Short answer: the Audeze LCD-XC. It ranks #16 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,299; the Aune AR9000 ranks #78, rated 4.0/5, and costs $1,399, so there is little reason to consider the other one.
Why pick the Audeze LCD-XC: A preference score of 89 and a 1.9 dB deviation show an overall balance that follows the Harman target closely with a neutral tilt. The catch: Bass is clearly recessed, about 6 dB light in the sub-bass and about 2 dB light from 60 to 200 Hz, so kick drums and bass guitar lack weight.
Buy the Audeze LCD-XC. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Aune AR9000 and costs less, which makes it the one to get unless you need something the other one does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Audeze LCD-XC | Aune AR9000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,299.00 | $1,399.00 |
| Ranked | #16 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #78 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 89 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 1.90 dB standard deviation | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Closed | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Impedance | 20 ohms | 43 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW | 102 dB SPL |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (677 g) | 0.9 lbs (430 g) |
| Frequency Response | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 4Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
How Audeze LCD-XC compares with other leading options:
- Dan Clark Audio Noire X vs Audeze LCD-XC
- Audeze LCD-XC vs HIFIMAN HE1000 Stealth
- Aune AR9000 vs HIFIMAN HE1000se
- HIFIMAN HE6 vs Aune AR9000
- Dan Clark Audio Noire X vs HIFIMAN HE600
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-XC: $1,299.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: A preference score of 89 and a 1.9 dB deviation show an overall balance that follows the Harman target closely with a neutral tilt. Upper mids are within half a dB of target, so voices sit naturally in the mix. The closed-back planar design isolates better than most high-end headphones and runs from a phone or laptop at 20 ohms and 100 dB/mW sensitivity.
Cons: Bass is clearly recessed, about 6 dB light in the sub-bass and about 2 dB light from 60 to 200 Hz, so kick drums and bass guitar lack weight. An 8.5 dB dip near 9.3 kHz and a 3 dB shortfall through the treble also soften cymbals and sibilance. At 677 g it is a heavy headphone, and it is rated below the HIFIMAN Arya Organic and Dan Clark Audio Noire X.
Full Audeze LCD-XC review and specifications →
| Back | Closed |
|---|---|
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 1.90 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 | 89 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 20 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 28 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.11 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs (677 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.5 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 | +7.5 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,601 Hz | -2.7 dB | 1.10 |
| Peak | 4,062 Hz | +4.4 dB | 3.88 |
| Peak | 60 Hz | -4.2 dB | 0.64 |
| Peak | 416 Hz | +1.8 dB | 3.05 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -7.6 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,737 Hz | -3.4 dB | 5.99 |
| Peak | 4,665 Hz | +0.6 dB | 5.98 |
| Peak | 10,000 Hz | +5.0 dB | 1.36 |
| Peak | 228 Hz | -0.3 dB | 3.02 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Aune AR9000: $1,399.00 Headphones.com eBay
Full Aune AR9000 review and specifications →
| Released | 2026 (this year) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.09 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Dynamic |
| Drivers | 1 x 50mm dynamic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 4Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 81 (median of 3 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 43 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB SPL |
| Sub-bass Extension | Within 6 dB of target down to 20 Hz (-0.4 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.40 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.9 lbs (430 g) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons