Audeze EL-8 Open-Back Review - Review 2022

Open-back headphones have always been a merchandise-off—in exchange for a significantly larger, more than open sound, yous have to accept that they will likely leak audio to your nearby coworkers or swain commuters. Add to that an increase in size, and it'south easy to write off open-back headphones similar the $699 Audeze EL-8 Open-Dorsum as expensive toys that are impractical for many mutual listening scenarios. But one time you put them on, most of that criticism virtually size and sound leakage swiftly fades. The EL-eight provide a sonic landscape rich in spatial detail, with an platonic remainder of lows and highs. These are headphones built for audiophiles, and they easily snag our Editors' Choice award.

Design
It should be noted there are other variations on the EL-8 available on Audeze'southward website. This is the open up-dorsum pair, which allows sound to projection outward from the earcups, creating a fuller, more than spacious soundstage. Evidently, this ways that those nearby tin can likewise hear your music, which makes the headphones less practical for public use. The open nature of the design also means that the EL-8 ($350.89 at Amazon) block out far less ambient room dissonance than a sealed pair this size typically will—yous will hear office chatter unless your music drowns it out.

The EL-eight are not subtle, if for no other reason than their massive size. This isn't to say the headphones aren't classy—wood veneer accents and brushed black metallic outer panels lend an air of sophistication, and the open venting of the outer panel is striking. The EL-8 house 100mm Neodymium drivers in each earcup. Audeze rates the frequency response at 10Hz-50kHz and the impedance at xxx ohms.

The circumaural (effectually-the-ear) design is exceedingly comfortable, thanks to plush padding on both the earpads and the underside of the headband. Click-cease points on either side of the headband also allow for a precise ear-to-ear fit, helping to preserve a perfect stereo image.

Audeze EL-8 Open-Back inline

The standard headphone cablevision included with the EL-8 connects to each ear via Audeze'due south "zync" connections and terminates in a three.5mm plug. A 0.25-inch headphone jack adapter is included. You lot can also choose from a diversity of cables to ship with your headphones: an Apple cable with an inline remote (no charge), a standard cable with no remote (no accuse), a Pono/Sony PHA3 cablevision ($49), or an Astell & Kern cable ($49).

The headphones also transport with a drawstring carrying pouch that the earcups can fold downward apartment to fit into.

Performance
On tracks with intense sub-bass content, similar The Knife'southward "Silent Shout," the EL-8 deliver powerful, deep bass with a richness and sense of space that but seems to come from open up headphone pattern. At summit, unwise listening levels, the EL-8 don't misconstrue, and at moderate levels, the low-end still feels powerful, but also well-balanced with the mids and highs in the mix.

Bill Callahan'southward "Drover," which lacks the powerful sub-bass elements of the previous rails, gives us a clearer thought of the EL-8's overall sound signature. The drums on this runway, which can sound comically thunderous on heavily bass-boosted headphones, sound full and rich, only never unnatural. Again, the open up design lends a sense of space to the listening experience that allows the mix to flourish and breathe. Callahan'southward baritone voice gets enough of full low-mid presence, but also a perfect level of high-mid and high frequency contour, every bit do the guitar strumming and the assault of certain drum hits. Certain elements—the early reflections of the drum hits, the subtle slap-back delay on the vocals—trip the light fantastic effectually the mix in the realistic infinite provided by the EL-8.

On Jay-Z and Kanye Due west's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop gets plenty of loftier-mid edge to go on its set on sharp and crisp, allowing it to cut through the layers of the mix. Headphones that have more high frequency sculpting tend to add a bit more punch to the loop, but the EL-8 deliver a more than counterbalanced response. Thus, the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat audio powerful, but they don't sound similar they're coming from a club PA system the way they tin can on overly bass-heavy drivers. The vocals on this rail float cleanly over the entire mix, with a bright presence that never veers into overly sibilant territory.

Orchestral tracks, similar the opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Mary, retain the focus on the mids and highs—the college annals strings, brass, and vocals own the spotlight, while the lower register instrumentation makes itself known merely when it would do so in a live scenario. In that location are sub-bass elements at moments in the mix, but they are subtle, and the headphones deliver them beautifully. This is a counterbalanced, flat response-manner audio that still manages to provide a solid sense of bass.

The Audeze EL-8 Open-Back sound amazing. If the open blueprint is not for y'all, or you lot just want to explore other options we've reviewed in this price range, we're big fans of the Beyerdynamic DT 1770 Pro ( at Amazon) , the Main & Dynamic MH40 ($172.80 at Amazon) , and the Shure SRH1540 ($499.00 at Amazon) . And if you are looking for a hi-fi sound on a much lower upkeep, the Sennheiser HD 598 ($299.95 at Amazon) evangelize excellent sound for the price. Only the Audeze EL-8 are a joy to heed to, and well worthy of our Editors' Choice honor for open-back headphones.