Audeze CRBN Interview, Review, Measurements

[BassicScience]

I received my CRBNs today and have done some initial listening. One thing that isn't often mentioned is that if your ear touches the inside of the cup there is a very unpleasant sound and sensation as if the driver material inside the cup is sticking to the cup. It goes away, but if you lean against you chair and press on the outside of the cup this will happen. My initial summary is that there isn't anything so far that the Susvara doesn't do better. This is my first e-stat and I don't see, at this point, what all the fuss is about.

Admittedly, I only have heard the CRBN at CanJam under less-than-ideal circumstances, but I found I had a strong preference for the HFM Shangri-la Junior both in terms of its voicing, and especially in terms of its soundstaging. The CRBN seemed to exceed it slightly in bass extension and impact, but I also detected some graininess in the upper registers of the CRBN. (I'm planning to audition the CRBN again with familiar recordings to ascertain whether the graininess was a fault of the source material.) That said, I still found the CRBN to be a very capable headphone and an engaging listen overall. I will also note that the majority of people I spoke with at CanJam who'd heard both preferred the CRBN to the Shangri-la Junior.

My advice to people who love the Susvara and want to try an eStat is to strongly consider the Shangri-la Junior. I think they are cut from similar cloth sonically, but still make an excellent complementary pair.

 

[arnaud]

I appreciate your comment that stats are not magically superior to a TOTL planar. Now, I get it. There was no way to audition the CRBN so based on the sometimes over the top comments out there I took the plunge. When I add up the cost of the energizer/amp and the CRBN itself, the Susvara seems fairly priced what for what it delivers. I had to find out for myself what e-stats were all about. Now, I get it. I'm sure as I get used to them my opinion will soften, but compared to the Susvara or the Solitaire P, I don't see these being that special. I was more impressed with the Elites out of the box than the CRBN. You listen and you learn I guess.

You may find this an easy excuse but, could it be that the ifi transformer doesn’t cut the mustard at the level of expectation you have? From experience, we know large diaphgram estat phones requires significant drive (and direct drive typically outperforms transfomer based solutions), why would the CRBN be any different?

 

[BTD1]

You may find this an easy excuse but, could it be that the ifi transformer doesn’t cut the mustard at the level of expectation you have? From experience, we know large diaphgram estat phones requires significant drive (and direct drive typically outperforms transfomer based solutions), why would the CRBN be any different?

What you say could be the case, but from all that's out there, it would seem that the ifi iESL hooked up to an adequately powered speaker amp should be enough. I guess what I am suggesting is that there doesn't seem to be anything sonically "magical" about the CRBNs. Maybe better or different power would add something, but I can't imagine it would be enough to make the stand out against the Susvara. I was expecting something unique I guess.

 

[BassicScience]

You may find this an easy excuse but, could it be that the ifi transformer doesn’t cut the mustard at the level of expectation you have? From experience, we know large diaphgram estat phones requires significant drive (and direct drive typically outperforms transfomer based solutions), why would the CRBN be any different?

I haven't heard any of his power amps, but in my system, the iESL sounds absolutely outstanding. I'm hoping to A/B it to some dedicated eStat amps down the line, but I highly doubt it's going to be embarrassed by any of them. The iESL's transformers are (or were, sadly) engineered to a very high standard.

 

[arnaud]

Wrong thread but is the iESL discontinued or something?

 

[ThanatosVI]

Wrong thread but is the iESL discontinued or something?

Yes, they produced only one batch and it is sold out.

 

[04gto]

My advice to people who love the Susvara and want to try an eStat is to strongly consider the Shangri-la Junior. I think they are cut from similar cloth sonically, but still make an excellent complementary pair.

I think your analogy is spot on. I heard both the CRBN and Shangri-la Jr at Cam Jam as well. If you like the CRBN more than you may also be more inclined to prefer the LCD-5 to the Susvara, because the LCD-5 and CRBN are surprisingly similar 'sonically' as well. I did not like the Jr at all. Sounds thin and brittle to me, I even had a chance to spend more time with another Jr here in LA and the result was the same. Nowhere near enough weight to the notes. I had the same criticism, though to a far lesser degree, of the Susvara. That headphone is clearly special. While I preferred the LCD-5 as 'best in show', the CRBN was not far behind.

 

[number1sixerfan]

I appreciate your comment that stats are not magically superior to a TOTL planar. Now, I get it. There was no way to audition the CRBN so based on the sometimes over the top comments out there I took the plunge. When I add up the cost of the energizer/amp and the CRBN itself, the Susvara seems fairly priced what for what it delivers. I had to find out for myself what e-stats were all about. Now, I get it. I'm sure as I get used to them my opinion will soften, but compared to the Susvara or the Solitaire P, I don't see these being that special. I was more impressed with the Elites out of the box than the CRBN. You listen and you learn I guess.

I am also saying that a small amount of time with the CRBN (and or just not liking the CRBN overall) absolutely isn't a good reason to write of stats. It's one headphone and definitely not the best stat out there. You can't just listen to one pair of headphones, especially from a brand that just released its first ever and think it's a good representation of "what stats are all about". If that's what you chose to do, it's totally fine, I'm mainly stating for others reading these boards. .

 

[rayofsi]

just wondering if people received their CRBN yet, paid my dealer on 8/4.. Nothing yet

 

[ThanatosVI]

just wondering if people received their CRBN yet, paid my dealer on 8/4.. Nothing yet

4 months ago, pretty brutal

 

[ufospls2]

I guess I better seriously consider buying a pair of these now lol ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[BTD1]

Has anyone developed an EQ profile for the CRBNs?

 

[ufospls2]

Welp, ordered. Settling in for the wait : ) Should be pretty cool to try with the BHSE

 

[MaxH13]

Welp, ordered. Settling in for the wait : ) Should be pretty cool to try with the BHSE

Indeed they should be great with the BHSE.
A long wait but well worth it

 

[Ciggavelli]

Welp, ordered. Settling in for the wait : ) Should be pretty cool to try with the BHSE

Nice! I’m on week 6 of waiting since I ordered them. I assume with the holidays, my pair won’t ship until next year (hopefully January). We shall see