There is a new headphone in town from the OC-based headphone company Audeze. A follow up to their electrostatic CRBN headphone can now be found on the company website and retails for about $6k. The CRBN 2 has some new tech included that is intended to improve the bass response, which Audeze is calling SLAM (Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator).
More info from the press release:
“AUDEZE ANNOUNCES CRBN2 ELECTROSTATIC HEADPHONES FEATURING PROPRIETARY “SLAM” ACOUSTIC TECHNOLOGY FOR ENHANCED BASS RESPONSE
Santa Ana, CA – September 27th, 2024 – Audeze, the leading premium headphone manufacturer known for its award-winning technology, announces the release of CRBN2, their latest and most advanced electrostatic headphone. CRBN2 builds on Audeze’s legacy of cutting-edge audio innovation and introduces Audeze’s patent pending Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator (SLAM) technology for the first time. This revolutionary feature provides an unprecedented level of transparency and bass response, offering listeners an experience that is both deeply tactile and vividly immersive.
CRBN2 also represents a step forward for Audeze’s electrostatic headphone technology, and at its core lies Audeze’s second-generation carbon-nanotube electrostatic driver, which has been meticulously engineered for exceptional sound fidelity. Integrated for the first time in CRBN2, the new SLAM technology is designed to optimize air pressure distribution across the driver, enhancing low-frequency performance without increasing distortion. This results in a headphone that delivers powerful, lifelike bass response and rich, holographic spatial imaging—qualities that 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,” said Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram.
Elevating CRBN2’s sound is SLAM, a patent-pending acoustic system tuned to enhance selected low frequencies while improving phase response. SLAM gives the CRBN2 a bass response that is both physical and lifelike, unmatched by any other electrostatic headphone on the market. This breakthrough 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 electrostatic design ensures long-term comfort and wearability. Additionally, CRBN 2 is compatible with all 580-volt bias electrostatic amplifiers, offering versatility to audio enthusiasts who already have an electrostatic amplifier at home.
CRBN2 builds on Audeze’s history of innovation in audio 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. This groundbreaking technology has been adapted and refined in the CRBN 2, resulting in one of the most accurate and immersive audio experiences available today.
CRBN2 requires an amplifier with an electrostatic output using a 580VDC bias, commonly known as “Stax Pro Bias.” It is compatible with a variety of amplifiers on the market, ensuring that users can enjoy the CRBN 2’s superior sound quality with their existing systems.
Tech Specs
Style
Over-ear, open-back
Transducer type
Push-pull electrostatic
Bias
580 VDC, Stax Pro Bias
Transducer capacitance
100 pF
Diaphragm type
Ultra-thin polyimide film with infused carbon nanotubes for precisely controlled electrical conductivity throughout the film volume
Diaphragm management
SLAM Technology for earcup pressure relief and bass enhancement
Transducer size
120mm x 90mm
Frequency response
10Hz – 40kHz
Maximum SPL
120dB
THD
<0.1% @ 90dB
Sensitivity
100dB, 1KHz, 100V RMS
Cable
2.5m OCC monocrystal copper, 5-pin Pro Bias, wired
Housing
Magnesium, stainless steel and polymer acetate
Earpads
Premium leather
Headband
Carbon fiber and premium leather
Weight
480g (to be confirmed)
CRBN 2 retails for $5,995 and is available on the Audeze website“