The Audeze LCD-3 is an open-back, planar magnetic headphone built for critical listening at home. A 106mm ultra-thin diaphragm sits inside a proprietary stacked magnet array with Fazor phase management, giving the LCD-3 a musical, spacious sound with a full, textured low end and a natural, engaging midrange. This version uses Audeze's leather earpads, paired with hand-finished zebrawood rings for a look that matches the sound quality inside. At 110 ohms, the LCD-3 is tuned to work well with both tube and solid-state headphone amplifiers.

Key Features

• 106mm planar magnetic drivers with a proprietary stacked magnet array
  
• Fazor phase management for low distortion and precise imaging
  
• 110-ohm impedance, tuned to pair with tube or solid-state headphone amps
  
• Hand-finished zebrawood rings, handcrafted in the U.S.A.
  
• Leather earpads and a ventilated suspension headband for long listening sessions
  
• 4-pin XLR cable included, plus 4-pin XLR to 1/4" TRS and 1/4" to 3.5mm adapters
  
• Ships in a hard-shell LCD travel case with warranty card and certificate of authenticity

Simcoe Audio Video Insight

Who This Is For

• Music listeners building a dedicated home listening setup
• Audiophiles moving up from entry-level or mid-range dynamic-driver headphones
• Anyone who already owns a tube or solid-state headphone amp and wants a headphone that can make use of it
• Engineers who want a reference-quality open-back headphone for critical listening, not gaming or mobile use

Ideal Use Case

• Dedicated home listening rooms
• Desktop setups paired with a headphone DAC/amp
• Studio monitoring and mixing where an open, accurate soundstage matters
• Quiet environments, since the open-back design leaks sound and lets outside noise in

What Makes It Different

Most headphones in this price range use a single dynamic driver. The LCD-3 uses a planar magnetic driver instead, where a thin diaphragm moves inside a magnetic field rather than being pushed by a small voice coil. This design provides:

• Lower distortion at high volume
• More even bass response across the frequency range
• A wider, more precise soundstage
• Better resolution of fine musical detail

This is part of why the LCD-3 has stayed in Audeze's lineup since 2011 and remains a reference point for open-back planar sound.

What To Pair It With

• A dedicated headphone amplifier, tube or solid-state, capable of driving a 110-ohm load
• A DAC or digital audio player with a balanced or single-ended output
• Lossless or hi-res source material, since the LCD-3 resolves detail that compressed audio can hide

If you're putting together a full desktop or listening-room setup, our team can help you match an amp and source to the LCD-3.

When To Consider An Alternative

If you need a closed-back headphone for tracking, gaming, or listening in a shared space, the LCD-3's open-back design isn't the right fit — a closed-back model would suit you better.

If portability matters more than outright sound quality, a smaller on-ear headphone will be easier to travel with.

Works Well With

• A dedicated headphone amplifier or DAC/amp combo
• A turntable or hi-res digital source for two-channel listening
• A quiet, dedicated listening space or home office
• A headphone stand for day-to-day storage and care

If you're unsure which amp or source will get the most out of the LCD-3, our team can help you choose before you buy.

Why Buy

The LCD-3 is built for listeners who want an open, spacious, and accurate sound rather than an exaggerated one. It suits a serious home listening setup and rewards a proper amp and source pairing.

• Detailed, spacious sound with a full and textured low end
  
• Handcrafted zebrawood and leather construction built for long-term use
  
• Comes complete with the cables and case needed to start listening right away

Building a dedicated listening space or need help choosing the right amp and source? Our team can help you put together a system that gets the most out of the LCD-3.