Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories:

The Ether 2 sport the same styling as the Voce, with a spiderweb-like grill and all black colour scheme. The design is simple but at the same time unique; nothing really stands out, yet they are very much a MrSpeakers headphone by design.

When you first look at the Ether 2, you could be mistaken for thinking they look flimsy and weak. Upon closer inspection, they are built to be solid, and comfortable at the same time. The headband is their signature NiTinol metal that is flexible yet incredibly strong. The cups are machined aluminium and the baffles are carbon fibre. This means the weight is kept to a minimum without compromising on strength.  The cable has been updated since the old DUM one, and it is now softer, more flexible and just feels more premium.

Accessory wise you get a hard carry case and the cable. To be honest, there are no other accessories that are needed. The case is of excellent quality and will keep your Ether 2 safe when not in use.

Comfort:

MrSpeakers have focused on making this one of the most comfortable planar headphones out there, and they have done a great job. They feel so light when you hold them in your hand! The earpads are memory foam and the clamping force is just right. The suspension strap evenly distributes the weight over the top of your head making these extremely comfortable headphones for long listening sessions.

Sound:

Bass:

The bass on the Ether 2 has a certain fullness down low, that makes them very enjoyable. The bass is articulate and easily flows with any genre you throw at them, with excellent, linear extension down low. Overall the bass adds a slight smoothness to the sound, but it is not overpowering. The bass never steps out of line, staying tight and controlled at all times, yet still having that addictive slight fullness to them.

Midrange:

The midrange cuts through with excellent clarity and are well separated from the lows. There is no bleed from the bass warming up the midrange, yet the transition is coherent. Female vocals have great presence, yet without any peaks that bring out sibilance. The Ether 2 have a neutral tone that does well with all kinds of music, but they bring out the emotion in the music really well.

Treble:

The treble is detailed and extended, but it extends with great linearity without fatigue inducing peaks. Everything is rendered with clarity and relative neutrality yet a subtle warmth stops them from being analytical. The treble does not sit in the background, and it does not lack presence or detail, it is just the sound as a whole is so enjoyable.

The soundstage is wide and deep, it is a highlight of this headphone. The sound is not congested and always expertly separated yet still with an overall coherent sound.

Conclusion:

The Ether 2 have a great sense of neutrality, but at the same time they offer an enjoyable listening experience and they never sound analytical. There is a hint of added body that creates a smooth listening experience that can be enjoyed for hours on end. It’s a very technically proficient headphone, but at the same time it’s a joy to listen to, and connects you to the music in a way few other headphones can.

The post MrSpeakers Ether 2 Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

The Focal Clear is, as the name would suggest, clear. With excellent tonal balance, and plenty of detail to boot, Focal have made one incredible headphone.

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories:

The Clear sport a grey and silver colour scheme, which makes them stand out against the mainly black headphones around. They look great in person with the perforated pads and mesh look, they are refined and sophisticated.

The build quality is superb, they are mainly made out of metal with perforated microfibre pads and a mix of leather and microfibre headband. The yokes are aluminium and they just feel extremely well put together when you have them in your hands. They use a recessed 3.5mm detachable cable which means swapping out cables is nice and easy. Overall the Clear are very well put together and I cannot find any weak spots on them.

Accessory wise the Clear comes with a brilliant array of extras. Firstly, they come with a lovely hard case, with heavy duty zip and a leather handle. This case is the perfect size for travel, with room for the headphones and cable.

Comfort:

The Clear are a well built, medium weight headphone. This mean that padding is a must, I find the earpads to be deep and plush and they fit excellently around the ear. But my one minor complaint is the headband padding is a little thin, and this creates a hot spot on the top of my head. But every one has a different shaped head so this will only be an issue for a select few people.

Sound:

Bass: The bass on the Clear is well controlled and only comes out when called for, it is quite impressive how the lows can really morph to the recording. If there is a subtle sub-bass line, you will hear it, if the mix has complex bass lines the Clear will allow you to pick them apart and hear every detail. They are not boosted down low, this means some may find them lacking a little body, but they make up for that by being well balanced and controlled.

Midrange: Like the rest of the sound, the midrange is open and detailed, expertly handling anything you throw at them. Here you can easily distinguish between different vocal tracks, guitars have the right amount of crunch and body. These really don’t try and flatter you by altering the sound, they try and allow you to enjoy your music through a clear window instead.

Treble: The treble isn’t boosted to give you a false sense of clarity, but it is well aligned with the rest of the sound. It is crystal clear, but never fatiguing, they will show up poor recordings but feed them something well recorded and you’ll be astonished by the level of detail these have.

The Clear do not have the widest of soundstages, but where they make up for it is in the separation and layering. Yes, they won’t give you a concert hall like soundstage, but they will accurately place the instruments and let you easily pick apart the recording.

Conclusion:

The Clear have become one of my recent favourites, purely because they offer such a clear and precise sound without fatigue. They allow you to hear all the finer detail in your music, yet at the same time they are easy to listen to and enjoy, exactly what I personally enjoy in a headphone.

The post Focal Clear Open Back Headphone Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Grado SR80e Open Back Headphone Review

The Grado SR80e are a definite improvement over the SR80i, with a slightly warmer, more balanced sound. Their retro styling may not appeal to all, but underneath the looks is a fine sounding open-back headphone. The undisputed king of headphones for rock music, these are sure to get you toe tapping and head banging in no time.

Pros:

• Clean sound
• Well balanced
• Exciting

Cons:

• Bass will not satisfy all
• Comfort can be an issue for some

Aesthetics, Build Quality and Accessories

The Grado SR80e do not stray far from the classic low end Grado style, with very retro looks that are a love or hate affair. I think there is something quite pleasing about the design; it is wonderfully simple yet stylish and functional. All black with silver lettering, they don’t stand out with colours, but they do with their unique styling.

The build quality is nothing spectacular but you can change nearly every part on it, with an extensive community dedicated to modifying them. The cups are plastic but well put together, the headband is a vinyl covered metal band; the sliders are metal rods in rod blocks. The cable is dual sided, and feels quite substantial, it is rubbery under the y-split and quite thick, above the y-split they are prone to twisting and kinking a little. The construction is so simple, yet it works and they last for years, the foam pads will need replacing from time to time, but apart from that you can expect many years of service from a pair of Grado.

Accessory wise you get a a 3.5mm to 6.3mm jack adaptor, that is it. I know some models now come with the genuine Grado hard carry case which is a nice little added extra.

Comfort and Usage

The comfort of Grados has been talked about a lot, and as with the styling, it is a love or hate affair. I personally don’t find them uncomfortable; the earpads do need some time to settle in as they are a little stiff out of the box. The headphones are very light, they clamp a little tightly but the headband can be stretched to alleviate this. The weight of the headphones and the way they sit means they don’t really create a hot spot on the top of your head easily, even if they do lack proper headband padding. Some people do not find on-ear headphones very comfy, as for pads, the stock are very comfy but the L cush from Grado are even better if you want an upgrade.

The SR80e are an open back, on-ear headphone so they will not isolate from outside noise, also this means they leak sound. This means that using them around other people can cause annoyance, so please be considerate. There are benefits of an open-back headphone for out and about usage, you stay aware of your surroundings.
These headphones are perfect for home listening too; especially with the recent vinyl boom these play wonderfully with a good vinyl setup.

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READ MORE: Effect Audio Thor Silver II Cable Review

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Sound

Contrary to the belief that open headphone have a wide soundstage, Grado have a very unique sound for an open back design, being airy but very intimate, engaging and slightly aggressive.

• Bass

These are not for the bass heads of the world; these are for those that appreciate the quality over quantity. The Grado of old used to be considered a little bass light, yet the new E series has more articulate and present bass response. It is far from being overwhelming but it is tight and fast, yet at the same time incredibly articulate. Bass guitar lines are so easy to follow, kick drums hit with authority and the PRAT (Pace, Rhythm and Timing) is class leading at this price. The bass fills out the sound keeping it exciting, yet they are so controlled, never encroaching on the rest of the frequency range.

• Midrange

The SR80e has such a clean midrange; this is partly due to the incredibly well controlled bass. The midrange has no big dips or peaks; it is relatively well balanced handling male and female both with ease. Distorted guitars in rock music have power and authority, and the air and layering in softer acoustic and slower rock is excellent.

• Treble

These is a bit of a peak in the treble but it does not induce fatigue or harshness, the old SR80 was slightly leaner sounding which lead them to be a little more fatiguing. The treble has been toned down a little over the ears, and they have become a more balanced sounding headphone. The peak brings out energy and sparkle in the initial cymbal crash in music, making them really engaging and not lacking up top at all. The treble is still refined though, and does not sound strained or forced.

As stated before the SR80e has an airy sound with excellent separation, however the soundstage is very small and intimate sounding.

Conclusion

The SR80e is a real step forward for Grado, toning down the highs a little, adding a little extra bass presence has made these less fatiguing and more balanced sounding. These will not appeal to bass heads, they fair better with music that is played on real instruments. They have long been favourites for people that enjoy rock music due to the speed and control of the sound. At the price point I still think Grado hold their own with a well balanced, aggressive and detailed sound, there is nothing quite like them.

Modifying

Now there is a whole community dedicated to modifying Grados, which can improve their sound for very little money sometimes. Please be aware that modifying them will void your warranty, but the benefits can be great. For under £200 you could have a set of wood cupped Grados that will sound nearly as good as their higher end models, and will be unique to you.
Here is an excellent thread dedicated to this:

https://www.head-fi.org/threads/post-your-grado-mods.119314/

And also great places to get custom parts:

• https://www.etsy.com/shop/ShipiboAudio
• http://www.rholupat.com/
• http://turbulentlabs.com/
• http://www.ellevenacoustica.com/products

And I personally have a pair of SR60e which I replaced the cups and put dynamat on the back of the driver, along with getting some L cush pads and changing the cable. They are incredibly light and comfortable for long listening and the sound is just really fun. What I personally really like about the Grados is their way of allowing you to enjoy the music rather than try and pick flaws in it.

The post Grado SR80e Headphone Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Back in 2009, Sennheiser created some waves with its new HD800 flagship, for those who wanted an upgrade over the likes of the steadfast HD600. Although they strived for technical excellence with the HD800, some thought that it lacked the ‘human touch’ and came across as overly analytical. The HD800 is still perhaps the best at features such as soundstage and imaging, but it is perhaps a sense of warmer musicality which remains close to people’s hearts when they hear the music they love.

So enter the Sennheiser HD800S, in answer to this problem of capturing hearts as well as minds. Did Sennheiser get it right with this second flavour of HD800?

Pros:

• Excellent soundstage
• Stellar comfort
• Extra balanced cable for possible future upgrades!

Cons:

• Requires a good amp to be at its best
• May surprise some with its altered frequency response
• Costs more than the older HD800

Design and Appearance

To those who are at least familiar with the HD800, the HD800S holds no surprises in terms of build and looks, apart from its rather dashing and debonair makeover. The colour scheme is rather reminiscent of the way each sound, but more on that later.

The Sennheiser HD800S comes with an extra balanced cable and an attractive box in which the HD800S can be kept; it’s no use as a travel box but for keeping the HD800S out of the cat’s way when at home.

Comfort

Again, very similar to the original model; comfort is second to none with the large velour covered earpads, and plush headband padding; we’ve had less comfortable hairstyles. Being the pinnacle of Sennheiser’s output (OK we’re ignoring the Orpheus here), no expense has been spared to keep comfort first-class.

Suitability for intended application

With the natural environment for the HD800S being at home with an easy chair, a selection of hors d’oeurves and an amplifier, the HD800S fits right in. Designed for sound quality and comfort above all else, the Sennheiser HD800S does not do well if we wish to listen from our phones or mobile devices whilst moving about the house; it requires power to sound at its best.

Its open-backed design forbids being at close quarters with those who want to watch TV for instance, and it’s only fair to the HD800S if we give it our undivided attention.

Sound characteristics

Compared with its silvery forbear, the HD800S is definitely tuned to give more of a bottom end and less prominent detail up at the top end. It’s almost like it’s been tipped like a see-saw to appease a larger section of the headphone-loving public, and why not?

• Bass

Bass is every bit there and very deep. Some might think that the HD800S gives too much with some tracks but it just delivers what’s put in. Dance tracks and related bass heavy genres will shine on the HD800S, with a fluid, buttery bass quality which is reminiscent of Sennheiser’s IE800 in-ear model.

• Mids

The midrange is very clear with the subtle details not lost on the listener. Shaking drumskins, rattling guitar strings and rasping woodwinds give a good impression of detail whilst preserving musicality. The HD800 was sometimes criticised for its unremitting accuracy and analytical nature; well, meet its soulful brother!

Vocals can sometimes stray toward the strident side of things and we all have our own sensitivities here, but the Sennheiser HD800S gave no trouble with listening fatigue after at least 90 minutes of listening.

• Treble

Adding a little extra sizzle and snap to a presentation is fine for the HD800S, but the quantity of treble presence is limited when compared to the original model. There is a good impression of detail and space but the whole theme appears to be comfort with the HD800S, and care was taken to follow this.

Soundstage and Separation

Soundstage is very wide with an impression of depth too. Hard-panned instruments and sounds seem like they emanate from behind with a resultant stretching of the presentation around the head. The effect is to give the impression of added immersion.

Music genres good for and why

The Sennheiser HD800S is a true all rounder with a particular talent for rock, pop, dance and jazz; anything which benefits from really nice bass reproduction and a warm, engaging atmosphere. Its soundstage and midrange are good for genres like opera and classical too, but if you enjoy those genres exclusively, then consider trying the original HD800 instead.

Summary

The original HD800 is like the consummate professional; attending to every detail and demanding perfection. Consequently, its manner is curt, clipped and unyielding. On the other hand the HD800S is like most of us; we do most of what we do well; and anything we do not do well, we can more than make up for with charm!

The post Sennheiser HD800S Headphone Review – Black Gold appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Well known for the ‘Mad Dog’ and other mods based on Fostex T50RP headphones, MrSpeakers has brought us the ETHER models, consisting of the open-backed ETHER (reviewed here) and the ETHER C which is a closed-back variant. Both are driven by planar magnetic technology. Can the MrSpeakers ETHER prove to be a new and indisposable medium for disseminating music, or does it just cause drowsiness and send us to sleep? Read on!

Pros:

• Extremely light and comfortable

• Sounds divine

• Designed really well

• Case is strong and no bigger than necessary

Cons:

• Headband self-adjusts too readily unless fixed for one user

Design and Appearance

The ETHER appears to have a design which is based on the best points of other brands’ headphones, and it’s nice to see them all on one model. Plush and thick earpads, large earcups, and sturdy cable connectors which are easy enough to get the cable onto and off again. The headband and yokes are strong yet flexible and in all, the design is very well thought out and very,very light!

Durability and Build quality

Durability is always hard to gauge with new models, but nothing stands out as seeming particularly vulnerable to damage caused by wear and tear. As alluded to above, the design is a good one and the headphones should stand the test of time!

Comfort

With headphones donned, comfort levels match those of any of the favoured dynamic headphones. Even the Sennheiser HD650 or HD540 models get a run for their money. People may forget they are wearing these headphones, unless they are playing music through them of course. One slight gripe is the headband strap adjusting itself bigger as the headphones are fiddled with, but there are a pair of stoppers which can be moved and secured to prevent this.

Sound characteristics

Sampled with the standard Chord Hugo as DAC/AMP, it’s perhaps important to mention that the sound can be improved by using a proper ‘plug in’ powered amp such as the excellent Audeze Deckard or the great value Musical Fidelity V90-HPA. Having said that, a humble Fiio X3 DAP can do a very good job of powering the MrSpeakers ETHER; it’s only until a rather underpowered android handset is tried that the ETHER sounds noticeably insipid and anaemic.

However, as it is the MrSpeakers ETHER dazzles and cajoles with dexterity and power, definition and silkiness, space and slam.

• Bass

The ETHER is not as bassy as some other makers’ planar magnetic designs; the bass is not accentuated but does a good job. It starts low in frequency terms and does what’s required if the music calls for it. Dance genres enjoy a good bit of sub bass and hip hop or funk styles get a good weighty quality to the kick drums. It’s well controlled too; shaking drum skins are not lost through the mix, even with hard rock guitars kicking in.

• Mids

Midrange is noticeably present on the ETHER; perhaps due to the relatively reined-in bass. There is perhaps a slight bump in the upper-mid range but it doesn’t cause any problems with sibilance. There’s a sense of a slightly sharper and more revealing sound but it stays on the right side of the comfort line. Due to this, vocals, reed instruments and distorted guitars stand out along with associated delay effects, creating a very pleasing and immediate sense of space and imaging.

• Treble

No detail goes unnoticed, but at the same time the ETHER stays the right side of any sibilant or fatigue-inducing territory; even with a multitude of brass instruments blaring, the frequency response makes it comfortable. Not to say that the ETHER is a dark pair of headphones; there is a decent amount of sparkle and shimmer there. In other words, the icing on the cake!

Soundstage and Separation

Imaging and separation is exceptionally good on the ETHER, making it amongst the best headphones for this feature. I’ve picked out a flaw or two in tracks I’ve been listening to for years previous; there’s now a vibraslap sound out there which will always have a squeaky floorboard under it, and let’s not get started on kick drum pedals. Everything is perfectly rendered; for better or worse.

A superb soundstage is to expected from large open-backed headphones such as these and because of that, this may be the only feature of the ETHER which hasn’t knocked our socks off. However, the huge and expansive sound of these headphones serves as the perfect counterpoint to some very special sounding features indeed.

Music genres good for and why

The ETHER is best with anything which is well recorded; if the performers or musicians have colds or are wearing bracelets, the listener knows about it. Whether it’s annoying or all the more engrossing is up to the listener. A sense of space is very well rendered on the ETHER; live and classical styles come out of it very well. Other music types do very well too, but no single one can be recommended over another. They’re all brilliant.

Summary

The MrSpeakers ETHER just goes to show that a world-class headphone needn’t require a big corporation to produce it; in this world of crowd funding and 3D printing anyone can have a go, but getting it this right is going to test anyone’s mettle.

The post MrSpeakers ETHER Headphone Review appeared first on HiFiheadphones.

Ultrasone Edition 12 luxurious open-back headphones transport to an airy, three dimensional soundscape with extensive presence of trebles, mid-notes and bass. Edition 12 incorporate gold-plated transducers that are responsible for the imposing spatial quality of sound.

Tonally accurate harmonization, combined with the special capsule design, offers a professional sound experience. The acoustically redesigned ear-cups of the Edition 12 and their tonal fine-tuning result in a most neutral sound impression with more vivid perception of voices and instruments. With extensive presence of trebles, mid-notes and basses the Edition 12 exposes you to an impressive range of audio experiences.

These headphones, weighting only 282g caress the ears and head with silky textile and soft leather for superb wearer comfort. The head pad of the aluminium headband is covered with the dark grey leather of the Ethiopian long-haired sheep and the ear pads are covered with specially selected, very fine microvelour. This ultra-soft material blends sleekly into the airy sound reproduction.

• Luxurious headphones with professional sound
• S-Logic Plus Natural Surround Sound technology
• Reduced emissions using the ULE standard (Ultra Low Emission)
• Ear pads padded with fine micro-velour
• Ethiopian sheepskin leather ear cup and head pads
• Hand-crafted in Germany

To purchase the unit, please visit our website:

Buy Ultrasone Edition 12 Premium Open Back Headphones

The post Ultrasone Edition 12 Premium Open Back Headphones – Announcement appeared first on HiFiheadphones.