Audeze CRBN2 Review

April 16, 2025 4:28 pm

Few products capture the essence of luxury and sound quality like Audeze headphones. Lauded for their stunning design and superior sound performance, their new CRBN2 electrostatic headphones are built to satisfy the most discerning audiophiles. Retaining the elegance of the original model while incorporating advanced technology, the CRBN2 promises an unmatched listening experience. Let’s explore the features, design, and sonic capabilities of these electrostatic headphones, providing insights that will help you decide if they deserve a spot in your audio arsenal.

What You Get

CRBN 2 Headphones
Premium Aluminum carrying case
5-pin electrostatic cable
User manual

Look & Feel

The CRBN2 doesn’t make too many adjustments to the design introduced by the first CRBN. It’s not something that needed much tweaking, so I understand the lack of changes made by this new iteration. So if you thought that the original CRBN was one of the best-looking electrostatic headphones around, you’ll probably think that about the CRBN2 as well. In comparison to other high-end electrostatic headphones from the likes of STAX or Dan Clark Audio, the CRBN2 looks the most like a luxury item, using premium materials that reflect a premium listening experience. The CRBN2’s large circumaural earcups and pads ensure a soft and secure fit, while the highly adjustable suspension headband allows for a comfortable listen no matter your head size.

Design

The CRBN2’s transducer is a 120mm x 90mm electrostatic unit, with a housing made from magnesium, stainless steel, and polymer acetate. Its diaphragm is made from Ultra-thin polyimide film with infused carbon nanotubes. The diaphragm also incorporates SLAM technology to compensate lack of bass power with electrostatic drivers. Being an electrostatic headphone, the CRBN2 uses a 5-pin cable termination, so you will need the right amplifier to be able to run it. For this review, I used the STAX SRM-270S which is usually paired with the SR-X1, but it was able to power the CRBN2 quite well.

Soundstage

Electrostatic headphone soundstages are almost a different breed from planar and dynamic drivers. That’s never been more true than with the CRBN2. Stereo spaciousness is brought to a whole new level of dimension. Not a single sound that emanates from the headphones appears like it’s coming through a driver. Everything that can be heard through the CRBN2 is displayed as part of the open air. The stereo field takes on the appearance of a bubble wrapping around your headspace, and that headspace is quite large.

Sound elements have specific origin points and showcase proper distance from each other. Vocals hover slightly above you, almost like they’re aimed at your forehead. It’s a completely open and holographic soundstage that also has precise imaging, showcasing panning movement in distinct ways. There’s a level of width between the extreme left and right channels that broadens the scale of the CRBN2, allowing it to enter a grander depth that few headphones can replicate. The CRBN2 is cavernous but never loses focus in its layering and pinpoint accuracy.

Low End

You might not think electrostatic and bass impact go together, but the CRBN2 tries its hardest thanks to Audeze’s SLAM technology. How does it work in practice, though? The CRBN2 makes a lot of room for bass frequencies to feature full transparency and depth, but that doesn’t mean you’re always going to hear a consistent rumble from the sub-bass or an impact from the mid-bass. It still stays true to the performance without adding a significant amount of texture, but when called for, the lows sound big. It’s an incredibly tactile response that gives more than enough definition to bass notes.

You won’t find any unwanted resonance from the lows, as the CRBN2 tightly controls the frequency content in a way that makes the bass feel entirely physical. It won’t always reproduce the smoothest textures or the most immense vibration, but it’s a wonderfully natural timbre that is easy to be engrossed by.

Mids

I expected the mids to be lush and full, but the CRBN2 also adds a warmth to its timbre that allows for a ton of musicality in the midrange. The detail retrieval is operating at a high resolution, rarely ever feeling veiled or foggy. You get incredibly clear instruments that are put under a microscope, extracting artifacts and nuances in the mix that are underrepresented on other headphones. There’s a technical finesse to notes, especially pianos and woodwind instruments, but the slight coloration on the CRBN2 allows for the mids to draw you in with a unique character. The smallest bump in low-mid extension does a great job drawing you in, and keeps the midrange from appearing too neutral and clinical.

Highs

While rarely the most prominent aspect to this sound signature, the highs on the CRBN2 find a way to provide a distinct bite. It never gets too hot or peaky, but there’s an edge to these frequencies that extend reverb tails and make cymbals glisten. This is the most balanced part of the sound signature, with every instance of sparkle being met with a sense of control and evenness in correspondence with the rest of the mix. The highs also give the sound signature immense height, with high-end frequency information being dispersed elegantly to feel like all the rings and clicks are happening over your head.

Summary

The Audeze CRBN2 headphones stand as a testament to the brand’s commitment to excellence in both craftsmanship and sound quality. With their luxurious design, innovative technology, and meticulous attention to detail in audio reproduction, the CRBN2 offers an extraordinary auditory journey that is hard to replicate. Whether you’re delving into complex classical compositions or enjoying the latest rock album, these headphones deliver an unparalleled experience that embodies the very essence of high-end audio gear. If you’re in the market for headphones that fuse aesthetics with exceptional performance, the CRBN2 certainly warrants your consideration.