Short answer: the Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition. It ranks #46 of 216 over-ear headphones by sound quality, rated 4.1/5, at $4,299; the Audeze CRBN ranks #67, rated 4.0/5, and costs $4,500, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
What the Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition does well: A preference score of 85 in oratory1990’s measurement, with the low mids within 0.1 dB of target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz only 1 dB shy, so instruments sound full and correctly weighted. Watch for: Sub-bass drops 6 dB below target by 27 Hz and averages 5.4 dB low from 20 to 60 Hz, so the deepest rumble in film scores and electronic music is muted.
What the Audeze CRBN does well: A preference score of 82 in oratory1990’s measurement, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz held within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and acoustic instruments sound accurate and natural. The tradeoff: It is an electrostatic headphone and needs a dedicated energizer, a significant extra cost on top of the headphone.
Buy the Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Audeze CRBN and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Headphones rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition | Audeze CRBN | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4,299.00 | $4,500.00 |
| Ranked | #46 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones | #67 of 216 in Over-Ear Headphones |
| Form Factor | Over-ear | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 85 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) | 82 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Deviation From Target | 2.31 dB standard deviation | 2.53 dB standard deviation |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) | Falls 6 dB below target at 50 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Connection | Wired | Wired |
| Back | Open | Open |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic | Electrostatic |
| Impedance | 60 ohms | - |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW | - |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (523 g) | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
| Built-in Microphone | No | No |
| Drivers | - | 1 x 120mm x 90mm push-pull electrostatic |
Related Headphone Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition:
- Warwick Acoustics Sonoma Model One vs Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition
- Dan Clark Audio Stealth vs Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition
- Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition vs HIFIMAN Susvara
- Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE vs Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition
- Dan Clark Audio Stealth vs Audeze CRBN
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Headphones In Full
Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition: $4,299.00 Headphones.com eBay
Pros: A preference score of 85 in oratory1990’s measurement, with the low mids within 0.1 dB of target and bass from 60 to 200 Hz only 1 dB shy, so instruments sound full and correctly weighted. Air above 10 kHz runs 3.3 dB above target for an open, detailed top end that suits fans of a lively, slightly V-shaped sound. It carries a higher rating than the similarly priced Audeze CRBN.
Cons: Sub-bass drops 6 dB below target by 27 Hz and averages 5.4 dB low from 20 to 60 Hz, so the deepest rumble in film scores and electronic music is muted. A 7.1 dB dip near 2.75 kHz pulls vocals back slightly. At 523 g it is a heavy headphone, and the open back offers no isolation.
Full Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition review and specifications →
| Released | 2019 (7 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.31 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Planar magnetic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 85 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Impedance | 60 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 98 dB/mW |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 27 Hz (-5.6 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.01 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 1.2 lbs (523 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.9 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +7.3 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 2,583 Hz | +7.1 dB | 2.31 |
| Peak | 83 Hz | -3.4 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 1,144 Hz | -2.8 dB | 1.56 |
| Peak | 498 Hz | +2.1 dB | 2.24 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -5.2 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 5,543 Hz | -2.7 dB | 5.99 |
| Peak | 55 Hz | -0.4 dB | 1.88 |
| Peak | 119 Hz | +0.3 dB | 1.72 |
| Peak | 1,962 Hz | +0.8 dB | 5.18 |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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Audeze CRBN: $4,500.00 Headphones.com eBay
Pros: A preference score of 82 in oratory1990’s measurement, with the midrange from 200 Hz to 6 kHz held within about 0.6 dB of target, so vocals and acoustic instruments sound accurate and natural. The large 120 by 90 mm push-pull electrostatic driver weighs in at only 300 g, light for a flagship. Listeners who want a neutral or gently warm sound are the closest match.
Cons: It is an electrostatic headphone and needs a dedicated energizer, a significant extra cost on top of the headphone. Bass falls 6 dB below target by 50 Hz and a 10.3 dB dip near 9.2 kHz dims cymbals and detail, so it can sound thin at the bottom and soft at the top. The Final Audio D8000 Pro Edition costs a bit less and carries a higher rating.
Full Audeze CRBN review and specifications →
| Released | Aug 2021 (5 years ago) |
|---|---|
| Back | Open |
| Built-in Microphone | No |
| Connection | Wired |
| Deviation From Target | 2.53 dB standard deviation |
| Driver Type | Electrostatic |
| Drivers | 1 x 120mm x 90mm push-pull electrostatic |
| Form Factor | Over-ear |
| Harman Preference Score | 82 (measured by oratory1990, via AutoEQ) |
| Sub-bass Extension | Falls 6 dB below target at 50 Hz (-7.1 dB at 30 Hz) |
| Tonal Tilt | +0.05 (negative is warmer, positive brighter) |
| Weight | 0.7 lbs (300 g) |
EQ preset to match the Harman target
Set a preamp of -6.2 dB, then add these filters in any parametric equalizer (Wavelet, Equalizer APO, Peace, or a player with parametric EQ). Calculated by AutoEQ from its measured frequency response.
| Filter | Frequency | Gain | Q |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low shelf | 105 Hz | +6.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 8,815 Hz | +5.4 dB | 1.73 |
| Peak | 1,053 Hz | -2.9 dB | 2.95 |
| Peak | 105 Hz | -1.6 dB | 0.33 |
| Peak | 3,129 Hz | -3.5 dB | 3.95 |
| High shelf | 10,000 Hz | -0.7 dB | 0.70 |
| Peak | 1,856 Hz | +1.9 dB | 4.22 |
| Peak | 5,905 Hz | -4.2 dB | 5.74 |
| Peak | 4,752 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.44 |
| Peak | 6,913 Hz | +2.5 dB | 5.96 |
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