Surprise! So, it turns out the electronics for head-tracking have always been included in every single Audeze Maxwell that has ever been shipped. The news however, is that Audeze has just announced the beta launch of a firmware upgrade that finally enables said head tracking support – which will at first be compatible with the Dolby Atmos® Renderer for professional mixing.
Audeze Maxwell Head-Tracking Support – Press Release
Los Angeles, CA – Oct 25th, 2023. Audeze, a leading premium headphone manufacturer, is proud to announce the beta launch of a significant firmware upgrade to its award-winning Maxwell headset – head tracking support – which will be compatible with the DolbyAtmos® Renderer for professional mixing. Utilizing built-in hardware already included in every Maxwell headset, this integration transforms Maxwell into a powerful tool optimized for content creators and audio engineers mixing in Dolby Atmos.
“We plan to use the head tracking capabilities of Maxwell for future collaborations, and expect to foster a growing community of Dolby Atmos creators,” said Sankar Thiagasamudram, Audeze CEO and founder.
Audeze Maxwell – Your Studio on the go. Get your own set here
With virtual and remote collaborations growing amongst the creative community, Audeze’s enhanced Maxwell headset is suited to meet the needs of this growing field. In parallel, the creativity community is fully embracing Dolby Atmos, making the Maxwell headset a great tool for creatives looking to break free from the traditional constraints of stereo to deliver unparalleled immersion and clarity in their mixes. All users need to do is open up their latest Dolby Atmos session, connect the Dolby Atmos Renderer application, and plug in the USB dongle or USB cable to create and monitor Dolby Atmos mixes with real-time head tracking. Providing a highly immersive preview of their audio creations. It’s your studio on-the-go.
Maxwell’s new integration for the Dolby Atmos Renderer will offer a streamlined user experience. Users can create and monitor Dolby Atmos mixes with real-time head tracking, providing a highly immersive preview of their mix. For further information on how to enable head tracking with the Dolby Atmos Renderer on Mac or Windows machines, visit this link.
Head tracking follows the orientation of your head and allows you to interact with the virtual room in real-time when monitoring binaurally with headphones. It creates a more lifelike experience that mimics the studio environment with speakers. This can lead to greater accuracy when placing objects in the three-dimensional space. Additionally, because it approximates the mix room, you may find that you can spend more time comfortably mixing on headphones. Especially for those occasions when you’re traveling or otherwise away from the studio.
Dolby Atmos is an innovative audio experience that envelops you in an immersive soundscape. While music mixed in stereo is limited to left and right channels, music mixed in Dolby Atmos is freed from channels. Allowing artists to now place individual sounds all around you. They can also decide the volume, size, and diffusion level of each vocal, guitar, or drum to reveal nuanced details in the music. Artists can now deliver music in Dolby Atmos through several leading streaming services and the most popular devices for streaming music. Including mobile, smart speakers and even auto.
Audeze Maxwell (Xbox)Features
Audeze HQ –10 band graphic EQ, sidetone toggling, saving/editing presets (coming soon!), the place to easily upgrade the firmware. A great app to perfect your desired sound signature and a must for any competitive gamer out there.
Dolby Atmos – Pre-paid license that can now take advantage of head tracking support for your professional mixes
Brand new chassis – Built with aluminium and steel.
Award-winning – Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers
Wired Connection –Absolutely Top Notch with the AUX cable into a controller or via a USB into the PC.
Volume control – Separate controls for the Volume and the Mic which allows for great control of sound mix.
Pre-installed Presets – Easy to toggle through the EQ presets. the Immersive preset is a must try, phenomenal.
80hr+ Battery Life – With Fast Charge for All Day Play in 20 min
Bluetooth 5.3 – Also supports LE Audio, LC3plus, LDAC
Still Interested? Read our own in house review of the Audeze Maxwell here.
The Audeze Maxwell is quite literally a masterpiece. After years of relentless innovation building first class gaming headsets, Audeze has finally released the successor to the Penrose, The Maxwell. This is a serious piece of kit for serious gamers (and us casuals too!). An upgrade to the Penrose in every conceivable way, the Maxwells sound quality, wireless performance & battery life have all been pushed to the limits of possibility. So welcome to our Audeze Maxwell Review! Do they stand up to the hype? Are they the best gaming headset of 2023? In a word and three: Yes, yes they are.
The sound from these headphones for gaming is beyond phenomenal
Sound Quality: 12/10
Sound is subjective, but the sound from these headphones for gaming is nothing short of phenomenal. The detail is outrageous. The soundstage and direction are astonishing, simply beyond description. They work so well with spatial audio programs (such as Tempest) to deliver an immersive sound that you can now not live without. With the Audeze HQ app, you can create custom presets (coming soon!) and create sound profiles for specific games. The pre-installed presets offer a great variety of tuning and are easy to change with a few clicks and swishes on the volume wheel. This is the best sound from a gaming headset that I have ever heard. I am not sure if it can be topped.
Design: 10/10
The Audeze Maxwell gaming headset design is an upgrade to the Penrose in every conceivable way. It has a perfect balance of a simple, sleek looking headset with an air of quality that is captivating, but not ostentatious in the slightest. The smokey grey / black colour palette provides a subtlety that this is stylish and the small Audeze logo above the ear cups reminds you just how lucky you are that Audeze make gaming headsets. Finally, the earpads look almost fluffy and robust at the same time, you just want to squeeze them.
The longest I have used them in a one-er was 8 hours and I could have really worn them for 8 more.
Comfort: 9.5/10
Another subjective topic but these headphones fit great. Despite the weight (450-500 grams) they are extremely comfortable. The new headband design really spreads the weight out and they do not feel as heavy as they objectively are. After adjusting the strap by one notch, they sit on my head in between tight/ loose, Maybe I got lucky but I felt like Goldilocks when I put them back on my head.
The earpads are extremely comfortable and they fit my big ears fine. I could really wear them all day. They lose half a point because sometimes my ears can get a bit too heated (I am not sure if this is really a result of the earpads getting a bit stuffy or a result of the total immersion making me sweat more). A bit more testing is required here ;). The longest I have used them in a one-er was 8 hours and I could have really worn them for 8 more. They are also very flexible and rest perfect around your neck due to the swivel on the cups.
Wireless Signal: 10/10
People used to complain about the poor range of the wireless signal for the Penrose. Let’s just say the Maxwell has eliminated any lingering issues here. If my eyes were good enough, I am pretty sure I could play my Playstation from my neighbours house and the sound would still be lossless. The connection is 100% stable via dongle or bluetooth. With capabilities for Bluetooth 5.3 as well as LE Audio, LC3plus, LDAC codecs, it all but guarantees these headphones are going to be viable for years to come.
Mic: 10/10
The boom mic is fantastic and the AI noise suppression tech is beyond incredible. People can always hear me clearly and for in-game chat it is perfect. The mic is in fact so good, I have started using the headset to answer calls at work. You can turn the sidetone on or off, as well as having 3 settings for the AI filter system (low, high or off).
Let’s Talk about the Sound
The Soundstage of the Maxwell is absolutely fantastic. Simply put you have to try them out to understand. Playing Apex legends, I can perfectly pin point where the bullets are coming from and work out if the players footsteps are above or below me. With Tempest audio on, you even get a sense of perception of just how far (or near) they are to you. I am pretty sure I can now work out what character I am chasing/ be chased by just from the footsteps! Those sweaty Wraiths now stand no chance against me (Huwah ah ah). It is like having a second controller but not only that, a second controller which brings you directly into the world you are playing.
Away from competitive gaming and into the wonderful world (and surroundings) of Hogwarts, my mind was shattered into pieces. I do not normally play single player games with a headset. But naturally I had to give it a go with the Maxwell. The music from the 4 different vivariums was literally flowing through me. When I turned my character in a different direction in a dungeon and heard something behind me, I had the urge to look behind me IRL. In two words: Absolutely captivating.
The bass is boomy when it needs to be and the sub-bass is colossal. Gunshots, explosions & footsteps are more realistic than ever before. There are actual textural details that can be heard (and felt!) with said impacts, explosions and things such as your character interacting with inanimate objects.
The scurrying of the spiders around the next upcoming corner literally sent shivers up my spine. Flying my Night Dancer Broom under moonlight with the Maxwells on allowed for a sense of immersion I never experienced in my living room before. The wind was blowing my hair, the 360 degree-ness of what you can hear and just how every detail can be heard as well as felt, made a fantasy game about witches and wizards into a quasi hyper-realistic experience.
In not so emotional terms:
The Audeze Maxwell has great width, but its height and depth is where it truly shines. It is really rare for a wireless headphone to have such good imaging as well as such a massive dynamic soundstage. This also means that these headphones are not just for games. They are suitable for listening to music too and I highly recommend it!
Presets and my love of the V shape sound for gaming
I have used the Maxwell nearly exclusively with the “immersive” preset. Which essentially EQ’s it into a “V” shape. For myself and others who are not really Audiophiles, this means the immersive preset for the Audeze Maxwell has an amplified low end, a toned down mid range, and an amplified high end. This tuning works very well for games and with the Audeze Maxwell this essentially means that sound effects are more vivid and memorable. These sound effects get clear detail from the treble boost and a roar of energy from the boosted lows. In-game actions such as swapping guns, reloading, jumping, opening and closing doors, sheathing or unsheathing your sword (or wand!) have a satisfying crispness that I never knew existed. These are the perfect gaming headphones for me, I have peaked.
Other Features at a Glance:
Audeze HQ –10 band graphic EQ, sidetone toggling, saving/editing presets (coming soon!), the place to easily upgrade the firmware. A great app to perfect your desired sound signature and a must for any competitive gamer out there.
Brand new chassis – Built with aluminium and steel.
Award-winning – Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers
Wired Connection –Absolutely Top Notch with the AUX cable into a controller or via a USB into the PC.
Volume control – Separate controls for the Volume and the Mic which allows for great control of sound mix.
Pre-installed Presets – Easy to toggle through the EQ presets. the Immersive preset is a must try, phenomenal.
80hr+ Battery Life – With Fast Charge for All Day Play in 20 min
Bluetooth 5.3 – Also supports LE Audio, LC3plus, LDAC
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See more reviews and news about Audeze products here!
Audeze have teamed up with legendary mixing engineer Manny Marroquin to create the special MM-500 planar magnetic headphones. Designed to be used in the studio as well as for audiophile listening the Audeze MM-500 are meant to be an all-rounder headphone. Tuned for a natural and balanced sound with slight leaning to the mid-low range and light sparkle in the high frequencies.
First impressions when paired with FiiO E07K headphone amp shows the MM-500‘s neutral and balanced character. With a closer listen slight lifts in frequencies can be heard while still keeping the tone natural and harmonious. There is slight warmth and vividness while keeping the sound realistic and natural sounding. Listening to EDM and heavy metal revealed new, unheard layering to music. Switching to funk and jazz made the music shine and pop in pleasant ways keeping me entertained for hours.
These headphones really make me feel like I am in the club or studio, so much to love.
Although designed to be used in professional mixing environments, listening to different music genres really highlights the multi-talent of the Audeze MM-500 being a jack-of-all-trades. Low impedance and sensitivity make the MM-500 easy to drive from most sources, even when plugged straight to my Oppo A57s smartphone – although they do benefit greatly when paired with some form of amplification.
The MM-500 does not shy away from electronic music with deep rumbling bass that shows no distortion when listening to Drum & Bass – while funk and jazz sparkles and shines with an ‘alive’ sound. These headphones really make me feel like I am in the club or studio, so much to love.
Audeze MM-500 Earcup Grill
Comfort
As soon as the MM-500 are placed on my head I could feel that this is a quality headphone. It seems quite heavy at first, but the headband distributes the weight evenly. The slightly sloped ear pads encase the ears and gently hug the sides – again with just the right clamping force. Even after using for 2+ hours, there is nothing to complain about in the comfort zone – I just want to listen more!
Audeze MM-500 Earpads
Build Quality
As soon as these Audeze headphones are taken out of the box it becomes clear this is a serious headphone. The materials used throughout feel luxurious, the sturdy headband and folding ear cups blend perfectly together in a medley of sensations when holding. An understated, minimalistic look on the ear cups completes the indulgent feel of the MM-500. They feel and look extraordinary.
A surprising talented headphone in the studio and on a home Hi-Fi system
It is initially quite heavy in the hands – but the ease of which the earcups swing and fold flat – the cranking of the headband pins before placing on the head – and the way the leather headband sits snugly on the head – makes the MM-500 virtually vanish when the music kicks in.
Audeze MM-500 Cable
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Interested in all things Audeze? Check out more News and Reviews here!
We know how important it is to find the best headphones for you; whether they are for your smartphone, music player, laptop, console or hi fi system. Here you can see the best of the best earphones, on ear, full size, Bluetooth, wireless and audiophile headphones to buy right now.
What started out as the Nio 2 evolved into a whole new word (and a UIEM) that never existed before. The Volür. The newest Universal must have IEM from 64 Audio. The pulsating heart of this new creation is made up of two new custom 9mm dynamic drivers set in a true isobaric configuration that delivers unprecedented low-frequency capability. The low end of the Volür will simply blow you away, not that the highs or the mids are ignored whatsoever. This new hybrid UIEM from 64 Audio is easily one of the best technical performing earphones that has a “fun” sounding signature in existence today. Those purple abalone faceplates also look fabulous. A must have in 2023.
Coming hot off the heels of Lyperteks now world famous PurePlay Z3, The Pureplay Z5 has changed the game completely. This is probably the best TWS ANC earphone you can buy for under £100. They have ANC, Ambient mode, wireless charging, accompanying PUREPLAY ANC app with LDX Audio, sound customisation profiles and more. Add to that a fanstastc sound quality and brilliant mics and you can instantly see why the Z5 has made the cut.
Final have really worked their magic here. Solid build quality, paired with great sound and effective ANC for under £120 is something rarely heard of. Add to that fantastic mic quality and you have an absolute bargain on offer. The UX3000 can be recommend to absolutely anyone looking for a portable over-ear headphone and you will only see smiles on their faces.
How do they do it? SoundMAGIC have once again made a killer headphone for a super price. The P23BT doubles up as a headset too with the included cable and boom mic (great for home office or even gaming). In addition, the headphone is lightweight and comfortable. Add into the mixer an incredibly impressive battery life and a simple ease of use and you have got yourself a bargain. They sound full and warm yet never bass heavy. They really do sound incredible and for a Wireless on ear headphone what more could you want?
5. Audeze LCD-X Planar Magnetic Full Size Headphones – £1149
The Audeze LCD-X are a real eye-catching headphone. For a retail price that seems crazy at first glance, the bottom line is that the price-performance ratio of this headphones is absolutely fantastic. Not only due to the impeccable manufacture, but also a robust construction, use of high-quality materials and wonderful, detailed sound Loved by Audiophiles and sound engineers alike. If you want to give yourself a birthday or Christmas present, you can safely consider surprising yourself with the Audeze LCD-X.
6. Audeze MM-500 Planar Magnetic Full Size Studio Headphones – £1699
Audeze MM-500 is designed to suit the requirements of long daily listening sessions under almost any condition. World-class studio monitor? Check. Quick reference on-the-go? No problem. Deep late-night listening? Done. With its ease of drive, comfortable fit and trustworthy sound, you can count on the MM-500 to deliver in every situation. The MM-500’s planar magnetic drivers provide realism that audio professionals like Manny “can’t live without.” With lightning-fast transients, accurate frequency response and trusted mix translation.
Following the runaway success of the Cleer Audio‘s open ear Arc earphones, the Cleer Arc II SPORT has taken the concept of an open wireless earphone to a whole new level. The new Arc II Sport is superior to its predecessor in every single way. It has a longer battery life, a better, even more secure fit with an improved earhook design and supports wireless hands free and head gesture controls for answering calls and the like. This earphone has been designed from the bottom up for those who want to listen on the move while being simultaneously aware of their surroundings. One of the most stand out changes to the case is the addition of UV-C light that sanitises the earbuds while not in use. How great is that!?
With the advent of the PS5 and Xbox X consoles, gamers will want some headphones to maximise their experience. The Audeze Maxwell is a supercharged, reimagined Penrose. Now with 80hr+ battery life, Ultra-Low Latency Wireless with 3X range of traditional 2.4Ghz. As well as first-in-class Bluetooth 5.3. Including an Improved build with an all-new reinforced chassis from aluminium and steel. As well as The adoption of Audeze’s FILTER™ noise reduction technology for clear communications on top of their Award-winning Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers. This is the must have gaming headset of 2023.
We’re all looking for acoustic perfection and that is something Audeze has strived to achieve from the very beginning. Their first headphone, the LCD-2, received high praise worldwide and the word Audeze became synonymous with any sentence including the word Audiophile. The LCD-2 was and still is heralded in some quarters as the greatest headphones ever made. But Audeze was never never going to be a one hit wonder and stop there. Where there is room for improvement, so too is the strive to create that end-game perfection. That’s the defining characteristic of Audeze: The strive to innovate. With now over 20 products out there it is nearly impossible to not find an Audeze headphone that is 100% tailored to your listening style.
Audeze CRBN
All About Audeze
As you are well aware, Audeze is a California based high-end audio manufacturer known for delivering some of the most accurate sound reproduction products available today. In other words, they specialise in making luxury high-end planar magnetic headphones. Founded in circa 2009 by Alexander Rosson and Sankar Thiagasamudram, their products are designed from the ground up and engineered with the latest innovations in materials & technology. This is paired with precision craftsmanship to produce products with an astonishingly dynamic and immersive sound. Audeze’s commitment to research and development is reflected in every one of their products from the CRBN, LCD-5 to the Maxwell, Euclid and beyond.
What Does Audeze Mean?
Everyone
Audeze’s mission is to “create the best headphones in the world”, that much is clear. But everyone hears differently, so how can there possibly be “The One Headphone to Rule Them All” so to speak? Drumroll…. There’s not! Audeze’s real mission is to create the best headphone in the world for everyone out there, this is why there is not one Flagship Model but 4 and all manner of products in between.
Audeze LCD-5 Earcup Elements
Making Planar Magnetic Fashionable Again
Audeze’s continued innovation in planar magnetic driver technology has produced plenty of options for audiophiles, gamers, music makers alike. A popular thing in the 70’s, Audeze has managed to bring back / reinvent this technology not only as a USP but with the belief that Planar Magnetic is the way to go for great sounding headphones. This hunch, or commitment has been justified by not only the brand’s success but how others are now emulating what Audeze does day to day. Audeze’s continued innovation in planar magnetic driver technology in open or closed back, over-the-ear & in-ear products has produced plenty of options for everyone, with both small and large budgets.
Just what are planar magnetic drivers? Instead of a coil of wire, there is a thin membrane separated by an array of magnets in front and behind. When electrical sound signals are sent to the membrane it starts to move/ vibrate, thanks to the magnetic field and as a result it produces sound. For the benefits and negatives of this technology, you will need to go down a rabbit hole on the internet.
The Odyssey of Audeze: How do you pronounce it? …is it Awwdeez or Awe-de-ze or Oh-de-sea?
Please let us know in the comments, we would really like to know!
Flagship Models
Just what are they? “The culmination of decades of research and development. Featuring our Nano-scale or carbon nanotube diaphragms, Fluxor™ magnet arrays, and Uniforce™ voice coils, Audeze’s Flagship series represents the pinnacle of audiophile technology.
LCD-5 – “The very definition of Uncompromised Audio. Representing more than 40 years of research and development in planar magnetic headphone technology, the LCD-5 stands in a class of its own.”
LCD-4Z – “Experience the unrivaled audio quality of our Flagship LCD-4 without the need for an amplifier. No other headphone in the world features such a robust and musically engaging sound signature in such an efficient package.”
CRBN ELECTROSTATIC – “Featuring the most advanced electrostatic technology in decades, the CRBN electrostatic headphone features a new Patent-pending polymer film with suspended carbon nanotubes for sparkling clarity, incredible transparency, transient speed, and bass response.”
LCD-i4 – “Represents the pinnacle of both audio quality and technological innovation for In Ear Monitoring. This groundbreaking in-ear headphone features the same Nano-Scale Uniforce diaphragm found in our LCD-4 and 4z. Paired with our powerful Fluxor magnet array to offer one of the most responsive, detailed, engaging, and immersive listening experiences in the world.”
Audeze LCD-5
LCD-i4
Audeze Artists
You will find Audze’s reference series models in world-class studios and listening rooms all over the world. Audeze Artists and listeners everywhere use words like neutral, trustworthy and game-caning to describe them. So you know you will be hearing exactly what the artists themselves intended. The models in their reference series are the LCD-X, LCD-XC, LCD-MX4 & the MM-500. They are trusted and well reviewed around the entire world and if you’re a sound producer needing an upgrade, look no further!
You can read more about Audeze Artists, watch reviews, explanation videos and find out exactly why Audeze headphones are the professional’s go to choice here.
Gaming
It is safe to say that Audeze have been expanding their headphone product line a lot within the past few years. Not only is there an Origins Series; LCD-2, LCD-2 classic, LCD-2 Closed & the LCD-3. There is also an In-Ear Series featuring the Euclid, LCDi4 & the LCDi3. On top of these wonderful products there is a whole other beast in Gaming. Gaming is a fast rising market trend and has become an explosive market in the last 10 years. Audeze have managed to tap into this gaming-orientated audiophile quality headphone market, where hearing footsteps is the one thing between life and death (online).
Some of the top gaming headphones out there!
Both the Mobius and the LCD-GX are very different gaming headsets from each other, but that’s part of the beauty of them. Not only have both been considered some of the top gaming headphones out there (thanks to their state-of-the-art technology, design and that remarkable Audeze sound quality). They are both designed with specific uses and people budgets in mind. So gamers can really get the best quality possible within their means.
Introducing Maxwell
Maxwell is an evolved (and seriously upgraded) successor to the Audeze Penrose gaming headset. The great news for gamers out there is that all their feedback from the Penrose/ Penrose X has been absorbed by Audeze and the changes made with the Maxwell are considerable. It has a chassis made of aluminum and steel (longevity +++). The integrated battery will also last up to 80 hours and if you forget to charge your headset, a 20 minute charge will get the headset to work for a full day (Battery +++! In addition to this, a new noise filter has been integrated (FILTER™ is Audeze tech).
Dolby Atmos is also supported, but this only applies to the Xbox version or for use on the PC. The microphone is also detachable. It is a boom microphone with hypercardioid characteristics (think broadcasting microphones) that has 5 beamforming mics integrated too. So yes, when it gets sweaty on the battlefield, you will still sound clear as day. More info here
Audeze Mobius
Audeze LCD-GX
Audeze Maxwell
Timeline of Releases
2009: LCD-1 and LCD-2 prototypes revealed at CanJam
For the price you would expect these to be some of the best headphones on the market. Guess what? They absolutely are indeed. The LCD-5 have that gorgeous textured and full Audeze bass response you would expect, but it is so much more controlled now. The midrange is open, clear and detailed and the treble extends effortlessly without ever becoming harsh. These are resolving yet enjoyable. They have a reference like tuning without coming across clinical. They have an honest presentation without too much colouration or sweetness to the sound. Their greatest attribute is that they can simply play whatever you throw at them with ease.
If you want to give yourself or someone you know a birthday or Christmas present, you can safely consider surprising yourself/them with the Audeze LCD-X. The Audeze LCD-X is a real eye-catching headphone. For a retail price that seems crazy at first glance, the bottom line is that the price-performance ratio of this headphones is absolutely fantastic. Not only due to the impeccable manufacture, but also a robust construction, use of high-quality materials and wonderful, detailed sound Loved by Audiophiles and sound engineers alike.
The LCD-2 Classic are a well controlled, but ultimately warm sounding headphone. They offer up a fatigue free sound with good width and height. If you listen to electronic centred music, old school rap/hip-hop and smoother more acoustic music they are a joy to listen to.Full Review
“After years of relentless innovation building the world’s best wireless gaming headset, Audeze presents Maxwell, designed from the ground up for serious gamers. Sound quality, wireless performance, and battery life are all pushed to new extremes, along with the latest spatial audio features and multi-platform compatibility.” – We cannot wait to get our hands on them in Q1 2023.
Latest Audeze Updates and News:
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Fantastic news for all you Gamers out there. The Audeze Maxwell is now available for pre-order with Hifiheadphones.
AUDEZE MAXWELL
Pre-Order the AUDEZE Maxwell Now!
After years of relentless innovation building the world’s best wireless gaming headset, Audeze presents Maxwell, designed from the ground up for serious gamers. Sound quality, wireless performance, and battery life are all pushed to new extremes, along with the latest spatial audio features and multi-platform compatibility.
Audeze HQ
Award-winning Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers
A real plus on the forthcoming Maxwell are Audeze 90mm planar magnetic drivers. These have already received a number of awards and, because of their size, will provide a fantastic sound for gaming, delivering powerful bass and pinpoint precision. It must be noted that many other popular gaming headsets only use 40 mm drivers here. The drivers are supplemented by other extra tech in the equipment list such as: Uniforce voice coils, fluxor magnets and Fazor waveguides.
In layman’s terms, the integrated technology will provide high-resolution sound with bit rates of up to 96 kHz / 24 bit. This applies to the connection of the headset via USB as well as with Bluetooth 5.3. When using Bluetooth, there will be many advantages compared to current 2.4 GHz technology. The range will go three times as far before disconnecting and the latency will be significantly lower than competitor models.
New design, upgraded chassis & more!
As you might expect here Audeze have given their new gaming headset a complete overhaul. The Maxwell has a chassis made of aluminum and steel (longevity +++). The integrated battery will also last up to 80 hours and if you forget to charge your headset, a 20 minute charge will get the headset to work for a full day (Battery +++! In addition to this, a new noise filter has been integrated (FILTER™ is Audeze tech). Dolby Atmos is also supported, but this only applies to the Xbox version or for use on the PC. The microphone is also detachable. It is a boom microphone with hypercardioid characteristics (think broadcasting microphones) that has 5 beamforming mics integrated too. So yes, when it gets sweaty on the battlefield, you will still sound clear as day.
Key Features:
80hr+ Battery Life with Fast Charge for All Day Play in 20 min
Ultra-Low Latency Wireless with 3X Range of Traditional 2.4Ghz
First-in-Class Bluetooth 5.3 supports LE Audio, LC3plus, LDAC
Class-Leading High-Resolution Audio up to 24-bit/96kHz
Embedded Dolby Atmos® License (Xbox version only)
All-New Reinforced Chassis Built with Aluminum and Steel
FILTER™ Noise Reduction Technology for Clear Communications
The great news here is that after much fanfair, the MM-500 are now avaliable for pre-order & purchase with Hifiheadphones, Audeze or your local dealer!
AUDEZE MM-500
Pre-Order the AUDEZE MM-500 Now!
The MM-500 has been specifically designed to deliver studio-quality sound and have also been reimagined for mixes that translate well and capture the emotion the artist always intended. They have also been built and designed to offer all-day comfort. The planar magnetic drivers feature patented Audeze technologies to deliver lightning-fast transients and accurate frequency response that professionals really rely on. The MM-500’s low impedance and efficiency also ensure compatibility with virtually all audio interfaces and consoles.
‘Thanks for getting the MM-500 to me so quickly. I worked on them most of yesterday and I think they could be my favourite headphones. They have the imaging accuracy and punch of the LCD-5 and also the warmth and width of the Neumann ndh-30. Really liking them and will carry on working with them. I think they could be the perfect studio headphones.’
M Duplock purchased 15th August 2022
Key Features:
Specifically designed to deliver mixes that consistently translate well.
Like near-field monitors, they also remove your room from the equation and give you studio-quality sound anywhere
Durable, lightweight chassis featuring machined aluminum and spring steel
Compatible with virtually all audio interfaces or consoles
Designed in collaboration with award-winning producer/mixer Manny Marroquin
CanJam London 2022 Update: It’s that time of year again!
We are very excited to be attending CanJam London 2022 on July 30th and 31st at Park Plaza, Westminster Bridge.
We will of course be attending with some of our favourite brands and showcasing some of their amazing products. From new releases to old favourites, it is going to be a blast.
Undoubtably, this will be a CanJam to remember. Due to the Covid pandemic, we have been without the show for the last few years (check out our review/ interviews from the last one in 2019 here). We are absolutely frothing at the bit to get amongst the action again! Indeed, CanJam is the place to try all of the best headphones, earphones, DACs, AMPs, DAPs and IEMs under one roof with likeminded people. Obviously we are all there to discover how best to listen to our favourite recordings.
To celebrate, we are running a sale on our brands that are going to CanJam London 2022! Make sure to check out our sale page over on Hifiheadphones for big discounts for a limited time only:
Not only is this a chance to try out these amazing products. It’s also your chance to meet the people behind your favourite brands. Here is a list of just a few brands attending CanJam London 2022:
As a matter of fact, the reason for this is to give you an idea of what brands we will be representing at CanJam 2022. Below are also some of the products you can expect to see.
Audeze
Audeze are going big this year. In addition to six tables of goods (SIX!) showcasing lots of favourites, there is also a very special newcomer! On show will be LCD-5. CRBN, LCD-X, LCD-XC, LCD-3, LCD-2 Classic. Euclid, Penrose and the brand new MM-500. All products will be powered by some of the finest equipment from the likes of Chord, Burson, Weiss and Eksonic.
Campfire Audio
This year, Campfire Audio is all about the Trifecta! Don’t worry though. There will be enough for everyone to try this new, completely unique IEM from one of the most interesting audio brands of today. For those that want to try other legendary favourites, we will also have Andromeda, Holocene and Supermoon samples there too.
final / Hifonix
Also, our friends over at Hifonix will be showcasing the brand new final D8000 Pro Limited edition. In all of it’s stunning, goldlike lovlyness, it is going to be a crowd pelaser. Certainly make sure to make your way over to their table to check out this rare, majestic work of headphone art!
64 Audio
You can meet the 64 Audio team this year as well as and try some of their finest IEMs. Absolutely make sure to check out the U6t, DUO, U12t, Tia Fourte, U18s, Nio and even more (these are only the universals) from the worlds best pro and custom IEM specialists.
Burson
Burson will be supplying headphone amps and DACs to a number of our brands this year. So you will not only get the chance to try out their incredible products, they will be paired with some of the best headphones in the world!
Westone Audio
With the recent release of the MACH Series of IEMs. Westone Audio will be showcasing the full range at this years CanJam. This is a rare opportunity to test out all 8 models in this impressive and diverse line-up.
Lastly but not Finally..
To celebrate the return of CanJam London, we will also be having a special CanJam 2022 page setup on Hifiheadphones with exclusive offers on some of the best products showing at this years event. Be sure to check out the CanJam 2022 Special page on Hifiheadphones from 30th July to 1st August to get some amazing deals on the best audio gear out there!
Today we take a closer look at the new Audeze CRBN Electrostatic headphones, these are some of the most natural and detailed headphones on the market so check them out!.
Interested in having a demo with the CRBN? Please reach out to us via our contact form (with the dates you are free) here
Audeze have just released their new flagship Planar Magnetic headphones – the LCD-5. We have taken an in-depth look and listen, and they really are something special with an airy and detailed sound that steers away from the typical darker response Audeze have normally gone for. There is more detail in the upper midrange and they are also much more comfortable due to reduced weight, watch the full video to find out more!
Oscar has a written review of the LCD-5 here. If you want to get your hands on a pair, you can preoder an LCD-5 here
The Audeze LCD-5, a new flagship planar magnetic headphone is a phenomenal piece of kit. It offers a brand new Audeze sound, way more than just a simple evolution from the LCD-4. With a natural yet almost reference style tuning they hit all the right marks. They are also lighter and significantly more comfortable than previous models.
Audeze has swapped their signature wood rings for wonderful looking tortoise shell acetate rings. As you can see below, in the right light the rings really pop and they are majestic to look at. Other slight changes, such as a different headband shape with a beautiful looking carbon fibre strab on top among as well as general weight reductions makes the LCD-5 a lot lighter (and therefore more comfortable) than their predecessors. The earcups are another diversion from previous Audeze headphones, with a concave construction (sort of bowl shaped) that tapers in from the lip. This was done to allow the LCD-5 to produce a purer, more detailed soun.d by reducing unwanted sound reflections indside the cups. Overall, all these minor tweaks (plus plenty unmentioned on the inside) have created a definitive flagship, a new sound and arguably redesigned what we used to know as that Audeze Audiophile Sound.
A definitive flagship, with a brand new Audeze Audiophile Sound
Comfort and Fit: 9/10
As mentioned above, the slight changes in the design has resulted in the LCD-5 being much more comfortable than their previous Flagships. As well as being much lighter, the new earpads are soft and spacious. The comfort strap headband is sleeker yet perfectly distributes the weight across the top of your head. There is plenty of adjustment in the headband for heads of all shapes and sizes. They clamp force is moderate, which provides a secure fit but also one that isn’t too tight or uncomfortable. Simply put, the LCD-5 is one of the most comfortable Audeze headphones to date.
Sound 10/10
Not only is the LCD-5 sporting a brand new exterior, but a new driver structure altogether. Naturally, it’s still a planar-magnetic headphone. However, it has dispensed with the LCD-4’s double-sided, 106mm fluxor magnet array in favor of a single-sided, 90mm fluxor magnet array that’s paired with Audeze’s updated Fazor waveguides and their new Parallel Uniforce voice coils to better control diaphragm movement and improve the resolution that can be achieved.
The Result?
An outstandingly neutral and natural sounding pair of headphones whose remarkable speed makes them sound light and precise.
The detail provided by the LCD-5 is simply astounding.
Bass:
Audeze are well renowned for their great bass response and with the LCD-5 they have gone for a more reference style tuning, aiming for neutrality over the warm sound of the LCD-2/3. The LCD-5 still have that slightly fuller sounding low end that Audeze users love. It is now just more controlled and there is less bloom in the bass. The low end is puchy and articulate along with having endless extension. You never miss out on anything ever in the low end. There is an effortless and realistic presentation that never disrupts the lower midrange.
Midrange:
Due to the controlled nature of the bass, there is no bleeding into the midrange allowing all vocals and instruments to come through with precision and clarity. I listened to these back to back with the LCD-4 and the LCD-5 is a lot crisper and more open in the midrange. Subtle details are easy to pick out, yet both male and female vocals sound utterly effortless and natural. Whether it’s an electric or acoustic guitar you hear what is recorded. Powerful crunching riffs or delicate finger picking, you hear it all. Every sound is easily separated from other layers in the mix but form an overall sound that is coherent and whole.
This is one of the most accurate midrange reproductions I have heard to date.
Treble:
The LCD-5 seem to favour the upper treble and don’t have an abundance of energy in the lower treble which is good for those more prone to fatigue. Luckily snares still snap with authority and everything is still very clean and clear. The treble is very airy and open, the extension is incredible with no noticeable early roll-off. One the the standout qualities in the treble is the actual placement. There is really good height to the soundstage so cymbals and the like occupy their own space with expert precision. The detail retrieval again is done with refinement and finesse, rather than throwing it at you, it allows you to hear should you wish to listen for it.
Genres and Soundstaging
The LCD-5 really do lend their hand to anything, they have the power and speed for metal, the visceral punch for electronic, the dynamics for classical and the finesse for acoustic. These will handle anything and everything you throw at them.
The soundstaging is also phenomenal. The LCD-5 are open and airy. They have excellent width and height and there is also superb layering along with pinpoint accuracy. There are so good, that sometimes you will wonder if the sound is truly coming from the headphones.
[jnews_review_shortcode review_show_price=”true”]
About Pairing:
The LCD-5 are a high-end headphone. It is therefore no surprise that these are not built to be used with your smartphone. These really do demand a proper desktop rig to sound their best. We have them paired with the Burson Audio Conductor 3X Reference in our demo room. This really is a superb pairing which we could not put in higher regard. The Burson amp/DAC combo’s work so well with all Audeze products. Providing tons of clean power without any sort of harshness. There is an ever so slight hint of smoothness to the Burson amps that just keeps you wanting to listen more.
Liked our review of the Audeze LCD-5? Then keep up to date with all news Audeze as well as more reviews here.
For the past decade, Audeze’s LCD series has set the standard for planar magnetic headphone performance. Starting with the LCD-2 that ushered in a new era of planar technology in 2009, they then introduced the LCD-3 in 2011 and LCD-4 in 2015. With the LCD-5, everything has been improved – drivers, earpads, frame design – to set a new standard for performance and comfort.
The LCD-5 sets a new standard for accuracy. Its drivers are engineered with their award-winning Fluxor magnets and updated Fazor waveguides along with their new Patent-pending Parallel Uniforce™ voice coils, which employ varying width parallel traces to keep the impedance low and provide increased voltage headroom by altering the current density within each trace. The uniform force created by this optimization lowers distortion and provides better control over diaphragm movement, resulting in improved sonic resolution.
Weighing in at only 420 grams, the LCD-5 offers hours of listening pleasure. Every part has been re-engineered, using materials such as magnesium, aluminium and acetate which offer light weight and high rigidity. When you put on a pair of LCD-5s, your head and ears are cradled in materials of the finest quality. Supple premium leather and carbon-fibre pull all the elements together into a package of the finest craftsmanship, which are hand-assembled in their California workshop.
The LCD-5 cable is specially tuned with directional OCC high-purity copper strands that provide a low capacitance and low resistance path for the signal to travel from your amp to the drivers, maintaining unsurpassed clarity and precision.
Audeze Penrose: The Penrose are a very versatile and comfortable headset. They have 2 versions witch are optimised for PC, Xbox & Playstation. Overall the gaming experience with the Penrose is superb, with excellent spatial accuracy and immersion. Match that with good comfort and you have all the key features of a great gaming headset.
p.s (they also do a great job for music listening)
The Penrose is equipped with Audeze’s 100mm planar magnetic drivers, a high-performance microphone, and a 2.4 GHz low-latency lossless dual wireless connection. This means gamers can experience the best in audio quality and wireless functionality at the same time. With the Audeze HQ App, you can fully customize your sound experience. With sound profile selection and presets as well as a a brand new 10-band EQ specifically for Penrose.
Get Your Game On
Make sure you check out the full listing and product breakdown on audeze.co.uk here.
T3 is very enthusiatic about the qualities of the Penrose: “This is a headset that’s really well put together, with no hint of cheapness or flimsiness anywhere. It feels like a piece of hardware that’s going to last a long time. While it’s robust, the Audeze Penrose headset is also comfortable to wear, and you’ll have no problems wearing this for an extended period of time while you’re gaming. The on-board controls are all easily accessible and intuitive to use, too. It’s the audio quality that really sets the Audeze Penrose headset apart though. Even though there’s no surround sound feature, the special planar magnetic drivers that Audeze has developed do a wonderful job. You can use the headset connected to your computer or wirelessly, and if you choose the latter you get about 15 hours of battery life before you’ll have to recharge the device again.”
The new Audeze Euclid are a little on the larger side, this is down to the fact they house an 18mm planar magnetic drive inside. However Audeze have managed to make them as ergonomic as possible with soft contoured inner faces, and a good size nozzle. I found them to fit fairly well in my small ears, and they worked best with the supplied Comply tips for me. The cable fits over your ears well and helps with the overall fit of the Euclid.
The comfort is ok for me personally, I found after longer listening sessions I had some mild discomfort where they sit in your ear, but I do have relatively small ears and narrow canals. The supplied Comply tips worked well for me, and definitely help when using them for longer periods of time.
Compatibility
With relatively high sensitivity (105 dB/1mW) and low impedance (12 Ohms) they should be relatively easy to drive in theory. And whilst you do get listening volumes from portable sources, they do sound better when fed a bit more power, as is the case with most planar magnetic models (desktop amps, or higher end portable players are almost a necessity in my opinion).
Just a note on eartips and burn-in with the Euclid – I found that with silicone tips and listening to them right out of the box they sounded quite harsh with a shouty midrange and quite unnatural tonality. After 2 days of burn-in and fitting the Comply tips, the sound is completely different and they are far more enjoyable to listen to. These are quite picky so make sure to try all the different tips and try them out of a few different sources if possible.
Sound
Bass: The bass on the Euclid is impactful and hard hitting when needed, and being a planar they have quite a linear response all the way down to the sub-bass region. This means you won’t miss a beat with these, yet they are also nimble and have snappy transients to keep up with complex mixes. They have a relatively full low end, yet it doesn’t add any real warmth to the midrange, in fact the midrange could use a little more body in my opinion. The low end manages to stay faithful to the recording for the most part, only coming out when called for, but never lost in the mix.
Midrange: The midrange is a bit tricky on the Euclid, there are a few peaks and dips but for the most part they are well presented. There is a little bit of a lack of body at times, and there is a lift in the upper midrange which means they don’t always sound the most natural in terms of tonality. There is tons of detail to take in from the Euclid, and they show impressive transparency. This level of transparency, mixed with the impressive transient response means the mix is clearly separated and it’s easy to distinguish the different layers.
Treble: The treble is well presented, there is a bit of a lower treble lift which brings out some energy and sparkle but it’s the overall extension where they fall short a little. When compared to something that’s airy and extended like the Andromeda, the Euclid roll off a little too early and don’t sound quite as refined up top. But there’s still lots to enjoy here, they have a sense of energy that is quite addictive whilst perhaps not the most “studio accurate”.
Genres and Soundstaging
The Euclid lend their hand to most genres, but they are a bit hot sometimes when it comes to poorly mastered tracks. The soundstaging isn’t huge, but there is a nice sense of space and air to the Euclid that make them more open sounding than most sealed IEM’s.
Conclusion
What Audeze have done here is create a fun yet relatively well balanced planar earphone, which I appreciate is no easy feat. They do fall behind slightly when it comes to tonality, sometimes sounding a little thin in the midrange. But overall they have some great qualities including excellent bass response, brilliant detail retrieval and transparency. These won’t be for everyone, but I am sure there are a lot out there who will enjoy the Euclid, just remember they are very picky when it comes to the tips and source used.
First off the Penrose fit securely on your head, albeit with slightly high clamping force. Luckily you can leave the Penrose stretched out over some books to help loosen the clamp if you find it too much. The earpads are big enough for most ears, and the headband is well padded.
Comfort overall is good with no issues after a couple of hours, due to their closed back design I would still recommend taking a break every couple of hours to let your ears breathe. But overall the Penrose are a very comfortable headset.
Features
There are 2 versions of the Penrose, the Penrose and Penrose X. Both versions work fine with PC, but for console use the Penrose is suitable for the PlayStation 4 and 5, whereas the Penrose X has official Microsoft Certification for use with the xBox One and Series X.
They can be use in wired mode with an aux cable, via Bluetooth or via 2.4GHz wireless in conjunction with the included USB dongle. 2.4GHz will likely be the most used configuration, and you can expect around 14hrs of battery life from the headset. There is a high quality microphone that is detachable, there is a scroll wheel for the microphone volume and on the Penrose X if you press and scroll you can change the game/chat mix. The game/chat mix is currently only functional on the xBox – but future firmware updates should hopefully bring this feature to PC and PlayStation versions.
The firmware can be updated quite easily, but at the moment only via a Windows PC. There is a mute switch on the left earcup, along with a volume wheel and source select button. There is an Audeze HQ app for Windows and Android, with MacOS and iOS versions in the works. In the app you can set various EQ presets and in the future thegame/chat mix should be functional too. You can even have the Penrose connected to the source via 2.4GHz whilst also connected to your phone via bluetooth and change settings that way which is handy. In theory you can also use them as a bluetooth headset whilst connected via 2.4GHz, but bluetooth bandwidth is more restricted and the microphone quality will suffer so you’re better off using the in-game chat or background app chat instead of bluetooth.
Sound
Once set up the Penrose really are an impressive headset – first off, the microphone, whilst not crystal clear (bandwidth issues) does a good job of picking up your voice and your teammates will be able to hear you without issue. Next up is the immersion, on the latest generation of consoles there is some excellent audio processing that give you “surround” like sound from regular 2ch headphones like the Penrose. The same can be said for certain PC games, going in to the audio settings and selecting the correct output really does wonders. This bring us to the hardware side of things where those planar drivers come in to play, giving you excellent bass depth and impact without taking away the clarity overall.
Depending on the game you will get subtle rumbles to full blown explosions, all delivered with excellent control and clarity whilst also packing a punch. These drivers can push some air without ever sounding muddy or overwhelming. In-game dialog comes across clean and clear, speech is well rendered and this greatly helps if you use them as a headset, hearing your teammates is vital. The treble is precise and clear without being emphasised or piercing, these are designed for long sessions and thus have an utterly fatigue free sound.
The closed back nature of the Penrose means they block out a fair amount of outside noise, allowing you to immerse yourself, whatever is happening around you. The in-game effects are incredible though and the Penrose really do a stellar job at pinpointing spatial sounds, from footsteps to gunshots you know exactly where you stand in the game. This could prove to be a handy avantage if used in a VR system, but sadly I don’t have the equipment to test this. For long PC gaming sessions the Penrose have proved themselves a worthy companion, helping me pinpoint enemies with ease.
The Penrose do music playback well too, having quite a well balanced sound that is clean, detailed but with a slightly full bodied nature. They have good depth for a closed back headphone, and great instrument separation. The bass is full yet articulate and well controlled, the midrange manages to be well separated and clean whilst not being pushed forward. The treble is detailed and well extended but never harsh or fatiguing, there are not sharp peaks to create a false sense of air or detail retrieval.
Conclusion
The Penrose are still being improved with firmware updates, so expect them to get even better with time, but as they stand they are still an excellent gaming headset if you value sound quality. They have a clean and crisp sound, that is also full and well extended. They have clearly prioritised sound quality over microphone quality when used in wireless mode, which to me is the right way to do it if bandwidth is limited. Overall the gaming experience is superb though, with excellent spatial accuracy and immersion, match that with good comfort and you have all the key features of a great gaming headset – that also do a great job for music listening.
