprietary symmetrical magnetic circuit
• Neodymium magnets

Technical specifications

• Driver diameter: 106 mm
• Maximum admissible power: 15 W (over 200 ms)
• Sound pressure level: > 130 dB at 15 W
• Frequency response: 5 Hz to 20 kHz (extending beyond 50 kHz)
• Total harmonic distortion (THD): < 1% across the entire spectrum
• Impedance: 110 Ω
• Sensitivity: 102 dB / 1 mW
• Recommended amplification power: 1 to 4 W

Audeze technologies

• Fazor elements
• Large ultra-thin diaphragms
• Double-sided magnetic system

Included accessories

• Leather earpads
• Standard LCD carrying case
• 4-pin XLR cable (1.9 m)
• 4-pin XLR to 6.35 mm jack adapter cable
• 6.35 mm jack to 3.5 mm mini-jack adapter
• Warranty card and certificate of authenticity