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What we think
The PerfectRec Earbuds or Headphones team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic offers an open design which results in a more natural and immersive soundstage, beneficial for music enthusiasts seeking high-quality audio reproduction; however, they do not isolate sound well, making them less suitable in noisy environments. They are also more comfortable and tend to have a robust build quality but are quite bulky and not easily portable. In contrast, the Steelseries TUSQ, being budget-friendly, features a closed design that isolates sound better, making them a practical choice for gaming and calls, and their lighter build and small size enhance portability. The TUSQ also includes a microphone with a boom design, which generally provides superior voice clarity for calls and gaming compared to headphones without a dedicated mic. If portability, gaming, and a tight budget are your concerns, the TUSQ would be a prudent selection, while if you prioritize music listening in a quiet environment and are willing to invest more, the LCD 2 Classic should serve you well. 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
- Very good for TV and video
- Good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the Steelseries TUSQ
- Very good for gaming
- Good for air travel
Key differences
Music
9.2
7.6
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is excellent for music, while the Steelseries TUSQ is good.
Gaming
7.3
8.5
The Steelseries TUSQ is very good for gaming, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
7.7
4.7
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the Steelseries TUSQ is poor.
TV and Video
8.6
7.3
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic is very good for TV and video, while the Steelseries TUSQ is good.
Noise Reduction
2.5
6.0
The Steelseries TUSQ is only fair for noise reduction, while the Audeze LCD 2 Classic is poor.
Cost
$799
$40
$0
$100
$200
$300
$400
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has a price of $799 and the Steelseries TUSQ costs $40.
Build Quality
10.0
8.0
The Audeze LCD 2 Classic has best in class build quality, while the Steelseries TUSQ has very good build quality.
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Key similarities
Phone Calls
4.8
5.2
The Steelseries TUSQ and Audeze LCD 2 Classic are both poor for phone calls.
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How the Audeze LCD 2 Classic and the Steelseries TUSQ compare to other earbuds and headphones
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Audeze LCD 2 Classic | Steelseries TUSQ |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$799 | $40 | ||
Brand | |||
Brand | Audeze | Steelseries | |
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2017 | August 1, 2021 | |
Form Factor | |||
Form Factor | Headphones | Earbuds | |
Connectivity | |||
Connectivity | Wired | Wired | |
SOUND | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Music Score | |||
Music Score | 9.3/10 | 7.7/10 | |
Phone Calls Score | |||
Phone Calls Score | 4.9/10 | 5.3/10 | |
Gaming Score | |||
Gaming Score | 7.3/10 | 8.6/10 | |
TV and Video Score | |||
TV and Video Score | 8.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Exercise Score | |||
Exercise Score | 4.4/10 | 4.2/10 | |
FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Active Noise Cancelling | |||
Active Noise Cancelling | No | No | |
Noise Reduction Score | |||
Noise Reduction Score | 2.5/10 | 6/10 | |
Mic Quality | |||
Mic Quality | N/A | 8.5/10 | |
BUILD AND DESIGN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality | |||
Build Quality | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Comfort score | |||
Comfort score | 8/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Size | |||
Size | N/A | Large | |
Weight (headset or single earbud) | |||
Weight (headset or single earbud) | 635 Grams | 11 Grams | |
Microphone style | |||
Microphone style | N/A | Boom | |
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."
Steelseries TUSQ
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Dig into reviews and images
Can Buy or Not
Aloysius Low | March 2021
"The SteelSeries Arctis Tusq is a great headset for those on a more modest budget. You can use it for gaming or music, and I daresay it's also great for Zoom meetings when you don't want to be wearing on-ear or over-ear headphones."
Get a great deal on the Audeze LCD 2 Classic or the Steelseries TUSQ
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 Steelseries
Steelseries is a Danish gaming products manufacturer founded in 2001 and owned by GN Store Nord. Beside a large variety of gaming peripherals like mice, keyboards, and mousemats, Steelseries markets the Arctis line of gaming headsets which feature integrated boom microphones and RGB lighting. Steelseries has partnered with several game publishers and studios for limited editions of their products like a line of Cyberpunk 2077 themed headsets in 2020.
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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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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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