Amazing Audeze sound for everyday listening

Designed by BMW DesignWorks USA, the EL-8 Open-back headphones are stylish and comfortable.

Audeze has quickly built a top-notch reputation in the world of personal audio. Their striking headphones deliver vivid sound without distortion, preserving subtle musical nuances. Planar magnetic drivers produce a warm, detailed soundstage with a wide-open sense of depth and space. Donning a pair of Audeze 'phones is a riveting, rewarding ritual — more listening "event" than listening session.

Audeze crafted the EL-8 Open-back headphones to maintain the wonderfully expressive sound, while making them more convenient for everyday use. Three patent-pending technologies help keep the EL-8s smaller, lighter, and more efficient than most planar magnetic cans. This open-back version allows air and sound to flow freely. While a dedicated headphone amplifier will help them really sing, the EL-8 headphones sound great plugged directly into your smartphone or portable music player — which is where most of us find our music services and collections.

The planar magnetic advantage

Unlike the dynamic drivers found in most headphones, planar magnetic drivers rely on an ultra-thin diaphragm with a large surface area to generate sound. A flexible circuit is etched across the entire surface of the diaphragm, which is suspended within a magnetic field. When the circuit receives an audio signal, it causes the diaphragm to move back and forth — moving air and creating sound. Since it starts and stops so quickly, the resulting sound is clean and accurate across a wide frequency range. You hear tight, tuneful bass, smooth mids, and open highs. Music has a three-dimensional feel that's closer to listening to loudspeakers.

Audeze went back to the drawing board and created a lighter, more efficient headphone

Audeze has been a leader in developing planar magnetic headphones, and continues push the envelope. Ever tinkering, their sound engineers teamed with some of the best material science experts to find a way to reduce weight and increase efficiency in the EL-8s. They developed the patent-pending Fluxor™ magnet, which nearly doubles the strength of a traditional magnet. Typically in planar headphones, the magnetic field is created by two magnets on either side of the diaphragm. The EL-8s use a single-sided design with the stronger Fluxor magnet, making the headphones smaller and lighter.

Beautifully designed for style, comfort, and travel

BMW DesignWorks USA designed the EL-8 headphones to look and feel as good as they sound. Attractive wood veneer highlights the smooth edges of the earcups. A padded headband and earcups keep you comfortable as you listen. When you're done, the EL-8s fold completely flat for easy transport.

The Audeze EL-8 headphones are also available in a closed-back design.