Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
The Audeze LCD2C has long been one of the go-to planars in the $500 range. Also, at one point, I owned the LCD2 Pre-Fazor 2.2, which I thought was a pretty great headphone. I’ve long wondered if the LCD2C was comparable to the 2.2, as it is supposed to be the “classic”. So, I finally got a chance to pick one up at a decent price. The final question I have is how it stacks up in the current landscape, because you can get a lot of great headphones for $400 or $500 both new and on the used market. Here’s what I found out: not a big fan of the LCD2C.
Here’s some affiliate links to some of the accessories I mentioned in the video:
Audeze LCD2C: amzn.to/3CcUBzw
Hifiman Edition XS: https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-edition-xs-planar-magnetic-headphone?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
Focal Elex: massdrop.7eer.net/yR1kvW
You can find reviews of the XS and Elex on my open-back playlist (along with quite a few others):
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1Qn6zz1plRYbVQ12xukSYfH_c2CxSb5
If you’d like to support the channel, please check out my Patreon link below.
Patreon Link: patreon.com/MrAyrit
List of Gear for Sale (for patrons only at this time): docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ez4Vx3BjUOrtg4S9HVAmYnG7hDEglhWOjTBqDrvwE1A/edit#gid=0
Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: head-fi.org
HifiGuides: forum.hifiguides.com
Reddit: reddit.com/r/AVexchange
Hifi-shark: hifishark.com
US AudioMart: usaudiomart.com
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
Supre Budget IEM: Moondrop Chu: amzn.to/3mIY93v
Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: koss.com/products/kph40-utility
Need these pads for the kph40 though: aliexpress.com/item/1005002971087244.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.250c4c4dEHGLbT
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Super Cheap Closed-Back Gaming: Recon 500: amzn.to/3numqem
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: schiit.com/products/modi-1
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: schiit.com/products/magni-1
Cayin RU6 R2R: look used
soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-2541
Recommended Solid State: Violectric V280 Final Edition: massdrop.7eer.net/4exdO1
Or Schiit Mjolnir Gen :1 (gotta look used)
Tube Amp: Feliks Audio Echo Gen 1 (gotta look used)
Headphone #1: Drop + Sennheiser HD8xx: massdrop.7eer.net/yR60ZD
Headphone #2: OG Focal Clear:
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
Closed Back: t60 Argons: modhouseaudio.com/t60-argons
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Budget Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Higher End Bluetooth Portable: Gryphon: amzn.to/3R214lT
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Cayin RU6: (I’d look used, lots on the market)
TWS: Sony XM4: amzn.to/3Glr7Py
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: hartaudiocables.com
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: amzn.to/3vEdwxO
Recording Gear:
Canon M50: amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Beyerdynamic Fox Mic: amzn.to/3hoQ01v
Canon M100 (overhead): amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): amzn.to/3dowiAO
#audeze #lcd2c #review
The Audeze LCD2C has long been one of the go-to planars in the $500 range. Also, at one point, I owned the LCD2 Pre-Fazor 2.2, which I thought was a pretty great headphone. I’ve long wondered if the LCD2C was comparable to the 2.2, as it is supposed to be the “classic”. So, I finally got a chance to pick one up at a decent price. The final question I have is how it stacks up in the current landscape, because you can get a lot of great headphones for $400 or $500 both new and on the used market. Here’s what I found out: not a big fan of the LCD2C.
Here’s some affiliate links to some of the accessories I mentioned in the video:
Audeze LCD2C: amzn.to/3CcUBzw
Hifiman Edition XS: https://apos.audio/products/hifiman-edition-xs-planar-magnetic-headphone?sca_ref=1011240.yrV7ZdANGH
Focal Elex: massdrop.7eer.net/yR1kvW
You can find reviews of the XS and Elex on my open-back playlist (along with quite a few others):
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLN1Qn6zz1plRYbVQ12xukSYfH_c2CxSb5
If you’d like to support the channel, please check out my Patreon link below.
Patreon Link: patreon.com/MrAyrit
List of Gear for Sale (for patrons only at this time): docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ez4Vx3BjUOrtg4S9HVAmYnG7hDEglhWOjTBqDrvwE1A/edit#gid=0
Look down below for links to all that gear and some other recommendations.
Of course, I always recommend you take a look at the used market, below are some sites that are great for that.
Head-Fi: head-fi.org
HifiGuides: forum.hifiguides.com
Reddit: reddit.com/r/AVexchange
Hifi-shark: hifishark.com
US AudioMart: usaudiomart.com
Some of my favorite equipment for various niches (some links are affiliate):
Supre Budget IEM: Moondrop Chu: amzn.to/3mIY93v
Super Budget Headphone: Koss kph40: koss.com/products/kph40-utility
Need these pads for the kph40 though: aliexpress.com/item/1005002971087244.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.250c4c4dEHGLbT
Cheap Gaming Headphone: AD700X: amzn.to/3b4ACUS
Super Cheap Closed-Back Gaming: Recon 500: amzn.to/3numqem
Cheap All-Around Headphone: SHP9600: amzn.to/3b6aUiP
Entry Level DAC: Modi 3+: schiit.com/products/modi-1
Entry Level Amp: IEMagni: schiit.com/products/magni-1
Cayin RU6 R2R: look used
soekris.modhouseaudio.com/soekris-audiophile-line/dac-2541
Recommended Solid State: Violectric V280 Final Edition: massdrop.7eer.net/4exdO1
Or Schiit Mjolnir Gen :1 (gotta look used)
Tube Amp: Feliks Audio Echo Gen 1 (gotta look used)
Headphone #1: Drop + Sennheiser HD8xx: massdrop.7eer.net/yR60ZD
Headphone #2: OG Focal Clear:
Headphone #3: OG NIghthawks: (look used)
Closed Back: t60 Argons: modhouseaudio.com/t60-argons
Gaming Headphone: HE560v4: adorama.rfvk.net/6bnGoG
Budget Bluetooth Portable DAC/Amp: XCan: amzn.to/3vJG8WA
Higher End Bluetooth Portable: Gryphon: amzn.to/3R214lT
Wired Portable DAC/Amp: Cayin RU6: (I’d look used, lots on the market)
TWS: Sony XM4: amzn.to/3Glr7Py
Cables:
Hart Audio Cables: hartaudiocables.com
Worlds Best RCA Interconnects: amzn.to/3pB2Oa7
Worlds Best XLR Interconnects: amzn.to/3vEdwxO
Recording Gear:
Canon M50: amzn.to/3ba7KKJ
Sigma 16mm 1.4: amzn.to/3vF6SaB
Beyerdynamic Fox Mic: amzn.to/3hoQ01v
Canon M100 (overhead): amzn.to/31lZAxT
Canon 22mm 2.0 (overhead): amzn.to/3dowiAO
#audeze #lcd2c #review
