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  1. Home
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  3. Compare

Focal Elear vs Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C

Which Headphones Are Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      StyleComfortControlsBreathabilityPortabilityCaseBuild QualityStabilityHeadshots 1Headshots 2TopIn The Box
    Sound
      Sound ProfileFrequency Response ConsistencyRaw Frequency ResponseBass AccuracyMid AccuracyTreble AccuracyPeaks/DipsImagingPassive SoundstageVirtual SoundstageWeighted Harmonic DistortionTest Settings
    Isolation
      Noise IsolationLeakage
    Microphone
      Microphone StyleRecording QualityNoise Handling
    Active Features
      BatteryApp Support
    Connectivity
      BluetoothNon-Bluetooth WirelessWiredPC CompatibilityPC / PS4 CompatibilityPlayStation CompatibilityXbox CompatibilityBase/Dock
    Comments

Products

Focal Elear
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C

Tested using Methodology v1.4

Updated Jun 12, 2023 04:28 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.5

Updated Aug 15, 2025 07:44 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Focal Elear Picture
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Picture
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureOpen-Back
WirelessNo
TransducerDynamic
Noise CancellingNo
MicNo
TypeOver-ear
EnclosureOpen-Back
WirelessNo
TransducerPlanar Magnetic
Noise CancellingNo
MicNo

Our Verdict

Focal Elear

Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C

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.

0 

Variants

  • Elear
  • LCD2-Classic (Black)

Review

See Focal Elear Review
See Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Review
0 
1 

Check Price

Standard
Elear
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Standard
Elear
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Standard
Elear
SEARCH
B&H
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEARCH
B&H
Standard
Elear
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
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Standard
Elear
SEARCH
Focal
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEARCH
Audeze
Read more

Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 
 

5.1
No major differences between these headphones for mixed usage. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Style  

Design Picture 2 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Design Picture 2
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Design Picture 2

Type  

Over-ear
Over-ear

Enclosure  

Open-Back
Open-Back

Wireless  

No
No

Transducer  

Dynamic
Planar Magnetic
Show Text 

Comfort 
 

8.0
7.5

Comfort Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Comfort Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Comfort Picture

Weight  

1.01 lbs
1.2 lbs

Clamping Force 
 

1.1 lbs
1.4 lbs
Show Text 

Controls 
 

0.0
0.0

Controls Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Controls Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Controls Picture

OS Compatibility 
 

No Controls
No Controls

Ease Of Use  

No Controls
No Controls

Feedback  

No Controls
No Controls

Call/Music Control  

No
No

Volume Control  

No
No

Microphone Control  

No
No

Channel Mixing 
 

No
No

Noise Cancelling Control  

No
No

Talk-Through 
 

No
No

Additional Controls  

No
No
Show Text 

Breathability 
 

6.7
6.3

Breathability After Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Breathability After Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Breathability After Picture

Avg.Temp.Difference  

5 °C
6.2 °C
Show Text 

Portability 
 

5.2
5.5

Portability Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Portability Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Portability Picture

L  

7.5"
7.2" (18.3 cm)

W  

8.5"
6.0" (15.2 cm)

H  

4.1"
4.0" (10.2 cm)

Volume  

261.4 in³
173.00 in³ (2,834.95 cm³)

Transmitter Required  

No
No
Show Text 

Case 
 

0.0
0.0

Case Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Case Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Case Picture

Type  

No case
No case

L  

N/A
N/A

W  

N/A
N/A

H  

N/A
N/A

Volume  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

9.0
8.5

Build Quality Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Build Quality Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Build Quality Picture
Show Text 

Stability 
 

6.0
6.0

Stability Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Stability Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Stability Picture
Show Text 

Headshots 1  

Angled Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Angled Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Angled Picture

Side Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Side Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Side Picture

Headshots 2  

Front Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Front Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Front Picture

Rear Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Rear Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Rear Picture

Top  

Top Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Top Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Top Picture

In The Box  

In The Box Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear In The Box Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C In The Box Picture
Show Text 
Sound

Sound Profile 
 

Frequency Response  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Frequency Response
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Frequency Response
 Compare in Graph Tool

Bass Amount 
 

-3.57 dB
-2.72 dB

Treble Amount 
 

-2.66 dB
-3.9 dB

Frequency Response Consistency 
 

8.2
7.9

Consistency L  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Consistency L
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Consistency L
 Compare in Graph Tool

Consistency R  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Consistency R
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Consistency R
 Compare in Graph Tool

Avg. Std. Deviation 
 

0.35 dB
0.41 dB
Show Text 

Raw Frequency Response 
 

Raw FR L  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Raw FR L
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Raw FR L
 Compare in Graph Tool

Raw FR R  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Raw FR R
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Raw FR R
 Compare in Graph Tool

Bass Accuracy 
 

7.3
7.1

Bass  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Bass
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Bass
 Compare in Graph Tool

Std. Err. 
 

3.44 dB
3.59 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

59.93 Hz
97.92 Hz

Low-Bass 
 

-6.71 dB
-6.34 dB

Mid-Bass 
 

-0.98 dB
-3.61 dB

High-Bass 
 

2.12 dB
-0.27 dB
Show Text 

Mid Accuracy 
 

9.2
9.0

Mid  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Mid
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Mid
 Compare in Graph Tool

Std. Err. 
 

1.09 dB
1.36 dB

Low-Mid 
 

0.9 dB
0.02 dB

Mid-Mid 
 

0.23 dB
0.81 dB

High-Mid 
 

1.28 dB
-0.56 dB
Show Text 

Treble Accuracy 
 

6.0
5.5

Treble  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Treble
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Treble
 Compare in Graph Tool

Std. Err. 
 

5.36 dB
6.38 dB

Low-Treble 
 

-2.59 dB
-6.56 dB

Mid-Treble 
 

-2.98 dB
-4.25 dB

High-Treble 
 

-6.1 dB
-10.14 dB
Show Text 

Peaks/Dips 
 

7.3
7.6

Peaks/Dips Graph  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Peaks/Dips Graph
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Peaks/Dips Graph
 Compare in Graph Tool

Peaks 
 

1.62 dB
1.48 dB

Dips 
 

1.76 dB
1.39 dB

Imaging 
 

8.7
9.1

Group Delay  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Group Delay
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Group Delay
 Compare in Graph Tool

Phase Response  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Phase Response

Phase Response Mismatch  

 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Phase Response Mismatch

Weighted Group Delay 
 

0.17
0.08

Weighted Phase Mismatch 
 

5.71
6.6

Weighted Amplitude Mismatch 
 

0.34
0.15

Weighted Frequency Mismatch 
 

2.06
1.3
Show Text 

Passive Soundstage 
 

7.7
8.6

PRTF  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear PRTF
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C PRTF
 Compare in Graph Tool

PRTF Accuracy (Std. Dev.) 
 

4.39 dB
2.61 dB

PRTF Size (Avg.) 
 

3.97 dB
4.1 dB

PRTF Distance 
 

10.24 dB
15.9 dB

Openness 
 

9.5
9.6

Acoustic Space Excitation 
 

8.5
8.7
Show Text 

Virtual Soundstage 
 

0.0
0.0

Virtual Soundstage 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Virtual Soundstage
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Virtual Soundstage

Head Modeling 
 

No
No

Speaker Modeling 
 

No
No

Room Ambience 
 

No
No

Head Tracking 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No App
No App

Weighted Harmonic Distortion 
 

8.1
8.0

Weighted Harmonic Distortion  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Weighted Harmonic Distortion
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Weighted Harmonic Distortion
 Compare in Graph Tool

WHD @ 90 
 

0.240
0.277

WHD @ 100 
 

0.082
0.089

Test Settings 
 

Firmware 
 

No Firmware
No Firmware

Power 
 

Passive
Passive

Connection 
 

Wired
Wired

Codec 
 

PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz
PCM, 24-bit, 48kHz

EQ 
 

No EQ
No EQ

ANC 
 

No ANC
No ANC

Tip/Pad 
 

Default
Default

Microphone 
 

No Microphone
No Microphone
Isolation

Noise Isolation 
 

1.2
1.0

Noise Isolation  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Noise Isolation
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Noise Isolation
 Compare in Graph Tool

Isolation Audio 
 

Overall Attenuation 
 

-2.52 dB
-2.17 dB

Noise Cancelling  

No
No

Bass 
 

-0.03 dB
-0.32 dB

Mid 
 

1.19 dB
0.66 dB

Treble 
 

-8.42 dB
-6.61 dB
Show Text 

Leakage 
 

1.8
1.5

Leakage  

 Preview Graph
Focal Elear Leakage
 Preview Graph
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Leakage
 Compare in Graph Tool

Leakage Audio 
 

Overall Leakage @ 1ft 
 

62.88 dB
64.02 dB
Show Text 
Microphone

Microphone Style 
 

Integrated 
 

No
No

In-Line 
 

No
No

Boom 
 

No
No

Detachable Boom 
 

No
No

Mic  

No
No

Recording Quality 
 

0.0
0.0

Microphone Frequency Response  

Focal Elear Microphone Frequency Response
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Microphone Frequency Response
 Compare in Graph Tool

Recorded Speech 
 

N/A
N/A

LFE 
 

N/A
N/A

FR Std. Dev. 
 

N/A
N/A

HFE 
 

N/A
N/A

Weighted THD 
 

N/A
N/A

Gain 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Noise Handling 
 

0.0
0.0

SpNR  

Focal Elear SpNR
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C SpNR
 Compare in Graph Tool

SpNR 
 

N/A
N/A

Noise Gate 
 

No

Speech + Pink Noise Handling 
 

N/A

Speech + Pink Noise Audio Sample  

N/A
N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Handling 
 

N/A

Speech + Subway Noise Audio Sample  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Active Features

Battery 
 

0.0
0.0

Battery Type 
 

No Battery
No Battery

Continuous Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Additional Charges 
 

N/A
N/A

Total Battery Life 
 

N/A
N/A

Charge Time 
 

N/A
N/A

Power-Saving Feature 
 

No
No

Audio While Charging 
 

No
No

Passive Playback 
 

Passive Headphone
Passive Headphone

Charging Port  

None
None
Show Text 

App Support 
 

0.0
0.0

App Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear App Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C App Picture

App Name  

No App
No App

iOS  

No
No

Android  

No
No

macOS  

No
No

Windows  

No
No

Equalizer 
 

No
No

ANC Control 
 

No
No

Mic Control  

No
No

Room Effects 
 

No
No

Playback Control 
 

No
No

Button Mapping  

No
No

Surround Support 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Bluetooth 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth Version 
 

No Bluetooth
No Bluetooth

Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

NFC Pairing 
 

No
No

Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (SBC) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX HD) 
 

N/A
N/A

PC Latency (aptX-LL) 
 

N/A
N/A

iOS Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Android Latency 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Non-Bluetooth Wireless 
 

0.0
0.0

Non-BT Line Of Sight Range 
 

N/A
N/A

Non-BT Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Wired 
 

9.5
9.5

Cable Picture 
 

Compare High-Res
Focal Elear Cable Picture
Compare High-Res
Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C Cable Picture

Analog Audio 
 

Yes
Yes

USB Audio 
 

No
No

Detachable  

Yes
Yes

Length  

10.4 ft
6.20 ft (1.89 m)

Connection 
 

1/4" TRS
1/4" TRS

Analog/USB Audio Latency 
 

0 ms
0 ms
Show Text 

PC Compatibility 
 

Analog 
 

Audio Only (Adapter not included)

Wired USB 
 

No

Non-BT Wireless 
 

No

PC / PS4 Compatibility 
 

PC/PS4 Analog 
 

Audio Only (Not Included)
Audio Only (Adapter not included)

PC/PS4 Wired USB 
 

No
No

PC/PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

PlayStation Compatibility 
 

PS4 Analog 
 

Audio Only (Not Included)
Audio Only (Adapter not included)

PS4 Wired USB 
 

No
No

PS4 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

PS5 Analog 
 

Audio Only (Adapter not included)

PS5 Wired USB 
 

No

PS5 Non-BT Wireless 
 

No

Xbox Compatibility 
 

Xbox One Analog 
 

Audio Only (Not Included)
Audio Only (Adapter not included)

Xbox One Wired USB 
 

No
No

Xbox One Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
No

Xbox Series X|S Analog 
 

Audio Only (Adapter not included)

Xbox Series X|S Wired USB 
 

No

Xbox Series X|S Non-BT Wireless 
 

No
Show Text 

Base/Dock 
 

0.0
0.0

Type 
 

No Base/Dock
No Base/Dock

USB Input 
 

No
No

Line In 
 

No
No

Line Out 
 

No
No

Optical Input 
 

No
No

RCA Input 
 

No
No

Dock Charging 
 

No
No

Power Supply 
 

No Base/Dock
No Base/Dock
Show Text 

Check Price

Standard
Elear
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Standard
Elear
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Standard
Elear
SEARCH
B&H
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEARCH
B&H
Standard
Elear
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Standard
Elear
SEARCH
Focal
Black
LCD2-Classic
SEARCH
Audeze
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Focal Elear

Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 2 years ago

Focal Elear vs Audeze LCD 2 Classic/LC2C: Main Discussion

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