Short answer: the ZMF Caldera. Both are rated 3.6/5 for sound quality (#213 and #216 of 481 over-ear headphones), and the ZMF Caldera costs $3,499.99 against $4,500 for the Audeze LCD-5, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
What the Audeze LCD-5 does well: An open-back 90mm planar headphone with a very even midrange that keeps vocals natural and free of harshness. The catch: 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.
Why pick the ZMF Caldera: The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread. The tradeoff: Presence sits about 4.5 dB low with a 9.5 dB dip near 9.7 kHz, so vocals and instruments lose some bite.
Buy the ZMF Caldera. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $1,000.01 less than the Audeze LCD-5.
Still deciding? The full Headphones rankings cover every ranked option.
An open-back 90mm planar headphone with a very even midrange that keeps vocals natural and free of harshness.
Apos Audio $4,500.00 eBay
The median of 5 hobbyist measurements gives it a solid Harman preference score of 74 with a 2.42 dB spread.
ZMF Headphones $3,499.99 eBayPrices on this page were last checked October 16, 2026 at 5:46 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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Specifications Side By Side
| Audeze LCD-5 | ZMF Caldera | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,500.00 | $3,499.99 |
| Ranked | #216 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #213 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 73 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 74 (median of 5 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.85 dB standard deviation | 2.42 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.32 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.60 (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 (-4.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| 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 | 95 dB/mW |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (420 g) | 490 - 1.2 lbs (550 g) |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Built-in Microphone | No | - |
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