Despite the fact this will be filed under earphones/IEMs the LCDi4 is anything but that. Its unique design, presentation, and in-depth DSP pulls it above into some sort of super-tiny headphone category but with a sound quality that is anything but super tiny.

I’m going to come right out and say it: The Audeze LCDi4 are hands down the best-sounding in-ear headphones I’ve heard. They’re the most transparent and open, have the flattest tonal balance, and the bass—OMG—is deeper and faster than any other in-ears on the planet! The LCDi4, like Audeze’s other in-ear headphones, the iSine 10 ($399) and iSine 20 ($599), redefine the in-ear category. They look, fit, and sound like no other in-ears.

Normally I would have made some comparisons to similar IEMs, but, well, there’s really nothing to my knowledge that’s comparable. To this effect, there’s no question that the Audeze LCDi4 delivers from a pure sonic-quality standpoint. It closes the gap between headphones and IEMs to a startling degree with the technical prowess to go unmatched against nearly any other IEM I’ve heard. And if you’re willing to put in some time to EQ it, or simply run it off of your iPhone, there’s plenty of untapped potential too.

The LCD-i4 is a monitor that can absolutely take it up with the big boys with its open, natural and high quality performance. It does sound very good on its own already, but with some EQ-tweaking it can become an absolute beast. Spot on timbre, precision, speed and a natural sound.

Like the Audeze Euclid, the Audeze LCDi4 offers a balanced tonality with outstanding responsiveness, coherence and resolution. The sound is also one of the most open and spacious from any in-ear headphone rivalling that of full-sized counterparts.

The LCDi4s' treble balance might be too polite for some tastes, but I prefer aggression that is encoded in the recording rather than added by the playback gear. The LCDi4s played sufficiently loud with my iPhone 6S, but that's a bit of a moot point considering their lack of acoustic isolation.

It was refreshing to listen to my favorite tracks and hearing well balanced frequencies, wide open soundstage and no distortion. It’s very much like savoring the flavors of an expensive wine you never knew could taste so good. The Audeze LCDi4 is another groundbreaking in-ear headphone from this forward thinking audiophile headphone company. The sound is clear and balanced yet warm and full. The size of the earphones is a minor issue and maybe Audeze will find an even more comfortable way to keep these high tech piece of gear. In summation I’m totally impressed with the LCDi4 and can’t get over how good it really sounds. You really need to hear this headphone. It may indeed be the greatest technical accomplishment in headphones for 2017.