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Audeze launches LCD-S20: Planar magnetic headphones with SLAM tech
Published onApril 10, 2025
- Audeze unveils LCD-S20 closed-back headphones with a detachable cable, magnetic earpads, and 90mm drivers.
- Marks debut of SLAM on planar magnetic drivers, previously used in the flagship CRBN2.
- Priced at $499, the LCD-S20 are now the most affordable headphones in Audeze’s LCD lineup.
Audeze has announced the LCD-S20, its latest closed-back planar magnetic headphone and the first to integrate the company’s new SLAM acoustic technology. Priced at $499, the LCD-S20 becomes the most accessible model in Audeze’s LCD series and is aimed at creators, musicians, and audiophiles seeking high-fidelity sound with excellent isolation.
The headline feature is SLAM, or Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator, a technology initially introduced in Audeze’s CRBN2 electrostatic headphones in 2024. SLAM enhances low-end response and spatial imaging by fine-tuning airflow and improving diaphragm control, delivering what Audeze describes as “lifelike, extended bass response” in a closed-back format.
Built on the same durable chassis as Audeze’s Maxwell gaming headset, the LCD-S20 includes 90mm planar magnetic drivers with patented Fluxor magnets, Fazor waveguides, and Uniforce voice coils. This setup is said to deliver a frequency response of 10Hz to 40kHz with total harmonic distortion rated below 0.1% at 100dB SPL. Audeze manufactures the drivers in-house at its Southern California facility.
The LCD-S20 is engineered with user comfort and convenience in mind. It features dampened earcups for passive noise isolation, making it well-suited for studio tracking and recording sessions. New user-replaceable magnetic earpads and a detachable, reversible cable add further flexibility for long-term use. The headphone weighs 550 grams and supports over 120dB of max SPL with an impedance of 18 ohms and 93dB sensitivity.
“With the LCD-S20, we’re bringing Audeze’s renowned studio-quality sound to a broader audience without compromising on innovation or performance,” said Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram.
The LCD-S20 is available now directly from Audeze’s website.