Selected Comparisons
The following comparisons to the Camerton Binom-ER with the A-Classic pads were completed using a mix of the dCS Lina Master Clock, Network DAC, and their Headphone amplifier as well as the Ferrum WANDLA GSE, OOR, and HYPSOS.
Audeze LCD-5
The Audeze LCD-5 was launched in mid-2021 and is still the company’s flagship open-back planar headphones at the time of writing
Technical
The LCD-5 marked something of a departure for Audeze with a new, and slightly smaller 90mm planar driver size compared to the 98mm version inside the Binom-ER.
However, it’s not a complete rewrite, with a lot of Audeze’s legacy tech still present including Fazor waveguides, a nano-scale diaphragm thickness, as well as 14 slightly lower-tier Neodymium N50 rather than N54 magnets in a single-sided Fluxor magnet array.
What is central to the LCD-5 and the Binom-ER is the direct focus on maximizing the efficiency of their drivers, with Audeze in particular looking to move away from the high impedance rating of its previous LCD-4.
The main factor in this is LCD-5’s Nano-Scale Parallel Uniforce™ which is comprised of a new trace pattern with varying-width parallel traces that increase voltage headroom by altering the current density within each trace.
The net result is a more controlled diaphragm and a reduced load down to 14Ω with a max SPL of 130 dB/Vrms.
This is indeed a lower impedance value than the 42Ω rating of the ultra-pure aluminum trace driver inside the Binom-ER but on the flipside, the Binom-ER is more sensitive than the LCD-5 requiring less volume. Subjectively, I also find the Binom-ER to perform better on weaker sources.
Design
Both planar headphones are on the smaller side with compact form factors, classic round cups, and a design language that emphasizes using lightweight materials to complete the construction.
The pros and cons of each will largely be determined by what you prioritize physically in a headphone.
The LCD-5 engineering has a little more sophistication in terms of articulating parts. There is more room for adjustment with an almost 180-degree articulation in the cups and a pressure strap that efficiently dissipates vertical pressure scalp hot spots.
And yet, the Binom-ER is the more comfortable of the two headphones despite the more rigid frame due to the comfier Alcantara earpads and more relaxed clamp. It does generate slightly more vertical pressure points with its lack of a pressure strap but it’s rather minor.
It is also a few grams lighter but this is less of an enduring factor than comparing the Binom-ER to a headphone as heavy as the LCD-4.
Stylistically, I honestly think both have equal appeal but in different directions. The LCD-5 is quite dashing with its mix of ‘carbon fiber and Tortoiseshell’ dyed and polished acetate enclosures.
There is an element of modernity to its shaping with a more minimalist simplistic approach than previous LCD models.
The Binom-ER takes minimalism and clean lines to the next level with the all-black version but if you want a bit more bling then opt for the silver/olive alternative.
One final remark is the connector system. Mini-XLR has never failed me but I can see how it adds a fair bit of bulk to the LCD-5 when looking at the USB-C system on the Binom-ER. I just wish there were more cable choices on the market to try it out with the Camerton system.
Performance
These two are very different, almost as if the LCD-5 tuning took the Binom-ER FR and turned it upside down.
For example, the weight, depth, and bass texture are firmly with the Binom-ER. If you want a rich underbelly to your note timbre and a superior fundamental frequency right down to the sub-bass percussion then the Binom-ER delivers on that expectation.
The LCD-5 is taught, fast, clean, and neutral but perhaps too neutral on the lows, creating a shallow flatter sound signature that robs it a little of the all-important staging depth for some modern rock, pop, and synthwave.
It’s the 1-5k region, or ear gain as some call it, that the LCD-5 focuses on. Some vocal lovers will enjoy this strong presence, though others might find it a bit shouty.
Combine that with some additional energy up to 8k and you get more contrast in the note timbre, and some additional bite and energy in higher register percussion compared to the smoother and more relaxed Binom-ER.
Arguably, the Binom-ER has a darker sound through the upper mids and lower treble and is not quite as filled-in sounding as the LCD-5.
However, this tuning can create an additional perception of space between the listener and the singer. Combined with the stronger presence on the lows it can create a more immersive and enveloping staging quality quite different from the more intimate and rounded staging quality of the LCD-5.
I would pick the Binom-ER if you need depth, power, and a smoother relaxing tone to your music. Go with the LCD-5 if you prefer neutral, vocal first performances and some bite and contrast in your percussion.
ABYSS Diana DZ
The ABYSS Diana DZ was launched in the middle of 2024 and is currently their flagship Diana series open-back planar headphones.
Technical
Not sure if it is a design or technical point but there is a rich irony in the Diana DZ looking like the more portable headphone but in fact, it needs a quality desktop amplifier to sound optimal.
The larger Binom-ER looks more desktop but is just as happy when paired with a portable source.
All roads lead to the drivers being used and here are two companies both constantly refining an original driver made in their respective countries through the years.
The difference here is the release of new headphones to mark each new iteration from ABYSS including the lower tier Diana MR, the previous flagship TC, and before that the Phi.
The rating of the smaller 63mm planar driver inside the Diana DZ is a clue at 50Ω with an SPL of 92 dB/mW.
ABYSS has gotten closer to portability with their recent MR. However, the flagship Diana Series, including the DZ, lacks a bit of sensitivity and needs a good amp to sound optimal. The Binom-ER driver is the more sensitive of the two drivers.
Design
I have a soft spot for the Diana series petite retro-styling right from the start. However, I appreciate that comfort has always been a challenge for this diminutive flagship, primarily due to the sharper-edged fluted earpad design and thin, almost padding-free, headphone headband.
If I were to compare the TC, Phi, and original Diana series headphones I would tell you right away that the Binom-ER is by far the comfier fit with its deep and lush Alcantara materials, better foam protection on the headband, and improved pressure distribution.
And yet, the DZ is much closer now due to the inclusion of a pressure strap, something which ABYSS is now retro-fitting on all of its cheaper MR options to bring the fitting up to par.
The weight difference is negligible also so it largely comes down to how flexible the frame and fit is of each to your head as neither have articulating cups.
I would give a slight edge to the Binom-ER if you are using the Alcantara perforated pads, largely down to the large inner cavity size and slightly longer distance from the cup so my ear is not touching the driver.
That being said, the pads on the Diana DZ can also be changed to softer, lush vegan suede options but I find the sound signature a little less to my liking from these pads.
Aesthetically, the panache of the DZ has an edge for me compared to the Binom-ER black sample though the liver and silver might give the myriad of DZ finishing options a run for its money. The inclusion of a stock carry case for the DZ is something Camerton should consider.
Finally, both use unique stock cable solutions that do a wonderful job of minimizing bulk and neither are easy to roll.
Performance
Some of the conclusions from the LCD-5 comparison can be applied here as well, since the Diana DZ’s energy and elevation picks up post-1k, whereas the main thrust of the Binom-ER FR is an elongated shelf up to 1k.
That ‘dark versus light’ changes a lot in terms of timbral coloration and staging perception with the Diana DZ quite neutral in tone, flatter in the lows, with more focus on drawing you into detailed mids and articulated, expressive highs.
The Binom-ER is far deeper and firmer sounding with more body and warmth through the mids and highs, creating a very smooth almost seductive tonal coloration.
Subjectively, you will hear the Diana DZ as faster, courtesy of a stronger level of tonal contrast but also a slightly drier quality from its smaller driver. There is a tautness to its delivery, with a stronger emphasis on micro-detail and nuanced imaging beyond 1k.
I do not find the Binom-ER lacking in imaging though. Rather, its treble tuning is less of a chest-beating exercise in technical gymnastics.
If anything, its staging is more spacious than the Diana DZ courtesy of the perceived enhanced space between the listener and relaxed vocal imaging combined with that excellent depth and weight down to 20Hz.
I also have to mention that for some lower register voicing, the Binom-ER is every bit as persuasive as the Diana DZ in terms of presence, just with the bonus of some, at times desired, euphony.
Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE
The Dan Clark Audio EXPANSE was launched in late 2022 and like the previous two comparisons, it is also the company’s flagship open-back planar headphones.
Technical
Like the Diana DZ, the EXPANSE is designed to look and feel like a portable headphone with its articulating folding frame system. However, unlike the Binom-ER, it needs a desktop setup with power to sound optimal.
From my experience, DCA planar drivers generally like power and good volume headroom, and the EXPANSE is no exception with a sensitivity rating of approximately 86 – 87 dB/mW ranged against a low impedance of 23Ω which is less of a factor in amp matching.
We are on the 4th gen of this slightly smaller 76mm planar driver inside the EXPANSE, one that has been used in the Stealth and before with previous generations.
The key distinction here is the AMTS or Acoustical Metamaterial Tuning System which allows DCA to fine-tune the drivers’ performance as well as act as a programmable Helmholtz or quarter-wave resonator. The EXPANSE is the 2nd in a line of 4 to use this system with the others including the Stealth, CORINA, and the E3.
Design
I think Camerton has done a fantastic job producing a good quality comfortable design for their debut Binom-ER.
However, I have to admit that DCA is further down the line in headphone engineering with their innovative foldable frame system which creates a very small and portable form factor with a carry case to match.
Even with the additional carry case purchased, the Binom-ER is bigger, more rigid, and thus less portable, and more transportable.
That being said, in full flow, the Binom-ER is technically more compact, less flowy, and not as tall as the EXPANSE.
Teardrop cups by their very nature are longer than traditional rounded cups with a long vertical contact surface area to the neck that some find less comfortable than the Binom-ER’s more compact contract area.
Personally, that has never bothered me though the narrower and shallower EXPANSE cup opening has a lot of space above and below. In contrast, the Binom-ER Alcantara pads seem to surround my ears perfectly.
The EXPANSE is a little heavier but its pressure strap and weight distribution system make it very comfortable on my head. The tactile experience is different from the Binom-ER, which has a little more lateral to vertical pressure, which is mitigated by the deeper Alcantara pads.
Cables are a little more standard on the EXPANSE with Hirose connectors. I have always found Hirose to be a very stable and easy-to-use system but like mini-XLR plugs they are bulky.
One of the advantages of EXPANSE teardrop cup styling is that DCA can slide them right to minimize external bulk. Even so, the Binom-ER analog USB-C connector is the king of low profile.
Performance
The EXPANSE is more ‘Harman-centric’ in its tuning, with a push north of neutral around 3-5k and a slight dip below neutral from 500Hz up to 2k. Compared to the closed-back Stealth it offers a more mid-bass punch and decent presence on the lows.
As such I find the EXPANSE quite nicely balanced in some parts but subjectively it pulls me to different genres and styles compared to the weightier and darker-sounding Binom-ER.
With modern pop, R’n’B, and anything that needs a firm set of lows, the Binom-ER outmaneuvers the EXPANSE. For recordings that need more bass-to-midrange separation and a stronger cleaner vocal presence, the EXPANSE is a good fit.
I have not changed my view of the EXPANSE since I reviewed it. It’s still a class act for live rock and metal performances where you want that mosh pit vibe without any associated congestion.
Its lower-mid dip and upper-mid peak keep fast-paced rock recordings with guttural vocals clear and easy to listen to. Nothing seems out of whack though with drier solid-state pairings the EXPANSE can sound steelier and less forgiving than the Binom-ER.
The Binom-ER does better with instrumental fundamental frequencies so drum and bass guitar pluck work has more gravitas and texture. However, if the lows get too busy those lower-pitching vocals can sometimes lose a bit of focus.
Where the Binom-ER convinces is when the vocal mixing has some space around it and the driving energy of the bass shifts a bit lower to 100Hz and beyond. Here the PRaT from the Binom-ER is more convincing rendering the EXPANSE performance comparatively lean sounding.
Soundstage lovers will probably opt for the Binom-ER. It lacks a little height and upper mids air compared to the EXPANSE but it’s generally more holographic sounding with better width and depth.
My Verdict
The Camerton Binom-ER is a svelte-looking, comfortable set of high-end open-back planar headphones, with a beautiful mix of impressive low-end power and a natural tonal quality throughout.
If I have one critique or preference, I would pick the Classic pads over the A-Classic pads. They sound more balanced to my ear and have less of the A-Classic pad’s low-end bloom. However, YMMV on this one, as it is a personal preference.
It also delivers on what some high-end competing headphones promise to do but can often fall short in reality; sounding seriously good on desktop amplifiers and portable devices.
Not just high-powered DAPs, but smaller performant dongles are serious pairing options for these high-end planar headphones.
This is a relative game changer in my opinion, and just in time for that busy trade-show floor season where desktop amplifiers are often in short supply to try out quality headphones such as these.
Camerton Binom-ER Technical Specifications
- Transducer principle Isodynamic
- Impedance 42Ω
- Frequency response 8Hz-51kHz
- Distortion < 0,01 % @ 94 dB
- Max. SPL >135 dB/Vrms
- Transducer size 98 mm
- Design Over-ear, open back
- Connectivity Multi-contact symmetrical connecting system
- Material Aluminum
- Weight 375g
