ETA Genesis-G/P Impressions Thread

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by dematted, Apr 20, 2021.

  1. Philimon

    Philimon Friend

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    It’s totally acceptable and appreciated IF they have MOT disclosed like in their list of titles for better perspective and no hidden agendas.

    And to be fair, @E_Schaaf also doesnt usually respond to my PMs. :(:oops::D
     
  2. zach915m

    zach915m MOT: ZMF Headphones

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    Years ago when I started - numerous people in the industry explained to me that regardless of your intent, once your livelihood or future livelihood becomes tied to the product you make, or the work you do within your industry, a bias comes into play when talking about someone else doing the same thing as you. Whether that colors your opinion in a positive or negative light towards the others work, you will see that work in a different light, that is not free of judgment positive or negative. This is implicit bias.

    Whether our intent or good will is to have this bias or not, it is there regardless.

    It's best that us manufacturers let people who are enjoying our work, inform others who will do so in the same way, instead of tarnishing that area with our bias, regardless of our intent.

    I still love the hobby as much as anyone else, and there's been many times I wanted to post things about another companies work for a myriad of reasons - always positive, but my voice can't be heard in the same way because of how people view me. It's unfortunate but it is something we as manufacturers have to give up when we decide to cross the lines.
     
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  3. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    Apologies for taking so long to post a review. Very grateful to have the chance to listen to these.

    Chain is laptop/Spotify or YouTube > Eitr > ModiMB V2 > Valhalla 2 stock tubes, low gain (this amp recommended by @Tommy takis for Gen G and I happen to have one)

    I compared the Gen G to my HD6XX and an Elear w/Open pads (so very close to an Elex). I’d listen to 60 – 90 secs of 3 – 5 songs on each headphone to establish performance in a number of areas. Probably 20 songs in total. I focused mostly on:
    · male vocals
    · electric, acoustic & synth bass
    · acoustic guitar, violin, cello
    · overall tonality
    · transient response
    · dynamics & engagement

    Genres listened to:
    · Pop & rock from 60s to recent
    · Big band
    · Classical
    · Blues, mostly acoustic

    I find this method of evaluating tends to highlight differences, and some of what I describe below doesn’t manifest itself nearly as much when I just sit down for an evening’s listen not having heard other headphones in the recent past.

    So, how they compare (10 in the radar chart just means best of these 3 ‘phones):

    Male vocals:
    · HD6XX is quite good, I can listen for hours; its weakness is deeper voices where the elevated mid-bass can sound a little tubby (e.g. Kenny Chesney/Hemingway’s Whiskey)
    · Elex is noticeably thin in comparison; heard on its own, I hear it but didn’t mind so much. In rotation with the other 2, just didn’t want to listen for very long
    · Gen G has less bloat than HD6XX can have for a baritone, but I still slightly preferred HD6XX overall and especially for a good tenor like Sinatra
    · Note: I did listen to some female vocals, but either they were deeper voices like Tracy Chapman and the above applies, or I just didn’t notice enough difference

    Bass:
    · HD6XX is the weakest in this group – more bloat with deeper vocals than the others, so over-emphasized 100 - 200Hz?. And then it rolls off faster than the others so less deep bass
    · Elex is the best in this regard, bass is in balance with the mids and goes reasonably low
    · Gen G is bassier than I prefer - better in that 100 - 200Hz range than HD6XX, but it sounds like it is tilting up the deeper you go (e.g. Tracy Chapman/Fast Car – this sounds spot-on to me on the Elex but over-emphasized on Gen G). I know there are many adjustments to tune this, but we were asked to review in the configuration received. I did move the dental rolls to match the pictures in the thread because I had placed them differently when I received the ‘phones (they fall out easily).Given how much difference I heard just from that change, seems like this could be tuned to be better than the Elex

    Strings:
    · HD6XX to me just sounds lovely and natural on anything I threw at it
    · Elex is a small step behind, and I don’t think I can articulate why – HD6XX is just that bit smoother or refined. Maybe due to the thinness
    · Gen G I think I slightly prefer to the Elex, but not as good as HD6XX

    Tonality:
    · HD6XX is best through the mids, but does roll off faster than the other 2. For some music, it’s hardly noticeable (see Tracy Chapman above) but on some electronic rock it’s a little muted
    · Elex just sounds overall thinner than the other 2. I’m not listening to any particular instrument or voice, just what the music sounds like overall. Even if instruments only, it comes across as thin. I just didn’t notice this as much when I listened to it on its own, but the other headphones really bring it out.
    · Gen G I liked the best overall. Except for that bass, the way it presents music seems more realistic or lifelike than the others. The air it has pushes it above HD6XX

    Transient Response:
    · HD6XX is worst for transient response. That seems logical given its rolled-off treble, since the FFT of an impulse input can reach beyond hearing limits. Where I hear this – a drumstick on a hoop or wooden block, cymbals also, handclaps, etc. HD6XX also tames down instruments that are pushed too hard. (e.g. Voices of Music/Four Seasons/Winter – this is a fantastic recording using period instruments and things get just a little harsh at the most energetic points, which the HD6XX mostly glosses over; Sinatra/Fly Me To The Moon is another where the band is really let loose after the 1st 2 stanzas and the HD6XX doesn’t convey the bit of shrillness as much as the Elex and Gen G)
    · Elex shows how soft the HD6XX can be. Transients are easily more noticeable
    · Gen G I hear as on par with the Elex

    Dynamics & Engagement
    · Note: I feel there must be some connection between Transient Response and Dynamics & Engagement, so definitely some repetition here
    · HD6XX is the sleepiest of the 3. Sometimes that’s exactly what you want depending on mood or music. But electric guitar doesn’t have as much bite as the others. If you want that jolt from Elton John/Saturday Night’s Alright, well, it ain’t happening.
    · Elex does this well, just behind Gen G. Maybe being a bit thinner tonally, can be overdone compared to Gen G.
    · Gen G rocks, nothing else to say

    Stuff not on radar chart:
    · No comment on quality/finish, production will be nothing like these
    · I’ve never thought I had big ears, I fit fine in the other 2 ‘phones and any other over-ear I’ve tried. But the leather pads were a little too small for me to get all of my ear inside so they were uncomfortable
    · Headstage – normally don’t pay too much attention to this, but I realized the HD6XX were narrower than the other 2

    Final thoughts:
    • The HD6XX are keepers; sometimes they’re exactly what you want to listen to, and they’re a universal reference
    • The Gen G as auditioned I preferred overall to the Elex on this chain; larger pads and the ability to tune the bass to more neutral and this might be the perfect complement to the HD6XX for me
    Gen G radar chart.png
     
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  4. ergopower

    ergopower Friend

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    Follow up to evaluation
    I was pretty surprised how the Elex really trailed the other 2 in certain aspects. I maybe should have rated it a little lower for male vocals and tonality. It wasn't that I thought it was perfect, but it was generally an enjoyable listen. So a couple weeks after I sent on the Gen G, I spent time listening to the Elex on both the Valhalla 2 and a Garage 1217 Project Solstice. Big difference, a lot of that thinness disappeared on the Solstice and I was enjoying listening to it again. And that's not even one of the better-regarded Garage 1217 amps, it's an opamp output stage.
    So an equipment purge is probably coming, I'm thinking I should be looking into a Project Sunrise or a Vali 2+ or something like that.
     
  5. rrwwss52

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    Nothing but kudos Zach. Your stuff stands out as pure artwork and heirlooms.
     
  6. Azimuth

    Azimuth FKA rtaylor76, Friend

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    Now, forget what you know (or mostly know) and here is the new version:

    20220124_163813.jpg

    Gone are the dental cotton rolls that fall out, gone is the sticky felt pad in the center. Now these are the "tuning dots." Now a much more consistent back pressure and venting solution. The front foam is also cut by precision, so it also leads to less leakage and more consistent airflow. The pads are also custom, and everything is completely paid off here.

    The fit, styling, everything else is the same. What is different is of course the sound. Now I am supposedly the first person to hear with the dots. I know I contacted Ev early when the offer was put out there for a re-tune with these, and it was completely worth it.

    All I can say is that every thing about these is better. It seems to have cleaner resolution, better details, speed, clarity. The overall sound to me is pretty balanced. Some that want more bass can pull the upper top tuning dot. I like a more balanced sound, so my top dot is still on. They are an in-between of HD600 and HD650. Better low end than on a 650 as it digs deeper and has more low end definition, but the details and clarity are closer to that of the HD600, without the fatigue and spikyness.

    They have all the plankton, guitar picks, transients, and I have never heard a headphone really present each instrument so very open and clean. One track I have heard a thousand times and one of my test tracks is Aimee Mann's "Goodbye Caroline" and "Going Through the Motions" off her The Forgotten Arm album. I adore this album and is produced so incredibly well - T. Bone Burnett style, with one big open studio, but without all the T. Bone Burnett pretentioness. It is a dark sounding album, and so it should sound kind of dark and analog like - and on this new version of ETA Genesis, it was like listening to the tracks for the first time. The "Going Through the Motions" song has the drums hard panned hard right and on most headphones, will just make a hodgepodge of the all the oddly recorded acoustic music, including a eerie mellowtron. However, the presentation on Genesis was everything had a place and came out unbelievably clear.

    The other thing is that when I switched amps from the Ragnarok over to the Black Widow, it picked up all the nuance of the Black Widow amp. It made me realize how deep and open the Rag sounded and how the Black Widow is this almost aggressive, but very wide sound. I have done this A/B with other headphones, but never picked up so many differences between the two.

    Then my DIY custom cable broke. One channel went down. Just glad it was not an amp or driver that went down.

    Anyway, these new tuning dots are the new way for ETA for the moment and I know that Mini has them, which also has others singing those praises. Not just the dots though, it is really the whole package and how the headphones are all put together as a whole. And also one thing to look at FR's, but it is more than a good looking FR graph - they have to sound good. This is certainly a step to a high-end that is well deserved and one that is more durable and consistent.
     
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  7. Jerry

    Jerry Friend

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    Deeimn....this is looking much better definitely. Any update on the headband?
     

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