Audeze, the renowned American specialist in planar magnetic headphones, has begun shipping its latest flagship model, the LCD-5s, in limited quantities following its unveiling at the NAMM Show (January 22-24, 2026).
Positioned as the refined successor to the acclaimed LCD-5, the LCD-5s incorporates the company’s most recent technical innovations to deliver what Audeze describes as “refinement, precision, and luxury.” The new model promises a vast, immersive soundscape paired with palpably physical bass response, while advancing mastering-grade accuracy and a more natural, lifelike frequency response.
Nano-scale Prarallel Uniforce diapragm
At the heart of the LCD-5s lies an all-new driver design featuring the thinnest and most responsive materials yet employed by Audeze. The nano-scale Parallel Uniforce™ diaphragm connects to a revised chassis structure, enabling the most precise midrange tuning possible. This is further enhanced by SLAM™ (Sympathetic Loading Acoustic Management) technology, which provides enhanced punch, detail, and presence. Combined with Fluxor™ magnet arrays, Fazor™ phase management, and Neodymium N50 magnets in a 90 mm transducer, the result is claimed to be effortless realism with superior sonic coherence.
Key features
- Impedance: 30 ohms
- Sensitivity: 90 dB/1mW
- Frequency Response: 5 Hz – 50 kHz
- THD: <0.1% @ 100 dB SPL
- Maximum SPL: >130 dB
- Weight: 475 g
Open-back circumaural design
The headphones maintain an open-back, circumaural (over-ear) design crafted from premium materials: carbon fiber, magnesium, genuine leather, and polished polymer acetate, accented with sophisticated copper details for an elegant, handcrafted appearance. Redesigned earpads feature smoothly flowing, curved forms to ensure hours of comfort while minimizing audible reflections for improved accuracy and seal.
Audio signal integrity is preserved through an ultra high-purity cable with directional OCC (Ohno Continuous Cast) high-purity copper strands, offering low capacitance and resistance. The package includes a premium 4-pin XLR balanced cable, along with adapters (4-pin XLR to 6.3 mm TRS and 6.3 mm TRS to 3.5 mm), and a protective aluminum travel case.
Audeze emphasizes that the LCD-5s represents a meaningful evolution beyond the original LCD-5, with upgrades in driver responsiveness, acoustic management, comfort, and overall musicality described as “better, bigger, smoother, wider, deeper, more articulate, and more comfortable.”
The LCD-5s is now shipping in limited quantities directly from audeze.com (with free 2-day shipping to the USA, plus processing time) and through authorized dealers. MSRP is set at $4,500.
For discerning audiophiles, mastering engineers, and enthusiasts seeking the pinnacle of planar magnetic performance, the LCD-5s arrives as a compelling new flagship that builds on Audeze’s legendary line while pushing boundaries in clarity, dynamics, and listener immersion.
