If you want wireless, noise-canceling headphones with long battery life for running, choose Bowers & Wilkins Px7; if you need open-back, wired headphones for focused listening at home, choose Audeze LCD-2. For running, the Px7 is the clear practical choice: it has Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of playback, while the LCD-2 is a wired open-back design with no noise control. Neither is an ear clip or in-ear running headphone, so sweat resistance and a lightweight workout fit are not established by the available specifications.
• Bowers & Wilkins Px7 strength: Bluetooth listening, active noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of playback; trade-off: it remains an over-ear headphone rather than a purpose-built running design.
• Audeze LCD-2 strength: planar magnetic drivers, open-back presentation, and a detachable wired connection; trade-off: it has no wireless operation or noise control.
• Px7 suits listeners who want convenient wireless use, calls, and a single over-ear pair for everyday listening.
• LCD-2 suits listeners who mainly sit down for music and value its open-back design and planar magnetic sound approach.
• For running specifically, I would choose the Px7 over the LCD-2, but neither specification sheet confirms sweat resistance.
The Px7 S2e is the more practical all-around pick of these two. It is an over-ear Bluetooth headphone with active noise cancellation, six microphones, and a stated playback time of up to 30 hours. Its 40 mm dynamic drivers are paired with 24-bit digital signal processing, and the listed features include Qualcomm aptX Adaptive. That combination points to a headphone designed for everyday listening, calls, and moving between places without being tethered to a player.
The foam earpads have a fabric finish, and the design also uses metal detailing. Bowers & Wilkins includes a USB-C-to-3.5 mm audio cable and a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, along with a protective case. The headphone can therefore serve both as a wireless listening option and as a wired one when that connection is useful. The app is described as supporting direct streaming and voice assistant functions, giving listeners some control over how they use it.
For running, wireless operation and long playback are meaningful advantages, but they do not make this a proven workout headset. It is an over-ear model, and the provided specifications do not state sweat resistance, a running lock-fit, or a lightweight in-ear design. If your priority is a headphone explicitly suited to sweaty workouts, or a small option that stays unobtrusive during a run, I would skip both products and look for specifications that directly confirm those needs. If you want one comfortable over-ear pair for commuting, desk listening, and calls, the Px7 is the stronger fit.
The LCD-2 is built around a different kind of listening. It is an over-ear, open-back, wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers. Audeze describes its sound in terms of a spacious presentation, warm and lifelike midrange, and deep bass. Those are listening-oriented qualities, not convenience features; the design makes most sense for someone setting aside time with music rather than trying to carry a single pair through errands and workouts.
Its wood ear cups and detachable cables give it a more traditional, equipment-focused character. The included accessories list covers a travel case, cables with 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch connectors, and adapters. The product information also lists 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm connections. That flexibility can suit a home audio setup, but it does not change the basic limitation: the LCD-2 is wired, and it has no noise control.
The open-back construction is an especially important distinction. It may appeal to someone who wants an open, spacious style of listening in a quiet room, but it is a poor match for a run where outside noise, movement, and cable handling matter. The listed weight is 3.4 kg, so I would not choose it for a workout or as a lightweight portable option. If your listening is mostly stationary and you want to explore planar magnetic headphones, it is the more specialized choice here. If you need wireless convenience, calls, or a running companion, look elsewhere.
• Best fit for wireless everyday use → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Bluetooth support lets you listen without a cable, while the LCD-2 requires a wired connection.
• Best for active noise cancellation → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. It lists active noise cancellation and six microphones; the LCD-2 lists no noise control.
• Best for long playback between charges → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Its stated playback time is up to 30 hours. The LCD-2 is wired, so battery life is not part of its design.
• Best for an open-back listening setup → Audeze LCD-2. Its open-back design is a defining contrast with the Px7’s noise-canceling approach.
• Best for planar magnetic drivers → Audeze LCD-2. It uses planar magnetic drivers, while the Px7 uses 40 mm dynamic drivers.
• Best for calls and voice assistant use → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Its six microphones and listed voice assistant support are practical advantages for calls and hands-free control.
• Better fit for running between these two → Bowers & Wilkins Px7, with caveats. It is wireless and has active noise cancellation, but neither model’s listed details establish sweat resistance or a dedicated running fit.
• Better fit for a home listening station → Audeze LCD-2. Its wired, open-back format and included cable options make more sense for seated listening than for movement.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-19 · 14 min read · Independent comparison
The sound and connection trade-off is straightforward. Choose the Px7 when you want flexibility: Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, a stated 30-hour playback time, and microphone support. Choose the LCD-2 when you want an open-back wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers and do not mind being attached to a source. The LCD-2’s sound-oriented design is not a substitute for the Px7’s everyday convenience, and the Px7’s convenience does not make it an open-back audiophile model.
One more practical distinction is how each handles surrounding sound. The Px7 offers active noise cancellation, which makes it the more suitable option when you want to reduce distractions. The LCD-2 has no noise control and an open-back construction, so it is better reserved for a setting where sound leakage and outside noise are not major concerns. Neither should be treated as a safety device for outdoor running; the product information does not establish how well a wearer will hear traffic or other hazards.
My Verdict
I would choose the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 for everyday use because Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, microphone support, and up to 30 hours of playback give it a much broader practical role. For running, it is the more sensible of these two, but the specifications do not confirm sweat resistance or a secure workout fit. If running is the main purpose, I would look for an explicitly sweat-resistant sports model instead. I would choose the Audeze LCD-2 only for focused, mostly stationary listening where its open-back planar design is the priority.
No noise-control feature is listed for the LCD-2. It is an open-back, wired headphone, while the Px7 lists active noise cancellation.
The Px7 is listed for up to 30 hours of playback. The LCD-2 is wired, so it does not rely on a rechargeable battery for listening.
Choose the LCD-2 if you specifically want an open-back wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers. Choose the Px7 if you prefer Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, microphone support, and the option to listen wirelessly or through its included cable.
If you want wireless, noise-canceling headphones with long battery life for running, choose Bowers & Wilkins Px7; if you need open-back, wired headphones for focused listening at home, choose Audeze LCD-2. For running, the Px7 is the clear practical choice: it has Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of playback, while the LCD-2 is a wired open-back design with no noise control. Neither is an ear-clip or in-ear running headphone, so sweat resistance and a lightweight workout fit are not established by the available specifications.
• Bowers & Wilkins Px7 strength: Bluetooth listening, active noise cancellation, and up to 30 hours of playback; trade-off: it remains an over-ear headphone rather than a purpose-built running design.
• Audeze LCD-2 strength: planar magnetic drivers, open-back presentation, and a detachable wired connection; trade-off: it has no wireless operation or noise control.
• Px7 suits listeners who want convenient wireless use, calls, and a single over-ear pair for everyday listening.
• LCD-2 suits listeners who mainly sit down for music and value its open-back design and planar magnetic sound approach.
• For running specifically, I would choose the Px7 over the LCD-2, but neither specification sheet confirms sweat resistance.
Bowers & Wilkins Px7: Who It's For
The foam earpads have a fabric finish, and the design also uses metal detailing. Bowers & Wilkins includes a USB-C-to-3.5 mm audio cable and a USB-C-to-USB-C cable, along with a protective case. The headphone can therefore serve both as a wireless listening option and as a wired one when that connection is useful. The app is described as supporting direct streaming and voice assistant functions, giving listeners some control over how they use it.
For running, wireless operation and long playback are meaningful advantages, but they do not make this a proven workout headset. It is an over-ear model, and the provided specifications do not state sweat resistance, a running lock-fit, or a lightweight in-ear design. If your priority is a headphone explicitly suited to sweaty workouts, or a small option that stays unobtrusive during a run, I would skip both products and look for specifications that directly confirm those needs. If you want one comfortable over-ear pair for commuting, desk listening, and calls, the Px7 is the stronger fit.
The LCD-2 is built around a different kind of listening. It is an over-ear, open-back, wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers. Audeze describes its sound in terms of a spacious presentation, warm and lifelike midrange, and deep bass. Those are listening-oriented qualities, not convenience features; the design makes most sense for someone setting aside time with music rather than trying to carry a single pair through errands and workouts.
Its wood ear cups and detachable cables give it a more traditional, equipment-focused character. The included accessories list covers a travel case, cables with 1/4-inch and 1/8-inch connectors, and adapters. The product information also lists 3.5 mm and 6.35 mm connections. That flexibility can suit a home audio setup, but it does not change the basic limitation: the LCD-2 is wired, and it has no noise control.
The open-back construction is an especially important distinction. It may appeal to someone who wants an open, spacious style of listening in a quiet room, but it is a poor match for a run where outside noise, movement, and cable handling matter. The listed weight is 3.4 kg, so I would not choose it for a workout or as a lightweight portable option. If your listening is mostly stationary and you want to explore planar magnetic headphones, it is the more specialized choice here. If you need wireless convenience, calls, or a running companion, look elsewhere.
• Best fit for wireless everyday use → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Bluetooth support lets you listen without a cable, while the LCD-2 requires a wired connection.
• Best for active noise cancellation → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. It lists active noise cancellation and six microphones; the LCD-2 lists no noise control.
• Best for long playback between charges → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Its stated playback time is up to 30 hours. The LCD-2 is wired, so battery life is not part of its design.
• Best for an open-back listening setup → Audeze LCD-2. Its open-back design is a defining contrast with the Px7’s noise-canceling approach.
• Best for planar magnetic drivers → Audeze LCD-2. It uses planar magnetic drivers, while the Px7 uses 40 mm dynamic drivers.
• Best for calls and voice assistant use → Bowers & Wilkins Px7. Its six microphones and listed voice assistant support are practical advantages for calls and hands-free control.
• Better fit for running between these two → Bowers & Wilkins Px7, with caveats. It is wireless and has active noise cancellation, but neither model’s listed details establish sweat resistance or a dedicated running fit.
• Better fit for a home listening station → Audeze LCD-2. Its wired, open-back format and included cable options make more sense for seated listening than for movement.
The phrase “best comfortable headband headphones for running” is not enough to make either model a confident recommendation for exercise. The Px7 has cushioned earpads and a headband-style over-ear format, but comfort during a run and sweat handling are not specified. Similarly, shoppers searching for “sweat resistant ear clip headphones for running” or the “best lightweight in ear headphones for running” should note that neither of these is an ear-clip or in-ear design. These are two over-ear headphones aimed at very different listening situations.
One more practical distinction is how each handles surrounding sound. The Px7 offers active noise cancellation, which makes it the more suitable option when you want to reduce distractions. The LCD-2 has no noise control and an open-back construction, so it is better reserved for a setting where sound leakage and outside noise are not major concerns. Neither should be treated as a safety device for outdoor running; the product information does not establish how well a wearer will hear traffic or other hazards.
My Verdict
I would choose the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 for everyday use because Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, microphone support, and up to 30 hours of playback give it a much broader practical role. For running, it is the more sensible of these two, but the specifications do not confirm sweat resistance or a secure workout fit. If running is the main purpose, I would look for an explicitly sweat-resistant sports model instead. I would choose the Audeze LCD-2 only for focused, mostly stationary listening where its open-back planar design is the priority.
Between these two, the Px7 is the more practical option because it is wireless and has active noise cancellation. However, neither product information set confirms sweat resistance or a dedicated running fit, so I would not treat either as a purpose-built running headphone.
No noise-control feature is listed for the LCD-2. It is an open-back, wired headphone, while the Px7 lists active noise cancellation.
The Px7 is listed for up to 30 hours of playback. The LCD-2 is wired, so it does not rely on a rechargeable battery for listening.
Choose the LCD-2 if you specifically want an open-back wired headphone with planar magnetic drivers. Choose the Px7 if you prefer Bluetooth, active noise cancellation, microphone support, and the option to listen wirelessly or through its included cable.
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