The Audeze LCD 2 Classic are well-built and great-sounding planar magnetic critical listening headphones. They have a high-end and sturdy open-back design, they're comfortable despite being somewhat heavy and they deliver a warm sound that's a bit forward with instruments and vocals but should please most listeners. However, their bulky and heavy build quality won't be for everyone and like most open-back headphones they aren't designed to isolate or to be used outdoors.
Our Verdict
Good for neutral sound. The LCD 2 Classic are comfortable, have a decent soundstage, great imaging distortion, and consistency. That said, they have a warm sound profile that lacks thump and rumble, which is expected from open-back headphones. They also have a recessed treble range, so vocals and lead instruments sound veiled, while sibilants like cymbals are dull. On the upside, their mid range is very flat and neutral, so vocals and lead instruments sound clear and accurate.
- Comfortable.
- Durable design.
- Open sound quality.
- Poor isolation by design.
- Bulky and heavy headphones.
Not designed for commuting. The open-back ear cups do not block any ambient noise and leak a lot. Also, they're not portable and do not have a control scheme for mobile devices.
- Comfortable.
- Durable design.
- Open sound quality.
- Poor isolation by design.
- Bulky and heavy headphones.
Not meant for sports. The Audeze LCD2C are bulky, unstable and not suitable for sports or to use outdoors.
- Comfortable.
- Durable design.
- Open sound quality.
- Poor isolation by design.
- Bulky and heavy headphones.
Sub-par for office use. Unless you work alone or in an isolated office, the leakage level will be too bothersome for those around you. Also, the open back design does not block any noise so you will hear your environment fairly easily even when listening to music at higher-than-average volumes.
- Comfortable.
- Durable design.
- Open sound quality.
- Poor isolation by design.
- Bulky and heavy headphones.
Mediocre for gaming. They're comfortable with an above-average sound and a low latency wired design. However, they do not have a microphone for voice chat and no customization options which are typical for most gaming headsets. Also, they do not have the convenience of wireless design or multiple connection options for an optimized experience on Xbox One or PS4.
- Comfortable.
- Durable design.
- Open sound quality.
- Poor isolation by design.
- Bulky and heavy headphones.
Changelog
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Updated Aug 15, 2025:
We added a reference to the Audeze LCD-X in the Case box.
- Updated Jan 19, 2024: We've added a comparison between these headphones and the Audeze MM-100 in Style.
- Updated May 04, 2022: When these headphones were converted from a previous testbench to TB 1.5, their graph results changed and the text no longer matched it. We updated the sound-related text of our review.
- Updated Nov 19, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.5.
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Popular Headphones Comparisons
The Audeze LCD 2C are good-sounding headphones with a comfortable but heavy and slightly tight fit. They're a good choice for critical listening, thanks to their open design and planar magnetic drivers that help deliver a good soundstage, imaging and frequency response. They're also better built than some of the other open over-ears that we've tested. They can sound a bit warm rather than neutral though, and may not be an as good a value as some of the models compared below. However, for listening, they're a great option that should satisfy most audiophiles and critical listeners. See our recommendations for the best studio headphones, the best DJ headphones, and the best headphones for music.
The Audeze LCD-1 are very similarly performing headphones as the Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C. They both have well-balanced sound profiles, though the LCD-1's treble and mid-range are both more accurate. The LCD-1 also have a much sleeker and more premium look, with smaller ear cups that are just as comfortable. The LCD 2 do feel better built, however, as they have more metal in their build.
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C and the Audeze MM-100 are open-back, planar magnetic headphones from the same manufacturer. As a result, they share a lot of similar traits, with little to differentiate between them. They're both comfortable and well-built, with both headphones employing adjustable ski-band style headbands. They also have extremely similar sound profiles, with an underemphasized bass response and a recessed treble range. The main difference between the two is the soundstage, where the LCD 2 Classic sound a touch more wide and open. The LCD 2 Classic also have a higher impedance, and you'll need an amp or soundcard to drive them.
The Focal Elear and the Audeze LCD2-Classic/LC2C are very similar headphones, but the Focal might be slightly better thanks to a more comfortable fit and a slightly better build quality. Both headphones have very similar frequency responses and should sound practically the same way, but the soundstage of the Audeze is better.
The HiFiMan Sundara 2018 are better headphones than the Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C. They don't lack as much bass as the Audeze do, and their treble range is much more accurate. On the other hand, the Audeze feel much more durable and premium, especially since there are multiple reports of quality control issues with the HiFiMan.
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