Packaging and Accessories

Audeze operates a web shop, and this sample shipped directly from the company. As such, we begin with the shipping packaging to better represent how paying customers would receive the CRBN. The shipping box is appropriately sized, although with Audeze-branded tape, and more branding stickers on multiple sides with one even mentioning the contents inside. I would rather see a stealthier approach, knowing these are extremely expensive headphones. Inside is the product case which comes in a shaped-to-fit bubble wrap supported by thick foam sheets around the sides, for further protection against overzealous couriers.


We saw previously that Audeze has a new standard travel case some of its more affordable headphones now ship in, and there is a more expensive premium travel case adopting a more rugged, overkill approach for the more expensive sets. With the CRBN and LCD-5 having pushed the upper boundary of Audeze headphone pricing to new levels, the company decided to upgrade the case to what it calls the aluminium travel case which costs $175 by itself. True to the name, this is a lightweight, sturdy all-aluminium case that can be mistaken for an office briefcase from afar. There is Audeze branding on the front now and the case measures 36 x 27 x 18.5 cm. While cool to the touch, this is fully weatherproof and has heavy-duty feet on two sides, to be set down horizontally or vertically. An oversized handle and two locking latches complete the case, and this may well just be the best-looking, feeling, and functioning headphone case I have seen to date.


To give more context on how this new case looks compared to the Audeze standard travel case—previously referred to as the economy travel case—I have above a photo of the two together. The new aluminium travel case is lighter, broader, narrower, and has a cleaner design, owing to the lack of reinforced corners since everything is made out of aluminium. I also appreciate the dual latches when compared to the single latch in earlier and lower end models, so this is a clear upgrade in my books. Note that this case can't be used with other Audeze headphones, owing simply to the size and shape of the headphones, and upon opening it we see custom-machined foam on the inner lining and main compartment, with cutouts to snugly fit the CRBN on the left, and an accessory compartment on the right.


A thin slit cut into the front hosts some paperwork in the form of a handwritten certificate of authenticity, with the serial number of the CRBN unit and assembly date. Audeze also provides a card that reminds you to see if there are any applicable downloads or user manuals on the Audeze website where you would find a handy video guide specific to the CRBN and a note on using Audeze's excellent Reveal+ plug-in we saw before—no support for the CRBN in there as of writing this review though! A set of included keys also lock the case for more security, and we see a pair of soft white-colored gloves to allow you to handle the CRBN without getting your grubby fingerprints all over it. These are uni-size gloves that stretch to fit most hands, and they came in handy for taking out the headphones from the plastic bag it comes placed inside. Unlike Audeze's planar magnetic headphones, there is no cylindrical foam piece between the ear cups to minimize the ear pads and drivers from hitting each other. The CRBN being an e-stat, you would not want to have anything there at all, so we instead find dessicant to remove residual moisture in addition to the plastic cover to keep dust out.