Like all my Mini write ups this is only about sound.
Just quickly for those who must
Headband is metal with foam, connectors are wood as opposed to the newer models which are metal and leather for the headband. Ear pads are less plush, sit more on your skin.
Sound impressions
The signature is the most addictive, emotional I've experienced in a headphone even more so than a well driven HD650. To my ears, this is what music is supposed to sound like, effortless, never forced unless the recording is mental. Vocals following effortlessly around you; subtle sounds popping in and out showing the great micro detail with no roughness in the treble.
You the film The Beach? With Leonardo DiCaprio when they first find the beach; that's what these headphones remind me of; paradise.
What makes them Special?
Bass - Linear with a bloom with amazing punch when called for; never bleeding nor is it forceful it's just where it's supposed to be. The Nighthawk have great low distorted bass but it does bleed into the mids which causes a crowded sound like the headphone is meant to be fully open. The LCD-2.1's bass is the most correct, textured and impactful I've heard in an open Planar and more impactful than some good dynamics. This isn't a bass head headphone at all if you want to hear all the bass in the recording with a warmness to it then this is worth trying if you can find one.
Mids & Treble - I love these mids! sounds like the HD650 with BHCrack + 491. The mids are just so smooth without ever sounding too smooth. Vocals sound great, full and realistic. If you love the 650 like I do for it's vocals the LCD-2.1 is even richer! The HD650 has a more forward vocal section I think but the vocals are slightly less warm and engaging than the 2.1's which says a lot because the 650's vocals are better than any other headphones I've tried.
The Nighthawk takes some qualities from both but the mids are less present but the vocal tonality is fantastic but a bit below the other two. Going into the treble the 2.1 is slightly rolled off but I hear it as having plenty of detail, smoothness. The HD650 prob has the smoothest treble around I;d say they are about on par. The Nighthawk has the most air, extension but it's also a bit rough sounding and less cohesive due to a peak somewhere around the lower treble. The HD650 and LCD-2.1 are my reference for a smooth treble which has plenty of detail without needing to artificially boost the treble or boost the bass above the rest of the response like the Nighthawk(Still a good headphone!)
Soundstage, Imaging, Gaming
The imaging is great, soundstage is a tad wider and deeper than the HD650. The Nighhawk is the more cramped out of the three easily. I played one of my reference games for audio with the X7. I found the 2.1 to really sound great for gaming, engaging, spacious with good clarity.
Technical ability
The 2.1 is refined, good micro detail good resolution I would say all three are about a similar level but the Nighthawk is a little harder to understand due to it's unique tuning; it isn't as obvious to see how capable it is. The 650 scales with better gear, on the Mojo I didn't see neither being better minus the bass of the Nighthawk + LCD-2.
Regardless of what you read on headfi, planars ARE NOT superior to dynamics except low bass extension. A good dynamic has the advantage by having better dynamics, cleaner background(In most cases) bass impact For me what makes the 2.1 so great is is tonal balance, the beautiful sound it produces like the HD650.
So which is better out of those three?
It's all preference, remove better from your head, tonality is what you want to aim for and if the headphone is technically sound then you've got a winner. Nighthawk has an accurate curve but the mid bass is a little high in level making it sound a little congested and pushed back but once your ears adjust you hear a lot of good qualities. HD650 is fairly accurate with a mid bass hump for added warmth. LCD-2.1 is linear with a bloom for added warmth, accurate so all have their little difference but all are good headphones it's going to come down to your preferences.
Should I buy these or the new LCD-2, LCD-3, LCD-X?
Honestly technically and tonally I'd take the LCD-2.1 over all three of them. If you must get a newer Audeze then I'd just get the LCD-2 shedua which has 2016 drivers. The newer Audeze are all about on par technically; it's close. The newer LCD-2 has good bass extension, not as much imapct; hits when it needs too but lacking the bloom that makes the 2.1 magical. The vocals sound more strained, more grainy and the treble transition isn't as smooth and it doesn't feel as cohesive. Soundstage is about equal and the imaging is close. Micro detail goes to the 2.1 and the resolution goes to the 2.1. The newer driver material just doesn't bring out those details and cohesive signature like the older models.
That said I still feel the LCD-2 2016 is a decent headphone it just doesn't bring me closer to the music like the 2.1, HD650 or even the Nighthawk.
Rating
9.7/10 - How do I rate this headphone? it's great, has amazing musicality and ticks all the right boxes. I rated the HD650 9.7 because I felt it really deserved it. The LCD-2.1 makes me feel the same way I feel about the 650.
Just quickly for those who must
Headband is metal with foam, connectors are wood as opposed to the newer models which are metal and leather for the headband. Ear pads are less plush, sit more on your skin.
Sound impressions
The signature is the most addictive, emotional I've experienced in a headphone even more so than a well driven HD650. To my ears, this is what music is supposed to sound like, effortless, never forced unless the recording is mental. Vocals following effortlessly around you; subtle sounds popping in and out showing the great micro detail with no roughness in the treble.
You the film The Beach? With Leonardo DiCaprio when they first find the beach; that's what these headphones remind me of; paradise.
What makes them Special?
Bass - Linear with a bloom with amazing punch when called for; never bleeding nor is it forceful it's just where it's supposed to be. The Nighthawk have great low distorted bass but it does bleed into the mids which causes a crowded sound like the headphone is meant to be fully open. The LCD-2.1's bass is the most correct, textured and impactful I've heard in an open Planar and more impactful than some good dynamics. This isn't a bass head headphone at all if you want to hear all the bass in the recording with a warmness to it then this is worth trying if you can find one.
Mids & Treble - I love these mids! sounds like the HD650 with BHCrack + 491. The mids are just so smooth without ever sounding too smooth. Vocals sound great, full and realistic. If you love the 650 like I do for it's vocals the LCD-2.1 is even richer! The HD650 has a more forward vocal section I think but the vocals are slightly less warm and engaging than the 2.1's which says a lot because the 650's vocals are better than any other headphones I've tried.
The Nighthawk takes some qualities from both but the mids are less present but the vocal tonality is fantastic but a bit below the other two. Going into the treble the 2.1 is slightly rolled off but I hear it as having plenty of detail, smoothness. The HD650 prob has the smoothest treble around I;d say they are about on par. The Nighthawk has the most air, extension but it's also a bit rough sounding and less cohesive due to a peak somewhere around the lower treble. The HD650 and LCD-2.1 are my reference for a smooth treble which has plenty of detail without needing to artificially boost the treble or boost the bass above the rest of the response like the Nighthawk(Still a good headphone!)
Soundstage, Imaging, Gaming
The imaging is great, soundstage is a tad wider and deeper than the HD650. The Nighhawk is the more cramped out of the three easily. I played one of my reference games for audio with the X7. I found the 2.1 to really sound great for gaming, engaging, spacious with good clarity.
Technical ability
The 2.1 is refined, good micro detail good resolution I would say all three are about a similar level but the Nighthawk is a little harder to understand due to it's unique tuning; it isn't as obvious to see how capable it is. The 650 scales with better gear, on the Mojo I didn't see neither being better minus the bass of the Nighthawk + LCD-2.
Regardless of what you read on headfi, planars ARE NOT superior to dynamics except low bass extension. A good dynamic has the advantage by having better dynamics, cleaner background(In most cases) bass impact For me what makes the 2.1 so great is is tonal balance, the beautiful sound it produces like the HD650.
So which is better out of those three?
It's all preference, remove better from your head, tonality is what you want to aim for and if the headphone is technically sound then you've got a winner. Nighthawk has an accurate curve but the mid bass is a little high in level making it sound a little congested and pushed back but once your ears adjust you hear a lot of good qualities. HD650 is fairly accurate with a mid bass hump for added warmth. LCD-2.1 is linear with a bloom for added warmth, accurate so all have their little difference but all are good headphones it's going to come down to your preferences.
Should I buy these or the new LCD-2, LCD-3, LCD-X?
Honestly technically and tonally I'd take the LCD-2.1 over all three of them. If you must get a newer Audeze then I'd just get the LCD-2 shedua which has 2016 drivers. The newer Audeze are all about on par technically; it's close. The newer LCD-2 has good bass extension, not as much imapct; hits when it needs too but lacking the bloom that makes the 2.1 magical. The vocals sound more strained, more grainy and the treble transition isn't as smooth and it doesn't feel as cohesive. Soundstage is about equal and the imaging is close. Micro detail goes to the 2.1 and the resolution goes to the 2.1. The newer driver material just doesn't bring out those details and cohesive signature like the older models.
That said I still feel the LCD-2 2016 is a decent headphone it just doesn't bring me closer to the music like the 2.1, HD650 or even the Nighthawk.
Rating
9.7/10 - How do I rate this headphone? it's great, has amazing musicality and ticks all the right boxes. I rated the HD650 9.7 because I felt it really deserved it. The LCD-2.1 makes me feel the same way I feel about the 650.
