Audeze CRBN Electrostatic Headphones by Addicted To Audio

It took me some time to arrive at the high-end range of headphones. My experience with listening to Hires music on headphones started with some Sony products. I first got the MDR7520s. I think they are harsh at high frequencies and not very clear at low ones. Then, I got the MDR7550s. I think they are better and still good IEMs today. When I searched for an update, I looked for large diaphragm ones and got the Audeze LCD-MX4s. I think they are very clear in general. But I wonder if the high frequency vocals are accurate on them. They are also not very comfortable for long-time listening. Then, I tried another two pairs from Audeze, the Sines and LCD-i4s. The Sines are more convenient. They are not as easy to drive as the MX4s. The Sines are also very clampy. I think ... MoreIt took me some time to arrive at the high-end range of headphones. My experience with listening to Hires music on headphones started with some Sony products. I first got the MDR7520s. I think they are harsh at high frequencies and not very clear at low ones. Then, I got the MDR7550s. I think they are better and still good IEMs today. When I searched for an update, I looked for large diaphragm ones and got the Audeze LCD-MX4s. I think they are very clear in general. But I wonder if the high frequency vocals are accurate on them. They are also not very comfortable for long-time listening. Then, I tried another two pairs from Audeze, the Sines and LCD-i4s. The Sines are more convenient. They are not as easy to drive as the MX4s. The Sines are also very clampy. I think I like the sound and convenience of the LCD-i4s in general. But I don't like their hooks. Although they are perhaps not as sensitive to fitting as other IEMs, I can't get them stay on ears very well. They also make popping sound when connected to a desktop amp and there is static discharge. So, I only use them with DAPs, one of which I like to pair with is the iBasso AMP8EX. Then, I moved the attention to electrostatic headphones. I got the Hifiman Jade system first. In addition to the Jade amp, I also got the ifi iESL transformer, which allows electrostatic headphones to be driven by virtually any amps. I think the Jade amp is good; the Jade headphones also have very clear sound. But I can't say they sound better than the MX4s. The Jade has a somewhat creaky yoke. I can hear noise sometimes and I wonder if that's from the yokes. My next electrostatic headphones, or rather IEMs are Stax SR-003II. They did give me a surprise. I think they are the best IEMs I heard. They are also the reason that I wanted to try something more higher-end. When I was just looking at the Hifiman Shangri-la Jr, Audeze announced the CRBN. I was attracted by the said new diaphragm design and better durability. It seems the protective films like in the Jade are unused, which could allow a more accurate sound. My experience is that they do sound better than my previous headphones. I think the high-frequency response is the best I heard. The weight is between Jade and MX4. It may make cracking sound when there is static discharge, similar to LCD-i4s and the Stax. The sensitivity is between the Stax SR-003II and Jade, maybe similar to the Stax. So, it's driven more easily than the Jade. I can use it with a DAP or a computer's sound card.

The workmanship of the headphone is really absolute top class. You immediately have the feeling that you are holding a high-priced object in your hand. The CRBN is light as a feather and very comfortable to wear, although the contact pressure could be minimally lower. Even then, it would still sit perfectly on the head. The leather pads have a very high-quality finish and are velvety soft, so they contribute to a pleasant wearing comfort. The pads have very wide edges. Nevertheless, there is still enough space for the ears due to the diameter. I think Audeze chose a smaller cutout here to create more bass pressure, which has also succeeded!For an electrostatic, the CRBN has a very punchy bass that also reach really deep. Even if you change from a 1266 TC to the ... MoreThe workmanship of the headphone is really absolute top class. You immediately have the feeling that you are holding a high-priced object in your hand. The CRBN is light as a feather and very comfortable to wear, although the contact pressure could be minimally lower. Even then, it would still sit perfectly on the head. The leather pads have a very high-quality finish and are velvety soft, so they contribute to a pleasant wearing comfort. The pads have very wide edges. Nevertheless, there is still enough space for the ears due to the diameter. I think Audeze chose a smaller cutout here to create more bass pressure, which has also succeeded!For an electrostatic, the CRBN has a very punchy bass that also reach really deep. Even if you change from a 1266 TC to the CRBN, you miss nothing. The CRBN reach even deeper, but doesn't have the visceral impact of the 1266 TC. No Stax can do it like the CRBN, not even my 007, which has more midbass. But breaks further down, where the CRBN does not even batting an eyelash. For me, the CRBN has the very best bass I've ever heard in an electrostatic! Without EQ, the LCD-5 seems slimmer in volume, but it still punches a bit tighter in the midbass range. It lacks a bit of subbass, which the CRBN has in abundance.When I first heard vocals with the CRBN I was stunned. Patricia Barber, Steven Wilson with such a realistic, goosebump-authentic representation that is already great.The CRBN has an insanely suggested depth for a headphone. Amazing! Absolutely razor sharp pin point localization of individual sound sources. I suspect that Audeze had to compromise on "airiness" to achieve this strong bass range.With CRBN + LCD-5 one thing is clear. Audeze has now left the path of the typical "Audeze house sound" and navigates more and more to a more neutral presentation.My longtime number 1 electrostatic the SR007 MK2 SZ21xx bass port mod has now met its match in the Audeze CRBN!

Happy owner of a SR-009 I wanted to try out something different from another brand.On my Eddie current Electra and although the CRBN was still a bit fresh and needs some burn-in, it exhibited right out of the box the typical treble smoothness of electrostats but with some more punch in the bass than my 009.I would say that the Stax is maybe even more refined for vocals or jazz but the CRBN is very good as well and more versatile.The finish is very nice , the weight is not too high even for long listening sessions and the comfort is very good.Very happy with that one.Highly recommended.