Audeze Unveils CRBN2: Redefining Electrostatic Headphone Technology with SLAM Innovation

By DaMarko Webster

Audeze, renowned for its premium headphones and cutting-edge audio technology, has announced the launch of the CRBN2, their most advanced electrostatic headphone to date. CRBN2 pushes the envelope with the introduction of Audeze’s patent-pending Symmetric Linear Acoustic Modulator (SLAM) technology. This breakthrough feature enhances transparency and bass response, delivering a sound experience that’s immersive and tactile like never before.

Building on Audeze’s expertise in electrostatic technology, the CRBN2 is powered by the company’s second-generation carbon-nanotube electrostatic driver, meticulously engineered for high-fidelity sound. SLAM technology plays a pivotal role, optimizing air pressure across the driver to amplify low-frequency performance without sacrificing clarity. This innovation delivers a deep, lifelike bass response paired with rich, three-dimensional spatial imaging, setting CRBN2 apart in the high-end audio market.

“With CRBN2, we’ve taken electrostatic technology to the next level by incorporating our new SLAM system, offering the most lifelike bass and transparency ever in an electrostatic headphone,” said Audeze CEO Sankar Thiagasamudram. “Our goal is to create an immersive audio experience that brings music to life, continuing Audeze’s legacy of innovation.”

The SLAM system, which enhances selected low frequencies and improves phase response, makes the CRBN2’s bass both physical and lifelike—an experience unmatched by any other electrostatic headphones available today. This advancement also allows for incredibly detailed stereo imaging and a soundstage presentation that immerses the listener in the music as if it were happening right in the room.

Each CRBN2 headphone is hand-assembled and tested by Audeze’s specialists in California, ensuring premium quality and craftsmanship. The design includes luxurious leather earpads and a suspension headband for extended listening comfort. Weighing just 480 grams and free from heavy magnets, the CRBN2’s electrostatic design ensures a lightweight, long-wear experience. The headphones are compatible with all 580-volt bias electrostatic amplifiers, making them accessible to audiophiles with existing setups.

CRBN2’s innovation traces back to its origins as part of a collaboration with Prof. Mark S. Cohen, Ph.D., and his team at UCLA’s School of Medicine. The CRBN line was initially developed for use in MRI machines, where traditional headphones couldn’t operate due to strong magnetic fields. Audeze responded with a carbon-nanotube-based electrostatic driver, now refined and integrated into the CRBN2, offering one of the most precise and immersive listening experiences available.

The CRBN2 is compatible with amplifiers using a 580VDC bias, widely known as “Stax Pro Bias,” ensuring broad compatibility with existing electrostatic amplifiers.