Not All Planars Are Created Equal - How Audeze Builds Headphones for Real Systems

Planar magnetic headphones get talked about like they’re a single category with a single sound. Fast. Clean. Detailed. End of story.

In reality, “planar” tells you almost nothing about how a headphone behaves once it’s dropped into a real system. And few brands make that clearer than Audeze.

From the beginning, Audeze has treated headphones less like lifestyle accessories and more like system components. They expect amplification. They expect a decent source. And they expect the listener to care about how everything works together. That philosophy runs through every model they make. Yes, even including those designed for gaming.

This is a map. A look at every current Audeze headphone, grouped by intent, and explained the way we actually use them.

Why “Planar” Isn’t the Point

Yes, Audeze uses planar magnetic drivers across their lineup, with a couple of exceptions. But the real story is how those drivers are tuned, loaded, and voiced, and what the company expects you to pair them with. Are you in a studio setting, or are you listening for pure musical pleasure? Or maybe an audiophile who listens for long periods of time, but wants all the details that can be crammed in your years, while not experiencing listening fatigue. That last one is a steep ask for most headphones.

Some Audeze headphones are built to tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. Others are built to make long listening sessions enjoyable. Some are meant to live on a desk with a DAC and amp. Others are designed to move between systems without falling apart.

The mistake people make is assuming a higher price automatically means “better” for their use case. With Audeze, it usually just means a more specific use case or listening scenario.

The LCD Series Is The Heart of Audeze

This is the lineup most people think of when they hear the Audeze name. Big ear cups. Serious weight. Serious sound.

LCD-S20 Closed-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

The LCD-S20 represents a quieter but important evolution for Audeze.

The S20’s brings planar magnetic performance into a lighter, more approachable, closed-back design that’s easier to integrate into everyday listening. Compared to the larger LCD models, the S20 is more efficient, more comfortable for extended sessions, and less demanding about amplification, while still retaining that unmistakable Audeze sense of control and bass authority.

This is a strong option for listeners who want a taste of the Audeze sound without committing to a full desktop rig or heavyweight chassis. It works well in shared spaces, on desks, and in systems where flexibility matters just as much as outright performance.

LCD-S20 LCD-2 Classic Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Minimum power: 200 mW @ 18 Ω
• Ideal power: 500 mW–1 W @ 18 Ω
• Notes: Designed for flexibility. Doesn’t demand a full desktop rig.

LCD-2 Classic Open Back Headphones

The LCD-2 is where many listeners first “get” what Audeze are all about. 

The LCD-2s are full-bodied and warm, leaning into the physical aspects of headphone listening that headphones of the past often leave behind. Bass has real weight, mids feel dense, and nothing about it sounds thin or brittle.

This is often the right choice for someone coming from speakers who want that same sense of scale and tonal density. They are also forgiving enough to work in systems that aren’t obsessively dialed in. 

It still wants power, but it doesn’t punish you if everything upstream isn’t perfect.

LCD-2 Classic Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 70 Ω
• Minimum power: 500 mW @ 70 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 70 Ω
• Notes: Likes current and control more than volume. Scales clearly with better amps.

LCD-X Open Back Headphones

If the LCD-2 is about musical weight, the LCD-X is about balance.

This is Audeze’s most neutral LCD headphone, and there’s a reason it shows up in studios just as often as in home systems. These tend to be the first pair of planars, or Audeze cans, for many listeners, including myself. They are fast, articulate, and far more revealing than the LCD-2, without tipping into harshness when paired well.

For a lot of people, this is the safest recommendation in the entire lineup, especially if you want one headphone that can do both critical listening and pure enjoyment.

LCD-X  Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 20 Ω
• Minimum power: 250 mW @ 20 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 20 Ω
• Notes: Easy to drive on paper, but benefits from a stable, high-current amp.

LCD-XC Closed Back Headphones

Closed-back planar headphones are notoriously hard to get right. The LCD-XC is one of the few that doesn’t feel like a compromise.

You still get that planar bass control and midrange authority, but with isolation that actually works. This is a smart option for shared spaces, desks, or anyone who needs privacy without giving up sound quality. Beyond that, some listeners find that they prefer closed-back headphones to help further the “Taking the room out of the equation” effect that headphones provide.

LCD-XC Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 20 Ω
• Minimum power: 250 mW @ 20 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 20 Ω
• Notes: Closed-back design makes amp quality more noticeable.

LCD-3 Open Back Headphones

The LCD-3 isn’t about more bass or more treble. It’s about refinement.

Textures are more nuanced. Harmonics feel more developed. You don’t notice it immediately,  you notice it after an hour, when you realize you’re listening deeper into recordings than you usually do.

This is where source quality starts to matter a lot. The LCD-3 will absolutely reflect what’s upstream, for better or worse.

LCD-3 Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 110 Ω
• Minimum power: 500 mW @ 110 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–3 W @ 110 Ω
• Notes: Needs voltage swing and refinement. Will expose weak sources.

LCD-5 Open-Back Planar Magnetic Headphones

LCD-5 marks a clear shift in how Audeze thinks about flagship performance.

The LCD-5 is faster, leaner, and more resolving than past LCD flagships. These are all about control, articulation, and speed. Imaging is more precise, transients are sharper, and the presentation feels more immediate and “monitor-like” than the older, heavier-voiced LCD designs. Oh, by the way, these are designed to be much lighter on your head than all previous models, which will be a relief for some listeners.

Flagship is a word that usually gets simply thrown at a brand's most expensive headphone in modern years, but these are very much a modern flagship. It’s incredibly  revealing, and it expects the same from the system feeding it. Source quality, amplification, and overall system balance matter enormously here. Get it right, and the LCD-5 delivers an extremely high-resolution, deeply controlled listening experience. Get it wrong, and it will tell you.

For listeners coming from reference speakers or studio monitors, this is often the most intuitive LCD to understand.

LCD-5 Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 14 Ω
• Minimum power: 250 mW @ 14 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 14 Ω
• Notes: Extremely revealing. Power quality matters more than brute force.

LCD-MX4 Planar Magnetic Headphones

These are statement pieces, and Audeze doesn’t pretend otherwise.

The LCD-MX4 is demanding, physically, electrically, and sonically. They  reward systems with real current delivery and a clean, capable front end. When everything is right, they deliver scale, texture, and control that very few headphones can match.

​​LCD-MX4 Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 20 Ω
• Minimum power: 250 mW @ 20 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 20 Ω

LCD 4Z Planar Magnetic Headphones

Truly an Under-Talked-About Flagship

The LCD-4z exists for listeners who want much of that performance without building a dedicated headphone power plant around it. It’s more efficient, more flexible, and easier to live with, while still very much a flagship, and a pair I would classify as bass monsters.

LCD-4z Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 15 Ω
• Minimum power: 500 mW @ 15 Ω
• Ideal power: 2–4 W @ 15 Ω
• Notes: More efficient than LCD-4, but still likes serious current delivery

The MM Series - Built for the Truth

Where the LCD series leans audiophile, the MM series leans professional.

MM-500 Open Back Panar Magnetic Headphones

Co-developed with Manny Marroquin, the MM-500 is designed to work. They are forward, fast, and brutally honest. There’s no extra romance added here,  just resolution, speed, and control.

That honesty is exactly why some audiophiles fall in love with them, and others are turned off by them. If your system is dialed in and you want to hear exactly what’s on the recording, these headphones deliver.

Long-term enjoyment depends entirely on system balance and music taste.

MM-500 Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Minimum power: 250 mW @ 18 Ω
• Ideal power: 1–2 W @ 18 Ω
• Notes: Studio-forward tuning makes amp noise and grain obvious.

MM-100 Proffesional Planar Magnetic Headphones

The MM-100 might be one of the most important headphones Audeze has released in years.

They keep the planar clarity and control, but package it in a lighter, more efficient design that’s easier to drive and easier to live with. The MM-100s work beautifully on a desk with modest amplification and don’t require the same level of system commitment as the larger models.

For many listeners, this is the most approachable way into the Audeze sound.

MM-100 LCD-2 Classic Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 18 Ω
• Minimum power: 200 mW @ 18 Ω
• Ideal power: 500 mW–1 W @ 18 Ω
• Notes: One of the most amp-friendly Audeze models.
  

CRBN 2- Audeze Goes Electrostatic

CRBN 2 Electrotatic Headphones

The CRBN is a fascinating product, not just because it’s electrostatic, but because it still sounds like Audeze.

Instead of chasing the ultra-ethereal, ultra-light presentation that defines many electrostats, the 

The CRBN 2 electronic headphones focus on tonal density, texture, and realism. It uses a carbon nanotube diaphragm to avoid traditional coating issues and maintain long-term stability.

It still requires an electrostatic amp, making it a more specialized choice, but for the right listener, it offers a different flavor of high-resolution listening without sacrificing musicality.

CRBN LCD-2 Classic Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Type: Electrostatic
• Power: Works with standard 580v Electrostat Energizer (requires electrostatic amplifier)
• Not comparable to planar or dynamic power ratings. Requires a dedicated energizer.

Gaming & Immersive - Taken Seriously

Audeze doesn’t treat gaming audio like a side hustle, and it shows.

Maxwell 2 Wireless Gamin Headset

The Maxwell is one of the few wireless gaming headsets that doesn’t immediately feel like a compromise. They are controlled, balanced, and genuinely enjoyable for music,  not just explosions and dialogue.

If you split your time between gaming, streaming, and casual listening, this is one of the most complete solutions available.

Maxwell Impedance & Power Recommendations (wired passive mode)

• Impedance: ~32 Ω
• Minimum power: 50–100 mW @ 32 Ω
• Ideal power: 200–500 mW @ 32 Ω
• Notes: DSP/wireless mode bypasses traditional amp concerns.

LCD-GX Audiophile Gaming Headphones

The LCD-GX takes the core LCD sound and adapts it for gaming without turning them into a gimmick. Open-back, lightweight for its size, and fitted with a proper mic, it’s built for long sessions without fatigue.

It’s proof that “gaming” doesn’t have to mean “less serious.”

LCD-GX Impedance & Power Recommendations

• Impedance: 20 Ω
• Minimum power: 200 mW @ 20 Ω
• Ideal power: 500 mW–1 W @ 20 Ω
• Notes: Easy to drive, benefits from clean current for bass control.

Choosing the Right Audeze

Audeze headphones don’t exist on a simple good/better/best ladder. They exist on a use-case ladder.

Ask yourself:

• How much power does your system or headphone amplifier really have?
• Do you value honesty or forgiveness?
• Open-back or closed-back?
• Long sessions or short, focused listening?
• Desk setup or dedicated listening space?
  

Take a little time to answer those honestly, and the right Audeze usually becomes obvious or at least easier to pick the right direction for you. Take a look at the resistance (OHM rating) for each as a quick guide. While most Audeze Planar Magnetics dont require a dedicated headphone amp, they certainly benefit form one. 

Why Audeze Headphones Feel More Like Speakers

Good speakers scale with better amplification, better sources, and better setup. Audeze headphones do the same.

They don’t hide upstream changes. They don’t smooth over poor matches. And when everything clicks, they disappear in a way that feels less like “headphone listening” and more like sitting inside the music.

Final Thoughts

Audeze doesn’t make one perfect planar headphone. They make specific ones, designed with intention, built for systems, and honest about what they ask from the listener. That’s why opinions vary so widely, and why the right Audeze can feel transformative, while the wrong one can feel frustrating. With a little research and effort into picking the right pair, or pairs, they will give you a listening experience that will reward your ears for years. 

Not all planars are created equal.

And that’s exactly the point.

Keep Exploring

How the Audeze LCD-XC and Roon DSP Transformed My Late-Night Listening