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LCD 2 Classic
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Pi7 S2
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What we think

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The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·

If you're looking for the best sound quality for music at home and don't mind using a wired connection, the Audeze LCD 2 Classic would be a superior choice with its planar drivers delivering a rich, detailed auditory experience. These over-ear headphones offer a larger soundstage, which is great for an immersive experience but are less versatile due to their size, open-back design, and lack of a microphone, making them poor for calls, meetings, and outdoor activities. On the other hand, the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 earbuds may offer slightly less sound quality; however, they are wireless with dynamic drivers, more portable, and versatile for various uses, including exercise and air travel. They also support modern codecs for better wireless performance, have active noise cancelling for noisy environments, and their design includes a built-in microphone, making them suitable for calls and meetings. If you prioritize convenience, portability, and diverse usage scenarios, including taking calls, the Pi7 S2 would be a more practical option despite being less expensive. 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 Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
  • Very good for air travel

Key differences

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Music

9.2
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
7.5
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is good.

Gaming

7.3
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
5.3
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for gaming, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.

Podcasts and Audiobooks

7.7
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
5.6
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is poor.

TV and Video

8.6
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
6.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is only fair.

Noise Reduction

2.5
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
8.3
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 is very good for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.

Battery

N/A
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
5.0 Hours
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic does not have a battery. The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has 5 hours of battery life.

Cost

$799
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
$127
Product image
Product image

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$300

$350

$400

The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 costs $127.

Build Quality

10.0
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
8.9
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 has very good build quality.
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Key similarities

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Phone Calls

4.8
LCD 2 Classic
Pi7 S2
5.2
The Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for phone calls.

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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2 compare to other earbuds and headphones

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Spec Comparison

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Audeze LCD 2 ClassicBowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2
Audeze LCD 2 ClassicBowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2

GENERAL

Price
$799
$127
Brand
AudezeBowers and Wilkins
Release Date
November 1, 2017January 1, 2023
Form Factor
HeadphonesEarbuds
Connectivity
WiredWireless

SOUND

Music Score
9.3/107.5/10
Phone Calls Score
4.9/105.2/10
Gaming Score
7.3/105.4/10
TV and Video Score
8.6/106/10
Exercise Score
4.4/106.3/10

PERFORMANCE

Battery life
N/A5 Hours
Wireless charging
N/AYes
Charging time
N/A0.75 Hours
Bluetooth version
N/A5
Case Battery Life
N/A13

FEATURES

Active Noise Cancelling
NoYes
Noise Reduction Score
2.5/108.4/10
Virtual Surround
N/ANo
Android App
N/AYes
iOS App
N/AYes
Mic Quality
N/A7/10

BUILD AND DESIGN

Build Quality
10/108.9/10
Comfort score
8/108/10
Size
N/ALarge
Weight (headset or single earbud)
635 Grams7 Grams
Microphone style
N/AIntegrated

Shopping

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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."

Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2

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Dig into reviews and images

Engadget

Billy Steele | March 2023
"While the overall sound quality is great, these earbuds fall short in terms of battery life, customization and ANC performance. Bowers & Wilkins’ ability to consistently deliver pristine sound isn’t enough to make up for what the Pi7 S2 lacks, which is unfortunately quite a bit."

Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Bowers and Wilkins Pi7 S2

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 Bowers and Wilkins

Bowers and Wilkins is a British audio equipment manufacturer with a focus on innovation and product development. It was founded by a couple of real-life James Bonds, the co-founders John Bowers and Roy Wilkins, who met while working for MI6 during World War II. The company keeps being favored by enthusiasts due to their sound quality, craftsmanship and signature aesthetics.

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Why trust us

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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.

By the numbers

108
Earbuds and headphones evaluated
11,340
Earbuds and headphones stats compiled
15
Proprietary Earbuds and headphones ratings developed
95,000
Recommendations made
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Consumer hours saved

About the Earbuds or Headphones team

Joe Golden, Ph.D

CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Jason Lew

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.

Chandradeep Chowdhury

Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.

Luis Torres

Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.

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