Short answer: the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back. It ranks #69 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $2,839.97; the Meze Empyrean II ranks #106, rated 3.7/5, and costs $2,999, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The case for the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back: A preference score of 81 with a deviation of 2.2 dB in oratory1990’s measurement is a good result for a closed-back planar magnetic. The catch: Sub-bass is about 4.5 dB under target, and treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.4 dB low, with a 10.7 dB dip near 9.1 kHz that rounds off cymbals and detail.
Buy the Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Meze Empyrean II and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back | Meze Empyrean II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,839.97 | $2,999.00 |
| Ranked | #69 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #106 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.9 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) |
| Impedance | 70 ohms | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW | 90 dB SPL/mW |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 1 lbs (449 g) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back compares with other leading options:
- Warwick Acoustics Bravura vs Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back
- Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back vs Austrian Audio The Composer
- Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back vs HIFIMAN HE1000 V2
- HIFIMAN HE1000 V2 vs Meze Empyrean II
- Austrian Audio The Composer vs Meze Empyrean II
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back: $2,839.97 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 81 with a deviation of 2.2 dB in oratory1990’s measurement is a good result for a closed-back planar magnetic. Bass from 60 to 200 Hz and the midrange sit within 1 dB of target, giving full, natural tone. A 106 mm planar driver at 70 ohms and 101 dB/mW is efficient enough for most desktop amps, and the closed back keeps sound in.
Cons: Sub-bass is about 4.5 dB under target, and treble from 6 to 10 kHz is about 3.4 dB low, with a 10.7 dB dip near 9.1 kHz that rounds off cymbals and detail. The price is far higher than rivals like the Dan Clark Audio E3, which has a higher rating at a lower cost.
Full Audeze LCD-2 Closed Back review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.22 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 70 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 101 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.9 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.36 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -4.5 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +5.1 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 102 Hz | -3.2 dB | 0.41 |
| Peak | 3,605 Hz | +3.7 dB | 2.40 |
| Peak | 1,346 Hz | -2.1 dB | 1.57 |
| Peak | 396 Hz | +2.0 dB | 1.79 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,771 Hz | -3.9 dB | 5.45 |
| Peak | 4,350 Hz | +1.7 dB | 5.21 |
| Peak | 2,469 Hz | +0.7 dB | 3.08 |
| Peak | 1,736 Hz | -0.4 dB | 2.93 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Meze Empyrean II: $2,999.00 Headphones.com eBay
Full Meze Empyrean II review and specifications →
| Back | Open |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.21 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 102 x 73mm planar magnetic (Rinaro Isodynamic Hybrid Array) |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 8Hz - 110kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 76 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 32 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB SPL/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-3.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.61 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1 lbs (449 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons