E_Schaaf
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E_Schaaf

MOT: E.T.A Headphones, from Staten Island, NY

Pyrate BWC

Does anyone happen to know what's currently the most efficient electrodynamic headphone on the market? Apr 10, 2024

    1. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      After working with two customers designing full systems for many hours spanning weeks, both ghosted. So much time and $30k in sales... gone.
      1. Lyander and Ash1412 like this.
      2. Ash1412
        Ash1412
        People are always quick to flame the dealership model for driving prices up but you guys do a huge bulk of the work for uninformed customers. Better luck next time.
        Oct 2, 2019
        E_Schaaf and Lyander like this.
      3. Mithrandir41
        Mithrandir41
        Ungrateful bitches.
        Oct 2, 2019
        Ash1412, tommytakis and Jinxy245 like this.
    2. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Just signed a consultation agreement for part-time work with Rosson Audio Design. Guess I'm now a dual MOT? Life has some weird turns.
      1. View previous comments...
      2. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        Congrats! Very cool.
        Sep 29, 2019
      3. tommytakis
        tommytakis
        holy crap, that's amazing. Congrats dude!
        Sep 29, 2019
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Thanks everyone! I'll be helping with assembly as well as R&D / tuning. Definitely a startup vibe, small team, lots of room to experiment. Should be fun!
        Sep 30, 2019
        Jinxy245 likes this.
    3. Superexchanger
      Superexchanger
      (mispost, sorry)
    4. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      I used to sleep with music on. Now the system is too dynamic at low levels for sleep - transients keep me awake. A problem I'm happy with!
      1. RobS, hikergrl, Syzygy and 3 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Believe me @skem if I could afford it I'd have literal stacks of subs floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall. I am not ashamed of being a basshead when it comes to loudspeakers. Headphones are a different story since they'll never rattle my ribcage regardless of relative bass quantity.
        Sep 25, 2019
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Not to mention I've already got 5 noise complaints (as low as 85dB mid-day in my listening position) in less than a year and I'm sure my upstairs neighbors wouldn't love even one subwoofer in my space.
        Sep 25, 2019
      5. Superexchanger
        Superexchanger
        "With 5000 subwoofers, modal variation is virtually
        eliminated ... " is the best thing I've encountered today. Nice analysis though.
        Sep 25, 2019
    5. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Got a customer looking for a headphone amp that will synergize both with the Utopia and Abyss. I'm not sure such an amp even exists.
      1. dubharmonic likes this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. dubharmonic
        dubharmonic
        I'd suggest trying the Feliks Euphoria and Eleven Audio Formula S
        Sep 23, 2019
      4. purr1n
        purr1n
        DNA Stellaris.
        Sep 23, 2019
        Richgard, sheldaze and m17xr2b like this.
      5. EagleWings
        EagleWings
        McIntosh MHA150.
        Sep 24, 2019
        sheldaze likes this.
    6. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Using some leftover gear to build a partner a system. Definitely going for fun factor. Looking at cheap 70s-80s speakers < $600. HPM-100?
      1. DEATHxMACHINE and Azimuth like this.
      2. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        Sep 17, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    7. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      @Jozurr selling a stock 4-screw HE6. If anyone wants it and wants my mods, I'll take a bit off my rate to sweeten the deal for all involved.
      1. penguins, Ash1412, Jinxy245 and 6 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @Panohm TBH I stopped working on it after people started offering to pay for mods on other headphones like HE6 and 4XX and 400. Just got too busy to get back to it. Now it's completely disassembled, laying all over my apartment.
        Sep 16, 2019
        Panohm likes this.
      4. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        As E_Schaaf mentioned, he modded my 4 screw HE6. With a few samples of music and my thoughts, he was able to produce something truly amazing after much testing and trial and error. When i have the time to write up a thorough impression it deserves, I plan to call the title "The king is dead, long live the king" because it has dethroned my favorite open headphone the LFF Code-X.
        Sep 16, 2019
      5. DEATHxMACHINE
        DEATHxMACHINE
        E_Schaaf is very thorough and dedicated. I cannot praise his work enough. Also was a reasonable price.
        Sep 16, 2019
        tommytakis and Jinxy245 like this.
    8. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      PSA - if you need any PS Audio gear, call and ask for me. They're soon going direct so we're liquidating what's here. Great deals to be had!
      1. DigMe
        DigMe
        PSA (no pun intended)
        Sep 13, 2019
      2. Ringingears
        Ringingears
        Don’t talk to me about PSA. Not the audio company. I get “stabbed” every three months to check it. Hey dudes, if you 50+ get it checked.
        Sep 13, 2019
        drgumbybrain likes this.
      3. Ringingears
        Ringingears
        @E_Schaaf thanks for the heads up on the liquidation.
        Sep 13, 2019
    9. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Just found out one of my partners has two SL1200s in storage. I have a AT33PTG/II in storage too. Guess I'll soon be back on the wax train!
      1. brencho
        brencho
        Yet another advantage of multiple partners
        Sep 13, 2019
    10. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Saw Explosions in the Sky last night at the Palladium. Venue was well suited to the music. Lots of energy but hit an intensity ceiling.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Not all post-rock / post-metal bands can match the raw power of Nadja I suppose... Love it when a buildup devolves into a dense spectrum of noise
        Sep 13, 2019
        Cryptowolf likes this.
    11. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Dreaming of a no-frills 3-head cassette deck with high-quality mass-produced parts / reliable modern engineering and a tube output stage.
      1. neogeosnk, hikergrl and Mystic like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. Mystic
        Mystic
        It may not sound as good as my CDs, but I love using my Nak. Probably just fueled by nostalgia but who cares, I enjoy it. I'd love to see an easily obtainable 3 head deck.
        Sep 11, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        The Naks are surprisingly good at digging info off the tape. Most obviously when you record your own tapes - can sound almost identical to the source... or maybe even a little 'better' if you drive them hard enough. My favorite tapes are the ones that are most compressed and saturated. Nothing like that growl, especially for beats and EDM. Makes my hairs stand up.
        Sep 11, 2019
        dubharmonic likes this.
      5. crazychile
        crazychile
        What about an old Nak CR-3A with a separate tube output buffer box? I wouldn't think that would be all that expensive.
        Sep 12, 2019
    12. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Gifted a pair of ADX5000 by our rep for the specific purpose of investigating modding potential for R&D. Being MOT certainly has benefits.
      1. Syzygy, Azimuth, dubharmonic and 7 others like this.
      2. View previous comments...
      3. 9suns
        9suns
        Very interesting headphones, according to people who heard them they're nice but bright...in the right hands (or ears?) it could be a home run.
        Aug 30, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      4. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        @9suns They're about as bright as an unmodded HD800, but the bright spot is higher up in the FR and there's maybe a bit more midbass. These definitely sound 'faster' and more microdynamic than HD800, but with a narrower image. First mods to try are some thicker but perforated pads, ear-side materials on the baffle, maybe TP, and on the rear - cotton / foams / dynamat.
        Aug 30, 2019
        9suns likes this.
      5. 9suns
        9suns
        Good to know! It certainly has the chops to be amazeballs, like a 420 ohms impedance, a big ass dynamic driver and a super nice build/very low weight. AT has shitloads of money for R&D, with the right direction/sound in mind the results could be incredible.
        Aug 30, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    13. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Finally an owner of a 6XX. Got some modding ideas I haven't seen done before - will post with results. Maybe I'll find KISS is still best?
    14. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Anyone interested in a short-term trade-loaner for any of the headphones I've got in the stable? Been wanting to try basshead cans and TH900
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        Also pre-2000s planars, closed JVCs and ATs, things with a lot of color.
        Aug 23, 2019
    15. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Leaving for a weekend camping trip tonight. No water, no electricity, no reception. Maybe I'll take some binaural field recordings. Excited!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. netforce
        netforce
        Local Man Arrested For Chasing Around Campers with Axe and Posting Video to Youtube
        Aug 2, 2019
      3. JK47
        JK47
        Bring a banjo
        Aug 2, 2019
      4. Thad E Ginathom
        Thad E Ginathom
        Axe man claims... "It was only a banjo."
        Aug 3, 2019
    16. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Customer completely new to audio calls up and says his friend simply gave him a SIT-3. How does one find friends like this?!
      1. View previous comments...
      2. frenchbat
        frenchbat
        Haven't you heard the best amp is a wire with gain ?
        Jul 30, 2019
      3. DigMe
        DigMe
        Currently saving up for a WWG
        Jul 30, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
      4. sphinxvc
        sphinxvc
        Now that's a friend with benefits.
        Aug 1, 2019
        E_Schaaf and gaspasser like this.
    17. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Never heard the HD650 and 580 slam as hard as they do from the F7. Haven't found even one bad pairing with this amp yet.
      1. m17xr2b
        m17xr2b
        If you use the HE60 pads slam increases even more. Other side effects may be noted.
        Jul 26, 2019
        E_Schaaf likes this.
    18. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Maybe looking for TH-900 to tinker with (or transplant drivers), but not quite ready to post in the classifieds. Anyone want to let one go?
      1. View previous comments...
      2. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        thanks @elmoe - they sure look beautiful. But I was hoping for more of a beater pair for less $$$ (maybe mk1?) since I'll inevitably be messing with them quite a bit.
        Jul 23, 2019
        elmoe likes this.
      3. elmoe
        elmoe
        I figured, just thought I would point it out since I spent a good 5 minutes drooling over them earlier today ;)
        Jul 23, 2019
      4. Lyander
        Lyander
        Huh, guess Torq wasn't kidding when he said the RAALs and ZMFs impressed him enough to cause major collection upheaval.

        Sorry for the poke but didn't you mention that you managed to get these drivers in bulk, @Eudis Fernandes? Feeling some deja vu, might have asked before but can't recall (sorry! Please do ignore if a bother).
        Jul 23, 2019
    19. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Working on writing a comp curve for my EARS. Can't seem to find sanctioned HD650 / 6XX EARS measurements to mimic. SBAF stock curve is off.
      1. DEATHxMACHINE likes this.
      2. purr1n
        purr1n
        Jul 19, 2019
      3. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I have a stock HD800 on hand as well, I'll try with that.
        Jul 19, 2019
    20. E_Schaaf
      E_Schaaf
      Happy Birthday to me! Ordered a MiniDSP EARS so I can finally be scientific about my modding procedure.
      1. E_Schaaf
        E_Schaaf
        I'll probably still do 99% by ear and just use the measurements to check for errors and test my ears - don't want to be too OCD about the data. At the end of the day if it sounds right, it is right!
        Jul 17, 2019
        dubharmonic, Lyander and Biodegraded like this.
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  • About

    Home Page:
    https://www.etaheadphones.com/
    Location:
    Staten Island, NY
    Occupation:
    Sonic Optimizer

    Signature

    skunkworks headphone enthusiast - discovering new sounds