Sennheiser
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold
Open-back
95
/ 100
From $1,699
VS
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White wins by 1
Audeze
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White
Planar magnetic
96
/ 100
From $4,500
Specdex verdict
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold lands at 95 and Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White at 96. That puts Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Pick Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White if…
- ✓Reference-level detail
- ✓Well-regarded in audiophile community
- ✓Long-term ownership appeal
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold 95
vs 96 Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White
Score breakdown
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold
95 anc 0
sound 95
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White
96 anc 0
sound 96
comfort 88
battery 100
features 50
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold | Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-back | Planar magnetic |
Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold
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 · Arctic White
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 · Rose Gold vs Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White
Which is better, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold or Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White? +
Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold worth the price? +
At $1,699, Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in battery.
Is Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White worth the price? +
At $4,500, Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in battery.
Does Sennheiser HD 800 S · Rose Gold or Audeze LCD-5 · Arctic White 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.