Short answer: the ZMF Caldera Closed. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#117 and #115 of 216 over-ear headphones), and the ZMF Caldera Closed costs $3,499.99 against $4,500 for the Audeze LCD-5, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
Why pick the Audeze LCD-5: The 90mm planar driver keeps the midrange very even in oratory1990’s measurement, with everything from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within 1.5 dB of target and no peak above 0.7 dB between 1.5 and 12 kHz, so vocals sound natural and free of harshness. The tradeoff: A deep 13.8 dB dip near 9.8 kHz leaves the treble nearly 8 dB below target, so cymbals and air sound dull and veiled.
Buy the ZMF Caldera Closed. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,000.01 less than the Audeze LCD-5.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audeze LCD-5 | ZMF Caldera Closed | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,500.00 | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #115 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #117 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.85 dB standard deviation | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.0 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Closed |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 90mm planar magnetic | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 14 ohms | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW | 94 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | - |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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- Stax SR-009S vs Audeze LCD-5
- Abyss AB1-266 Phi TC vs Audeze LCD-5
- Audeze LCD-5 vs Focal Utopia 2022
- Audeze LCD-5 vs T+A Solitaire PSE
- ZMF Caldera Closed vs Focal Utopia 2022
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-5: $4,500.00 Apos Audio eBay
Pros: The 90mm planar driver keeps the midrange very even in oratory1990’s measurement, with everything from 200 Hz to 6 kHz within 1.5 dB of target and no peak above 0.7 dB between 1.5 and 12 kHz, so vocals sound natural and free of harshness. It reaches a preference score of 73, and it rates the same as the Abyss AB1-266 Phi TC, which costs more.
Cons: A deep 13.8 dB dip near 9.8 kHz leaves the treble nearly 8 dB below target, so cymbals and air sound dull and veiled. Sub-bass sits about 7 dB low and falls 6 dB short by 47 Hz, which thins kick drums and synth bass. Sensitivity of 90 dB/mW calls for a capable headphone amp, it weighs 420 g, and the open back leaks sound. See headphone amps and DACs with enough power to drive it.
Full Audeze LCD-5 review and specifications →
| Released | Nov 2021 (4 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.85 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 90mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 14 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 47 Hz (-7.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.0 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 | +6.4 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,241 Hz | -5.3 dB | 1.03 |
| Peak | 6,732 Hz | +7.7 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 121 Hz | -2.1 dB | 0.31 |
| Peak | 3,769 Hz | -8.3 dB | 1.07 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,190 Hz | +1.1 dB | 3.60 |
| Peak | 2,968 Hz | -0.9 dB | 3.35 |
| Peak | 4,074 Hz | +1.3 dB | 4.83 |
| Peak | 4,981 Hz | -1.1 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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ZMF Caldera Closed: $3,499.99 ZMF eBay
Full ZMF Caldera Closed review and specifications →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Closed |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.58 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 80mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 94 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-2.0 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.53 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons