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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic headphones offer superior sound quality, providing an immersive experience for audiophiles with their planar magnetic drivers, but they're quite bulky and less portable. If you're looking for the ultimate in sound fidelity and are using them mainly at home or in a studio, they might be worth the investment. Conversely, the Beats Solo 3 are more affordable with a sleek design, wireless connectivity, and good bass response, making them suitable for casual listening or if you're often on the go. However, for critical listening, they may not match the Audeze's depth and detail. Keep in mind that the Audeze headphones will require a good source and possibly an amplifier to reach their full potential, adding to the cost, whereas the Beats offer straightforward functionality out of the box. 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 Audeze LCD 2 Classic
- Excellent for music
- Good for gaming
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Beats Solo 3
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
6.3
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Beats Solo 3 is only fair.
Gaming
7.3
5.3
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for gaming, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
5.8
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
TV and Video
8.6
5.6
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Beats Solo 3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
5.3
The Beats Solo 3 and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for noise reduction, though the Beats Solo 3 is somewhat better.
Battery
N/A
41.5 Hours
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic does not have a battery. The Beats Solo 3 has 41.5 hours of battery life.
Cost
$799
$117
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the Beats Solo 3 costs $117.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Beats Solo 3 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.8
4.7
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic and Beats Solo 3 are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Beats Solo 3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | Beats Solo 3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $117 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Beats | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | October 1, 2016 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired + Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 6.3/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 4.7/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.3/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 5.6/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 5.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 41.5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | No | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 4.2 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | No | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 5.4/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 635 Grams | 213.1 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Audeze LCD 2 Classic
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Dig into reviews and images
The Greatest Song
Greatest Song Team | August 2023
"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."
Beats Solo 3
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Sound Guys
Lily Katz | May 2023
"The Beats Solo3 Wireless is an old set of headphones but still works reliably well with iPhones, due to W1 chip integration and AAC support. The Beats Solo3 Wireless holds up well today with just a few features showing its age."
Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Beats Solo 3
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.
About Beats
Beats is an American, consumer-focused, audio products manufacturer. Founded originally by American rapper and producer Dr Dre, the company is now a subsidiary of Apple. Beats sells a wide range of audio products, including several models of headphones, earbuds and speakers as well as full car audio systems.
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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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