ETHER 2

Note, the spectrum goes:

1. Grumpy
2. Irritable
3. Crotchety
4. Surly
5. Bitter
6. Outraged

Grumpy is the happiest is gets here

 

Listening on my E2's at CanJam added to my suspicion that Yggdrasil + Rag 2 adds some sharp treble content that I wasn't getting on Rag 2 with the less detailed Modi MB card. Any similar experiences with Yggdrasil doing this? I dare say it was sibilance but I can't confirm exactly what frequencies.

 

The Yggdrasil is known to be very detailed and have a slight uptilt on the treble, it's all about what you like and your ears shaped/condition/damaged, ect.

 

After approximately a year on your ears what do the Ether owners think??

 

I assume @daniellistens was asking whether owners‘ opinions changed over time after the ‘new toy/FOTM’ effect wore off.

For me, personally, my opinion hasn’t changed — I like them, though I seem to be in the minority here.

 

Also, for those who prefer a signature with slightly more air and treble, the perforated pads are easy to swap and make an appreciable difference over the stock pads.

 

Agree wholeheartedly, Ice-man.

 

I owned an Ether 2 for about a year. I paired them with the warmish Gilmore Lite MK 2 and Modi Multibit. I can only reiterate what @Hands says above - you will love these if you drift warm and bassier in your tastes. I do and I miss some of the sound signature that chain delivered: it had a fantastic cathartic quality (listening to ambient soundscapes and electronica) that I have yet to really experience from any other chain (partly because of its outstanding low-end, slight veil, and warm tinge) - it's the sort of acoustic experience that can have you purring.

Their comfort lends itself to extra-long listening sessions. Pair with the suede pads for even lower lows. If you prefer bright and transparent look elsewhere.

Second-hand pairs are trading for ~$1,100 in some places. If you purchase a pair be sure to buy one with a serial number greater than 665 as the early release had some flaws.

< Edit: I say 665 as I owned it and had Dan @ Mr Speakers verify this was the second batch to the UK. In fairness it doesn't mean all those below 665 are flawed - at least be careful with the first 50 or so, perhaps... >

 

Thanks for all the responses.

I think I'll be looking into the NEW Aeons, I really do love my Aeon Closed but I am very aware of their flaws/limitations. The newer model is more in my price range and I don't usually go for used headphones because... well the same reason I don't buy used underwear.

The price of the Ether2 are a bit out of reach for me.

 

Title: Late To The Party

I’m a lousy audio hobbyist, for many reasons, but (my AA moment) I am one and I drink audio the same as many forum denizens. I’ve spent about 50-hours with my new (to me) DCA Ether 2, after burn-in, and swept through six genres. My playback chain may not be up to forum standards but does represent a segment of hobbyists.

- It starts at an iMac running QOBUZ and playing ALAC/AIFF/FLAC files in VLC.
- From there I run through an AudioQuest Emerald USB cable into a Bel Canto e2.7 DAC.
- The DAC outputs through short Monoprice XLR cables (yawn) into a Liquid Platinum. (Electro-Harmonix 6922 EH).

There are several companies selling headphones at or around the $2k price and all have different strengths. I opted for the Ether 2 over others for several reasons (below) and have not been disappointed.

Pros :

• Fantastic for jazz, small ensemble, solo artists and acoustic. This is where I spend most of my listening time.
• Very good or excellent for Electronic
• Good for EDM (I would enjoy fatter bass in this genre)
• Very good sound stage and imaging
• You can hear what is going on around you
• Fine voicing, by real people
• I’m a fan of this pack-in cable
• Ear pad selection
• Less than 300 grams weight
• Excellent choice of materials
• Packed in a travel case
• Made in California

Cons :

• Not bass-heavy enough, not OVER emphasized, for some metal heads and rap fans unless you pay another $80 for suede ear pads. Then maybe okay on this count.
• Not my favorite for classical symphonic orchestra
• Open back design can be heard by others around you…
• …and you can hear them
• About 100-hour “burn-in” time before they sound their best
• Don’t sniff my ear pads, yo

Is there a headphone that can be marvelous at all genres at this price point? I suspect one is looking at two different headphones if one wants to be amazed by ALL genres of music.

Listening Impression : The Ether takes my breath away with solo artists, small jazz ensemble, and acoustic music. They are worth a place on my desk for electronic and EDM, also. However, the Ether is not voiced to catch all the instruments equally in the higher frequencies sometimes found in classical symphonic orchestra work. Where I noticed a hole was the Pittsburgh SO recording (Reference Recordings, qobuz link ) of Tchaikovsky Symphony #4, Finale @ 1:32. In this case there is a chime used several times in a 20-second span. One would risk their hearing on the preceding passage should they have the volume up enough to hear the chime with its intended presence. (I don’t “ride the volume”)

Imaging . My scale is as follows. (Ether 2 usually plays in the bold )

• I’m in the 18th row, center, and the wave of violins in front of the upright bass section, playing from right to left, was amazing
• She is singing right there, in front of me
• I’m in the midst of the music
• I can almost hear something outside my head, sometimes, maybe (I think)
• There is a stage in my head
• Three blobs
• One blob: Mono in my head.

My setup is good but not great at 3D audio and besides, I’m “not all [of] that.“ Sometimes, with the Ether 2, a recording manages to present far outside the right or left enough to make me look if my wife caught me wasting time listening to music. Usually not. Most of the time the music is well staged, with some depth, in my head.

Summary. I feel it is unreasonable to expect this headphone to present all genres with the same visceral impact. The Ether is amazing at 80~90% of what I listen to. You and I need to decide where we want to compromise:

• reduce ‘amazing’ a notch and find an all-in-one headphone
• own two (or more) amazing headphones
• live with a ‘hole where the chimes can hide’
• spend serious car money on an amazing all-in-one

No regrets. None.

 

Nice review. I listened to this piece (CD quality version) with RME DAC, WHAMMY, and Utopia, and it took me a few tries to hear the chime, but one I did (at normal listening levels), I could hear it pretty clearly. Pretty interesting how little things like that can be overlooked unless one knows to listen for it.

 

Thank you AllanMarcus. It was my first swing with the review bat.

I had that piece by another SO on vinyl and had committed that part to memory over the years. The lack of chimes was really “loud” (grabbed my attention). I had to find my HE560s to see if it was my ears, the recording or the Ethers.

All the best.

 

Like a lot of people, I've been working at home a lot the last several months. I've used my Ether 2's a lot because for me they're so damn comfortable. That weight is so non-existent.

 

Nice review and good to see you're enjoying the Ether 2s.

I owned a pair for about a year and absolutely loved them. I also had them paired briefly with the Liquid Platinum - initially with the stock Electro Harmonix 6922 but then upgrading to a pair of Amperex (I can't remember which) - whilst there was a small improvement of 'tube glow' with the Amperex I found the synergy of the LP and Ether 2 with either pair of tubes to be distinctly flat - lacking in speed, impact, bass - just obviously underwhelming across the board, and I sold the LP after 3 weeks of trying to make them work together (and even trying very hard to like them - you know you're in a bad place when this happens.)

I found far better synergy with the Gilmore Lite MK2 - the bass was so good that it is one of the few headphones that really can make organ pieces give you goose bumps - the Ether 2's excelled at electronic, dub, jungle, digital soundscapes, synths, etc. anything that requires a good dollop of bass or sub bass), faster speed and attack and a beautifully balanced treble, albeit all washed with a slightly warm, darkish veil (full chain was Tidal-> Eitr-> Modi Multibit-> Gilmore Lite MK2-> Ether 2s).

As you already like the pairing you have now, I would suggest looking at a solid state to get even more from the Ether 2s - HeadAmp are building a new dedicated power supply for the Gilmore Lite MK2 which will take its performance up a level so if you hold your horses you might be able to purchase the MK2 with its new power supply bundled - or at the very least see if you can demo one.

Of course you might find that the LP is still the one you love most and fair enough.

Unfortunately I sold my Ether 2s but miss them so much am scanning the second-hand market to buy another pair.

 

Thanks you for sharing. The Gilmore isn't too punishing on the wallet so I'll keep an eye out for one. They're right down the road, so I have little excuse, right? I tried to buy one of their earlier builds. They were smaller then. Did you stay with the stock pads?

I have a Jotunheim/multi-bit I've used with the E2 also, though not nearly as much. (four v. 70 hours) I can't eq on the Jot so it is a raw chain. I cannot quantify or qualify my taste but, so far, I like the LP for most genres over the Jot. Both with Electro Harmonix and JJ Gold Pin. I'm saving for Reflektors but the Gilmore would be less. (Hey son, it's FATHERS DAY)

In other news: I am loath to eq. my chain but the pronounced drop at 10k has me playing with the parametric equalizer. (...that I paid for and never used) Eq. always does more to the music than just FR, to my ears, and I like staying close to reference; however, I'm curious what I can do for symphonic orchestra recordings. Besides messing them up.

On a whim, I think I'll post my eq settings and see if anyone wants to offer their takes on them. Lord knows I am not an authority on messing with voiced gear.

-Phil

 

Here are some parametric equalizer parameters I've brewed for the Ether 2 to pick-up what is happening in the FR hole on orchestra recordings. They are just a start (and a little bothersome) as I do not eq. as rule. I won't be an h8r if anyone would like to chip in and fix this mess.

Ether 2 Settings

• 3db at 4k, Q of 6
• 2db at 7k, Q of 4
• 4.5db at 10k, Q of 6

I haven't applied a high or low shelf yet, nor have I tested with voice as I only use this for orchestra.

All the best