Audeze El-8 Review

If you are looking for a pair of wireless headphones, you will quickly realize that there are so many different options to choose from. Not only that, but there are a range of different specifications, and price options available with headphones too.

When purchasing a top of the range set of headphones, you will want to ensure that the headphones are of a good quality, and have everything you are looking for. After all, you wouldn’t want to splurge on a pair of headphones that are not worth the price you paid for them. 

One pair of top of the range headphones that are particularly popular are the Audeze EL-8’s, that are available in both open and closed back. They are recommended and loved by many people, but are they really worth the hype surrounding them?

In this article, we have tried and tested out these headphones so that you do not have to. We will be providing you with the full low-down on the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones to see whether or not they are worth purchasing, focusing on specifics such as their design and audio quality.

Audeze Company Background

Before we jump into our review of the Audeze EL-8 headphones, it is worth looking into the company background. When you are paying a significant amount of money for certain technology accessories, it is a good idea to look at the brand and its values, to see if it matches up to your own. 

Audeze is a popular company, and it is easy to see why. Their brand focuses specifically on creating high-quality headphones that have fantastic audio quality. In the grand scheme of things, Audeze is a fairly new brand, only being set up in 2008.

They are an American company, based in Orange County, California. Interestingly, the owners of the brand worked very closely with an ex-NASA scientist, to use materials that were originally intended for use in spacecraft. This was a game changer in the headphone world, and vastly improved the design and quality of the headphones they produce. 

The quality of their headphones has only improved over time, and while they are a more expensive brand to purchase, the brand loyalty is real. This is because many people are impressed with how great their headphones are. From their creation, the company has grown significantly over the years. 

Audeze El-8 Review

Here is our in depth review of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones. We have split our review into useful specification sections. 

Specifications and Design

The Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are fantastic. What we love about their design is their simplicity. They are sleek and contemporary in their design, and while they are simple, they look expensive and professional. 

This specific design is open backed, rather than closed back. The majority of the headphones are black, but they do feature small accents of wooden style elements. There is a specific way of listening to audio through these headphones, and the sides are clearly labeled with an L and R. 

The headphones only weigh a total of 1.01 pounds, which is very lightweight. This means that they are particularly comfortable to wear for longer periods, and they are easy to transport. 

They are a standard full size, and the height of the ear muffs can be adjusted depending on the size of the person’s head. Interestingly, these headphones were designed with BMW.

Cost

When it comes to the cost of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones, they are not the cheapest option to consider. However, they were released in 2015, and since then, Audeze have produced a number of different higher spec headphones.

As a result of this, the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are a great option to consider if you are looking for a less expensive alternative. While they are still more expensive in comparison to standard brands, they have decreased in price significantly. 

The price is certainly justified here, and if you have the money to splurge on these headphones, it is something we would recommend doing. 

Noise Control

Sound Quality

The sound quality of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones is fantastic, and one of the reasons why these headphones in particular remain a popular choice with many people. The quality of the sound produced does place these headphones head and shoulders above its competitors. 

They feature planar magnetic technologies that help to create an accurate and impressive sound. The transducer type used is planar magnetic, the magnetic structure is fluxor magnets, and the magnet type used is Neodymium. 

When it comes to the driver size, this is 100 mm. This helps to create very good dynamics and frequency responses, which improves the overall audio quality. The sound created is pro-grade, and the headphones are engineered in a way that they create accurate and acoustic sound. The sound is very realistic and immersive. 

The diaphragms used are ultra-thin, and create a response time that is three times faster than the average headphone. There are not many other companies that compete with this. The diaphragm, paired with the near zero distortion, creates a perfect and impressive sound quality.  

They create sound isolation which is fantastic, and allows you to focus on what you are listening to, rather than what is going on around you. The sound can be adjusted easily.

Build Quality

When it comes to the build quality of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones, this is where they are head and shoulders above the majority of competitors. The headphones are made using cutting-edge technology. 

The frame of the headphones is made with aluminum, and it is comfortable and extremely lightweight. The floating headband is great for users that are looking to wear these headphones for many hours. 

The ear muffs are made with faux leather rather than real leather, and they are a sturdy pair of headphones. You will not have to worry about them breaking easily. They are designed and created in the USA, and fold flat to stop them from breaking when not in use. 

The open back of the headphones helps to improve the quality of the sound, and the soundwaves produced. The waveform is more accurate as a result. 

Wireless Features

The Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are wireless, which is great if you want to listen to music or audio on the go. You don’t have to worry about the wires getting in the way, and it makes them easier to use. 

When the headphones are charging, you can still listen to music with them when they are plugged in, however. The wireless features operate using Bluetooth, and the overall connectivity is good. 

They connect to devices easily and accurately, just like any other type of Bluetooth headphones would. You don’t have to worry about them disconnecting easily, and the battery life is great too. It is easy to charge them.

Warranty

The Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are protected by a warranty which is important. When you are purchasing more expensive headphones, you want to have the reassurance that they can be repaired or replaced due to the warranty if anything were to happen to them. 

Pros:

  • Comfort — The Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are comfortable to wear and are lightweight, which is important for those looking to wear the headphones for longer periods of time.
  • Design Quality — The design quality of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones is exceptional. They are well-made, durable and built to last for many years.
  • Audio Quality — The audio quality of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones is exceptional, and puts these headphones head and shoulders above competitors. This is due to the high-quality materials and technology used. 
  • Design — They feature a contemporary and sleek design that is simple, but effective. They will appeal to the vast majority of people.

Cons:

  • Cost — As to be expected, the only real con for these headphones is the cost. While they are less expensive to purchase now, they are still fairly expensive in comparison to other types of wireless headphones. While the price is justified, some people will not be able to afford this. 

Summary

We hope that you have found this in-depth review of the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones interesting and insightful. As you can see, there are many pros when it comes to these headphones. They are very impressive, and the quality of the materials used is difficult to beat. 

Not only this, but the audio quality is incredible too. It is crisp, clear, and head and shoulders above many competitors. While these headphones are more expensive to purchase in comparison to the average set, they are certainly worth splurging on. 

Overall, the Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones are a product we would definitely recommend trying. The company is reliable, and as they are covered by a warranty, this will provide you with peace of mind when purchasing. They are contemporary, attractive, and also comfortable, which is important. 

Last update on 2023-02-06 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API