Turbulent Labs Audeze LCD Leather Headband Upgrade Review

Introduction –

Turbulent Labs is a Malaysian artisan brand specializing in premium leather goods. Of late, the brand has become renowned equally for their upgrade headphone bands as for the keyboard and desk accessories that put them on the map prior. Beyond this, the company has also branched into OCC cables and even offers replacement drivers and housings for Grado headphones. Jin, the man behind the brand, even offers custom products to suit each and every customer. Having enjoyed his products as both a customer and reviewer, I’ve established great trust in the consistent quality and hard-wearing properties of Turbulent Labs’ products. Today we dive into their latest design, an upgraded headband suiting Audeze’s famous LCD line of headphones (excluding the new LCD-5 which employs a completely different headband design).

The Audeze Leather Headband retails for $60 USD. You can read all about it, peruse configurations and colour choices and treat yourself to one here.  

Disclaimer –

I would like to thank Jin very much for his quick communication and for organising this review of the LCD series headband. All words are my own and there is no monetary incentive for a positive review. Despite receiving the headband free of cost, I will attempt to be as objective as possible in my evaluation.

Behind the Design –

Full-grain Nappa Leather

Jin uses Italian full-grain Nappa leather often employed in high-end automotives and fashion goods such as wallets. This type of leather is full grain and unsplit, boasting an unmodified surface free of fillers or coatings. Accordingly, Nappa leather delivers far better wearing properties than treated leathers and is known to develop a more even, stylish patina over time. The style of tanning used for Nappa leather is also said to resist fading more over time, altogether delivering a supple yet long-lasting quality. This is topped off with German polyester filament stitching and soft polymer foam padding.

Unboxing –

The headband comes in a small fabric pouch with minimalist branding and model denotation on the front. Inside is the headband that arrived unblemished and ready for installation. Jin was also kind enough to include a cable snap organizer though this is usually not included in the sale. On a side note, I do appreciate how closely the leather colours matched between the two products. This means if you do decide to purchase more of TB’s products in future, they will all deliver a consistent aesthetic.

Installation –

Installing the headband is a very straightforward affair. Simply remove the 4 Philips head screws near the orientation markers and the metal plate comes away. Sandwiched between the plate and headband adjuster is the leather band. Do take into account that, if your headphones are getting a bit older, the leather may cling to one side, don’t be afraid to apply some pressure to peal it away.

The Turbulent Labs band simply replaces the factory unit and can be secured in place in exactly the same fashion. I must also take a second to appreciate the precision design here as the new band fits exactly like the factory headband down to the size of the screw holes, perfection.

Design –

While Audeze makes a wonderful set of headphones, I would trust the leather work to a leather specialist any day and the results show here. On first glance, I could already tell that Jin’s headband would put the stock component to shame. From the quality of the leather itself to its slightly wider and far plusher design, the Turbulent Labs headband is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of in-hand and on-head look and feel. It does so whilst mounting up perfectly to the 4 factory headband bolts just above each hanger. In terms of ergonomics, Audeze’s headphones have come a long way however, excluding a select few models, still err on the heavier side.

The added width and padding do a lot to help disperse this weight over a larger surface of the head, aiding long-term comfort. Moreover, it doesn’t add too much height to the package to the extent that you lose much headband adjustability (I had to add one click with the TB headband). I have a taller head and frequently max out the adjustment on many headphones. This isn’t the case on Audeze’s models and even with the plusher headband, I still had a few clicks to spare. This should provide reassurance for the majority though do take note if you already max out the adjustment on the standard headband, this may leave you without adequate adjustment.

I have also had the pleasure of owning a few of Jin’s other products and can attest to the claims of Nappa leather personally. Having owned Turbulent Labs’ wristrest for almost 3 years, it still presents as new despite near daily use at my PC workstation. The leather has maintained its rich coffee colour alongside its suppleness. As someone with a growing interest in classic cars and detailing, I have found that high-quality natural leathers do age far better than synthetic ones and, with proper maintenance, can uphold their quality for decades. While you do pay a premium, the workmanship here is top notch as is the quality of each component used.

Verdict –

As I’ve grown older, I’ve grown to appreciate the rigorous testing and quality control that comes with an OEM part. However, there are some instances where aftermarket is genuinely better and this is exactly what Jin delivers. Worry not about poor fit or consistency. Turbulent Labs’ headbands are quality products that have been designed with a factory-like fit in mind alongside an improved ergonomic design. Much like the Grado headband I reviewed prior and the wristrest I purchased many years ago, the Audeze headband delivers a professional fit and finish alongside employing excellent materials. This is surely a product that will uphold a great user experience for many years to come and at what I consider to be a very reasonable price for a high-end headphone part. I have no qualms giving this a strong personal endorsement for those wanting a replacement Audeze LCD headband that is not only cheaper than OEM but also better.

The LCD headband is available from Turbulent Labs (International) for $60 USD at the time of writing. I am not affiliated with Turbulent Labs and receive no earnings from purchases through this link.