Sound Quality
The non-Fazor LCD models are renowned for their potent low-end which some people say was lost in the Fazor models, especially in the LCD-2 and 3 lines. It’s also worth adding the LCD-2.2 is the most popular model of the LCD-2.
The tonal balance is warm and velvety, with a weighty low end. The headphones excel in tonal richness, particularly for vocals. The bass extends exceptionally low while delivering a great punch. While it falls a tiny bit behind the dynamism of Focal headphones, the LCD-2.2 offers neutral, weighty bass that is neither bloomy nor loose.
The mids are characterized by a warm and lush quality. There is a seamless transition from bass to mids, with no sloppiness or bleeding. The low and middle mids are thick, while the upper mids are laid back and recessed. Male vocals are prominent, whereas female vocals can sound distant at times.
The treble is smooth and recessed but has some emphasis around the mid/upper treble area resulting in a slight tizzy sound which tends to stand out more than others. It results in a slightly hazy upper frequencies presentation which isn’t fatiguing but is quite a different type of tuning relative to the Harman target response. Some people like this tuning but others find it a bit dull and lacking excitement around the upper mids and lower treble area.
The LCD-2’s soundstage is relatively small for an open-headphone, similar to that of Focals. It has a strong center image and some depth, but it can sometimes feel like a closed headphone due to the collapsed center image.
The speed and transients are quite good. Despite the weighty low and low mids and relaxed treble, the headphones handle fast tracks without issues. Imaging and instrument separation are both good, and dynamics are also quite pleasing. It sits a bit lower than the Focal Clear and the Hifiman Arya or HE1000 Stealth in terms of detail retrieval capabilities.
Efficiency
The LCD-2.2 is harder to drive than Focal headphones but performs well even with inexpensive amplifiers. While it can achieve decent volume when plugged into a smartphone via an adapter, the sound quality is noticeably inferior.
It did sound ok from a THX 887 amplifier but the overall liveliness factor improved with the Luxman P1u and the Headamp GSX Mini. If you’re not so much into the nuances of amplifiers, I’d say give the LCD-2 a quick listen off of whatever you have, and if you’re happy with the sound, stick with it!
EQ
Depending on your preference, you can EQ the LCD-2 to your taste. Most people would probably bring up the scooped presence region and tone down the upper treble a bit. I did try doing that and it sounded better tonally but in the end, I preferred the lush LCD-2’s flavor profile so I mostly used it in stock form.
Conclusion
Overall, the Audeze LCD-2.2 provides a coherent and pleasurable listening experience. While EQ adjustments can enhance liveliness, the headphones are still enjoyable without EQ, offering a lush and sweet sound with a bit of a relaxed presence region.
If you can find a used one for an affordable price like I did, I’d recommend it! It’s always a treat owning an Audeze full-size headphone because of its distinct look, great build, and laid-back but punchy sound character that it has.
Otherwise, you can consider the current model of LCD-2 which is still pretty good but naturally more expensive.