MrSpeakers Ether (vs. HD650 and HE-560)

Discussion in 'Headphones' started by purr1n, Nov 14, 2015.

  1. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    MrSpeakers Ether (vs. HD650 and HE-560)
    A huge thanks to @PoochZag for providing these.

    ETHER MEASUREMENTS HERE:http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/mrspeakers-ether-measurements.556/

    Wow. Just wow. These are really fantastic headphones in terms of beauty, build quality, construction, and comfort. They look and feel like something made by Apple. HiFiMan and especially Audeze, another USA based company like MrSpeakers, should take heed. When the box arrived, I thought Pooch had been pulling my leg and sent me a box of foam. Yup, that's how light it feels. (I tried to listen to Audeze's a few days after not having used them for at least a year. I was thinking WTF, what an ergonomic nightmare Audeze made? How the hell could people actually accept these as OK in the interests of better sound? But I digress.)
    DSC_2027.JPG

    The swivel mechanism is fantastic and takes cues from Fostex. The connectors are light years away from anyone else's. There's no twist or tie. Simply line up the connector and push. The lock rotates easily and smoothly to allow the connector to lock on with a snap back to indicate that it is secure. Screw you Beyerdynamic (your T1 Gen 2 connector implementation has a sucky feel).
    DSC_2029.JPG
    DSC_2030.JPG

    BTW, the particular unit sounds quite different (not as bright or lean) from the ones I heard at CanJam and a little different (more articulate bass) than the one I heard at the SchiitShow.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2015
  2. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Like the DAC/amp combination unit review that I wrote up two weeks ago, I will provide measurements separately. This thread will consist of only subjective impressions. My wife Julie will also chime in with a few thoughts. I will get the pertinent points about the Ether (and the HE-560 and HD650 modded) quickly. I used a variety of music for this comparison, but given that I was already familiar with all three headphones, I concentrated on recordings from three albums: Daft Punk Random Access Memories (vinyl and CD), k.d. lang Hymns of the 49th Parallel (CD), and Peter Gabriel So (vinyl).

    Two setups were used. A low-end setup and a high-end setup. The low-end setup consisted of the Schiit Magni 2 Uber and [reDACted^3]**. The high-end setup consisted of my VPI Classic 1/Franken-Phono-Preamp or Schiit Yggdrasil for source, and Eddie Current Zana Deux Super or Schiit Ragnarok for headamp. I found that the two orthos (HE-560 and Ether) in this comparison love power. My ZD was a prototype and doesn't have a low-gain switch. It's on permanent high gain, and at 20ohms Zout, not ideal for delivering power to the orthos.

    Let's make this quick. The spider charts are below. I'll provide commentary in a separate post. It's so much easier trying to tell the difference between headphones than DACs or amps since the errors are much more gross. I've categorized the areas for evaluation as follows. I am sure there are many other methods which are just as valid or perhaps better for you, but this is just the way I think.
    • Microdetail and microdynamics
    • Overall tonal signature and cohesiveness*
    • Clarity
    • Bass quality: speed, articulation, pitch differentiation
    • Treble smoothness and harmonic timbre
    • Upper midrange / treble transient response
    • Macro-dynamics / lack of compression
    * Throw quality of mids in here too.
    ** I can't say much about this at this point. I would consider this DAC above low-end or entry level, just to be clear.

    Figure 1: Ether, HE-560, HD650 Sonic Performance from Low-End Setup
    Ether low-end.jpg

    Figure 2: Ether, HE-560, HD650 Sonic Performance from High-End Setup
    Ether high-end.jpg

    Note: HD650s were modded.
     
    Last edited: Nov 14, 2015
  3. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Subjective Commentary

    Microdetail and Microdynamics

    Sorry to say, but I am going to get this out of the way first. The Ether lags the others behind in terms of fine resolution and detail. This was obvious upon listening to k.d. lang's cover of Hallelujah where reverb effects weren't as distinct and decay that should have been there suddenly died or got buried into the nothingness. From the high-end setup (Yggdrasil or VPI table), the Ether and HE-560 budged a little bit. The HD650 scaled a lot. The distinct vibrating of the skins on the drums from Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes were easily distinguishable on the HD650, a little bit less so on the HE-560, and almost non-existent on the Ether.

    Overall tonal signature and cohesiveness
    The HD650 wins so easily here it's not even funny. The HE-560 is the worst with the leanest or brightest signature probably caused some by treble bumps. The Ether is fairly neutral with great extension in the treble up into the air region which seems slightly tipped up. It's hard to beat the HD650 which is essentially perfect in terms of cohesiveness and smoothness throughout the entire audio band. The HD650 has a slightly bassy or dark tonal signature. The HE-560 is the brightest. The Ether is somewhere in between.

    Clarity
    The HE-560 easily beats the other two in terms of clarity and lack of veil. On the low-end system, the Ether beats out the slightly veiled HD650, but the Ether still has this small amount of veil. On the high-end system, the HD650 somehow just picks it up a notch. I don't know how this happens, and even now it's rather surprising, but it's the reason why I still stick with the HD650. If you don't believe me, ask @OJneg, he's heard this happen.

    Bass quality: speed, articulation, pitch differentiation
    Similar to the clarity aspect. The HE-560 is king here. But what is super surprising is that on the high-end system, the HD650 jumps from being slightly worse than the Ether to being slightly better. HD650 goes from being mushy to being fairly articulate and fast. Ether doesn't quite get any better with still good articulation, but with sort of one-note monotone aspect to its bass delivery. I suspect that the resolving power of the HD650 really its it with this aspect (a lot of these factors are interrelated anyways.) Finally, among the three, the Ether seemed to lack a foundation or solidity to the bass. For example, the fundamental notes to the bass line in Mercy Street were muted on the Ether compared to the HD650 and even the overall leaner sounding HE-560.

    Treble smoothness and harmonic timbre
    HE-560 is just plain horrible here with a few peaks here and there. I am not too troubled by it, but I know others like @Hands can't stand it. The Ether's treble isn't too offensive, but it sounds rough and on occasion has a thin and sometimes bright tonality which is difficult to describe. HD650 is super smooth in the mid-treble, but still has a few upper-midrange bumps - probably one of the best, but still not perfect.

    Upper midrange / treble transient response
    Ether is easily the winner here. Not quite electrostatic speed, but obviously the winner. Followed up the HE-560 and HD650, which isn't as far behind as most people would think.

    Macro-dynamics / lack of compression
    HD650 is king here. HD650's scale-ability in terms of it being able to come alive with moar power has been legendary since the time of HeadRoom's balanced amps and other DIY balanced amps like the Beta 22. Ragnarok helps with HE-560 and Ether, but these orthos just don't get as lively.

    Head-stage (not ranked in spider plots above)
    Head-stage was about the same with HE-560 and Ether having a wide, but close stage. HD650 stage was narrower. All headphones produce good depth (note that I am making a distinction between closeness to stage and depth of the stage from front to back.) I know some people like OJ don't like a stage that is too wide for the depth or closeness to the stage. Also, stage seems highly gear dependent. The ZDS threw the HD650 stage six feet in front. The Ragnarok tends to put you close to the stage, but depth is good.


    Conclusion

    Overall, I'd say that the Ether is a really good headphone. Nothing today comes close to it in terms of build and ergonomics with the exception of STAX. Transient response is excellent. The Ether is open sounding and light on its feet. Areas that could be better on the Ether are the treble timbre / smoothness, resolving power, macrodynamics, and low-end extension. What's interesting is that all three headphones tend to do different things well.

    ETHER MEASUREMENTS HERE: http://www.superbestaudiofriends.org/index.php?threads/mrspeakers-ether-measurements.556/


    Julie's Notes and Conversations
    1. I liked the separation (transient response) of the Ether and how I could hear everything as being so distinct. But I thought the HD650 was actually clearer sounding. I know this doesn't make much sense.
    2. The HD650 was more blended. The Ether sounded rougher and more disjointed.
    3. The drum hits didn't get as loud on the Ether.
    4. The Ether feels really nice on the head. The design, cosmetics, and comfort are amazing. The Sennheiser is more run-of-the-mill.
    5. I like both headphones. What does that headphone cost and that headphone cost. $350 and $1600. What, $1600 that's ridiculous! You didn't buy that did you?
    6. What's that headphone called? MrSpeakers. Wow, that says it all. MrSpeakers. Really? You're kidding me. And that? Sennheiser? Oh OK.
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2015
  4. Colgin

    Colgin Friend

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    Marv - will be interested to hear your further impressions as well as thoughts on amp pairings if you feel like you can comment on that.

    I got to hear these again at the NY HF meet today and liked them as much as I did in the spring. Looks and build quality are fantastic, comfort is great and while no can is perfect I think these sound pretty damn good. They definitely sound different on different amps, but I enjoyed them on everything I tried them with today. The only thing I don't like is price, but everything is just too expensive these days. Really wish these were $1,000 to $1,200 but oh well.

    Funny thing is those rods on top remind me of those on my AKGs. But on the AKG I am always worried about them breaking. But Dan today was twisting the schiit out of them and they were fine. The plastic on my AKGs would have just snapped in two.

    OTOH, closed Ether C. Well I will reserve comment on those for a different thread. But really like the open Ether.
     
  5. ultrabike

    ultrabike Measurbator - Admin

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    Yes. This is one of the best looking orthos out there IMO. I liked how Jason's pair sounded.
     
  6. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Spider charts posted. Will follow up with commentary.
     
  7. Olor1n

    Olor1n Friend

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    LOL @ that HD650 scaling like a mofo!
     
  8. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Commentary posted. Measurements tomorrow... wait maybe tonight. Give me another 30 minutes.
     
  9. OJneg

    OJneg The Most Insufferable

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    Ether has compressed planar sound yes? Poor man's 009? Smoother than Hifiman's City-Chicken special?

    ahhahahahahahyahahahahahha
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2015
  10. purr1n

    purr1n Desire for betterer is endless.

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    Yes, way smoother than HEK in treble. Of course that depends on which HEK. I would not say poor man's 009. Ether tonal balance, at least this unit, is pretty good, neutral-warm. Just something a little wrong with treble timbre. Measurements might tell us something. FWIW, I don't think this sounds like a planar HD800 (per my experience at CanJam) at all.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 15, 2015
  11. GoldfishX

    GoldfishX Facebook Friend

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    Well, I'm sold...

    I'm getting an HD650 :)
     
  12. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    After an extended demo Ether failed to engage me like HD6xx for some reason. Polite and comfortable but, ultimately, boring. I cancelled my Ether order and bought an HD650, Bifrost Multibit and Valhalla 2 (with some change) ;)
     
  13. jowls

    jowls Never shitposts (please) - Friend

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    Waaaaait. WTF is [reDACted^3]? Has this been mentioned anywhere else before?
     
  14. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

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    Wow, it seems I need to get my hands on a HD650 after all. I owned one years ago, before I bought the HD800 in 2010 (and sold that and bought a new one again at the end of 2014). But given the possible changes and the mods that can be done to it, I feel like I should give it another chance. One thing I really disliked about the HD650 from memory is the clamping force, the earpads and the cheap plastic. I guess for Americans that can get it for $300ish, no complaints, but for me it comes to around $650 CAD after taxes (and our incomes didn't scale with the nosedive of our currency xD).
     
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2015
  15. Hands

    Hands Overzealous Auto Flusher - Measurbator

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    You can fix the clamp. It killed me without some stretching. I can fill you in if you buy one.
     
  16. Prydz

    Prydz Friend

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    So if you want HD650 with bass, you get? HE-560/HE-6?
     
  17. No_One411

    No_One411 Fired by Jude

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    Not quite as smooth as your German headphone borat boy. Yakshemesh, biatch.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 27, 2015
  18. kapanak

    kapanak Canucklehead - Friend

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    I'll take you up on that offer and ask for advice on the stretching once I have one on hand. Back in the day, I was young and too afraid of breaking the headband by stretching it lol.
     
  19. haywood

    haywood Friend

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    The ear pads aren't a problem imo and as Hands mentioned you can (carefully) bend away the clamp. It would be nice to have better quality materials so it didn't feel so cheap, but that'd cost more. I do wonder how much money Senn has made off the 650 resurgence spearheaded by changstar and now SBAF. I picked mine new up for < $300 on Amazon and now they're seldom less than $400.
     
  20. Psalmanazar

    Psalmanazar Most improved member; A+

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    I like how hard the HD 650 clamps. Firm clamp is good. Joe Pesci "Don't make me be the bad guy" clamp is bad.
     

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