Home / Headphones / Compare

Sony MDR-Z1R vs Audeze LCD-2

Side-by-side comparison — scores, specs and which one fits your setup.

Sony MDR-Z1R
8.8
/ 10
Over-earReference
HIGHER SCORE
Audeze LCD-2
9.1
/ 10
Over-earReference

Specs comparison

8.8/10
SCORE
9.1/10
64Ω
IMPEDANCE
70Ω
100dB
SENSITIVITY
101dB
No
NEEDS AMP
Yes

Analysis

The Sony MDR-Z1R scores 8.8/10 with 64Ω impedance and 100dB sensitivity. At 64Ω, it drives well from most phones without an external amp.

The Audeze LCD-2 scores 9.1/10 with 70Ω impedance and 101dB sensitivity. At 70Ω, it also benefits from amplification to perform at its best.

Based on our scoring, the Audeze LCD-2 scores higher overall. However, the right choice depends on your full audio chain — use our analyzer to see which fits your actual setup.

Own one of these headphones?

A high headphone score doesn't mean your audio sounds great. Your DAC, amp or source might be the real bottleneck.

Analyze my setup →Sony MDR-Z1R details →Audeze LCD-2 details →

Similar comparisons

Sony MDR-Z1R vs HiFiMAN Arya StealthCompare →Sony MDR-Z1R vs Audeze LCD-XCompare →Sony MDR-Z1R vs Sennheiser HD 800SCompare →Sony MDR-Z1R vs Focal Clear MGCompare →