Audeze LCD-2C
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
The Audeze LCD-2C is widely recognized for its 'classic' Audeze sound signature, characterized by a warm, lush, and smooth presentation. While it is often described as 'dark' or 'muffled' in its stock configuration, particularly in the upper mids, it is highly regarded for its ability to take EQ adjustments exceptionally well. It is frequently compared to the Hifiman Arya, where it loses on technicalities like soundstage and detail retrieval but wins for many users as a more 'fun,' non-fatiguing option for rock and metal.
Pros
- Warm, smooth, and 'meaty' sound signature that is non-fatiguing.
- Excellent bass response that remains clean and linear even with EQ boosts.
- Highly responsive to EQ, allowing users to significantly improve clarity.
- Robust, 'tank-like' build quality using metal and high-quality synthetics.
- Comfortable headband and plush pads suitable for long sessions.
Cons
- Stock tuning can sound muffled or 'boring' in the upper mids.
- Lacks the detail retrieval and wide soundstage found in competitors like the Hifiman Arya.
- Synthetic 'vegan' pads can become sweaty during extended use.
- Potential for screws near the swivel/yoke to loosen over time.
Caveats
- While easy to drive to volume, users report a clear improvement in performance when moving from dongles to powerful desktop amps.
- Quality control is noted by some as being less consistent than legacy brands like Sennheiser.
- The sound is described as 'entertaining' rather than analytical or neutral.
Best for
- Listeners who prefer a 'dark' or warm sound signature.
- Genres like rock, metal, and classic pop where treble fatigue is an issue.
- Users who enjoy tweaking their gear via EQ (e.g., Oratory settings).
Avoid if
- You prioritize analytical detail, high-end sparkle, or a massive soundstage.
- You are sensitive to clamp force or headphone weight.
- You want a perfectly neutral 'reference' sound out of the box.
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence comes from a consistent set of Reddit discussions with a median age of 228 days, providing a stable view of the product's long-term reputation.
Sentiment
22 positive (67%) · 6 mixed (18%) · 5 negative (15%)
Trust + time weighted score: +46% · raw score 52%
What redditors said (10 of 33)
I tried with Audeze LCD-2c plugged in to a Scarlett 2i4, both with equaliser and without and I couldn’t hear a difference at all.
So a week ago I bought Audeze LCD-2C because I really wanted to try out planar magnetic (I know, good reason..) I wasn’t satisfied with how they sound, I had oratory’s settings on Peace. Today I wanted to play around with the EQ to kind of get a feel on how I want the music to sound like and now they sound much better than my Sennheiser HD599.
I’m currently using Audeze LCD-2c that I’ve EQ with Peace using Oratory’s settings. Sometimes I like the headphones without EQ, sometimes I like them with EQ, depending on what I listen to.
A truly shitty pair of cans. Lcd2c lose to literally anything in their price range but they sound better than the 599 even in the stock form.
I found them extremely boring and uninspiring with that kind of music, muting out the aggressiveness and punch and liked them better for classic rock or pop music.
LCD has a much more physical, girthy sound and tend to EQ better. More enjoyable for those looking to be entertained by the mix, rather than contemplate the mix.
if you are in fact planning on keeping the LCD-2C for the medium/long term. then be mindful of the screws right by the swivel (where the yolk connects with the cups). They are a weak point imo and do then to loosen over time.
They are better in pretty much every aspect but comfort. (And quality control, unfortunately. Say what you will about Sennheiser but their product quality is the most consistent of all big headphone manufacturers.)
The 2C have so much better resolution it's not even funny, and they easily win in those other aspects too.
Just listened to the track on my Hifiman Arya Stealth and my Audeze LCD-2C, both planars with linear, clean and deep bass. No distortion. Not even with a few extra dBs of bass added via eq. However, the track intro has a some weird opening noise, and leads into a bass drop that absolutely sounds like it could make a bad headphone distort.
Compare
Audeze LCD-2C vs Beyerdynamic DT 1990 Pro MKIIAudeze LCD-2C vs Sennheiser HD 550Audeze LCD-2C vs Sennheiser HD 490 Pro
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