[MattTCG]

I don't think the el8 is intended to match any LCD performance.

 

[bfreedma]

I don't think the el8 is intended to match any LCD performance.

+1. It's an entirely different line from the LCDs and at the very least will have a different sound signature.

I think Audeze is positioning these as a step up for people who have come into the headphone universe from the commercial brands like Beats and are now looking for a better performing headphone. If they could capture 1/10th of 1% of Beats owners, the EL line would be a huge success.

 

[caracara08]

+1. It's an entirely different line from the LCDs and at the very least will have a different sound signature.

I think Audeze is positioning these as a step up for people who have come into the headphone universe from the commercial brands like Beats and are now looking for a better performing headphone. If they could capture 1/10th of 1% of Beats owners, the EL line would be a huge success.

 
So, you think the EL8's sound quality is geared towards commercial brand users and not their main demographic, us headphone enthusiasts?  I would be disappointed if the EL8 came and it was a step up from Beats, even the best Beats so I hope you are wrong there.  

 

[bfreedma]

+1. It's an entirely different line from the LCDs and at the very least will have a different sound signature.

I think Audeze is positioning these as a step up for people who have come into the headphone universe from the commercial brands like Beats and are now looking for a better performing headphone. If they could capture 1/10th of 1% of Beats owners, the EL line would be a huge success.

 
So, you think the EL8's sound quality is geared towards commercial brand users and not their main demographic, us headphone enthusiasts?  I would be disappointed if the EL8 came and it was a step up from Beats, even the best Beats so I hope you are wrong there.  

No, I don't mean that at all. I guess I should have been more clear that I see the SQ and target market were two different topics.

SQ - I expect the ELs to have a different sound signature than the LCDs. Still with the Audeze "house" sound but not a copy of the LCD.

Beats. I was speculating on Audeze looking to capture a chunk of the market of Beats owners who are looking for a headphone with significantly better SQ. Not a step up so much as moving into a different category of headphone quality.

 

[OrganMonster]

I am praying that the EL-8 audience will be folks that are in the grouping of the Senn HD-700, Sony Z7 and the Alpha Dog since they all fall into this price range. God help us if they are trying to grab some of the Beat's customers. I want a Audeze sound and not a Beat's sound signature.

 

[MattTCG]

Tomorrow should be the big day! Hopefully Mike will have the final production unit and can start sharing some serious impressions.

 

[lamode]

+1. It's an entirely different line from the LCDs and at the very least will have a different sound signature.

 
Which makes no sense to me as the LCD-3 and LCD-X have quite different sound signatures
 
I see no reason why the EL-8 can't sound like one of the LCD range, as a matter of principle, but there are bound to be some subtle differences as they are using some new techniques with the EL-8.

 

[notsimar]

As with all advancements in technology, I expect this generation to be better sounding, more durable, with better quality materials, and a further refined build process that makes it cheaper to build and more affordable for the consumer.  Sometimes the quest for TOTL to gain the last 0.001% of performance requires immense sacrifices in cost consideration.  This doesn't seem to be the intent of the EL-8, instead, it seems geared for the average enthusiast to appreciate all the learnings that Audeze has made to date.
 
So will it sound like an LCD*, to be honest, I don't think that really matters
 
As a consumer, I just want the EL-8 to take things a step forward for this price point.

 

[bfreedma]

+1. It's an entirely different line from the LCDs and at the very least will have a different sound signature.

 
Which makes no sense to me as the LCD-3 and LCD-X have quite different sound signatures
 
I see no reason why the EL-8 can't sound like one of the LCD range, as a matter of principle, but there are bound to be some subtle differences as they are using some new techniques with the EL-8.

Good point about the different sigs on the 3 and the X. I don't expect it to be radically different but do think the design/construction will result in the EL8s being a different presentation of the Audeze house sound.

Hopefully we start to see more reviews and commentary about production units soon. I've preordered the closed version with the anticipation that these will be my "portable" cans.

 

[VintageSTX]

  As with all advancements in technology, I expect this generation to be better sounding, more durable, with better quality materials, and a further refined build process that makes it cheaper to build and more affordable for the consumer.  Sometimes the quest for TOTL to gain the last 0.001% of performance requires immense sacrifices in cost consideration.  This doesn't seem to be the intent of the EL-8, instead, it seems geared for the average enthusiast to appreciate all the learnings that Audeze has made to date.
 
So will it sound like an LCD*, to be honest, I don't think that really matters
 
As a consumer, I just want the EL-8 to take things a step forward for this price point.

Agreed!

 

[the-kraken]

I see the BMW influence in the wood.  It looks EXACTLY like an interior wood trim option that BMW calls anthracite wood trim.  I wouldn't be surprised if the wood on the EL-8 is the same thing.

What's strange is that bmw also offers gloss black, brushed aluminum, matte carbon fiber, and gloss carbon fiber. Any of those would be better than the light wood on the prototypes.

Here's that matte carbon fiber,as seen on the shifter, emergency brake, center trim, and door handles.





So, I do think BMW design works can do good things.


Back on topic:
Actually, I've always been partial to Beyer Dynamics metal dominated designs. I think Bang and Oufsen could have consulted on a groovy design for the el8 as well. I do think the open backed el8 is very close. A nice brushed titanium ring instead of that veneer, and it'd be a winner in my book.

 

[YtseJamer]

If they could capture 1/10th of 1% of Beats owners, the EL line would be a huge success.

 
I really doubt that the Beats owners will be interested to buy the EL-8 when they will find out that the weight is 480g.

 

[greenkiwi]

Is that the weight with the cables?

 

[VintageSTX]

I think the EL-8's look pretty darn good. I personally like the dark veneer. Brushed metal MAY be nice IMO but wood seems more like Audeze to me.

 

[the-kraken]

Agreed - I think even two or three dark veneer options (cherry, walnut, Hawaiian koa perhaps) would be very fitting. The thing that kills the el8 veneer is the lcd-xc looking so damn fantastic!