Try the new focal Elear and you'll get exactly what you want. It's far lighter and more comfortable than the el8 and have a slightly more natural sound overallI couldn't agree more.....Like i have always said, give me the soundstage of the HD 800s in the EL-8 and I would never buy another headphone
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Audeze EL-8: The EL-8 is a must-hear at CES 2015
- Thread starter jude
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WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
Try the new focal Elear and you'll get exactly what you want. It's far lighter and more comfortable than the el8 and have a slightly more natural sound overall
At the same price point of the EL8 would be acceptable.
I did some comparisons to my LCD-4 a few nights ago. My impressions were actually pretty exciting and unexpected. I am so surprised the EL-8o doesn't get more credit to be honest. To me if I am being honest.. it is the most fun, enjoyable and musical headphones I own or have ever heard. It doesn't have the accuracy or transparency of the 4, and it's in-your-face sound signature kind of gets fatiguing after awhile (versus the laid back, warm/dark sound of the LCD-4 I can listen all day), but if I am listening for only a little bit and want something engaging and punchy and musical then I think the EL-8o's are one of my favorites of all time.
More impressions to come in my upcoming full length LCD4 review.
2016 EL-8o (to my ears): punchy, "loud", fun, musical, impactful and awesome!
More impressions to come in my upcoming full length LCD4 review.
2016 EL-8o (to my ears): punchy, "loud", fun, musical, impactful and awesome!
WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
I did some comparisons to my LCD-4 a few nights ago. My impressions were actually pretty exciting and unexpected. I am so surprised the EL-8o doesn't get more credit to be honest. To me if I am being honest.. it is the most fun, enjoyable and musical headphones I own or have ever heard. It doesn't have the accuracy or transparency of the 4, and it's in-your-face sound signature kind of gets fatiguing after awhile (versus the laid back, warm/dark sound of the LCD-4 I can listen all day), but if I am listening for only a little bit and want something engaging and punchy and musical then I think the EL-8o's are one of my favorites of all time.
More impressions to come in my upcoming full length LCD4 review.
2016 EL-8o (to my ears): punchy, "loud", fun, musical, impactful and awesome!
I felt the same way. I didn't like listening to all my 90s Hair Band stuff because I didn't have a headphone that made them sound good (like when I was younger). I often had to resort to my Philips SPH-9500 as they played them the best out of what I owned (Oppo PM-3, HE-400i, Heir 4.a CIEM, Klipsch S4). Out of all those headphones, the EL8-Open made everything much more enjoyable and engaging. I actually started listening to my Metallica, Def Leppard, and many others that I hadn't for quite some time (speakers were the only other things that made them sound good).
cocolinho
Headphoneus Supremus
To me if I am being honest.. it is the most fun, enjoyable and musical headphones I own or have ever heard. It doesn't have the accuracy or transparency of the 4, and it's in-your-face sound signature kind of gets fatiguing after awhile (....)but if I am listening for only a little bit and want something engaging and punchy and musical then I think the EL-8o's are one of my favorites of all time.
2016 EL-8o (to my ears): punchy, "loud", fun, musical, impactful and awesome!
I fully agree with your impressions
I currently own Edition X, LCD-3 & EL8 2016 Open. I still enjoy these EL8 with Mojo. They are really engaging and retain Audeze's sound-house. Big plus for me they are very comfortable to me & easy to drive. Unfortunately EU price is too deconnected vs US price.
2016 version is I think a real option for the mid-fi class. At least I would be pick up these over many contenders I tried such as Nighthawk.
Just bought LCD2 PreF to compare.
WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
I tried the Nighthawk as well, and at the time, preferred my HE-400i. I think the EL-8 O (2016) handily beats the HE-400i in all directions.
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I agree with you guys about EL-8O. These deserved more credit than they've ever received. My only complaint is what @Dillan mentioned. Soundstage width is mediocre and they get fatiguing after a while. On the other hand when you use a good desktop amp with a smooth signature, they get much better.
WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
I wonder if they would pair well with a good tube amp. I'm driving mine with the Schiit Vali 2, but that is a hybrid.
I wonder if they would pair well with a good tube amp. I'm driving mine with the Schiit Vali 2, but that is a hybrid.
They pair very well with a tube amplifier - I was kind of sad to see my DNA Sonett go, realizing only on the way out how good it sounded.
I wonder if they would pair well with a good tube amp. I'm driving mine with the Schiit Vali 2, but that is a hybrid.
sound like crap on BH Crack, not bad on Lyr2, a little bit better on Ember and best on UD-301.
natalieann
100+ Head-Fier
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Did Audeze bail on making more color options for the EL-8....I just ran across this picture.....I wish they would have released all these color options....
@natalieann, interesting picture, never saw it before but I like the dark tone wood finish best or my second choice would be the all black rather than the light color wood that I have.
WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
@natalieann, interesting picture, never saw it before but I like the dark tone wood finish best or my second choice would be the all black rather than the light color wood that I have.
Agreed. I saw someone on this thread did a stain on theirs. Looked great, but I'm not sure I would until warranty period was up.
natalieann
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Agreed. I saw someone on this thread did a stain on theirs. Looked great, but I'm not sure I would until warranty period was up.
that was me actually.....Probably wasn't the smartest, but they turned out pretty good
WayTooCrazy
Headphoneus Supremus
that was me actually.....Probably wasn't the smartest, but they turned out pretty good
They did come out nice. I'd totally do that and build a custom cable with brown paracord sheath. Would look fantastic!
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