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The Hifiman Arya and the Audeze LCD-X represent the two dominant schools of planar magnetic thought: speed and soundstage (Arya) versus slam and technical texture (LCD-X).

The Contenders

Hifiman Arya on Amazon - The airy, wide-open planar masterpiece.

Audeze LCD-X on Amazon - The punchy, textured studio beast that everyone seems to own.

The Comparison

  • Arya: It’s like listening to music in a concert hall. It sounds huge. If you’re tired of “in-your-head” audio, you’ll love the way the Arya pushes the sound out.
  • LCD-X: It’s like listening in a world-class studio. The slam is palpable. Bass guitars have a weight that almost nothing else at this price range can touch.

Final Thoughts

If you want total immersion and soundstage, go Arya. If you want visceral, tactile, textured sound, go LCD-X. Both need power, so check out our list of the best headphone amps under $1000 to make sure you have the juice to run them properly.