Audeze - LCD2 Classic

LCD2C build is very premium and though a touch heavy feels comfortable due to headband design, balance and plush pads.
Sound is the most musical and fun I ve heard in any headphone. Warm, rich and thick tonality engulfs you. Bass is deep and extended, mids are lush and focused, treble is smooth. I get the feeling I m among the performers listening to these headphones; soundstage is 3D but not very wide. Imaging and separation are top notch. The drivers are lightning quick; bass noted & drum hits are resolved and clear no matter how fast. An audeze is a must have in any audiophile arsenal; LCD2C is a solid choice.

I am a guitarist past my 40s. HD650 has been my primary headphones for a very long time, though I also have Hifiman HE400 and Grado SR80e. Btw, SR80e is a fantastic HP for low volume listening. I also have ELAC reference speakers which I use for mixing and mastering. So the time came to upgrade the 650s. So, took a chance and bought the LCD2C from the good folks at HPZ. People say there is no reason to upgrade HD650 and it is an end game headphone. There is some truth in it, HD650 fed by a decent amp is certainly an end game experience. But if you doubt whether it is really an end game headphone, buy these LCD2Cs and be rest assured that you have a real end game headphone. LCD2C is the worthy upgrade to HD650 across all frequencies and all genres. Comfort wise may not be, because LCD2C is heavier. But fit, clamping, earpads, headband etc. are very very good on LCD2C. I don't find any weight issues even after continuous listening for 2 to 3 hours. Use the Audeze Reveal plugin, and you will get nothing short of audio bliss. Thank you Headphone Zone for the LCD2C!

I am not sure what I was expecting when I got this pair. It looked exactly similar to the LCD X and some other LCDs. Build quality, is perhaps the best ever, excepting the really high cost headphones. The sound quality i good at all three levels with a slightly deeper bass, and a good soundstage. The trouble with me is that with these audiophile headphones I am constantly searching for sound evaluation and totally ignoring the music. Attach these to a DAC/AMP there is some difference but not a huge deal on a Mac Laptop. Mac as we know has some very high grade sound cards so a DAC / AMP need to be really extreme to noticeably change the music quality when placed between a Mac and a very good pair of headphones.

So it everything is so good and every spec upto expectation, why am I not whooping with joy and remaining somewhat unenthusiastic? Well, when one has a large collection of good cans and DACs/APMs, and one appreciates and recognises the aspects of sound tech (not a hyper expert but an advanced purveyor) one realises that there are differences between each pair of headphones, but not so much as to change enjoyment of good music of any genre. The Audeze LCD 2 Classic falls right there.

It's awesome to look at (and enormous too); it has a great build quality that is distinctly Audeze; it has a good base, a great mids, and discernibly distinguished highs and the three zones merge imperceptibly and seamlessly; a very open soundstage and a rare clarity. What it does not have is the WOW! factor. It is one more set of headphones in the 40000 to 55000 range. If you have one there is no need to buy this one (Unless what you have is Beyerdynamic, in which case this is a must buy). On the other hand if you are moving into this range stop looking elsewhere. Buy these. Compared with sub-35000 headphones, this has a great Wow! factor. It is necessary to have an external DAC (but not a hugely expensive one) to pull music out of smartphones or PCs with average sound ...

The Audeze LCD2 Classic sounds like a calibrated home theatre with true subwoofer-like bass. I use these with the Audeze Reveal plugin and loudness correction in Equalizer APO. The Reveal plugin changes the response of the headphones to reference, while the loudness correction mains reference bass levels at lower volume.

Truly an incredible set of headphones. I purchased these early in April and wanted to take my time to really put these through the paces before I wrote a review.
If you want the short version of this then: For under 1L these are the best headphones I've ever heard for my preference!

No review can accommodate for subjective tastes but I prefer headphones closer to the dark and laid back sound signature that one would associate with a pair of HD650s.

I was looking for a pair of headphones that were an upgrade from my 650s while also serving alongside the DT1990s that I use for work.
My home audio setup at the moment includes a Topping D10 serving as a DDC to my Aune X8 Magic Dac paired with my Aune X7s.
I did the listening using a mix of local DSD files, 24 & 16bit Flac files as well as music off Spotify.
I tested the LCD2C using a Headgear Audio Balanced Cable.

Here are my observations when comparing with the HD650 and DT1990 pro.

1) DT1990 (Balanced Pads) vs LCD2C: The sound is so much wider and has such depth to it on the LCD2C. Compared to the DT1990 the highs are reduced but much more pleasant without any of the sibilance that is so characteristic of the 1990s. I believe the 1990s while EQ'd can come close to the warmth and lushness of the LCD2C, but they do not have the all present soundstage that the LCD have.
The bass detail is greater on the 1990s and they extend deeper but they do not have the slam and heftiness of the LCDs. I feel if the bass is the criteria then this is simply a matter of taste. For large orchestral music I prefer the bass on the LCD since its more natural to the setting and the soundstage compliments the natural reproduction. You can't go wrong with either for bass but they just both aim for different targets. LCDs have a more natural bass and the 1990s have exaggerated and detailed bass.
The LCDs take the highs for me for leisure listening. The 1990s are incredible workhorses and enable you to really pick apart the details across the spectrum but as a result, can be fatiguing over long listening sessions.
Conclusion: LCD2C is more pleasurable and for enjoying the music whereas the 1990s while incredible for studio work can't match the musicality and easiness of the LCD2C.

HD650 (balanced & with Dekoni Hybrid pads.) vs LCD2C: The sound signature that these two aim for is very much within the same umbrella but they both have very different ways of going about it.
To keep it short, I've had my 650s for 7 years and I love them to bits! I 've swapped the stock pads on my 650s for Dekoni Hybrids and it really makes them more comfortable and enhances the bass response while preserving the vocal representation that these are known for. Compared to the LCD2C, if I had to pick one, I'd go for Audeze.
The 650s (especially after the launch of the 6xx) are a steal and the best deal in audio in my opinion, but the Audeze is better! While the 650s are incredibly intimate, I find I can't enjoy tracks with vast arrangements on these nearly as much. The LCDs can be intimate when they have to be and be vast when needed. They're just more musical while having more present highs and an infinitely better bass in comparison.
Conclusion: If you're thinking of upgrading from the 650s, then the LCD2C are it!

The LCDs are incredibly well built, have such plush earcups that make them so comfortable to wear. They don't feel heavy on my head (the suspension head strap helps) and the memory foam earcups just hug your ears. I've worn these for over 6 hours on multiple occasions and have no complaints. They don't come with a case although the Hifiman case on HPZ works just fine for these.
These are going to stay with me and it's a pleasure to listen to them.
They're filled with detail without being harsh. They've incredible soundstage, temper the highs with no sacrifice in the mids and low end, and they're so incredibly musical that I'm rediscovering my library.
I'd recommend that you do your research and read reviews and decide if these are for you. Before you make your mind I would recommend reaching out to the HPZ team.

I was on the fence for months and after my conversation with Raghav, I went for these. He was incredibly helpful. so honest about the product and to put it bluntly, really knew his shit and these products and I couldn't be happier!
So thank you to the team, a big shout out to Raghav for being so patient with my many questions and for really helping me pick a pair of headphones that I'm sure to pass down to my kids.

If I had to pick a pair of headphones from the 3 that I have at the moment (and provided I didn't need the 1990s for work), it would be these. Hands down.

LCD2C is out of world experience @ having a sunbath in ALPS ...

A ) Deep & Layered BASS ... AAA + Very impactful sound & Competitors will faint for sure
B ) Very RICH & detailed VOCAL ... UNPLUGGED music listeners will be delighted
C ) Sound stage is very decent & live like .....
D ) Very Very much IMMERSIVE & MUSICAL experience ... Specially VOCALS
E ) Looks bulky ... But believe me .... it is super comfortable ...
F ) IMAGING & SEPARATION are Absolutely fantastic ...
G ) Fit & Finish is SUPREME

Kudos to AUDEZE ... LCD2C is AUDIOPHILE DELIGHT @ this price
over all experience is ... Short of words ... GO FOR IT

It started isine 10s which was a toe-dip for me in planar magnetic open back headphones. I was very happy with isines and I had pretty much made up my mind that next set of cans would be LCD2Cs. That moment came about 1.5 weeks back and I ended up ordering them. HPZ were quick to deliver these at amazonesque speeds.

In order to get a feel of tonality I tried them first up with my LG V30+ phone. I wasn't expecting a wallop that these cans are known for.....what would a humble phone, even V30+ could do to drive these beasts huh? To my pleasant surprise the sound was YUUGGE. It is as if V30+ found its resonant partner. This was a great news for me as I could use just my phone in situations where I cannot pull my main headfi setup. After that, with my Macbook Air, Audirvana Plus chained to DF Red, Mojo and CA DacMagic Plus... it was fun. Jazz, heavy metal, electronic, classical, Bollywood...you name it....it is thoroughly enjoyable. Sheer scale of its presentation will knock your socks off. Comfort is excellent, despite these being the biggest and heaviest cans in my arsenal.