The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're looking for earbuds that offer a good balance of sound quality, comfort, and are suitable for a variety of activities including gaming, the Antlion Kimura Duo would be a compelling choice, especially considering they're significantly less expensive than the Audeze LCD 2 Classic. However, if your preference leans towards headphones that deliver a superior soundstage and are optimized for music and TV, and you don't mind the higher price, the open-back Audeze LCD 2 Classic could provide a richer and more immersive audio experience. The tradeoff is that the Audeze are heavier, less portable, and not as versatile for exercise or travel. Both lack wireless connectivity, which is important to consider if you prefer untethered listening. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Antlion Kimura Duo
Very good for gaming
Advantages of the Audeze LCD 2 Classic
Excellent for music
Very good for TV and video
Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
8.0/10
9.2/10
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is very good.
Gaming
8.5/10
7.3/10
The Antlion Kimura Duo is very good for gaming, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
5.0/10
7.7/10
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is poor.
TV and Video
7.8/10
8.6/10
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Antlion Kimura Duo is good.
Noise Reduction
6.0/10
2.5/10
The Antlion Kimura Duo is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Cost
$150
$799
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Antlion Kimura Duo has a price of $150 and the Audeze LCD 2 Classic costs $799.
Build Quality
9.0/10
10.0/10
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Antlion Kimura Duo has excellent build quality.
"Antlion Kimura Duo aren’t packed with features, but the ones they offer, work incredibly well. Especially the boom mic delivers very clean call quality with no distortion. If you explicitly look for gaming in-ear monitors with a reliable microphone, Antlion Kimura Duo are your best option."
"These headphones outdo rival planar magnetic headphones, especially in terms of dynamics. Compared to the Hifiman Ananda or the Hifiman Edition XS there is noticeably more slam in the sound, particularly in the bass. The LCD-2C gives you a fantastic sense of quiet dynamics with crystalline precision. This is evident also in our clinical tests, where it’s just easier to understand spoken text at very low volumes."
Get a great deal on the Antlion Kimura Duo or the Audeze LCD 2 Classic
About Antlion
Antlion Audio is an American company based in Oregon. Founded in 2011 by Jimmy Console, an engineer and physician, in order to create and offer better solutions for voice communication, specifically a microphone which could be used with any set of headphones which materialized in the very popular ModMic. The company has since expanded to include a wide variety of wired and wireless products.
About Audeze
Audeze is an, award-winning, American premium headphone manufacturer based in California. Founded in 2008, their products are developed around aerospace materials technology first used by NASA and are widely used by enthusiasts and professionals alike, not only in the fields of music and sound engineering but also in e-sports and the health industry.
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec earbuds & headphones team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest earbuds or headphones information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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