Avantone Planar vs Audeze LCD-2 (pre-fazor)
- BASS: if there is one thing the LCD-2 was known for, back in the day when it had just been released, it's the quality and extension of its bass. The Planar comes very close, but the LCD-2 has it beaten here.
- VOCALS : the LCD-2 presents vocals forward in the mix. Together with the bass, it can make slower, vocal based music sound really rich and passionate.
- SOUNDSTAGE: the LCD-2 sounds cavernous by moments, especially for bassy music. You can feel the sound enveloping you.
+ ATTACK: the Planar takes the cake here. The LCD-2 lacks punch in comparison.
+ TREBLE: the Planar has better and more extended treble. LCD-2 always sounded slower because of a slight lack in treble.It sometimes feel like the music plays at a slower speed with the LCD-2, shifting sounds lower than they should be.
+ IMAGING: I can pinpoint sounds better on the Planar, however the LCD-2 performance depends on the sound itself. High sounds (treble) are hard to pinpoint and slightly dampened, while lower sounds (bass and midrange) sound clear and easy to pinpoint.
+ INSTRUMENT SEPARATION: Definitely a strong point for the Planar vs the LCD-2. The latter really sound congested in complex passages, and some sounds, especially in the treble range, can be hidden by the rest of the frequency range.
CONCLUSION: To be frank, the Avantone feels like an upgraded LCD-2: it sounds faster, clearer, with better treble extension and presence, and a more neutral sound. The LCD-2, on the other hand, sound really rich in the bass and for vocals, which can make it an interesting choice for slower, vocal based music. For metal and progressive rock, however, the Avantone Planar has the LCD-2 beaten. If I was choosing between the two, the Planar would win hands-down (durability worries aside).