Audeze

Audeze — Planar Magnetic Headphones That Redefine What Headphones Can Do

Founded in 2008 in Santa Ana, California, Audeze (pronounced "odyssey") entered the headphone market with a single, disruptive proposition: bring planar magnetic driver technology — previously confined to room-filling speakers and eye-wateringly expensive specialist headphones — to a product that could be worn, carried, and used in professional studio environments. Within a few years, the LCD series had established itself as one of the most respected headphone lines in the audiophile community, trusted by recording engineers, mastering professionals, and serious listeners who needed to hear their music with absolute accuracy. Today, Audeze spans professional studio monitors, audiophile reference headphones, and one of the most technically advanced gaming headset lineups available.

What Is Planar Magnetic Technology?

Understanding why Audeze headphones sound the way they do requires a basic grasp of how planar magnetic drivers work — because they are fundamentally different from the dynamic drivers found in almost every other headphone on the market.

A conventional dynamic driver works like a miniature loudspeaker: a voice coil attached to a cone or dome is suspended in a magnetic field, and when current passes through the coil, the cone moves and creates sound. The problem is that the driving force acts only on a small part of the diaphragm — the coil attachment point — which means the rest of the diaphragm is being pushed along rather than actively driven. This creates distortion and limits transient speed.

A planar magnetic driver takes a completely different approach. An ultra-thin diaphragm — in Audeze's case, measured in microns — has a conductive trace pattern distributed across its entire surface. When current flows through this trace, the entire diaphragm surface is driven simultaneously and uniformly within a magnetic field created by arrays of magnets on both sides of the diaphragm. The result is dramatically lower distortion, faster transient response, more accurate bass reproduction, and a larger, more coherent soundstage than dynamic drivers typically achieve. The physics are simply different, and the difference is audible from the first listen.

The LCD Series — Audiophile Reference Headphones

The LCD (Liquid Crystal Diaphragm) series is the heart of the Audeze range and the foundation of the brand's reputation. Each model in the series is built around Audeze's proprietary planar magnetic drivers with their trademark ultra-thin Uniforce diaphragm and Fluxor magnet arrays, housed in real wood earcups with a suspension headband designed for long listening sessions.

The LCD-2 Classic is the entry point to the LCD range and remains one of the most acclaimed headphones in its price bracket. Available in both open-back and closed-back configurations, it delivers the full planar magnetic experience — deep, controlled bass, smooth midrange, and extended treble without harshness — at $799 (open) and $899 (closed). The open-back version in Padauk wood earcups ($995) adds visual distinction alongside the acoustic openness. For listeners moving up from dynamic driver headphones, the LCD-2 Classic is frequently described as a revelation.

The LCD-X steps up with a more extended frequency response and greater technical resolution, suited to critical listening and studio monitoring. At $1,199 in both standard and Creator Package configurations, the LCD-X is the choice for producers, mixing engineers, and audiophiles who need a headphone that tells the unvarnished truth about a recording. The open-back design creates a naturally expansive soundstage that closed-back headphones struggle to replicate.

The LCD-XC brings that same level of technical performance in a closed-back design — the carbon weave earcups are visually striking and acoustically effective, providing isolation for studio tracking or listening in shared spaces without the acoustic compromise that lesser closed-back designs impose. At $1,299 in the Creator Edition with carry case, it's the professional's choice when open-back isn't an option.

MM Series — Professional Studio Monitors

The MM series was developed in direct collaboration with legendary mixing engineer Manny Marroquin — whose credits include decades of platinum records across every major genre — to create headphones that translate perfectly to professional monitoring environments. The MM-100 ($350) is the accessible entry to the MM range: open-back, planar magnetic, and tuned specifically for mixing work where tonal balance and accurate low-end reproduction are non-negotiable. The MM-500 ($1,699) is the professional reference version — a headphone that top-tier engineers trust for critical decisions that will translate across every playback system in the world.

Gaming Headsets — Audiophile Technology for Competitive & Immersive Play

Audeze's gaming lineup applies planar magnetic driver technology to headsets in a way no other gaming brand has matched. Where most gaming headsets use cheap dynamic drivers and rely on DSP to create a facsimile of spatial audio, Audeze headsets produce genuine spatial accuracy through driver quality alone — which means positional audio in competitive games is more precise, and cinematic soundscapes in narrative games are more immersive.

The Penrose ($299) is the accessible wireless entry — compatible with PlayStation, Mac, PC, and Switch — with Audeze's 100mm planar drivers and low-latency 2.4GHz wireless. For players moving up from standard gaming headsets, the Penrose is a transformative upgrade in audio quality at a price point that remains within reach.

The Maxwell bundle for Xbox Series X|S represents the current flagship wireless gaming experience, including headphone holder, cleaning supplies, stereo plug, and carry case alongside the headset itself — a complete premium package for the serious Xbox setup.

The LCD-GX ($899) is the summit of gaming headset performance — the full LCD series planar magnetic driver technology in a headset with a broadcast-quality boom microphone. Wired, all-analog, and built to the same standard as the audiophile LCD range, the LCD-GX is for players who won't compromise on audio quality and want their gaming headset to double as a serious listening tool.

Why Choose Audeze?

• Planar magnetic drivers — fundamentally superior transient response, lower distortion, and more accurate bass than dynamic driver alternatives
• Made in the USA — designed and manufactured in Santa Ana, California
• Professional trust — used in recording studios and mastering suites by working engineers
• Full range coverage — from the $299 Penrose gaming headset to the $1,699 MM-500 professional monitor
• Real materials — wood earcups, premium leather, suspension headbands built for extended wear
• Genuine gaming performance — spatial accuracy from driver quality, not DSP tricks