So it looks like Audeze is etching their circuit into metalized plastic film.  What disturbs me is their etching pattern: instead of etching the entire useless area (under the magnet) away, they're simply isolating it from the trace.  This is great for them as they don't have to spend much time etching, but they're leaving all that unnecessary mass on the diaphragm.  That probably helps to explain their poor treble performance.  A product with such a high price tag should have more work put into it...this is pretty bush league.  Looks like they don't even bother to wash the chemicals off either.  "State of the art" my ass lol

The other major problem is the way they're making contact with the trace.  That mechanism is made for failure.  The higher the tension/louder the signal, the more stress that contact joint is gonna incur, and it'll eventually break the trace. 

Is this a new unit?  If it isn't, you can't really put much weight into the small dings on the diaphragm as that could just be due to user environment.  That said, a dustcover wouldn't hurt.

The more I see the internals of these modern orthos, the more disappointed I'm becoming.

If you talk to the guy, do you think you could ask him to measure the spacer thickness?  Just something I've always been curious about in orthos and can't find any info on.

Are we sure those are legit LCD-3? I only ask because the diaphragm looks almost too shitty. Didn't Tyll take LCD apart at some point? I looked for photos, and saw a hifi-man diaphragm on IF, but I thought he did the same with an LCD, no? I am not apologizing for Audeze, I did NOT like the LCD-3 when I briefly owned it.

forum.doctorhead.ru/index.php?showtopic=30187&st=0

Tyll posted pics of the old pre-fazor LCDs. The ones we have universally said sound better around here. When they function as intended that is.

Is this a new unit?  If it isn't, you can't really put much weight into the small dings on the diaphragm as that could just be due to user environment.  That said, a dustcover wouldn't hurt.

Not exactly sure what you mean, but if you are referring to the pictures where some junk is marked on the diaphragm - its not outside, it is between the layers. So it got there at the factory..
Important note - as you can see on the last photos - it is almost impossible to disassemble without damaging the diaphragm. Seems it was made intentionally, as Snorry said there wasnt such problems with LCD-2
There is also some viscous substance on the diaphragm. That makes repairing almost impossible - you cant solder to it.

If you talk to the guy, do you think you could ask him to measure the spacer thickness?  Just something I've always been curious about in orthos and can't find any info on.

Sure, I can ask. On our model its 1mm now, I think. We also tried 0.5 and 1.5 - not much of a difference, besides sensitivity.

Tyll posted pics of the old pre-fazor LCDs. The ones we have universally said sound better around here. When they function as intended that is.

Maybe I'll let Bill-p have a go at my LCD-2r2's. Better than having them Fazored.  Rather have a C grade original than an F grade Fazor.