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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize sound quality and use for music, the HifiMan Arya Stealth may be the better choice for you, as they score higher in overall sound quality and music listening; however, they are also often slightly more expensive than the Audeze LCD 2 Classic. Both models have planar drivers, open enclosures, and are wired, with no active noise cancelling, making them unsuitable for noisy environments. The Audeze are known for their large soundstage and are less heavy, which some find more comfortable for long listening sessions, while the Arya offer better comfort and portability scores despite being slightly lighter. Neither is designed for exercise, calls and meetings, or has sweat and dust resistance. 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
- The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has no clear advantages over the HifiMan Arya Stealth.
Advantages of the HifiMan Arya Stealth
- Best in class for music
- Excellent for TV and video
- Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Key differences
Music
9.2
10.0
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is best in class for music, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent.
TV and Video
8.6
9.4
The HifiMan Arya Stealth is excellent for TV and video, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good.
Cost
$799
$999
$400
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the HifiMan Arya Stealth costs $999.
Build Quality
10.0
9.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the HifiMan Arya Stealth has excellent build quality.
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Key similarities
Gaming
7.3
7.1
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both good for gaming.
Phone Calls
4.8
5.1
The HifiMan Arya Stealth and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for phone calls.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
8.1
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HifiMan Arya Stealth to be very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
2.5
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic and HifiMan Arya Stealth are both poor for noise reduction.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the HifiMan Arya Stealth compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | HifiMan Arya Stealth |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $999 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | HifiMan | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | November 1, 2018 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Headphones | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 10/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 5.1/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 7.2/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.5/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 2.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 9/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 635 Grams | 408.2 Grams | |
Waterproof Rating | |||
Waterproof Rating | 0 | 0 | |
Dustproof Rating | |||
Dustproof 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."
HifiMan Arya Stealth
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Dig into reviews and images
Headphonesty
Eric D Hieger | October 2022
"The Arya can easily be end-game headphones for 99% of consumers, satisfying most audio desires. Priced well above USD$1000, the Arya are obviously and gloriously not for the mass market consumer; they are designed and built by enthusiasts for enthusiasts – especially those who view their expenses on this level of gear as investments."
Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the HifiMan Arya Stealth
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 HifiMan
HiFiMAN is a Chinese, high-end, audio product manufacturer, with 20 years of experience, that specializes in amplifiers, digital audio players and planar magnetic headphones, some of which have become a staple in the audiophile community such as the entry-level Sundara, the midrange Edition X, and the very well-regarded, high-end, Arya.
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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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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.
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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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