When the headphone manufacturer from Santa Ana, CA announced its original carbon nanotube polymer and transducer technology developed for medical applications, the company quickly identified an opportunity to create new electrostatic reference design headphones. Audeze was able to leverage those developments to create the Audeze CRBN Electrostatic headphones, a new top-of-the-line model for the brand better know for its planar technology.
As Audeze had long learned from its planar headphones, even though the company was able to create superior sounding models retailing for USD $399 (LCD-1 Compact Reference Planar Magnetic Headphones), the "flagship" hand-assembled, luxury leather, much more heavier and harder to drive models continued to sell very well, no matter how expensive they were. And even with all the quirks of electrostatic transducers, many headphone enthusiasts thought the Audeze CRBN was a bargain for $4,500.00 US.
So why stop there? The new CRBN2 headphones represent a step forward for Audeze’s electrostatic technology, with its second-generation carbon-nanotube electrostatic driver, which has been meticulously engineered for exceptional sound fidelity and extended bass response.
Integrated for the first time in the CRBN2 headphones, the new SLAM technology is designed to optimize air pressure distribution across the driver, enhancing low-frequency performance without increasing distortion. This results in an over-ear, open-back structure that delivers powerful, lifelike bass response and rich, spatial imaging — qualities that Audeze believes will set CRBN2 apart in the realm of high-end audio.
"With CRBN2, we’ve pushed the boundaries of electrostatic technology even further, introducing our new SLAM system to deliver the most lifelike bass and transparency ever achieved in an electrostatic headphone. Our goal was to create an immersive experience that truly brings music to life leveraging the audio innovations Audeze is known for," says Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram.
SLAM is a patent-pending acoustic system tuned to enhance selected low frequencies while improving phase response, which gives the CRBN2 a bass response that is both physical and lifelike, unmatched by any other electrostatic headphone on the market. This breakthrough, Audeze states, allows for incredibly immersive stereo imaging and a soundstage presentation that puts every performance right in the room with the listener.
Each CRBN2 headphone is hand-assembled and tested in California by electrostatic specialists, ensuring the highest standards of quality. The design uses premium materials, including sumptuous leather earpads and a suspension headband strap, to provide luxurious comfort for hours of listening. Weighing only 480 grams and free of heavy magnets, the new electrostatic design ensures long-term comfort and wearability.
Additionally, CRBN2 is compatible with all 580-volt bias electrostatic amplifiers, offering versatility to audio enthusiasts who already have an electrostatic amplifier at home. These headphones require an amplifier with an electrostatic output using a 580VDC bias, commonly known as "Stax Pro Bias." The CRBN2 headphones are compatible with a variety of amplifiers on the market, ensuring that users can enjoy the superior sound quality with their existing systems.
This development builds on Audeze's history of innovation in audio transducer technology. The CRBN line originated from a project with Prof. Mark S. Cohen, Ph.D., and his team at the UCLA School of Medicine to create headphones for use in MRI machines. The powerful magnetic fields in MRI machines required a unique, non-ferrous driver design, leading to the development of the carbon-nanotube film-based electrostatic driver.
The Audeze CRBN2 headphones will retail for $5,995 USD.
www.audeze.com
