The Audeze LCD 2 is one of the top choices when it comes to planar magnetic headphones and has a legendary status for being the one that brought Audeze into the limelight. Ever since its debut, the Audeze LCD 2 has undergone many improvements but without losing some of its key sonic characteristics. To bring out the absolute best in LCD 2, you will definitely need an equally remarkable headphone amp.
This Audeze planar magnetic headphone is worth the investment on a high-quality amp and the time invested to find the right one for the job. To find ourselves a matching amp, we must first learn more about the Audeze LCD 2 sonic characteristics and strengths so as to match the right headphone amplifier with complementary effects. Once we have the data, we will be preparing a list of the best amps which you can choose to get and pair with your Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones.
Table of Contents
Sonic Characteristics and Strengths of Audeze LCD 2
The Audeze LCD 2 looks and feels high-end, handcrafted with premium components such as the iconic wood rings. The LCD 2 is beautifully designed, it is the type of planar magnetic headphones which you will proudly display in your home and show to your guests. Overall, it is comfortable to wear the Audeze LCD 2 but some listeners may find the clamping force a bit too tight. This is a rather heavy headphone and depending on the users, you might not be able to wear them for too long. Still, it feels surprisingly lighter than expected when wearing the Audeze LCD 2 and it doesn’t feel as hot as well.
As an open-back design, sound leakage is expected and the people around you will hear the music you are listening to especially at very high volumes. The noise isolation capability is lacking as well and if this is an issue, you can choose to go with the LCD-2 closed-back version. It is bulky in size and won’t be suitable for outdoor environments. The Audeze LCD 2 is certainly meant for home use and should have a permanent spot in your listening room. Its frequency response is really impressive which is at 10Hz-50kHz. The Audeze LCD 2 seems to be able to dig very deep into the bass frequency, probably due to their large transducers.
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The bass reproductions of the Audeze LCD 2 are simply amazing, they are tight and powerful. It can deliver very deep bass frequencies effortlessly and doesn’t linger, allowing the low ends to blend in seamlessly with the upper registers. The agile bass performance of the LCD 2 has details and depths, providing us with a nice musical presence on a wide soundstage. The stereo imaging of the Audeze LCD 2 is remarkable and highly defined too. Musicians are precisely placed and the bass provides a sense of tangibility. When the music starts to play, you can feel yourself start to get more and more engaged to what you are hearing.
There are plenty of music details including the subtle ones which are been clearly produced. This gives us a rich and lush music presentation of our favorite tunes. Coupled with an energetic performance, the Audeze LCD 2 also gave us a satisfying punch with impactful crescendos. It has a wide dynamic range and intricate details are been unraveled as well, providing us with a sense of realism as the musical instruments are authentically reproduced. The vocal reproductions are filled with subtle nuances and intricacies which make them sound very intimate. You can push the Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones and they don’t sound harsh.
The Audeze LCD 2 is sure capable of producing deep and powerful bass frequencies with articulation and agility. These planar magnetic headphones also provided us with smooth music delivery and have a neutral sonic characteristic that leans towards warmth. If you want more neutral-sounding headphones, you might want to take a look at other Audeze LCD models. The treble can be a bit bright-sounding but doesn’t sound shrill at any point of the music listening session. The LCD 2 will be great for most music genres including bass-heavy soundtracks. We have gathered enough data and information, and have prepared a list of the best amps to match with your Audeze LCD 2 which you can check out below.
Audeze LCD 2 Specifications
- Type: Planar Magnetic, Open-Back
- Tranducer size: 106mm
- Frequency response: 10Hz-50kHz
- Impedance: 70 Ohms
- Sensitivity: 101 dB/1mW
- THD: <0.1% @ 100dB
- Weight: 595g (1.31lbs) Rosewood, 580g (1.28lbs) Shedua/Bamboo
Best Headphone Amps to match with Audeze LCD 2
The Schiit Audio Jotunheim is one of the best amps to pair with the Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones. Even at this price point, the Jotunheim has more than enough power to drive the LCD 2 with ease. It has a wide soundstage which complements the Audeze planar magnetic headphones really well. The overall bass performance of the Schiit Audio Jotunheim headphone amplifier is amazing for the price and will fit right in with the Audeze LCD 2, giving us a punchy performance. The overall sound reproduction is clean and has plenty of music details to boot. The neutral sonic characteristics of the Schiit Audio Jotunheim and price point is worth your time to take a look.
More Details at Amazon – Schiit Jotunheim Balanced Desktop Headphone Amplifier
The Woo Audio WA6 will be one of the best amps to match with your Audeze LCD 2. This is a powerful tube amplifier with incredible musicality and helps to project a more open and spacious soundstage. The Woo Audio WA6 has the warmth and the speed to provide us with an engaging music delivery, not to mention, the overall accuracy is superb as well. The musical instruments decay, intricate details, and sonic imageries are produced with precision. Its overall sound reproduction is clean and clear, the WA6 will make a fantastic headphone amp for the Audeze LCD 2. You can also tube roll to further fine-tune the sound quality.
More Details at Amazon – Woo Audio WA6 Vacuum Tube Class-A Headphones Amplifier
The Burson Audio Soloist 3X is one of the best headphone amps to go with the Audeze LCD 2 headphones. It is an incredibly powerful headphone amplifier that will make your LCD 2 sing. Furthermore, the Burson Audio Soloist 3X is very suitable to drive planar headphones such as the Audeze LCD 2. This is a headphone amp with very high accuracy and exceptional bass performance, complementing the Audeze planar magnetic headphones. The stereo imaging and separation are impeccable, giving us a high-definition performance on an open soundstage. It also has a very polished background which further makes the music listening experience even more enjoyable.
More Details at Amazon – Burson Audio Soloist 3X Headphone Amp
The Chord Hugo 2 is an award-winning headphone amp and is a worthy match for your Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones. It has an innate ability to produce a very high-resolution music presentation packed to the brim with details, delivering them out with cohesion and energy. Even with all this information, the Hugo 2 amp doesn’t sound clinical, thanks to the way it handles the music. The Chord Hugo 2 is capable of providing a punchy performance and hooking us right into the music. It is very accurate and gives us a clear faithful presentation of our favorite tunes. Chord Hugo 2 will be an ideal choice for the Audeze LCD 2.
More Information at Amazon – Chord Hugo 2 Headphone Amplifier (Silver)
The Pathos Aurium is another exceptional high-end tube headphone amp that will be an excellent partner for the coveted Audeze LCD 2. Its overall bass reproduction is superb and coupled with the low-end performance of the LCD 2, you got yourself a deep, powerful, and taut bass delivery where it slams and punches when it needs to. The midrange prowess of the Pathos Aurium is even more impressive and it will complement the Audeze LCD 2 really well. It is an amplifier that can provide us with a sense of realism and solidity, allowing us to immerse ourselves into the music. The Pathos Aurium amp will certainly be worth your time to hear them out.
For listeners who are looking for an integrated amp that can drive both your Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones and loudspeakers, the Schiit Audio Ragnarok 2 will be an exemplary choice for you. By running it balanced, the Ragnarok 2 can efficiently drive the LCD 2 headphones and provide a low noise polished background. The overall sound reproduction of the Schiit Audio Ragnarok 2 is clean and highly detailed. It also comes with features that you may find useful such as a MM phono preamp and DAC if you go for the Schiit Audio Fully Loaded version of the Ragnarok 2 amplifier.
To Sum It Up
You should select one or more amps for an audition before making your final decision. During the auditioning of the amps, you should use your favorite music/songs or the ones with which you are very familiar as it will be easier to tell the difference in sound quality. It may take a few rounds of amps auditioning before you find the right one for you and your Audeze LCD 2 planar magnetic headphones but it can be an enjoyable process so enjoy your amp hunting.
