These headphones are able to present a lot of audio detail, but this comes at the cost of coming off as quite harsh. Cymbal hits and high pitched sound effects can be more pronounced with these headphones, and can be quite fatiguing to those sensitive to treble.
These headphones' open-back design gives these headphones a wide and natural-feeling sound stage which really helps in immersing the user in sound. Instrument separation is top notch so if a user were listening to music, it's as if the listener is in the middle, with the instruments coming from the surroundings.
This also helps to enhance movie and gaming experiences as these headphones give the feeling that the listener is within the game or movie world. Also, the top-notch positional audio allows gamers to easily identify sound sources, like the movement of nearby players or the direction that bullets are coming from.
These headphones do not put a lot of pressure on the top portion of the head. These X2's feature a hammock design headband. Instead of one single headband piece, this one has a two-piece design. The top, solid part is what holds the ear cups together while the lower piece is primarily made out of leather and mesh. This softer and more flexible part is what comes into contact with the head, which results in improved comfort compared to conventional headband designs.
The sound signature of these headphones can be described as fun. The bass is really powerful yet tight as well. The highs are also boosted so a lot of detail can be heard from the sound. The mids, while not as up front as the bass and the highs, are clear and present.
With this sound quality, the Fidelio X2 are great for a wide range of music but work best for bass heavy tracks like hip hop and EDM. The sound signature can also work well with rock and live music. Also, the powerful bass makes movie and game explosions really pop, and can definitely enhance immersion and enjoyment.
The large ear cups go over the ear instead of sit on them, so no pressure is applied onto the ears. The ear pads on the other hand feature really soft and thick memory foam as well as high quality velour material on the pads' surface. These feel really soft on the sides of the head, and allows some air to circulate around the ears, minimizing heat.
These are fairly large because of the sizeable ear cups and 2 piece headband design. Also, these are on the heavy side so if you prefer light weight headphones, these might not work for you.
When listening to music or playing games with these headphones, the sound can easily be heard by people within your immediate vicinity. The ear cups are open so there is a lot of sound leakage from these headphones. This design may not be ideal if you are sharing your room with others, as they will definitely hear what you are listening to.
These are fairly large headphones because of the large ear cups and 2 piece design so these will definitely take up a bit of space on your desk. Also, these headphones are on the heavy side so if you prefer light weight headphones then these might not work best for you.
These headphones are a joy to wear even for long and straight music listening or gaming sessions. The large ear cups go over the ear instead of sit on them, so no pressure is applied onto the ears. The ear pads on the other hand feature really soft memory foam as well as high quality velour material on the pads' surface. These feel really soft on the sides of the head, and allow for some airflow too, which helps to minimize heat build up.
These headphones should not be too difficult to store when not in use. The cable is removable so you can just pull out the cable as needed, allowing you to easily store the headphones without the hassle of dangling cables. Also, this feature means that the cable is easily replaceable should it get damaged.
The hallmark of the LCD-4's sound signature is the bass. The lower frequencies go quite deep and also have a lot of power. This sound is achieved without bloat or muddiness. Those who prefer powerful yet still fairly accurate bass will definitely love these.
The mids are full, clear and are quite forward as well so detail from vocals or guitars can easily be appreciated.
The highs take a bit of a back seat. While there is still a good level of detail and resolution on the sound, the highs are not as sparkly or airy as other high end headphones. This can be a good thing for some though as this gives the LCD-4 a smoother sound but with less shimmer up top.
The build is a mix of metal, wood, authentic leather as well as carbon fiber. You can really tell that these headphones are expensive and are built really well.
The LCD-4's cable is quite thick and hefty which should make it more resistant to breakage and other problems that most thinner cables have. Also, it uses mini XLR connectors which are much more secure as they lock in place.
It uses authentic leather on the earcups' surface which feel really smooth and supple on the skin. There is also a lot of cushioning thanks to the high quality foam material that is inside the cups. The foam also has acoustic properties that help seal in the sound really well.
The LCD 4 comes with case with ample room and padding inside for the headphones and the cable. While the case will most likely not fit in your travel bag, it will provide plenty of protection to your headphones should you decide to take them out of your home.
The leather material prevents heat from escaping effectively. This results in heat building up rather quickly around the ears when using the LCD-4, so it's likely that you'll feel uncomfortable after long listening sessions.
It weighs around 700 g, and that's without the cable. This makes the LCD-4 one of the heaviest headphones in the market today and will most certainly put quite a strain on your head and neck if you decide to wear these continuously.
Plugging these directly to your computer or smartphone will lead to poor sound, since it requires a powerful amp to get good volume and to output the optimal sound quality that they are capable of producing.
The metal grills on the sides of the earcups do next to nothing to keep the sound within the ear cups. Other people near you will most likely hear what you are listening to.
Highs are really clear and crisp and are able to present even the slightest details in the music that other high quality headphones are not able to give. These frequencies have a lot of sparkle and airiness to them, yet do not sound too harsh or too forward, preventing these from sounding fatiguing.
The mids are mixed really well with the rest of the frequencies. Slightly forward, the mids can easily be heard and appreciated, so sounds like vocals, guitars and keys are really defined.
The bass of these headphones have good power, but not as much as bass-heavy "bass head" cans. Instead, the bass is natural with good sub-bass presence. Bass thump is definitely there but without the bloat that can muddy up the sound.
The sides of these headphones are covered by metal grills which makes the earcups really open. This gives the sound a wide feel, which can be very immersive.
Memory foam is used inside the ear pads, along with a leather/polyester combo on to the surface. Combined, the pads feel ultra soft and smooth on the skin. This also contributes to the headphones' overall premium look and feel.
These headphones are primarily made of metal, wood and leather, along with some high quality plastic parts. The headband's frame itself is made from brushed metal which is fairly lightweight yet very durable. The headband features genuine perforated leather which feels soft and allows for some airflow.
The earcups on the other hand feature a combination of metal, plastic and wood veneer on the ear cups' surface. The headphones' grills on the side are also made out of metal.
It comes with 3 different headphone cables, with each one terminating in a different connector. This gives you a lot of versatility in terms of the audio sources that you can connect to. They also work well as spare cables should one get damaged.
It comes with a balanced XLR cable, a 6.5mm TRS cable which are best suited for desktop use and a 3.5mm cable for portable devices.
Each ear cup has a 2.5mm female connector to connect the headphone cable to, making the cable quite easy to remove and replace as necessary. Storage should also be much easier as you do not need to contend with a long and fixed cable.
These require a bit of power to run so you will most likely need to invest in a great amp. Also, you may want to consider going through different DAC options as these headphones are so revealing that you can easily distinguish artifacts or distortion from a lesser performing DAC.
Despite weighing less than the V1 version, these V2s still come in at around 420 g. This is quite a weight to put on to your head and neck for extended periods so you may need to take the headphones off periodically.
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