Audeze has released its CRBN2 electrostatic headphones, which introduce the company’s patent pending Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator (SLAM) technology for the first time, which provides favorable transparency and bass response.
At its core is Audeze’s second-generation carbon-nanotube electrostatic driver, which has been engineered for 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,” says Audeze.
Each CRBN2 headphone is hand-assembled and tested in California by electrostatic specialists. The design uses premium materials, including leather earpads and a suspension headband strap.
Weighing only 480 grams and free of heavy magnets, the electrostatic design ensures long-term comfort and wearability, says the company. 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.
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 technology has been adapted and refined in the CRBN 2, resulting in an accurate and immersive audio experiences.
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.
The Audeze CRBN 2 retails for US$5,995.