Short answer: the Moondrop Cosmo. It ranks #214 of 481 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 3.6/5, at $999; the Audeze LCD-2 ranks #252, rated 3.5/5, at $995. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
The case for the Moondrop Cosmo: An open back planar magnetic headphone with a large 100mm driver and a midrange that sits on target from 200 Hz to 1 kHz, so voices and instruments keep a natural body. The tradeoff: Sub-bass falls 6 dB below target by 53 Hz and is 7.3 dB down at 30 Hz, so kick drums and synth bass lack rumble, and the bass region overall runs 3.2 dB thin.
What the Audeze LCD-2 does well: A warm, bass friendly planar magnetic with a preference score of 70 in oratory1990’s measurement and a fairly even response, about 2.7 dB of deviation from target. The catch: A deep 12.5 dB dip near 9.3 kHz and treble running about 5 dB below target from 3 to 10 kHz make cymbals, strings and vocal detail sound dark and veiled.
Buy the Moondrop Cosmo. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $4 saving on the Audeze LCD-2 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
An open back planar magnetic headphone with a large 100mm driver and a midrange that sits on target from 200 Hz to 1 kHz, so voices and instruments keep a natural body.
Amazon $999.00 eBay
A warm, bass friendly planar magnetic with a preference score of 70 in oratory1990’s measurement and a fairly even response, about 2.7 dB of deviation from target.
Audeze $995.00 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
| Moondrop Cosmo | Audeze LCD-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $999.00 | $995.00 |
| Ranked | #214 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones | #252 of 481 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 74 (median of 4 squig.link measurements, calibrated to AutoEQ) | 70 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.69 dB standard deviation | 2.68 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | -0.38 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | -0.67 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 53 Hz (-7.3 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 38 Hz (-6.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Planar magnetic |
| Drivers | 1 x 100mm planar magnetic | 1 x 106mm planar magnetic |
| Impedance | 15 ohms | 70 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 100 dB/Vrms | 101 dB/mW |
| Frequency Response | 13Hz - 58kHz (Manufacturer specified) | 10Hz - 50kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | - | 1.3 lbs (595 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | - | No |
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