Audeze LCD-2 Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

The Audeze LCD-2 is where the story really began.

Introduced in 2009, the LCD-2 helped establish Audeze as one of the defining names in planar magnetic headphones. Its combination of deep, powerful bass, rich midrange, spacious presentation and low distortion quickly became the foundation of what people now think of as the Audeze sound.

More than fifteen years later, the LCD-2 is still here—and still one of the best ways to understand what a great planar magnetic headphone can do.

Today's LCD-2 retains the character of the original while incorporating years of Audeze development, including Fazor waveguides, updated ear pads and a ventilated suspension headband.

106mm Planar Magnetic Drivers

The LCD-2 uses massive 106mm planar magnetic transducers.

Unlike a conventional dynamic headphone, a planar magnetic design distributes the conductive elements across an ultra-thin diaphragm positioned within a powerful magnetic field.

The large radiating area and low moving mass allow the diaphragm to respond quickly and evenly to the musical signal.

The payoff is excellent transient response, extremely low distortion and the effortless low-frequency extension that has become one of Audeze's trademarks.

The Bass That Helped Define Audeze

The LCD-2 has always been known for bass.

Not exaggerated, loose bass designed to impress for five minutes—but deep, controlled low-frequency extension with real weight and texture.

Kick drums have impact. Bass guitars have body. Electronic music reaches down low without turning muddy.

It's one of the biggest reasons the LCD-2 remains relevant after so many years.

Warm, Rich Tonality

The LCD-2 isn't trying to be clinically neutral.

Audeze tunes it with a warm, rich tonal balance that puts the emphasis on musical involvement.

The midrange has body and texture, while fine detail is presented smoothly rather than aggressively.

That makes the LCD-2 particularly appealing for listeners who want the resolution of a serious audiophile headphone without turning every listening session into an analysis of the recording.

Fazor Waveguide Technology

The current LCD-2 incorporates Audeze's patented Fazor waveguides.

These elements help guide the acoustic energy traveling through the magnetic structure, reducing interference and improving phase behavior.

The result is more precise imaging, greater clarity and a more convincing sense of space.

It's one of the major technological improvements that separates today's LCD-2 from the earliest versions of the headphone.

Dual-Sided Magnetic Array

The LCD-2 uses Audeze's dual-sided staggered magnetic array with powerful N50 neodymium magnets.

By precisely controlling the magnetic field surrounding the diaphragm, Audeze can maintain the speed and control that make planar magnetic headphones so distinctive.

That becomes especially noticeable during complex musical passages where lesser headphones can start to blur instruments together.

The LCD-2 keeps its composure.

Open-Back Design

The LCD-2 is a fully open-back headphone.

That means it's intended for serious listening in an environment where isolation isn't required.

The open architecture allows the drivers to interact freely with the surrounding air, creating a spacious presentation with a more natural sense of scale than you typically get from a closed-back design.

The tradeoff is straightforward: people around you will hear some of your music, and you'll hear some of what's happening around you.

For a dedicated listening setup, that's usually a trade worth making.

70-Ohm Impedance

The current LCD-2 has a nominal impedance of:

70 ohms

Sensitivity is:

101dB / 1mW

Audeze specifies a minimum amplifier power of greater than 100mW and recommends more than:

250mW

The LCD-2 doesn't require extreme amplification, but it absolutely responds to better electronics.

A quality headphone amplifier can improve bass control, dynamics, soundstage and overall authority.

And because of the LCD-2's warm tonal character, amplifier matching gives you plenty of room to shape the final system around your own listening preferences.

10Hz–50kHz Frequency Response

The LCD-2 has a specified frequency response of:

10Hz–50kHz

Maximum output exceeds:

130dB SPL

Total harmonic distortion is rated at:

Less than 0.1% at 100dB SPL

Maximum power handling is:

5 watts RMS

Those specifications help explain why the LCD-2 can sound so effortless even when the music becomes demanding.

Hand-Finished Padauk Wood

The LCD-2 retains one of the features that made the original instantly recognizable: real wood rings.

The current version uses beautiful hand-finished Padauk wood, giving every pair a slightly different natural grain and appearance.

It's a classic Audeze look and helps separate the LCD-2 from the increasingly industrial appearance of many modern high-end headphones.

Updated Comfort

The LCD-2 is a substantial headphone, but Audeze has continued improving its ergonomics.

The current version uses a ventilated suspension headband that distributes pressure across a larger area of the head.

Updated ear pads provide additional cushioning around the ears and help maintain the proper acoustic relationship between the driver and listener.

At 595 grams, this is still a serious full-size headphone. It's designed primarily for sitting down and listening rather than walking around with it.

Made in Southern California

The LCD-2 continues to be built in Audeze's Southern California workshop.

The combination of handcrafted wood rings and modern planar magnetic engineering is part of what has made the LCD-2 such an enduring product.

It looks and feels like a piece of HiFi equipment rather than another disposable electronic device.

Key Specifications

• Type: Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones
• Style: Over-Ear / Circumaural
• Transducer Type: Planar Magnetic
• Transducer Size: 106mm
• Diaphragm: Ultra-Thin
• Magnetic Structure: Proprietary Dual-Sided Magnet Array
• Magnet Type: Neodymium N50
• Phase Management: Fazor
• Frequency Response: 10Hz–50kHz
• Impedance: 70 Ohms
• Sensitivity: 101dB / 1mW
• Maximum SPL: >130dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion: <0.1% at 100dB
• Minimum Amplifier Power: >100mW
• Recommended Amplifier Power: >250mW
• Maximum Power Handling: 5W RMS
• Wood Rings: Hand-Finished Padauk
• Weight: 595g
• Cable: 4-Pin XLR
• 4-Pin XLR to 1/4" Adapter: Included
• 1/4" to 3.5mm Adapter: Included
• Travel Case: Included

LCD-2 or LCD-3?

The LCD-2 and LCD-3 share some obvious DNA.

Both use large 106mm planar magnetic drivers, both are open-back, and both deliver the deep, authoritative bass and rich tonal character that made Audeze famous.

The LCD-3 moves further up the line with greater refinement and resolution.

But that doesn't make the LCD-2 a lesser experience.

The LCD-2 has a character of its own—warm, physical, spacious and extremely easy to enjoy.

For someone entering the upper end of planar magnetic headphones, it's still one of the most important headphones to hear.

There's a reason Audeze has kept making it since 2009.

Experience the Audeze LCD-2 at The Grid HiFi

The Grid HiFi is your Audeze and high-performance personal audio expert in Houston, Texas.

The LCD-2 is also where building the right headphone system starts to become interesting.

It will play from plenty of sources, but pairing it with a quality DAC and dedicated headphone amplifier can take its bass control, dynamics and soundstage considerably further.

The Grid can help you compare the LCD-2, LCD-3, LCD-5s and other reference headphones, then match the headphone you choose with the right DAC, streamer and amplification.

Because at this level, buying the headphone is only part of building the system.

Come listen.

Contact The Grid HiFi to experience the Audeze LCD-2 and let us help put together the right headphone system around it.