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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize audio quality and an immersive listening experience, the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is an excellent choice, albeit at a higher price point. These are ideal if you mainly listen in a quiet space and value nuanced sound. On the other hand, the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3, being more affordable, offers a good balance between quality and convenience, suitable for an active lifestyle with portability and easier fit due to wireless design. However, it may not match the Audeze's sound detail and depth. Consider also that the Audeze's over-ear design may be less practical for travel or exercising compared to the more compact and workout-friendly Creative Labs. 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
Advantages of the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
- Good for phone calls
- Very good for exercise
- Very good for air travel
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
9.2
5.7
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Gaming
7.3
5.1
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Phone Calls
4.8
7.6
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is good for phone calls, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
8.9
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good.
TV and Video
8.6
5.4
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.5
The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Battery
N/A
10.0 Hours
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic does not have a battery. The Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has 10 hours of battery life.
Cost
$799
$30
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 costs $30.
Build Quality
10.0
9.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 has excellent build quality.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | Creative Labs Outlier Air V3 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | June 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 5.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 8/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 10 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 1.5 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5.2 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 40 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
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 | 6.8/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Medium | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 635 Grams | 5.2 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Integrated | |
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."
Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
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Dig into reviews and images
Trusted Reviews
Kob Monney | July 2022
"The V3 present the best version of the Outlier Air series yet. The new features such as Active Noise Reduction and Ambient mode are integrated well; the performance of both is as good as you’ll get below £100. The design is less bulky and more comfortable thanks to being smaller and lighter, and the Outlier Air V3 eke out more clarity, detail and definition from music."
Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Creative Labs Outlier Air V3
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 Creative Labs
Creative Labs is a Singaporean technology company specialized in the manufacture of multimedia products. They created the world-famous Soundblaster soundcard back in 1989 which was a staple of the gaming community for a long time. Nowadays, besides still marketing their discrete audio systems, they offer a wide array of headphones, gaming headsets and speakers that still preserve that same heritage.
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Why trust us
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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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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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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