Audeze LCD-GX Gaming Headset Review

The Audeze LCD-GX is the most expensive “gaming headset” that I’ve used. At $899, it’s going to be out of budget for many gamers and tough to justify for those who can afford it. However, for those who are willing to shell out for what is absolutely an elevated listening experience, the Audeze LCD-GX goes beyond what can be achieved by the traditional gaming headphone. This is my review after a month of exclusive use.

Don’t be fooled

Audeze might be pushing the LCD-GX as being “designed for serious gamers,” but I’d still argue that this headphone is best suited for music listeners who also invest a lot of time into gaming. 

Buy the Audeze LCD-GX from Amazon.com

While the planar magnetic drivers do offer enhancements in clarity, responsiveness, and soundstage, gaming audio can only be made to sound so good and, while the flat-to-warmer sound of the LCD-GX makes for a pleasant but also competitively accurate listening experience, it’s music where this pair of cans truly shines. 

Don’t get me wrong, the ability to render explosions in immense detail at higher volumes with no perceptible distortion, while also accurately presenting enemy footstep and gunfire directions, is indeed impressive. My point is that, yes, the LCD-GX achieves its goal of sounding great for games, but it is so much more. 

The all-day headset

If, like me, you spend your work day in an office alone and can jam out to tunes with a pair of open-back headphones without bothering everyone, before then chilling out with some video games using that same pair of open-back headphones, then the LCD-GX is perfect. Open-back is great, when you know that you won’t be bothering anyone.

The red-and-black “gamer aesthetic” is a little bit outdated when I’m reviewing these in 2023, but it’s still a classic colorway that looks great. No one will be labeling the LCD-GX as “tacky,” as it screams premium quality at every turn. 

An unboxing to remember

Speaking of “premium,” let’s take a step back and quickly go through the unboxing experience and what’s bundled with the headset, as every detail matters when you’re putting down $899.

The LCD-GX comes in an impressively rugged hard case. It’s a big case, though very protective, making it great for keeping the headset protected while traveling. As someone who hates to leave his home with an expensive pair of headphones, as they rarely come with a robust-enough case, I’m very happy to see the LCD-GX well-protected. 

Whether intentional or not, Audeze’s inclusion of the hard case is great for those who travel to a lot of gaming events like LAN parties. 

What’s inside?

Popping open the case for the first time reveals the LCD-GX headset sitting in its foam enclosures. Below it is a gap where the 8’ microphone cable (⅛” TRRS connector), alternative cable without microphone (¼” TRS connector), audio adapter (OMTP to CTIA), and splitter (⅛” TRRS to dual ⅛” TRS connectors) live. 

I’m happy to say that, though it costs $899, you do get everything that you will need in the box. I’m especially happy to see the microphone-less cable included, as that allows the LCD-GX to be adapted from a gaming headset to a standard headphone with just a few disconnects. 

Making a headset a headset

When it is in “gaming headset” mode, however, I’m happy to report that the included mic is above average in its class. It’s perfect for communicating with teammates over Discord or in PlayStation and Xbox chat. However, I would still turn to a dedicated microphone when it comes to livestreaming on Twitch or YouTube. The mic is good and has an onboard mute switch, but it also has its limitations.

Not quite perfect

There were only a couple of niggles that frustrated me during the use of the LCD-GX. First, I found disconnecting the cables to be very tricky. They really do not want to come off easily, which I suppose is good for longevity and keeping them locked in over time, but it made swapping out the mic cable for the standard headphone cable a bit of a headache. A minor point, sure, but worth mentioning.

Second, there’s the comfort, or lack of it. While it eventually becomes a non-issue, I imagine many users will notice the headset’s weight when putting on the LCD-GX for the first time. Though it is relatively light for an Audeze product, it still takes some getting used to, especially for prolonged gaming sessions. However, after a couple of weeks, I eventually got used to it. Thankfully, there’s no problematic clamping force to deal with and the earpads are extremely generous with padding.

LCD-GX review sample was provided by Audeze.