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.

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 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

Timeline of Releases

• 2009: LCD-1 and LCD-2 prototypes revealed at CanJam
• 2010: LCD-2 launched
• 2011: LCD-3 Launched
• 2012: LCD-2 gets updated connectors and cable
• 2013: LCD-X Launched, LCD-3 & LCD-2 get Fazors
• 2014: product of the year awarded to LCD-2 by headphone.guru
• 2015: LCD-4 Released
• 2016: LCD-X LCD-2/ LCD-3/LCD-4 get new drivers, iSine 10 released
• 2017: LCD-MX4 / LCD-2 Classic, LCD-i4, iSine 10 Black/Steel Edition released. Sine headphones win Red Dot award
• 2018: LCD-4z launched
• 2019: Limited Edition LCD-24, LCD-GX gaming headphone, LCD-1, LCD i3, Audeze Mobius wireless PC gaming headset come to market
• 2019: LCDi3 wins best UIEM from Headfonia
• 2020: Penrose / Penrose X launched. LCD-5 wins best open headphone award from headfonia, LCD-1 wins best portable over ear from Tech Radar
• 2021: Limited Edition LCD-R, CRBN Electrostatic, LCD-5, Euclid, LCD-XC are released
• 2022: MM-500, FILTER Bluetooth Conference Speakerphone released
• 2023: Maxwell drops in Q1 23

Our Top 5 Audeze Product Picks

1.Audeze LCD-5 – £3,999.00

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.

2.Audeze LCD- X – £1,149.00

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.

3. Audeze CRBN Electrostatic– £4,500.00

Watch our video review of the CRBN here.

4. Audeze LCD-2 Classic – £649.00

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

5. Audeze Maxwell – £319.00-£349.00

“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:

Headphones with the Best Battery Life

December 13, 2024

When you’re on the move or working through a busy day, nothing beats the convenience of headphones or wireless earbuds that keep going as long as you do. Long battery life is crucial, whether you’re commuting, traveling, gaming, or simply enjoying your favorite playlists. Here, we’ve rounded up the best…

HiFiHeadphones Best Buy list

November 29, 2024

Take a look at our list of best products in different categories and price points. This is our Best Buy List for 2024!

Audeze Maxwell Head-Tracking Announced

October 26, 2023

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…

Audeze Maxwell Review

The Audeze Maxwell is a revelation. The battery life is superb. The imaging is vivid and the soundstage is incredible. The wireless connections are solid and the microphone clarity is just one of the many cherries on top. You really can wear these for hours at a time and you…

Audeze MM-500 Review

The MM-500 tick all the boxes: luxury build, excellent comfort levels and, for me the perfect sound with just the right amount of tuning in the mid-low and high frequencies. For the price the MM-500 are a surprising talented headphone that is at home in the studio just as much…

The post Brand Story: Audeze appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Audeze Penrose Review – 1.5 years on: Now more than ever, console gamers are seeing the importance of quality Audio. Lockdowns and Pandemics aside, the rise in online competitive gaming is relentless and we are all seeking that extra edge that will take us to victory. With the onset of “Spatial Audio”, A quality headset that can take full advantage of Sony’s “Tempest” or Microsoft’s “Dolby Atmos” is now an absolute must.

How else am I supposed to hear the footsteps behind me?

Design: 10/10

I would say the Audeze Penrose gaming headset has a perfect balance between an in-your-face over the top gaming design and a not too flashy, sleek looking headset. The all black colour with the blue stripes, provides a bit more subtlety that stops the Logo and decals from popping too much. The honeycomb/ hexagon finish on the ear cups is a nice touch that eschews quality.

Comfort: 9/10

As subjective as comfort is, these headphones fit great. Some people refer to a tight clamping force and a noticeable weight, but I find if you make minor adjustments while they are on your head they are extremely comfortable. They are also very flexible. I find that there is very little to no discomfort for gaming sessions lasting up to 3 hours or so. (I can rarely play more these days but I think even longer would also be fine.)

The sound from these headphones for gaming is phenomenal

Sound Quality: 10/10

Again sound is subjective, but the sound from these headphones for gaming is phenomenal. The detail is impeccable, the soundstage and direction superb. They work extremely well with Spatial Audio Programs to deliver that immersive sound we have always wanted. With the Audeze HQ app, you can adjust the presets and create sound profiles for specific games. They even provide some presets for you that you can try out (Check them out here). This is the best sound from a headset I have used with my PS5. You will never *not* hear a footstep again!

Wireless Signal: 8/10

People complain about the poor range of the wireless signal as a draw but hardly ever have issues and nearly always a stable connection. Okay, if I move into my kitchen or bathroom the signal is weak, but how can I play Apex legends without being in front of my TV? The range is suitable for the requirements.

Mic: 8/10

The boom mic is great, people can always hear me clearly and for game chat it is near enough perfect. I position my mic a bit lower than my chin because I can sometimes hear my breathing on the sidetone. You can turn the sidetone off to eliminate this issue completely should you wish (I only leave it on to make sure I am not shouting!)

1.5 years on from its release is undoubtedly still at the top of the table

You can buy the Penrose (For Playstation or the Penrose X for Xbox here. If you would like to read more About Audeze Products take a look on our blog here

P.S. In case you were wondering about that Sony Playstation 5 design / skin, well let’s just say Etsy is your best friend here. I love the 80’s (obviously)and this graphic has the sunset, it has the neon grids and the palm tress. In fact the only thing it is missing is an 80’s sports car. It gives me that same feeling as when you watched the first episode of Stranger Things season 3. Pure nostalgia, and yes, I absolutely love it!

The post Audeze Penrose Gaming Headset Review – 1.5 Years On appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Beyerdynamic have a long heritage of producing very high quality headphones for home Hi-Fi, professional use (studio and live instrument monitoring) and aviation use.  Now Beyerdynamic have just turned their hand to developing a range of high quality gaming headsets and it looks like they are on to a winner!

As can be expected from Beyerdynamic their gaming headphone range offers no compromises with build  (still hand built in Germany) and sound quality.  As can be expected Beyerdynamic gaming headphones are robustly made and can take daily use by the most avid gamer.

Beyerdynamic’s signature sound is a warm, powerful bass response with lots of detail and clarity in the trebles.  The gaming headsets are no different, offering plenty of rumble at the bottom end and pinpoint positional accuracy in the upper frequencies.  A combination that will put you smack bang in the centre role of your game.

Check out Beyerdynamic’s gaming headset range below.

Beyerdynamic MMX300 Gaming Headphones

Beyerdynamic MMX300

The Beyerdynamic MMX300 is a pair of high end gaming headphones for the serious gamer looking for the best performing headset available.  Based on the highly successful Beyerdynamic DT770 (as used by BBC Radio 1 DJs and guests), with the addition of an ultra high quality aviation class noise cancelling microphone and rather cool carbon fibre finish.  The MMX300 headset takes gaming audio to the extreme, with a closed back design ensuring you can immerse yourself totally in the action without distraction from ambient noise and without annoying other people close by.

While the MMX300 is designed for gaming, it’s studio headphone heritage shines through with high quality audio reproduction.  These headphones are very capable for many applications including listening to music and IP telephony (e.g. Skype), as well as gaming.

Super soft velour earpads and large over ear design ensures you can wear the Beyerdynamic MMX300 for hours at a time in supreme comfort.  The MMX300 offers a truly high end gaming experience.

Supplied two connectivity options, the MMX300 can be directly connected to a PC and Mac via USB (you just plug the headphones in and the computer detects the headset like a soundcard), or alternatively the headset can be connected via 2x 3.5mm jack plugs (one plug for headphone input and the other for microphone output).  Usefully the MMX300 offers the ability to mute the microphone and control the volume of the headphone audio via the supplied USB converter.

Get the Beyerdynamic MMX300 headset today and upgrade to high end gaming audio!

Beyerdynamic MMX2 Gaming Headphones

Beyerdynamic MMX2

The Beyerdynamic MMX2 headphones are built for the serious gamer who needs high quality audio and supreme long term wearing comfort.  Designed just for gamers by Beyerdynamic, the MMX2 headset reproduces sound effects, voices and music with superb clarity and the noise-cancelling microphone ensures a clear and precise voice transmission.  The MMX2 is equally suitable for IP telephony (e.g. Skype) as it is for gaming.

With soft ear cushions made from velour material and a fully adjustable flexible headband the MMX2 is comfortable to wear for the longest gaming sessions.

The MMX2 has two connectivity options, either USB for direct connection to a PC and Mac (you plug the headphones into a spare USB port and the computer detects the headset like a soundcard), or alternatively the headset can be connected via 2x 3.5mm jack plugs (one plug for headphone input and the other for microphone output).  Usefully the MMX2 offers the ability to mute the microphone and control the volume of the headphone audio via the supplied USB converter.

Choose the Beyerdynamic MMX2 today and enjoy high quality gaming audio and comfort.

More Information

For the full range of Beyerdynamic headphones and many other headphones suitable for gaming, please visit HiFi Headphones.

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