Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Open-back
95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Audeze LCD-5 wins by 1
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5
Planar magnetic
96
/ 100
From $4,500
Specdex verdict
Audeze LCD-5 takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black lands at 95 and Audeze LCD-5 at 96. That puts Audeze LCD-5 ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Pick Audeze LCD-5 if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Score breakdown
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
95 anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Audeze LCD-5
96 anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Specs side-by-side
Spec
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Audeze LCD-5
Type
Open-back
Planar magnetic
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black
Pros
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
Audeze LCD-5
Pros
- +Reference-level detail
- +Well-regarded in audiophile community
- +Long-term ownership appeal
Cons
- −Requires amplifier (most)
- −No active noise cancellation
- −Impractical for commuting
FAQ: Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black vs Audeze LCD-5
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black or Audeze LCD-5? +
Audeze LCD-5 scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.
Is Audeze LCD-5 worth the price? +
At $4,500, Audeze LCD-5 delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.
Does Sennheiser HD 800 S · Midnight Black or Audeze LCD-5 last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.