Skip to main content

Audeze crashes CES 2015 with innovative, affordable new EL-8 planar headphones

You’ll find no shortage of headphones invading the halls of CES 2015 in Las Vegas, but when the gurus at Audeze debut a new pair of cans, the record stops. This year, the company premiered the EL-8, an incredibly innovative pair of headphones that the company hopes will own the audiophile scene.

And based on early impressions, they just might.

 

There are several new technologies in the EL-8 that make them not only more portable and easier to wear than the company’s flagship LCD-3 (aka: the “Voice of God” headphones), but also much easier and cheaper to produce. Audeze is now able to cast almost the entire bones of the ear cups in one fell move, dispatching with the laborious hand-crafting necessary for its other offerings. In fact, COO Sankar Thiagasumudram tells us that essentially the only part the company has to insert by hand is the new membrane, the heart of the planar magnetic drivers that create the sound.

Photo credit: Digital Trends / Ryan Waniata
Photo credit: Digital Trends / Ryan Waniata Image used with permission by copyright holder

As for that membrane, it’s constructed from materials developed by NASA, and at only 2 microns thick, it’s the company’s thinnest to date, which helps to make it extremely responsive. Audeze also engineered a brand-new magnet set for the EL-8, which is able to create a more powerful magnetic field on the side of the headphone that faces the membrane driver, allowing for an extremely efficient transference of energy, and therefore, lighter and more-efficient interior components.

As for the performance, even from our quick first impression, there was little doubt the EL-8 offer some of the most vivid, dynamic, and powerful sound in their genre. Acoustic instruments spun across the soundstage in tactile clarity, including one particularly impressive moment in which an acoustic guitar run moved from the right side to center, gushing like a waterfall in reverse. Peter Gabriel’s “Up” also offered a host of dimensional effects resonating through the wide soundstage. We’ll be able to offer more detailed impressions once we get our hands on a review sample, which should be in the coming weeks ahead of the EL-8’s official launch.

The only real issue we had with the EL-8 was excessive clamping force. However, Project Manager Cyrus Legg assured us a fix for that is in the works, cutting the 4 pounds of current pressure in half. The best news about the EL-8 might just be the price. At $700, they won’t be sold at the airport anytime soon, but that’s a pittance in comparison to Audeze’s $2,000 LCD-3, making the EL-8 extremely competitive in the audiophile space.

Ryan Waniata
Former Home Theater & Entertainment Editor
Ryan Waniata is a multi-year veteran of the digital media industry, a lover of all things tech, audio, and TV, and a…
Our best budget headphones are even more affordable for Prime Day at 20% off
Side view of the 1More SonoFlow.

Amazon's Prime Day is finally here, bringing with it huge discounts for headphone deals. For a budget-friendly option that's even more affordable for the shopping event, check out the 1More SonoFlow. From their sticker price of $75, they're down to only $60 for $15 in savings, but there's no time to waste if you're interested because the offer may not last until the end of Prime Day. Push through with your purchase as soon as possible to get these headphones at 20% off.

Buy Now

Read more
Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker is 44% off for Prime Day, but not for long
The Marshall Middleton Bluetooth speaker on a bookshelf.

Bluetooth speaker deals are always popular during Amazon's Prime Day, and this year is no exception. We've found a lot of interesting offers, and this one is among our favorites -- the Marshall Middleton at 44% off, slashing its price to just $180 from $320 originally. We're not sure if this offer will stay online until the end of the shopping event, so if you want to take advantage of this $140 discount, you're going to have to complete your purchase as soon as you can.

$180 at Amazon

Read more
Your next workout earbuds are $70 off for Prime Day
The Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 in orange sitting in front of their case on a stone.

There's two things going on right now. One, it's the middle of summer and you know that every time you go running you'll build up a sweat that can kill earbuds, which means you're probably after some good running headphones. Two, it's Prime Day, which means Prime Day deals are here. Combine the two together, and you'll find this deal on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2, which are currently $70 off. That drops them from $250 to $180, making them much more appealing than they normally are. Tap the button below to see them for yourself, or keep reading to see why we think they're the perfect pickup for the season, our past experiences with them, and more about this great offer.

buy now

Read more