Audeze LCD-2
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Audeze LCD-2 is a highly regarded planar magnetic headphone praised for its mellow treble and versatility as an all-rounder for music, movies, and gaming. While technically an open-back design, it is frequently noted for its unique physical seal that provides more isolation than typical open-backs, though this can lead to a sensation of pressure or a narrow soundstage for some users.
Pros
- Mellow, non-fatiguing treble response
- Strong performance as an all-rounder for various media types
- Effective for professional use, including mix engineering
- Responds well to EQ, though many users enjoy the stock tuning
Cons
- Can feel 'claustrophobic' or narrow without the use of crossfeed
- Notable 'plunger' or 'underwater' effect due to the sealed front design
- Requires significant current/amplification to reach its full potential
Caveats
- Despite being an open-back, it is described as one of the 'most closed' open-backs due to its physical construction
- Users often recommend crossfeed software to 'levitate' the sound off the head
Best for
- Mix engineers seeking a substantial step up in quality
- Listeners who prefer a mellow, warm sound signature
- Users with dedicated high-current desktop amplifiers
Avoid if
- You prefer a wide, airy soundstage typical of traditional open-back headphones
- You intend to drive them solely off low-power dongles or mobile devices
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older (median age ~206 days) and based on a limited set of 12 mentions, which is acceptable for stable high-end audio hardware but limits the breadth of technical comparisons.
Sentiment
10 positive (83%) · 1 mixed (8%) · 1 negative (8%)
Trust + time weighted score: +78% · raw score 75%
What redditors said (10 of 12)
I have an LCD-2 around, and it's probably my most closed open back due to the front being almost entirely sealed. The plunger/underwater effect that people mention comes through and attenuates some noise, even though the back is pretty open (and becomes more isolated yet when you cup your hands over the grills).
Parent context: With regards to them feeling claustrophobic - if you have the means to play about with crossfeed... try some. I don't use my LCD 2 without it. I'm using [https://goodhertz.com/canopener-studio/](https://goodhertz.com/canopener-studio/) specifically, which *may* be adding some special sauce compared to straight crossfeed. It really just perks things up and levitates the sound off your head a bit.
I have owned and tried a few different planars like Susvara, HE6SE, HE-1000SE, Arya Stealth, LCD-2, DCA Noire X and more. Most of them sound much better with more current, even if the more sensitive ones are loud enough on a dongle.
It becomes really good tho
The treble seemed equally mellow as the gx. The 2 didn’t have as much ear gain as the gx but it’s been years so don’t take my word.
The stock tuning however was good enough for me as an all rounder headphones that I wanted to videos music movies and games. I just boost bass and 3-5khz
used lcd-2 is $700-900. New $995
if you wanted something substantially better, especially as a mix engineer, you were reaching for sets like the LCD-X, LCD-2, or if you could justify it, the LCD-MX4 or LCD-5.
I love the look and I love the sound. Its everything I hoped for and everything that I missed from the LCD-2 Classic that I sold a few years ago.
I want an LCD-2 now...
Compare
Audeze LCD-2 vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKIIAudeze LCD-2 vs Sennheiser HD 550Audeze LCD-2 vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
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