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Image © AmazonAudeze EL-8 Open Back
At a glance
- Brand
- Audeze
- Type
- Over-Ear
- Fit
- open
- Connection
- Wired
- Noise cancelling
- No
- Released
- 2015
Score breakdownweak overall
Sound6.9
The Audeze EL-8 Open Back is a planar magnetic headphone with a robust build, premium materials, and deep, detailed bass. It offers strong mids, decent highs, and an impressive soundstage, making it a solid choice for rock, punk, grunge, and hip hop, though not ideal for classical music.
The HearWiki takeAI-condensed
The Audeze EL-8 Open Back is a premium planar magnetic headphone with large 100mm drivers, delivering a rich, spacious sound with deep bass and clear highs. Its open-back design and robust build make it a solid choice for genres like rock and hip-hop, though its weight and price may not suit everyone. With low impedance and high sensitivity, it pairs well with a variety of sources.
What works
- Excellent bass response and clarity
- Premium build quality and materials
- Spacious, open soundstage
- Efficient and easy to drive
- Foldable design for portability
What doesn't
- Heavy at 520g, may cause fatigue
- Open-back design leaks sound
- Not ideal for classical music
- Pricey for some budgets
Paraphrased from published reviews & specs - not an original hands-on test. Our AI disclosure.
Specifications
| Driver | 100 mm planar magnetic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | planar |
| Driver size | 100 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
| Impedance | 30 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
Audio
| Driver | 100 mm planar magnetic |
|---|---|
| Driver type | planar |
| Driver size | 100 mm |
| Drivers per side | 1 |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz - 50 kHz |
| Impedance | 30 Ω |
| Sensitivity | 102 dB/mW |
Features
| Active noise cancelling | No |
|---|
Design
| Weight | 520 g |
|---|---|
| Foldable | Yes |
| Model code | 200-E8-1211-00 |
Where to buy
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What the reviews said
5 source(s) feeding this product's score.
What YouTube reviewers say
Video reviews we found, each condensed to its verdict. They do feed the HearWiki score, at a measured weight below what a published written review carries.
4:36Audeze EL-8 Open Back Headphones Review; $700 Big High Quality
The reviewer finds the Audeze EL-8 Open Back headphones to be large, well-built, and capable of excellent sound when paired with an external amplifier or DAC, but notes they sound only average when driven directly from a phone. They are considered a good purchase for home listening with proper equipment, though their high price, short cable, and sound leakage limit their appeal for portable use.
MixedWatch on YouTube
Summaries are AI condensations of each video's own conclusion, not transcripts. Titles, thumbnails and view counts belong to their channels.
What owners say
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