I'm upgrading to these magnetic headphones and their incredibly fun sound, but they're less accessible than what I had

Audeze is becoming one of my favorite audio brands thanks to its continued investments in planar magnetic technology, delivering stellar audio with best-in-class dynamism and responsiveness.

When I reviewed the Audeze MM-100, I praised those headphones for bringing Audeze's audio prowess down to a far more accessible price point, making them one of the best entryways into hi-fi audio. Now, the Audeze LCD-S20 has arrived, and I know I'm upgrading to them.

Does that make these headphones better than the MM-100 I reviewed before? Honestly, it's a give and take — the Audeze MM-100 still provides the better value overall, and they're still a slightly better fit for more casual setups, but the LCD-S20 boast the more exciting sound profile and vastly superior isolation.

Phenomenal hardware with impressive audio

The Audeze MM-100 is undeniably premium, but the LCD-S20 ups the ante on every front. Constructed of magnesium, aluminum, and steel, these headphones feel every bit like $500.

This is a familiar fit and finish for Audeze, but why change what clearly works? Of course, this is a closed-back design. That means a narrower soundstage (thanks to less air moving through the headphones), but far superior isolation — so you hear less of the outside world, and the outside world hears less of your music.

The LCD-S20 weighs a whopping 550g, which is a full 75g heavier than the MM-100. You feel that weight, but the LCD-S20 is surprisingly comfortable, with a balanced clamping force and a wide suspension headband strap to disperse all that weight.

I love how these headphones look and feel, including the tasteful cloth-bound earcups, and Audeze also introduced magnetically attached earcup cushions to make replacing them easier.

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As expected, these headphones utilize a lot of Audeze's technology, including massive 90mm planar magnetic drivers. I already broke down a lot of why Audeze's headphones are so impressive in my MM-100 review, so I'll stick to what the LCD-S20 does differently.

The Audeze LCD-S20 uses the company's innovative SLAM technology, which (to massively simplify it) enhances bass response with carefully engineered channels that relieve pressure, improve stability, and reduce distortion at lower frequencies. The LCD-S20 also boasts a much wider frequency response than the MM-100, too.

At the end of the day, though, all that matters is how the LCD-S20 sounds — and it's wonderful. Where the Audeze MM-100 deliver a neutral and flat "studio" tuning with a massive soundstage, the LCD-S20 is fun.

Audio is still incredibly accurate and clean, but the LCD-S20 has a fuller and punchier low-end and beautifully rounded mids. It's a comfortable and dynamic sound, and my ears have thanked me for it.

The LCD-S20's one weakness is that higher frequencies feel a little duller than the brighter MM-100, but I only really noticed when listening to the same song on each pair of headphones back to back — and even then, I still enjoyed the LCD-S20 a lot more.

A worthy upgrade, but not the best value from Audeze

As an enthusiast rather than a professional, I prefer the more colorful sound profile and the improved isolation of the LCD-S20 compared to the more neutral and wider MM-100.

These headphones look, feel, and sound better, in my opinion. But is that worth the extra $100? For those who know what they want, yes. For those who are just getting started with hi-fi audio, I still suggest the MM-100.

It's not just that the MM-100 includes a soft, protective bag in the box where the LCD-S20 doesn't, or that the MM-100 are flat out more affordable while using a lot of the same technology.

It's a small difference, but the LCD-S20 have lower sensitivity than the MM-100, meaning that (even with the same impedance level), they need more juice to reach the same volumes.

I consistently had the LCD-S20 volume 5-8 points higher than the MM-100. This won't matter at all with proper hi-fi audio setups with dedicated DACs and more powerful headphone jacks, but one of the greatest strengths of the Audeze MM-100 is that they'll work with basically anything with a headphone jack, including your laptop or desktop PC.

That meant you could start with the Audeze MM-100 and then expand your setup later on to further upgrade your sound and eventually reach the MM-100's full potential. The LCD-S20 should boast the same device compatibility, but you may be unable to get the volume you want without that additional gear.

Audeze LCD-S20 review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if ...

• You want high-end audio in a closed-back pair of headphones.
• You want hi-fi headphones that work with a wider range of devices.
• You're looking for a more colorful sound than a lot of studio headphones.

❌You should not buy this if ...

• You're a real bass head and need overwhelming low ends.
• You're just starting out with hi-fi audio and want to save money.

The Audeze MM-100 let me fully step into the world of hi-fi audio I had been dipping my toes in for years, and I still recommend it first and foremost to casual audiophiles wanting a sweet pair of planar magnetic headphones.

That being said, the Audeze LCD-S20 are my new favorite headphones. Sleep Token, Rush, Icon for Hire, Black Lab, Megadeth — every genre I threw at these cans sounded awesome, driven by impressive bass for closed-back planar magnetic headphones.

Well, impressive to everyone but bass heads who want to feel the vibrations running through their entire body with each low-end hit. I've always preferred a more balanced sound, but some of the best dynamic headphones may give you what you're looking for.

I'm certainly not going back, though. The Audeze LCD-S20 are here to stay for me, and for $499 at B&HPhoto are a great (and reasonable) upgrade over the MM-100 I've been favoring.