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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're seeking top-tier sound quality for music and have a high-end budget, consider the Audeze LCD 2 Classic. They offer excellent sonic performance, particularly a very wide and immersive soundstage, making them great for music enthusiasts. However, they are bulky, not portable, lack wireless connectivity, and require a dedicated amplifier for optimal performance, limiting their use to at-home listening and making them unsuitable for exercise or travel. In contrast, the Creative Labs Zen Air is budget-friendly, offering decent sound quality and good comfort. They are much more portable, support wireless connectivity with a long battery life, and include features like active noise canceling and sweatproof certification, making them versatile for exercise, travel, and casual listening. Their built-in microphone and app controls customization make them convenient for calls and they can charge wirelessly. The tradeoff is in their sound performance for critical listening and gaming, which doesn't match that of the Audeze, and their overall build might not be as durable. Choose Audeze if audio fidelity is your priority and you mainly listen at home, or choose Creative if you need versatility and features for everyday use at a lower cost. 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 Creative Labs Zen Air
- Very good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
6.8
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is only fair.
Gaming
7.3
5.1
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for gaming, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
5.4
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
TV and Video
8.6
5.6
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Creative Labs Zen Air is poor.
Noise Reduction
2.5
7.0
The Creative Labs Zen Air is good for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Battery
N/A
5.0 Hours
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic does not have a battery. The Creative Labs Zen Air has 5 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 Zen Air costs $30.
Build Quality
10.0
9.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Creative Labs Zen Air has excellent build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.8
5.1
The Creative Labs Zen Air and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Creative Labs Zen Air compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | Creative Labs Zen Air |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $30 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Creative Labs | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | December 1, 2022 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wireless | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 6.9/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 5.1/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 6.9/10 | |
PERFORMANCE | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery life | |||
Battery life | N/A | 5 Hours | |
Wireless charging | |||
Wireless charging | N/A | Yes | |
Charging time | |||
Charging time | N/A | 2 Hours | |
Bluetooth version | |||
Bluetooth version | N/A | 5 | |
Case Battery Life | |||
Case Battery Life | N/A | 12 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | Yes | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Virtual Surround | |||
Virtual Surround | N/A | Yes | |
Android App | |||
Android App | N/A | Yes | |
iOS App | |||
iOS App | N/A | Yes | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 7/10 | |
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 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 Zen Air
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Headphone Check
Maike Paeßens | February 2023
"The Creative Zen Air’s weak points are its low battery life and rather short Bluetooth range. On the other hand, the strengths of these weatherproof True Wireless in-Ears are the sound and the wide attenuation of the Active Noise Cancellation. Considering the price range, the speech intelligibility during calls is also exceptionally good."
Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Creative Labs Zen Air
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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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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