Fit and Comfort

Now we get to where I realized my current IEM testing setup is not as ideal for headphones, down to this section where I would use the artificial ear mold to test for fit, which course only works when the two channels are on physically separate, individual enclosures. So let me walk you through my experience instead and say that Audeze did a good job with the LCD-2 Classic considering what it had to start with. The original LCD-2 uses different wooden rings (Rosewood, Shedua, or Bamboo) as well as a leather strap and ear pads to where it weighed 580–595 g compared to exactly the same form factor here that comes in at ~540 g with the delrin rings and leather-free band/ear cups. This weight is mostly because of the hefty magnets needed to driver the headphone speakers, as well as the support frame for the diaphragms. That 10% decrease will matter a lot in the long run, especially considering it is still a heavy and large set of headphones. The overall mass density is not that different from most others, though, which is part of the comfort puzzle being solved.

Having multiple support points and pivot points throughout also helps, as does the strap working very well paired with the pivot points and yoke rods. The biggest contributor has to be the ear pads themselves, with lots of breathability, but the foam and tapering design also working well as described before. You may still want to take a break from time to time, which is always recommended anyway. There is higher-than-average clamping force, but mostly to help seal the ear cups for the bass response everyone expects from the warm Audeze tuning on the LCD Origins line. The fit around my head was exceptional at the default yoke settings, and there is plenty of play in all three dimensions to accommodate smaller and larger heads alike. The more you use the headphones, the more the ear pads fit to your head and the more the head band "breaks-in," reducing the clamping force just enough to suit your head geometry as well. So as is usually the case with headphones, the initial adrenaline rush will power you through the worst periods of the fitting process before things get better over time.

Audio Performance

Audio Hardware

Planar magnetic speakers are not new tech by any means, but Audeze has survivor bias in its favor as it has become synonymous with planar magnetic headphones today. Pretty much all headphones and speakers today use dynamic drivers, often present in set sizes adopting the popular cone geometry you can see more readily in an external set of speakers. These drivers have a diaphragm more often than not too, with a voice coil attached to it such that any provided input vibrates the diaphragm rapidly to generate the sound output. If segments of the diaphragm vibrate at different frequencies, you end up with harmonic distortion and unwanted resonances.

Planar magnetic drivers aim to provide a uniform driving force across the entire diaphragm to reduce said harmonics. Audeze does this with its Fluxor magnets capable of generating enough magnetic field strength to exert more force on the diaphragm, which is in turn extremely thin at just around 4.5 µm, thus resulting in higher efficiency drivers as well because you get so much more output, and more consistent output, from the diaphragm vibrations for the same energy fed to the magnets. There is something else to point out when it comes to driving these planar magnetic headphones. The voice coil is directly placed on the diaphragm, meaning there is a fully resistive rather than inductive load with the voice coil (and hence the diaphragm) resisting the current through it equally irrespective of the operating frequency. This generates as close to a flat impedance curve as possible, making it far easier to pair these with a larger variety of DACs and amplifiers rather than being a power-hungry set.

At 70 Ω, the Audeze LCD-2 Classic is not that hard to drive in practice, either. I could have gotten away with my FiiO E17 too, but decided to step things up a notch with an E1DA 9038D kindly provided by Linsoul, as well as a JDS Lab Atom stack. Keep in mind that the stock cable terminates in a 1/4" (6.35 mm) plug, so you might well need an adapter if your source does not natively support it. Audeze also rates the signal sensitivity at 101 dB and a frequency response of 10 Hz to 50 kHz, but good luck fully making use of that range!


Before we move on, I want to also talk about what else you get at this price range besides the planar magnetic drivers and tuning. Burn-in is more of a thing for headphones than IEMs, with the headband and ear pads changing to fit your head profile fairly quickly. Many also believe in the drivers needing to be broken into, which generally isn't something I buy. Regardless, Audeze has an actual burn-in rack at its facility in California where every single LCD-2 Classic is subjected to nonstop music at least overnight; as of a few months ago, Viva De Funk by Joe Sample & The Soul Committee. As a fan of jazz and soul music myself, I can relate to that Audeze engineer's tastes!

Frequency Measurement and Listening

I will mention that I have a general preference for a warm neutral signature emphasizing a slightly elevated bass and smooth treble range with detailed mids and good tonal separation. I also generally prefer instrumental music over vocals, with favored genres including jazz and classical music.


[Update] I have replaced some of this section, which was using a less-than-satisfactory measurement protocol, with a new graph from an updated setup. You can find the raw data to compare against on this page.

The thing to note here is that the LCD-2 was quite a warm and energetic set of headphones at launch and has since been toned down somewhat. The LCD-2 Classic takes up that mantle now and is probably the most bass-heavy set of open-back headphones I have ever heard. Bass is an extremely strong point here, especially given what we know about these efficient planar magnetic drivers with a staggered magnet layout and the diaphragm in between essentially getting showered on both sides. A good seal is critical here, which explains the relatively higher clamping force. The sub-bass in particular can be thumping if you drive these with a proper amplifier giving sufficient power to the magnets, and there is simultaneously plenty of clarity too. So yes, heavy metal fans will be good to go with these since they won't easily slip off when you indulge in head-banging. Just be sure you have a strong neck to support these cans!

My favorite aspects with the LCD-2C have to be the mid-bass and mids, with again plenty of energy but also the widest soundstage I have heard since it rivals some surround sound speakers, especially paired with Audeze Reveal+. There is just so much information and holography when listening to anything with vocals and instruments, where you can visualize the different points of a mixed recording surrounding you. Unfortunately, things do get marred slightly by poor imaging. I can tell there are lots of different instruments playing in a band, for example, but I can't resolve their actual positioning and tell you where exactly the sounds are coming from.

This automatically disqualifies the LCD-2 Classic as a reference monitor headphone, should you be interested in picking it up as one. The extra warmth combined with the poor imaging means it's far from accurate. Especially for jazz, soul, funk, blues, and pop music is it quite a lot of fun, though. The upper mids are where it struggles again with too much warmth to resolve much detail for the price point. Things are not as smooth in the treble region either, but there are consistent peak shifts and rises without a large amplitude to where it is nice to listen to more instruments and classical music again. String instruments in particular sound great, so for those visualizing music around the head, sticking to a particular instrument type over an orchestral performance is recommended.

Comparing these to other headphones I have here is not easy since I downsized my collection prior to the trans-Atlantic move. The Sennheiser HD650 comes really close in resolution, is probably better at imaging, but loses out in soundstage and has the characteristic Sennheiser veil which blankets the upper mids especially as well. If I had to give it a number, the Philips Fidelio X3 costs less than half and sounds about 80% as good overall, also in terms of technical ability. I would rather listen to the Fidelio X2HR anyway, but it unfortunately doesn't hold a candle in the lows and mids compared to the LCD-2C. I have had long sessions with the Sennheiser HD800 which, when powered correctly with a decent DAC and amplifier, is generally better across the board from my memory, especially with imaging and definitely so in the upper mids and highs. A good seal is way more important with the LCD-2C than what you are feeding it, so take your time and get that right first.