Short answer: the Dan Clark Audio Voce, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #179 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 2.9/5, at $2,599; the Audeze LCD-4z ranks #187, rated 2.7/5, and costs $3,995, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 216 over-ear headphones, and the Dan Clark Audio E3, ranked #1 at $2,299, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
What the Dan Clark Audio Voce does well: It uses an 88mm electrostatic driver in an open back design, a rare driver type among current headphones. The catch: A preference score of 56 from crinacle’s measurement puts its tonal balance far from what most listeners prefer.
The case for the Audeze LCD-4z: Its 106mm planar magnetic driver keeps the low mids right on the Harman target, so voices and instruments in the 200 Hz to 1 kHz range sound full and natural. The tradeoff: In oratory1990’s measurement the treble sits about 8 to 9 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, with a 14 dB hole near 9.1 kHz, so cymbals, string attack and detail sound muted and veiled.
Buy the Dan Clark Audio Voce. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audeze LCD-4z and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Dan Clark Audio Voce | Audeze LCD-4z | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,599.00 | $3,995.00 |
| Ranked | #179 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #187 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) | 53 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 4.06 dB standard deviation | 3.62 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 88mm electrostatic | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Sub-bass Extension | - | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-6.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Impedance | - | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | - | 98 dB/mW |
| Weight | - | 1.2 lbs (560 g) |
| Frequency Response | - | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Headphone Comparisons
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- Audeze LCD-3 vs Dan Clark Audio Voce
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- Dan Clark Audio Voce vs Focal Stellia
- Dan Clark Audio Voce vs Yamaha YH-5000SE
- Focal Utopia 2022 vs Audeze LCD-4z
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
Dan Clark Audio Voce: $2,599.00 Amazon eBay
Pros: It uses an 88mm electrostatic driver in an open back design, a rare driver type among current headphones. It is rated above the Sennheiser HD 820 and the AKG K872 Pro and rated the same as the more expensive Focal Stellia.
Cons: A preference score of 56 from crinacle’s measurement puts its tonal balance far from what most listeners prefer. As an electrostatic design it needs a dedicated energizer rather than a normal headphone amp, which adds substantially to the system cost. The Audeze LCD-3 earns a higher rating for less money.
Full Dan Clark Audio Voce review and specifications →
| Released | 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 4.06 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x 88mm electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 56 (measured by crinacle, via AutoEQ) |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.48 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 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 | +6.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,149 Hz | -7.5 dB | 1.65 |
| Peak | 273 Hz | -1.7 dB | 0.18 |
| Peak | 2,121 Hz | +5.4 dB | 1.37 |
| Peak | 8,560 Hz | +5.7 dB | 1.81 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | +3.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 4,724 Hz | -4.6 dB | 5.65 |
| Peak | 3,207 Hz | +2.8 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 79 Hz | -0.7 dB | 2.76 |
| Peak | 5,558 Hz | +1.9 dB | 6.00 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Audeze LCD-4z: $3,995.00 B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Its 106mm planar magnetic driver keeps the low mids right on the Harman target, so voices and instruments in the 200 Hz to 1 kHz range sound full and natural. The low 15 ohm impedance and 98 dB/mW sensitivity mean it does not need a high voltage amplifier to reach good volume. Listeners who like a warm, dark presentation are its best match.
Cons: In oratory1990’s measurement the treble sits about 8 to 9 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz, with a 14 dB hole near 9.1 kHz, so cymbals, string attack and detail sound muted and veiled. Sub-bass also runs about 6 dB short below 60 Hz, and at 560 g it is a very heavy open back headphone that leaks sound. The Focal Utopia 2022 is rated higher at a similar price.
Full Audeze LCD-4z review and specifications →
| Released | May 2018 (8 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 3.62 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Frequency Response | 5Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Harman Preference Score | 53 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 15 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 45 Hz (-6.3 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | -1.00 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (560 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.3 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 | +3.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,020 Hz | -4.4 dB | 1.42 |
| Peak | 3,720 Hz | +6.3 dB | 1.81 |
| Peak | 8,839 Hz | +4.6 dB | 1.61 |
| Peak | 267 Hz | -2.5 dB | 0.46 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,999 Hz | +1.5 dB | 4.03 |
| Peak | 5,676 Hz | -2.2 dB | 6.00 |
| Peak | 6,879 Hz | +3.1 dB | 5.52 |
| Peak | 1,402 Hz | -0.7 dB | 3.80 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons