Overview

The Audeze LCD-5s is a flagship open-back, planar magnetic headphone built for the most demanding listening and mastering work. A 90mm Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce diaphragm sits inside a Fluxor magnet array with Fazor phase management and SLAM acoustic tuning, giving it a vast soundstage and a physical, well-controlled low end. Its carbon fiber, magnesium, and leather construction is finished with copper accents, and it ships with Audeze's most premium OCC copper cable.

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

The LCD-5s sits at the top of Audeze's planar lineup, refining the earlier LCD-5 with a new driver and earpad design. It's built for listeners who already know what they're listening for.

• Wide, open soundstage with physical, well-controlled bass
• Redesigned earpads for a better seal and long-session comfort
• Premium OCC copper cable included for a low-noise signal path

Best for the Audeze LCD-5s: pair it with an amplifier that can comfortably deliver 500mW or more — its 90 dB sensitivity means it needs real power to open up fully.

More Details

Why It Wins

• Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce Diaphragm: A thinner, more responsive diaphragm than earlier Audeze drivers, built for precise midrange tuning.
• SLAM Acoustic Technology: Adds extended, physical bass response and a more open soundstage without added distortion.
• Redesigned Earpads: New curved geometry improves seal and reduces internal reflections for a cleaner sound.

What Makes It Different

Most headphones in this category use older driver designs carried over from previous generations. The LCD-5s uses a new diaphragm and chassis structure that lets Audeze tune the midrange more precisely, while SLAM technology gives it a bass response that stays controlled even at high output.

Technical Highlights

• 90mm Planar Magnetic Driver: Delivers a 5Hz-50kHz frequency response with less than 0.1% THD at 100dB SPL.
• 35-Ohm Impedance: Rated for use with dedicated headphone amplifiers rather than portable devices alone.
• Ultra High-Purity OCC Cable: Directional, high-purity copper strands for a low-capacitance, low-resistance signal path.

Buyers Guide

Who This Is For

• The End-Game Listener: Audiophiles looking for one of Audeze's most refined planar headphones.
• The Mastering Engineer: Professionals who need a wide, accurate soundstage for critical work.
• The Experienced Amp Owner: Listeners who already have a capable headphone amplifier and want a headphone that can make full use of it.

Ideal Use Case

• Dedicated Home Listening Rooms: Where soundstage and detail are the priority.
• Mastering and Critical Mixing: For engineers who need to hear deep into a mix.
• Desktop Reference Systems: Paired with a serious headphone DAC/amp stack.

What To Pair It With

• A High-Power Headphone Amplifier: Capable of at least 500mW into a 35-ohm load.
• A Resolving DAC: To make full use of the detail the LCD-5s can retrieve.
• Lossless or Hi-Res Source Material: So the extended frequency response has something worth reproducing.

Alternative Options

The LCD-5s is built for maximum resolution and soundstage rather than easy portability or effortless power requirements. If you want a similar open-back planar sound with lower power needs, the LCD-3 is worth a look. If you want Audeze's most advanced driver technology regardless of format, the CRBN2 electrostatic model is worth considering as well, though it requires its own dedicated amplifier.